Knives

[rabet]

I am considering buying some ceramic cook's knives. Are they as good as the publicity asserts? Anyone have experience with them? Thanks.

[SlackAlice]

Got a couple and they are certainly sharp. Don't drop them on a hard surface though because they are brittle.

[seadogg]

If you already have a good set of steel knives you may want some for their qualities in keeping an edge for ages (though some of us enjoy sharpening a good knife). You do have to be careful with them as they dont like rough usage and can be broken. I tried one but my favourite tool is still a nice large chinese cleaver.

[rabet]

Many thanks.

[RocW]

I BOUGHT A COUPLE LAST YEAR AND AM IMPRESSED BY THEM. (oops, sorry about the shouting - I didn't realise the caps lock was on.) I find them great for cutting but not quite as good for chopping. They are VERY sharp and cut meat easily - far better than my previous knives.

[leahbee]

Bought some yesterday and used one to prepare vegetables.
I can certainly vouch that they are sharp, I nearly cut my thumb off.
Be very careful.

[bhg481]

We bought one last autumn just to try it. We like it so much we bought a set of three.

[Clanad]

Top of the line ceramic knives are expensive... here in the U.S., a paring knife made of ceramics is about $50 (US) as compared to maybe $30 for a good steel one. They have to go back to the maker if repair or sharpening is needed and, as already noted... they're brittle and easily damaged. They don't work well on semi-frozen foods sinc it's easy to damage the pointed tip...

I agree with seadogg wholeheartedly though... there's something very satisfying to reconditioning and then sharpening a good steel knife... one of the reasons I regularly shave with a straight razor (Sheffield or German only, thank you). Stropping a good razor to extreme shaprness is a fine art and the satisfaction shouldn't be wasted on the timid...

[gingejbee]

I bought one large and one small about two years ago. Very useful and very sharp still...but I use them for "special" things. I would never pay the ridiculous prices of the big brands...mine were £7.99 and £3.99 at Aldi!

[rabet]

Thanks again to all.

[heathfield]

They can slice cucumber so thinly that Blackpool landladies can make a quarter of a cucumber last a month!