People who love to cook a steak or light the barbecue often still cut at the table with an ordinary table knife. The meat tears instead of being cut. A set of good steak knives is a gift that comes to the table with every meal with meat. Below: serrated versus straight, our sets for every day and for the evenings that matter, and a knife for those who cook themselves.
Serrated or straight?
- Serrated: the teeth grip the crust and cut without pressure. They never need sharpening and they go in the dishwasher. Handy for every day.
- Straight: a razor-sharp straight blade cuts through the meat without damaging the fibres, for a clean cut. Wash by hand and dry straight away.
For every day: Avanza
The Avanza steak knives have a fully serrated stainless steel blade, a glossy handle and a mirror-polished bolster that gives the knife weight and balance. They are dishwasher safe and come in a black gift box, in black, pearl white or dark wood look. The matching steak forks follow the same line: together a complete steak set for six.
For the evenings that matter: Prestigio
The Prestigio steak knives have a straight, razor-sharp blade of 2.5 mm stainless steel and a solid wood handle: olive wood, rosewood or ebony. The double solid bolster is mirror-polished. They come in a stained hardwood box, so the gift is already wrapped.
The Prestigio steak forks in rosewood complete the table. The tines are slightly curved, so the meat stays in place while you cut.
For those who cook themselves
If the recipient would rather be at the stove, give the Prestigio santoku knife with cutting board. The blade is 5Cr15MoV steel with a hardness of about 58 HRC and has dimples, so vegetables and meat don't stick to the steel. The handle is rosewood with three rivets. The solid acacia cutting board has a juice groove all round and non-slip feet.
Giving a knife as a gift: the coin
There is an old superstition that a knife as a gift cuts the friendship. The remedy is just as old: the recipient gives you a coin back and so "buys" the knife from you. Add a five-cent coin and it's taken care of.
Delivered on time, no wrapping needed
Within the Netherlands your order arrives in 1–2 working days, with free shipping from € 50. For Sinterklaas (5 December) order by Wednesday 2 December, for Christmas by Monday 21 December. You can have it sent straight to the recipient: enter their address at checkout, the packing slip shows no price. If it isn't right after all, you have 30 days to send it back.