Ikea €3.95:This is a stubby little number that is very dangerous, or a least it was in Pricewatch's hands as not once, or twice but three times in rapid succession did the thing draw blood from our clumsy fingers.
While we accept that this was entirely our own fault, none of the other blades did us any injury. One of the reasons it is so lethal is that it is very, very sharp and, at this price, it has to be seen as remarkably good value for money. It peels scrapes and cuts with precision and has a nice rubberised handle, which ensures it will stay non-slip even when wet. The blade is on the short side, so it is not at all effective when it comes to chopping, but as long as youre careful it will get the job done.
Verdict:Razor sharp
Star rating:****
Kyocera Ceramic Paring Knife €33.95
We were alarmed to have to pay so much for something so simple, but did so because the makers assured us this ceramic blade will never rust and will stay sharper for 10 times as long as a regular steel blade. It certainly made light work of all the vegetables we introduced it to, and its light nature makes it easier to control as it performs delicate operations. It should be noted that, while it may stay sharp for longer and it is rust-proof, there is a danger it will break if dropped on hard surfaces. And while we like the blade, it was 10 times the price of the cheapest option. If we’re paying this kind of price, we’d kind of like our fruit and vegetables to peel and carve themselves.
Verdict: Sharp, stylish but scarily expensive
Star rating:***
Sabatier €14.95
This is an old-school product that has a pleasing heft to it. It has a nice wooden handle, is deadly sharp and comes from a manufacturer with a long pedigree. It is made with solid Sheffield steel and it makes light work of all vegetables and the occasional piece of wood. And speaking of wood, while the handle lends it a nice weight, the rivets and metal that are needed to achieve that may cause cracks to appear in the handle over time, which is not something the solid-state handles have to worry about.
Verdict: Steady
Star rating:***
Sabatier €14.95
This is a vegetable rather than a paring knife although we have to confess that we struggled to see the difference. It was the second most expensive of the blades we tried, and while it is absolutely fine, it is by no means better than the cheaper options. The handle is barrel shaped which we did not particularly like, although we were more impressed by its brushed chrome finish. While the blade is much the same length as the competition, the handle is about 20 per cent shorter – which made it slightly more difficult to get to grips with.
Verdict:Below par
Star rating:***
Kuhn Rikon Kitchenware €9.95
As you may be able to tell by the picture, this is , pink, very, very pink. We are not sure who is the market for such a knife as we would imagine the age bracket that would be most attracted to such a luridly coloured product would be far too young to wield it but presumably the Swiss knife makers behind this brand know what they are doing . It comes with its own sheath, which seems just a little pointless to us. To its credit it is very sharp and made light work of all the tasks we gave it and does not cost the earth. It also stands out in the drawer and is quite a bit cheaper than some of the competition yet is equally sharp.
Verdict:Cheap and cheerful
Star rating:***
