Knives are generally less expensive when purchased in a set. They come with a nice stand or block. where you keep the knives. The more expensive ones may even come with a plastic-molded carrying case, similar to a little briefcase. It has a transparent cover on one side and the base where the knives rest may be covered with felt. You can set the case down and the knives can be seen neatly stored from one side.

Cutlery sets also allow you to choose the number of knives you want. They may range in number from a basic five- or seven-knife set up to a total of twentysomething! Some of the types in these sets include boning, paring, peeling, serrated, cleaver, chef's knife, steak knives, and utility knives. Also included are the sharpening steel, shears, and probably some bread knives. Naturally this depends from one manufacturer to another. The more the merrier as they say, and the more knives you have on a block, the more impressive your countertop should look.

But you do not always have to buy your knives in sets. They are available individually and of course, the choice is up to the requirements of the user. All of the different types mentioned in the sets above can also be bought individually.

For the professional chef in all of us, there are different types of knives to look for. Fine edge knives are the most basic. These types are good to handle because of the weight and feel and the blade is very sharp which allows for precision cutting. Some maintenance is required though such as steeling.

There are also knives that do not require much sharpening and these are a good choice for most people who cook for themselves and their families on a daily basis. The downside is that they do not make the same precision cuts as the fine edge ones but they do stay sharp over time. These are also of decent quality and at a reasonable price.

Other features to consider:

• The steel used are made of high carbon steel, which is resistant to rust.
• The tang (the extended back part of the knife that is embedded between the handles) should be held in place by rivets. Needless to say, stay from knives whose handles are not riveted! Good quality models are held by three rivets.
• High quality knives are precision balanced and the result is that they feel good to handle. In fact it should almost feel like an extension of your hand.
• Forged knives are of better quality than stamped. Forging means to reconfigure steel into the shape of a knife by use of high heat.

The knives that we use for chopping, cutting, dicing, and slicing come in various shapes and styles. They are functional yet equally nice to decorate your kitchens with. They serve our family well and provide our guests an object of interest as well as curiosity. Investing in them will definitely be a sharp decision.