Chef Rachael Ray partnered with Furi Cutlery to create this basic six-knife set built to Chef Ray’s own standards. High carbon chrome-vanadium stainless steel blades combine with unique antibacterial handles to offer chefs a versatile assortment with professional advantages.
Gusto-grip handles don’t use the same construction methods as other common cutlery. The polypropylene handles are pre-formed, and then the tapered rat tail tang of the forged knife is pressed into the grip. A rubberized outer coating adds more traction to the already safely shaped grip. Antibacterial agents permanently incorporated in the synthetic handles prevent the growth of harmful organisms. The final step involves insertion of the end bolster — solid stainless steel placed there to balance the weight of the blade.
The strikingly orange Gusto-grip knives include paring, utility, bread, and chef’s knives as well as a blade type developed which Furi calls the East-West knife. This five-inch blade combines the best features of the common chef’s knife with the slim and efficient Asian santoku and is well designed for slicing, mincing, and light chopping of vegetables and herbs.
Although this is a good set of knives and does include the basics everyone needs — in theory, enough of the important knives to do everything in the kitchen — the Furi Rachael Ray Gusto-grip 6 piece block set does have a couple of minor issues. The five-inch East-West knife doesn’t have the cutting capacity of a full-sized santoku or chef’s knife, and many will find it a bit too small for all-around convenience. The environmentally friendly bamboo knife block built of renewable and handsome bamboo strips will need a place that’s dry, since the block sits flush on the countertop. Moisture collecting beneath the block could cause the bamboo to swell and split glue joints.
