'People ask me all the time what kind of knives they should get,' Ina Garten announces – and we're not surprised why she's their first port of call. The Barefoot Contessa has spent decades refining our culinary habits, primarily from her Hamptons kitchen, where she creates some of the nation's most beautiful recipes. Garten knows better than anyone that the basis for perfectly cooked food begins with the right equipment – or, more specifically, the best chef's knives. So, which one has a place on her countertop?
As per her Instagram, Garten opts for Wüsthof Classic knives, which she says are an investment. However, if there's ever a time to invest, it's now. They're still on sale for Amazon Prime Day, as is her professional sharpener. With the right care, including keeping our knives sharp, Garten suggests that knives are a once-in-a-lifetime purchase.
'The most important tool every home cook should have is a great set of knives. Mine are Wüsthof Classic knives. They’re an investment, but if you take care of them, they’ll last a lifetime,' she comments via Instagram.
This Garten-approved 10-piece set features knives with triple-riveted synthetic polypropylene handles that resist fading, discoloration, heat, and impact. The blades are precisely laser-cut and stamped for superior quality and value.
This stainless steel knife sharpener applies a traditional 20-degree edge (or a finer 15-degree edge) for precision slicing. It's Garten-approved and currently enjoying 35 percent off – but we will need to act fast.
If any knives are made to stand the test of time, it's these from Wüsthof. The German-based brand crafts all cutlery to corrosion and dulling, meaning they come with a limited lifetime warranty.
Founded in Solingen, Germany, the family-owned business has created knives for over 200 years, and they proudly carry the Solingen name – a designation reserved for products that meet the strictest quality standards. It's no surprise, then, that they deserve a place in the Barefoot Contessa's kitchen. However, her guidance doesn't end there.
Despite having a block filled with various knives, she advises that all home cooks only need a handful of blades, all of which serve different purposes.
'There are four really important knives: there's a chef's knife, there's a slicing knife, a bread knife, which is serrated, and a paring knife,' she says in the footage. 'If you have those four, you can do almost anything,' she says.
Next, knowing how to take care of our knives (to further guarantee they last a lifetime) is key. This is where the sharpener comes in.
'We've all seen chefs take a knife to sharpen it,' Garten says in the video. 'I'm always worried I'm going to get the wrong angle, and it will ruin the knife, so I'm going to show you how to sharpen a knife,' Gaten comments in the Instagram footage before demonstrating her Chef’sChoice sharpener.
She explains that the sharpener has two sides – a rough side and a fine side. We should gently place the knife through each side twice to achieve optimal sharpness. 'All I do is wash the knife to get any filaments off, and you've got perfectly sharp knives every time.'
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