Knives are essential tools in any kitchen. Whether you're buying cutlery for the first time, or upgrading to a new set, use this buying guide to find the right kitchen knife for you.

Stainless Steel Blades
Stainless steel is an affordable, low-maintenance blend of metals (known as an alloy), making it a popular choice for kitchen cutlery. It's also a hard metal that produces very sharp blades. With proper care, stainless steel knives will hold their edge for a long time. Since stainless steel is rust- and stain-resistant, your knives will maintain their appearance longer.

High-Carbon Stainless Steel
High-carbon is blended with stainless steel, resulting in several advantages over traditional stainless steel. The addition of high-carbon means these blades are stronger, will hold their edge longer and are easier to sharpen. With high-carbon stainless steel, you'll get a higher quality knife with all the same rust- and stain-resistant benefits of stainless steel.

Knife Safety Tips
A few simple rules will keep you and your family safe in the kitchen.

• Use the right knife for the job. A knife that's too small will make prep time longer, and a knife that's too big may be risky.
• Did you know that dull knives are more dangerous than sharp ones? Touch up knives with a sharpening steel, or use an electric sharpener to restore the edge, being careful not to change the 20° angle of the edge. If you're unsure of the technique, take your knives to a professional. Many local hardware stores offer sharpening services.
• Never drop your knives or use them as a prying tool. Once bent, it's very difficult to restore a good, sharp edge.

Knife Storage and Care
One of the reasons stainless steel and high-carbon stainless steel knives are popular is because they don't require much maintenance. Depending on the handle type, these knives are usually dishwasher safe. Whether you hand wash or put them in the dishwasher, try to keep each knife separate, so that they don't bump against one another (or other metal surfaces).

Many knife sets come with a slotted block that safely stores each knife. To keep blades sharper for longer, it's important to keep knife blades separate. This will prevent the knife-edges from developing nicks that will make them dull and harder to sharpen.

What Are Kullens?
Kullens are indents on Japanese-style santoku knives (all-purpose cutting and slicing knives). These scallops are designed to create small air pockets to help make slicing easier. Food is also less likely to stick to the edge of the knife.