10 Beyond-Basic Kitchen Upgrades For the Serious Home Cook

A good chef doesn't need a zillion knives to work their magic, but they sure do need a set of sharp ones. At first glance, the Zwilling Four Star II 7-Piece Cutlery Set ($370, originally $420) may seem like a splurge, but these knives will serve you well for many years. (This author's Zwilling set dates to 2006 and is just as good as ever.) The German craftsmanship of these knives is remarkably solid; once you feel the satisfying weight of the chef's knife, you'll understand why many people won't use any other brand.