Finding quality kitchen knives can sometimes be a bit of a chore. Unfortunately, one of the best ways to decide if its the one for you is to actually use it, which is rather hard in a shop. If you take care to buy good cutlery it should last you for a long time so it is sometimes worth spending a little extra.
Of course, the amount of time they last will also depend on how well you look after them. You may have to sharpen them from time to time and once in a while they will need to be taken to a professional to re-edge. Be careful if you put them in the dishwaser though as this will mean that you have to sharpen and re-edge them much more frequently.
If you are looking for some quality kitchen knives then you might want to start by looking at what sets are available. Not only can these work out cheaper but you will also usually get a good selection as well as a knife block which will store and protect them. This also means you can buy single knives if you find you are missing or need to replace one.
With that said, if you have an idea about what type of knives you want, then buying individual knives might be the better option. Buying a single knife from one of the premiere knife companies means that you can buy the exact type you need, wether its to start your collection or as a replacement for one. It can also be a good choice to do this if you need to get a second knife of the same kind, or perhaps one with a larger blade.
This might also be useful for people with smaller hands. You shouldnt have to struggle using one that is too big to hold and it is worth remembering that chef knives, for example, come in a variety of sizes so theres no reason not to get one that you can hold properly.
