It seems that everyone sells cutlery sets, from your friends to infomercial outlets. Some of the knife sets may be perfectly fine, while others are not worth the box they are packaged in. To find out if flatware sets are all you want them to be, consider a few tips.

First, the best cutlery sets have a good variety of knives. The chef’s knife is highly versatile and can be used for a wide variety of tasks, cutting and slicing almost any type of food. Bread knives with a serrated edge work best for slicing bread without crushing it. Santoku knives are similar to narrow-bladed cleavers and are good for chopping, mincing, and slicing. A paring knife is useful for peeling fruits and vegetables. It can also be used to cut fruits and vegetables into smaller pieces. A fillet or boning knife is good to have if you cut whole chickens or fish. Don’t forget the steak knives. Most good cutlery sets include 4 to 8 steak knives.

Second, good sets will be made with quality construction methods. Stainless steel is the metal of choice for most flatware sets, with high carbon steel being the best. Full tang blades are good to have because they are durable and cut smoothly. Full tang just means that the metal that makes up the blade continues down to the end of the handle. Metal rivets are sometimes used to hold knives securely. Ergonomic handles are preferable, especially if you spend a lot of time in the kitchen.

Finally, consider the knife accessories that come with cutlery sets. Kitchen scissors are useful not only for opening bags and containers, but also for cutting food. Most sets come with a knife storage block or individual knife covers. While some knives are made to maintain a consistent sharpness, others require routine sharpening maintenance. Having a good sharpening steel for these sets is a good idea to keep knives sharp between professional sharpenings.

When you’ve found quality cutlery sets for your kitchen, you’ll be ready to handle any recipe. Your food will look better and in some cases even taste better. Plus, slicing, chopping, and dicing will be a pleasure instead of drudgery. Look for the best sets and you will be satisfied with your choice.