Sharpen Up

If you're going to cook, you need a good knife. One that's designed for the task at hand. Using an overworked, dull paring knife you've had for years to cut through a ribeye you're about grill is the culinary equivalent of driving a nail with a screwdriver. But as anyone who's stepped into a kitchen store will tell you, trying to find the right blade for your needs can be confusing and expensive. This isn't Top Chef—you don't need a massive, hand-forged cleaver or a specially-made Japanese fish blade. You want a simple, versatile and affordable set that will make quick work of slicing and dicing. You want this trio of knives from Schmidt Brothers Cutlery.

Jordan and Jared Schmidt come from a long line of restauranteurs, army cooks and farmers but that doesn't mean they're old fashioned. With their ergonomic line of steel cutlery, the brothers are taking a modern approach to traditional European knife-making. Last year, they partnered with West Elm for an exclusive line of affordable basics for the home cook. A recent at-home test proved that these lightweight and comfortable blades are made with the same integrity as the brothers' main line. Their 8" chef's knife sliced through a chicken with ease and the slim slicing knife cored a ripe tomato with zero resistance, while the serrated bread knife neatly sawed through both a doughy ciabatta and an oversized watermelon. In short, this is a sturdy trio of workhorses that will stand-up to the rigors of daily use.

Basic knife set,
$50 by Schmidt Brothers