When I last used my old kitchen knife, it wouldn’t even cut a tomato but it slipped and did cut me! I knew it was time for a kitchen knife upgrade. However, good kitchen knives can be pretty pricey. If you don’t have a big budget for new knives, this can be frustrating. However, after consulting the experts at DKBrands/Zyliss, I learned that three are three must-have knives. You can get some of under $50. or if you have a bit more to spend, $75!
Good knives help your performance in the kitchen. But there’s another reason to upgrade. Sharp well made knives can keep you safe. One slip of a dull, unbalanced, knocked or wobbly knife can cause you serious damage. I learned this from personal experience,
Comfort Knives For a $50 Budget
Comfort Collection knives
Zyliss has lots of different knives and price points. Advicesisters.com reviewed some of the Zyliss Comfort Collection knives plus a really nice manual knife sharpener, back in 2019. If you only have $50 to spend their retail price range of just $10 to $15 (open stock) and $15 for a two-piece paring knife set are a good choice if you want your $50 budget to stretch. Even though the comfort collection is for the budget-minded, it’s a great way to add new knives. The handles are ergonomic and the knives are dishwasher safe.
Zyliss Comfort Pro Knives:
If you can spare a little more money, the ones I’m suggesting in this story are from the Comfort Pro line. If you have just $50 purchase the largest, an 8″ Comfort Pro Chef’s Knife. But if you have a little more money, add the Comfort Pro 5 1/2″ Utility Knife and the 4 1/2″ Paring Knife, and you’ve got what you need for almost every task in the kitchen.
I like the boxed presentation of the Zyliss Comfort Pro knives, I removed the knife for this photo!
These knives come nicely boxed with cello inserts under the flap, so you can see your e comfort pro knives before you even take them out of the box. You can barely see it, but the big Chef’s knife on the left shows the plastic safety tip as well. The Comfort Pro line has upgraded features such as a full tang ice-hardened blade and antibacterial handle.
Ice Hardened Blades:
Ice hardening is a process that helps draw out the hardness of refined steel while giving it more resiliency. Ice-hardened steel blades are thin, super sharp, and still lightweight. They also will stay sharper longer. These blades resist corrosion that can dull the blade. They also arrive with plastic safety tips to protect the tip of the blades (I did mention these are super sharp). I suggest using a knife block for storage, but definitely keep those little plastic safety tips in case you do store your knives in a drawer. 
big artichokes are tough to cut. The Zyliss Chef knife cut right through without a struggle
The chef knife is a big knife that can cut a chicken or a roast or chop a large amount of well…just about anything. However, when such a long blade isn’t needed the 5 1/2″ utility knife will pretty much do the same things.
The full tang construction on the antibacterial handles means it’s nicely shaped and weighted with metal going all the way through the handle. These handles are not just screwed or soldered onto the blade.However, when such a long blade isn’t needed the 5 1/2″ utility knife ($35) will do a lot of the same things in a more manageable size. The Zyliss Utility Knife is perfect for slicing and dicing a large range of meats, fruits, and vegetables. It’s also great for chopping nuts!
My Most Used Knife:
The one knife I use most often in my kitchen is actually the smallest. It’s the 4 1/2″ paring knife ($30). It has all the details that the larger knives have. But it’s the perfect size for small tasks such as peeling and paring fruits and vegetables.
The thing I love about this paring knife is that it is so all-purpose. It will slice tomatoes or cut an orange, but it also minces something small such as garlic clove. This knife does so many other tasks where a larger knife really isn’t needed. For example, it will help me cut up a small chicken, or peel a potato, Just about any task you can think of.
Prices:
All of the comfort Pro knives have a suggested retail price which could set you over the $75 limit. But the good news is that as I’m writing this story, the knives are being discounted on the Zyliss website ($10 to $15 off). Yes, you can spend just $75 for a great trio of must-have knives. Check out all the Zyliss knives and more on the website.
