Dining In with Style: Kitchen Cutlery Sets

Kitchen cutlery sets make it easier to purchase, organize and display sets of knives. They are often presented in attractive wood blocks with specific slots for each knife. They range in price dependent on how many knives are in the set, the quality of the knives and the quality of the holding blocks. Kitchen cutlery sets make great gifts for anyone, from the five-course cook to the microwave expert, because no matter the meal, eating is always easier with a good knife in hand.

The Block

The storage block is the heart of kitchen cutlery sets. While all of the knives could be purchased separately, the sets are worthwhile just for the convenience of storage. The block can be made of plastic, wood or silicone, and is often designed in such a way that it looks handsome or elegant on the countertop. The knives are placed in the block, each in their own slot, blade-down, so not only are the handles in perfect reach, but she sharpened edges of the knives are kept away from children.

The Knives

Kitchen cutlery sets can include anywhere from two to twenty-five knives. With so many knives available on the market, it is no wonder many homeowners feel overwhelmed when they first consider adding to their kitchens. Kitchen cutlery sets make it easy: they offer a wide-variety of the most commonly-used knives. Smaller sets will often be comprised of knives aimed toward carving, while the larger sets will include knives for paring, boning and peeling. Regardless of the size of the set, however, there are a few knives that can almost always be expected: a chef's knife, a bread knife, a serrated utility knife, a paring knife and a few solid steak knives.

The Brands

There are a few companies who have been in the business of producing quality kitchen cutlery sets for years. Not only are they expert knife designers, they are expert packagers: these companies have a talent for creating the best knife sets, not just knives.

CuisinArt, with over twenty-five years of experience, is one of the most trusted names in kitchenware. Many of their kitchen cutlery sets include a locking device, a perfect safety feature for families with children. Chicago Cutlery, another company with decades of experience, focuses on comfortable handles and sharp blades; their sets are both practical and intensive.

Berghoff and Henckels are two foreign companies who have been producing knives for centuries. Some of the oldest and most trusted brands worldwide, these companies are now starting to package their famous knives in kitchen cutlery sets, in Europe and in the United States.