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TOP 5+ Best Chef Knife Set For Culinary School: Top Picks and Comprehensive Guide [Latest 2022]

Practice makes perfect. And certainly if you want to be a professional chef, you need to become culinary students. One of your most effective assistants is the chef knife set for culinary school. Purchasing a good quality knife set will greatly support your performance. Let’s dig deeper through this article!

Best Knife Set For Culinary Student In-depth Reviews

1. Slitzer Germany 22pc Professional Knife Set – Best for Budget

Product highlights

This cutlery set features ergonomically designed balance knives. They built it with full drums. So you can guarantee durability and stability. 

It has all the chef knives you need. Including poultry shears, utility knife, sharpener, chef’s knife, boning knife, and more. 

It also includes a small utility set that includes a decorative forged knife. In addition with oyster cutter, cheese knife, lemon grater, potato peeler, and more.

View more: Zelite Infinity Chef Knife

This 22-piece German-made knife set for culinary students is affordable to buy as a starter kit.

Forged from durable and corrosion-resistant stainless steel. Some of the more expensive sets, they won’t give you the same functionality. However, they will get the job done and are the perfect showcase. 

Slitzer Germany 22pc Professional Chef's Cutlery Set in Case, Black

3 new from $143.99
Amazon.com
as of March 29, 2024 5:00 am

Pros

  • Comes with all the essentials.
  • Honing steel sharpener and carrying case included.
  • Full tang.
  • Limited lifetime warranty.
  • Very sharp V-style edge.

Cons

  • Lightweight and flimsy plastic handle.

Bottom line

This student set knives for culinary school is a bargain. For an affordable price, you’ll get almost any knife used in the kitchen. However, be aware that you need to maintain it carefully. Sharpen your knife regularly for best results.

2. Mercer Culinary Züm Knife Sets – Best for Versatile Use

Product highlights

Mercer designed this Culinary 10-course set with students and professionals in mind. It has all the gear you could possibly need, no duplicates. And an efficient carry-on roll to help carry everything with you.

The sharpening steel that comes with this culinary school knife set is particularly effective. And it will make maintaining the edges on your knives significantly easier.

View more: Mercer Knives Review

This set doesn’t come with a good blade guard is the biggest problem of it. However, everything you need from a chef’s knife to a fillet knife is in there. 

This set is extremely durable and the price is also affordable. It’s a good investment for your future as a culinary student. Because, it is also a culinary student knife set. 

Mercer Culinary Züm 10-Piece Forged Knife Set in Case

3 new from $299.99
Amazon.com
as of March 29, 2024 5:00 am

Pros

  • Comes with a carrying case.
  • Durable design.
  • Comfortable handle.
  • Comes with a honed steel.
  • Cone ground edges stay sharp longer.

Cons

  • The long handle may not be comfortable in everyone’s hand.

Bottom line

They made each Mercer Zum knife of high carbon German steel. Ensuring a sturdy and durable construction. Mercer Culinary has crafted the set using durable materials and modern techniques for a lifetime of use.

This is a good choice for beginners and professional chefs. And you can always add some extra knives to keep the cutlery set relevant to your changing needs.

3. Mercer Culinary Millennia Culinary School Set – Best for Travelling

Product highlights

School supplies can be expensive, especially if you’re attending a cooking school. And if you are still in the early stages of learning when it comes to cutting techniques. 

You don’t want to start with a set that’s too expensive. Because there is a chance that you will ruin it quickly.

Well, Mercer Culinary has the solution for you, Millennia Culinary School Kit. It is slightly different from the Zum set mentioned above in this knife set for culinary school review.

For starters, the Millennia collection includes 13 blades. Which means it includes both the essentials and a host of extras that will make your experience even better. 

It even includes a honing steel, which will come in handy in a variety of situations. Especially since it comes with a rollable travel case. That allows you to take your set with you everywhere you go.

Mercer Culinary Partners in Education 13-Piece Millennia Culinary School Kit

2 new from $112.99
Free shipping
Amazon.com
as of March 29, 2024 5:00 am

Pros

  • Reasonable price.
  • Complete set of knives.
  • High quality Japanese steel.
  • Razor sharp blades.
  • Portable knife roll.

Cons

  • It is not dishwasher-safe.

Bottom line

The other difference between the Millennia set and the Zum set is the building materials. While the set above includes knives made of German steel. The second set uses Japanese high carbon stainless steel. Which is equally excellent and durable. 

You’re a culinary school student or someone who travels a lot. You would like a travel role with all the cutlery essentials and extras. Look no further than the Mercer Culinary forged knife set for culinary school. At least you will find none in this price range.

4. Mercer Culinary Renaissance Knife Set – Best for Advanced Use

Product highlights

Now we will introduce another set of knives that are the best invention of Mercer’s Culinary knives. The best thing about this set is that you will get every essential knife you need in the kitchen.

The material of this forged knife is high quality German carbon steel. Indeed, it guarantees a long and solid construction. Furthermore, you will receive a carrying case that helps keep all the knives in one place.

As a result, a person will be able to find the knife whenever you need it quickly. Furthermore, this set is best for regular use, and this professional chef and knife offers sharp blades. That’s the reason why it cuts off everything completely.

Mercer Culinary 7-Piece Forged Renaissance Knife Set

2 new from $174.99
Free shipping
Amazon.com
as of March 29, 2024 5:00 am

Pros

  • Standard blade length, such as the Chef’s knife (8”) and boning knife (6”).
  • Highest quality German steel.
  • Triple-riveted handle.
  • Complete set of knives.
  • Limited lifetime warranty.

Cons

  • This 7-piece set of knives needs proper care.

Bottom line

Also, it takes less time to shred. Most importantly, the durable handle helps keep the knife balanced while cutting. 

Moreover, one can customize the collection of this Mercer Culinary knife set. For example, you can remove or add as many knives as you need.

Finally, we want to tell you to always choose the Mercer Culinary brand to get the best cookware for your modern kitchen. This brand will serve you the best product on a comfortable budget.

5. Ross Henery Chef’s Knife Set – Best for Home Chefs

Product highlights

Last in these reviews is the Ross Henery knife set that comes with 10 pieces. This is a set that you can take anywhere you want as it comes with a knife roll. 

Included accessories include a knife, sharpening rod, carving fork and meat slicer. This set is triple-riveted for a unique sharpness that makes meal prep easy. 

The set of knives has all the up-and-coming chef needs. The fact that they made these knives of high carbon steel. You can be sure that the knife set will be resistant to rust.

Ross Henery Professional 10 Piece Premium Stainless Steel Chef's Knife Set / Kitchen Knives in Case

Amazon.com
as of March 29, 2024 5:00 am

Pros

  • Razor sharp due to the triple-riveted feature.
  • High quality forged knife.
  • Ergonomic handle.
  • Anti-rust and corrosion.
  • Lifetime warranty.

Cons

  • This kitchen knife set is not dishwasher-safe.

Bottom line

This knife set for culinary students is a great gift. These kitchen knives are very sharp. And it’s full of tools to make your cooking easier.

Not only for culinary students, you can also take these knife sets everywhere. It will even be a perfect choice for any home kitchen.

Buying Guides

In our opinion, paying a little more for the forged knife will be better than for the stamped knives in the starter kit. However, if you can’t afford it, that’s what the stamper is for. An entry-level knife set will get you started.

You may have noticed that each of these sets includes a nice reel to safely bring the knife in. This is an important part of any chef’s knife set for culinary students.

chef knife set for culinary school battersby 1

Shun or Mercer offers the best chef knife set for culinary school

1. Steel quality

People prefer Japanese or German stainless steel. But the Japanese are generally more popular as they tend to be more agile. Yet, they hold the edge longer, and give unparalleled precision when cutting.

2. Types of knife

There are many different cooking schools in the world that offer different courses in different subjects. The school, class, and instructor you have may have specific requirements for range.

For example, if you are taking a few classes to learn how to bake, you may not need any knives. 

While completing a certificate at another school may require you to have some kind of knife. Make sure to contact your actual school and your instructor to find out the knives you need.

That said, there are some general knives (and tools) you need to succeed as a chef. 

In most cases, you can get away with buying a kit of these. Core basics include chef’s knife, paring knife, bread knife, utility knife, and honing steel sharpener. As long as you have these coverages, you’ll probably be fine.

chef knife set for culinary school battersby 2

Chef knife set for culinary school with forged knife

3. Comfort to use

The handle will feel good in your hand. The knives you use must be properly balanced. Remember that you will spend a lot of time using knives. So if they are uncomfortable to hold, you could end the day with a sore hand or wrist.

4. Balance

We’ve covered balance briefly. But it’s important to note that the knife’s balance point should be where the blade makes contact with the handle. 

The weight should be evenly distributed, so you can easily chop and shred it. That rocking motion should be easy. The only exception to this rule of balance is with a short blade. In this case, you want a heavier grip that will give you more control.

5. Maintenance

Once you’ve found the perfect knives, you want to make sure they stay sharp. So we will need a few tips. Use only wooden or plastic cutting boards, clean knives immediately after use and dry properly! Transport your knives safely. For example, use a knife bag or knife roll.

6. Sharpening

Over time, each knife will become dull, no matter how well you take care of it. That’s the time for sharpening your knife. 

Tip: Keeping a reasonably sharp knife is easier than sharpening a dull one. So most cookery schools recommend steel or ceramic honing steel for daily maintenance.

Frequently Asked Questions

chef knife set for culinary school battersby 3

Full tang and forged knife is the best chef knife set for culinary school

1. What are the 3 essential knives for a culinary student?

Each knife has a unique feature. However, if you have to choose, there are 3 most important knives. Those three knives are chef knife, paring knife and bread knife.

Chef knife

It is true to the name. A chef’s knife is one of the most versatile tools in the kitchen. Chefs use it frequently in the kitchen. Chef knives are typically 8 to 10 inches in size. Although they can be as short as 6 inches and up to 14 inches long. 

You will use a chef knife for most of your slicing during food preparation. And it will be the most important tool you use in many ways.

Paring knife

The paring knife is essentially a small chef knife. And you should use it for similar jobs on a smaller scale, especially those requiring more precision. 

Do not use this knife on any hard vegetables. As its light weight can cause unsafe force when cutting. The paring knife is very suitable for paring, planing and detailed cutting.

Bread knife

Again, the name of this knife is not particularly subtle. The knife cuts the bread through the bread. Its serrated edge allows it to cut bread without tearing the loaf.

The saw blade resembles the blade of a bread knife – or serrated knife. Without applying pressure, it is ideal when you want to cut something. 

It’s a great way to gently cut fresh bread, but also works well with soft fruits and vegetables or those with a waxy surface. A serrated knife is useful when you’re slicing tomatoes, apples, citrus, or bell peppers.

chef knife set for culinary school

Culinary students will need specific knife sets when learning

2. Do you need your own knife set for culinary school?

Usually yes. Culinary school will ask you to prepare a specific set of knives. This culinary arts knife set will follow you through the learning process. So choose carefully!

3. How do I know if my knife is 15 degrees or 20 degrees?

The best way to know is to ask the knife manufacturer. As a general guideline, European/American knives manufactured before 2010 have a 20 degree edge. While Asian style knives have a 15 degree edge.

4. Do chefs prefer German or Japanese knives?

There are two different styles of kitchen knives. Chefs recommended Japanese kitchen knives for finer and thinner slicing. While German knives are for kitchen knives. German knives are usually heavier and thicker.

5. Are culinary degrees worth it?

Cooking schools are extremely expensive, and if you can learn by doing, you’ll save a lot of money. 

Learning on the job also gives a young chef a much better understanding. You will know how to apply techniques in the high-pressure environment of the kitchen. This will make them a better cook, and ultimately a chef.

Conclusion

Together with the best chef knife set for culinary school, your performance will become much more professional. Consider choosing the best products. Not only will it be more durable and of better quality. But you will save more time and money in the long run. Let’s make the right choice!

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