Which Knife to Buy:
Tips and Advice on What to Consider When Buying a Knife

Forged blades are knives which are made from a single piece of metal so there’s a seamless transition from blade to handle with a built-up section, called a bolster. Stamped knives are cut out from a sheet of steel and the handle of the knife is attached separately. Both stamped and forged knives have their own unique advantages, so it’s very much a matter of personal preference.

The forged blade of a Victorinox knife contains more carbon, which makes the steel harder and helps it stay sharper longer. Since it is forged from a single piece, it’s more difficult for your hand to slip from the handle onto the blade. In addition, forged knives tend to be heavier, giving a great weight and balance in the hand. And beautiful styling expresses its excellent quality. A good forged chef’s knife is prestigious, inspirational. It reflects the joy felt by people who love to cook with just the right tools.

Forged blades may stay sharper longer, but they are also more difficult to sharpen and must be sharpened with a diamond or ceramic honing tool. This is because the tool has to be harder than the blade it’s honing.

Our innovative stamped blade is lighter than a forged one. Which makes these kinds of knives easier to work with over long periods of time. They are easy on wrists and hands, so it’s no surprise that professional chefs really like them. And because the steel has a slightly lower level of hardness, they are simple to resharpen. When you consider years of daily work in a kitchen, these blades offer the best value for money.

Victorinox 的廚房刀具及廚具配備多款手柄，基本選擇可以概括地歸類為合成或木製，各項選擇又有何優劣之處呢？

合成手柄刀具可用洗碗機清洗，容易清潔，而且通常較輕巧，因此更適合長時間使用。我們提供各式各樣合成手柄──色彩繽紛的 Swiss Modern 系列採用聚丙烯共聚物 (PPC)，Swiss Classic 系列的超耐用手柄採用合成物料 (聚丙烯 PP)，Grand Maître 系列現配備倍感順滑的聚甲醛 (Polyoxymethylene)手柄。

木製手柄刀具切勿放入洗碗機，因為熱能和化學物質會導致木材過熱、變乾，甚至破裂，但木製手柄手感溫暖、自然，絕對值得您親手清洗，並使用亞麻籽油等常見的食用油保持清新亮麗。超卓的 Grand Maître 刀具配備加工楓木手柄，尤其適合鍛造刀迷，Wood 系列亦提供配備加工楓木手柄的沖壓刀具，Swiss Modern 系列則可滿足更多需要，胡桃木手柄設計符合人體工學，而且時尚奪目。

敬請注意：作為刀具專家，我們其實並不建議用洗碗機洗刀，尤其大刀。詳情可查看清潔刀具的貼士。

最後的結論是您應該選擇自己認為手感最佳的手柄物料。

簡而言之，答案無分對與錯，您的選擇應該是您覺得拿握時最舒適的刀具，無論是精緻的 Grand Maître 刀具、舒適耐用的 Swiss Classic 系列或外形及手感符合人體工學的 Swiss Modern，我們皆建議您前往附近的 Victorinox 商店，在作出決定前親自嘗試每一款刀。我們透過測試設計出適合各種手型的曲線和外型，不論大小、纖巧或壯健，定能滿足每個人的需求。

您很好奇我們為甚麼提供兩種牛排刀嗎？ 答案非常簡單：直刃可順滑、俐落地切肉，不會撕開或拉扯，這款刀刃備受肉類行家喜愛，適合用作裁切新鮮的嫩肉。如果要切較堅硬的肉，波浪形刀刃是理想之選，這種特別的刀刃可說是全能刀具，薄餅、餡餅、糕點等都能一一處理。

您可能對我們的三德刀有同樣的疑問，為甚麼同一把刀要提供坑槽刀刃及直刃？ 我們偏好坑槽刀刃的原因是坑槽在食材與刀刃之間保留空間，您要切的食材較小機會黏住刀刃，讓您砍切時更流暢、更快捷、更方便。有些廚師喜歡三德刀較筆直的日本式外形，但覺得坑槽在他們砍切或切片時無帶來任何影響。

如果您頻繁使用刀具，並需要經常磨刀，直刃就是較好的選擇。如果太常磨刀，令坑槽被磨平，會妨礙刀刃的效用，但這情況可能只會出現在專業廚師長年累月使用後的刀刃。

我們一般較常推薦坑槽刀刃，亦有提供配備坑槽刀刃的切肉刀，因為肉比較不會黏在刀刃上。

We often offer the same blade in different lengths – so which should you choose? Our filleting knife comes in both 16 and 20cm versions. The rule of thumb is that the blade should be approximately 5cm bigger than the fish you are filleting. It’s a bit more complex for our carving knives, because we provide anything from 15 to 25cm blade-length. Smaller blades will give you versatility and agility, but if you’re going to be slicing larger items like watermelon or pumpkins, then the bigger the blade the better. Having the necessary length ensures less risk of slipping or getting stuck, and less risk of injury.

Our carving knives also come in two widths – normal or extra-wide. The extra-wide is ideal if you are carving large joints of meat like roast beef or turkey, because it lends the blade more precision and power for smoother slices.

Our pro tip: you should also match the blade length to that of your cutting board. If you use one that’s too small, it’s harder to cut through large fruit, vegetables, meat or even bread in one slice. That’s not only more work: you may also risk injuring yourself.