Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Why You Should Use Kyocera Ceramic Knives

By Hellen Zee


Steel kitchen knives can really become more of a hassle than they're worth. Blades can go dull in what seems like only a few uses, and constant re-sharpening is a potentially expensive annoyance. Sometimes it can feel like you're spending more time sharpening your knives than cutting with them! Well, there's one easy solution: consider a switch to ceramic blades, such as Kyocera ceramic Knives.

There are a number of reasons to use Kyocera ceramic knives instead of regular steel knives. One of the primary advantages is one of the most basic - these knives will stay sharp for up to 10 times as long as regular steel knives. These blades don't dull nearly as easy, so you'll save a lot of time and frustration because you won't have to waste time sharpening them. Kyocera is well known for its quality ceramic knives, so you won't be disappointed with your purchase

Kyocera ceramic knives are crafted from exceptionally durable ceramic material, generally zirconium oxide. The scientific community measures the hardness of materials according to Moh's scale of hardness, a scale from 1 to 10. Zirconia comes in at 8.5 on this scale, compared to normal or tempered steel that measures 6.5 at the highest. Kyocera ceramic knives maintain their sharpness for much longer than normal steel blades because of this. Kyocera manufactures some advanced models that reach almost a 10 on Moh's scale, making them only slightly softer than diamond. If you need any more evidence than that, consider that most steel knives are sharpened against a sharpening stone that's made of ceramic!

However, ceramic knives are not without their disadvantages. Their construction makes them more prone to breaking than steel blades. This mostly only comes into play when trying to pry things apart or cut exceptionally hard or frozen foods. Chipping can also occur if a ceramic knife is dropped - this is usually minor, but still inconvenient. The good news is that advanced techniques in ceramic creation have created sturdier ceramic knives.

For instance, you can purchase Kyocera ceramic knives that are crafted using a process known as hot isostatic pressing, or HIP. This process ultimately forms a new compound material that holds an edge just as well as normal ceramic, and not only gives these knives a stylish black blade, it also greatly increases their durability significantly. With these Kyocera ceramic knives, the primary drawback of using ceramic blades is overcome.

There are a number of other positive qualities of Kyocera ceramic knives. One of the lesser-known qualities is that these blades are chemically inert. What does this mean? A few things: for one, there's no risk of ending up with a metallic taste in your food. Additionally, ceramic blades are highly resistant to germs, meaning less chance of food contamination. Lastly, where salts, oils and acids, can wear down steel blades ceramic blades do not suffer from this problem.

Another useful feature of Kyocera ceramic knives is their weight. They are very light and expertly balanced, making them easier and more fun to use than their steel counterparts. When performing repetitive cutting tasks, you'll quickly notice how much less tiring using one of these knives is. Between their durability, sharpness, and ease of use, Kyocera ceramic knives make working in the kitchen effortless and enjoyable.

While it's true that because they are so hard, ceramic knives are difficult to sharpen, there's no need to worry. Kyocera also offers a sharpening service. For only $10, you can ship your knives back to Kyocera and they will sharpen them for you. While this may be a minor inconvenience, Kyocera ceramic cutlery lasts so much longer than regular knives you'll hardly notice.

For all their advantages, Kyocera ceramic blades are offered at a fair price. Any number of retail outlets and websites offer these knives, which range from $40 to $90 individually. Sets of Kyocera knives are also available; you can find some of these sets for as little as $350. While it's true that you can find cheaper knives the kind of quality that you get from Kyocera matches that of the most expensive steel pieces. These blades are comparable to Henckels knives and Wustof cutlery, which can cost hundreds of dollars for each knife. Making the switch the Kyocera ceramic knives is a choice you won't regret.

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