Building beautiful cheese boards and charcuterie trays continue to be the most popular trend for serving appetizers at dinner parties. To showcase your selection of cheeses, the right set of knives to slice and serve your soft and hard cheeses is a necessary accessory.
From stainless steel to bamboo, there are a number of gorgeous and functional cheese knife sets on the market. ICOSA Living Lunar Premium 6-Piece Cheese Knife Set is an excellent choice for its stylish design and reasonable price.
The cheese knife set you select should be made of durable materials, like stainless steel and wood. A good set will include at least four pieces, of which ideally three are knives and one-piece is an accessory like a cheese fork or spreader. It should suit your personal style and be easy to clean. When purchasing your cheese knife set, consider what you’ll be using it for. Do you want a cheese knife set that includes a lot of extras like a cheese board, or do you already have a cheese board and you simply need new knives?
The size of the knives in your cheese knife set is also a factor to consider because a set with larger knives will be more cumbersome to store and smaller cheese knives will be harder to hold or use properly. A smaller, daintier set may not be as useful to you as a heavy-duty set in cutting your cheeses with ease.
There are knives which have a specific purpose, however, many knives are multipurpose and can be suitable for a number of cheeses. If you want to go by the book, here are some guidelines.
The first consideration is the material they’re made from. Stainless steel knives are a great option because they don’t rust, they withstand heavy use and typically wash easily in the dishwasher. If you choose a combination knife that has a stainless blade but has a wooden handle, always wash by hand. Many cheese knife sets are entirely stainless, which are visually appealing, while wooden handled sets may be more comfortable to grip.
When choosing your set, look for at least the following basics:
If you’re looking for a combination set, there are charcuterie boards, which include a small set of cheese knives. Some of these sets have storage underneath the board for safely storing your cheese knives, while others do not. For a visually appealing and popular choice, the slate board and cheese knife set is a striking option to consider.
If you want the basics, such as four knives and no extras, expect to spend around $25 for a durable set. If you’re looking for a larger set that includes additional knives and a cheese board or knife holder, you can spend anywhere from $25-$100, depending on design.
A. The only limit here is your creativity. The best aspect of preparing cheese boards and charcuterie trays for entertaining guests is finding new and unexpected pairings for your cheese. Popular choices for meat or fish include prosciutto, salami and pepperoni, smoked salmon and capers. Different flavors, textures and colors of crackers look great together. Fruit, berries, vegetables and nuts add dimension to a cheeseboard. Jams and jellies, honey and mustard work well for dipping or spreading. Pickles and pickled vegetables provide a different taste for your palate and complete a board quite well.
A. A great rule of thumb when pairing wine and cheese is to consider the intensity of the wine. A deeper and more intense wine needs a stronger cheese so the flavor doesn’t get washed out. A more delicate cheese pairs nicely with a lighter wine. Bold red wines go very well with aged cheese. Sweeter wines work best with blue-veined cheeses. Sparkling wines match perfectly with soft, spreadable cheese.
ICOSA Living Lunar Premium 6-Piece Cheese Knife Set
What you need to know: This stainless steel cheese knife set is rustproof, wear-proof and includes six pieces at a great price.
What you’ll love: This brushed stainless steel set is ergonomically designed and has a very clean, polished look. Complete with cheese spreader and cheese fork, it has everything you need in one package. This set makes a great gift and displays very well.
What you should consider: No other accessories come with this set.
BSSRC 4-Piece Cheese Knives Set with Wooden Handle
What you need to know: This simple cheese knife set contains only the essentials without skimping on style.
What you’ll love: This cheese knife set is easy to store and use with four separate pieces. The high-quality wood handles are smooth and made of real wood. The blades are also decently sharp.
What you should consider: These knives should be hand-washed.
Cuisine Wonders Large Slate Cheese Board and Knife Set
What you need to know: This set is aesthetically pleasing with the accompanying slate board and stainless handles for transport. It includes three cheese knives and a cheese fork for serving.
What you’ll love: This set is on-trend and begs to be photographed for friends and family to see. Included are two soapstone chalk pieces for labeling your cheeses, and the cheese knives are made of high-quality stainless steel. The handles on the cheese board can be removed for easier cleanup and the knives are dishwasher-safe.
What you should consider: The slate board needs to be sealed with food-safe oil before use and the slate edges are rough. Washing the slate requires some caution. More expensive than other options.
Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.
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