High Five For The James Martin Knife Block Set by Stellar.

Every good cook knows that if you get the preparation right you’ll save time and effort and probably achieve a more appealing meal. Sadly, however, so many of our kitchens lack a decent set of knives and also often lacking is any knowledge of why we use certain knives for certain jobs. Choose the right knives and they become the most useful tools in your kitchen, making light work of culinary creations. Good knives can also last you a lifetime.

The new James Martin matt black Knife Block Set is compact, lightweight, and easy to clean with a snug-fitting chopping board at the rear. James designed the range for two main requirements: practicality and perfect balance - If knives are too heavy they make cutting clumsy, too light and they force you to use too much pressure. A knife that is correctly balanced ensures the weight does all the hard work not the chef!

A sharp blade is imperative to keep cutting clean and precise with minimal pressure. The James Martin knives have a high specification of finely-honed stainless steel blades, which have a high molybdenum content and can sharpen easily when necessary.

A comfortable, good grip is vital for safe handling, especially when the knife or your hand is wet. And these non-slip stainless steel handles, which can be used by either left or right handed chefs, are ideal.

I like to be able to put as much as possible in the dishwasher and, although the James Martin knives are dishwasher proof, it is possible for stainless steel to rust if left in a warm, damp atmosphere, therefore it is important to remove the knives from the dishwasher as soon as the cycle finishes and then dry them.  Alternatively, you can wash by hand in warm soapy water.

James also wanted his knives to be competitively priced when he teamed up with Stellar and they offer all this plus a lifetime guarantee.

Each block contains five knives:

A paring knife (9cm long) essential for intricate or fiddly tasks, like peeling fruits and vegetables, sectioning citrus, or taking the veins out of prawns.

A utility knife (13 cm long) the most important knife in a kitchen, used for everything from slicing and chopping vegetables to cutting joints of meat.

A bread knife (20cm long) with a serrated blade. Ideal for cutting things that are hard on the outside and soft on the inside (such as bread or tomatoes) or fibrous foods like celery or cabbage.

Carving knife (30cm long) to slice thin cuts of meat, including poultry, roasts, hams, and other large cooked meats. A carving knife is much thinner than a chef's knife (particularly at the spine), enabling it to carve thinner, more precise slices.

Cook’s Knife (15cm long) an all-purpose knife that is curved to allow the cook to rock the knife on the cutting board for a more precise cut. The larger the knife when chopping the better as you are more likely to cut yourself with a small knife as it is closer to your fingers

Spending a small fortune on inappropriate knives is a mistake I have made in the past. This set, however, is a real investment and fast becoming my firmest friends!

For your chance to win a James Martin Knife block set RRP £120 simply answer the following question:

What other products do Stellar manufacture?

Visit the New Stellar Website for more info www.stellarcookware.co.uk

Send your answers to competitions@womentalking.co.uk, ensuring you place the words James Martin in the subject header and also include your Women Talking username with the submission.

This competition has now closed and the winner will be contacted shortly.

Poppy Watt

Posted Wed, 06/13/2012 - 16:20 by Poppy Watt