“I participated in an Influencer Activation on behalf of Influence Central for Calphalon. I received product samples and a promotional item to thank me for my participation.”
I have a confession to make. I’m a food blogger and I don’t have knife skills. I don’t know the proper way to chop an onion, slice an apple, or cut a butternut squash. I usually wing it and always end up thinking, “I’m sure there’s a better way to cut this.” I feel clunky and awkward. Part of the problem is that I don’t have good knives. They aren’t sharp. I’m pretty sure we bought them when we first got married 15 years ago and they have never been sharpened (who’s got time for that?).
Well, I’m happy to say that things are changing! I received an awesome set of knives from Calphalon (sidenote: I knew I wanted these knives because I have a Calphalon pan and it is by far the best quality pan that I’ve used. I figured the knives would be just as quality as the pan and I was right.) By far, the coolest thing about the knives is that they are self-sharpening. What?! How is that possible? Well, the knife set comes with an attractive knife block and inside each of the little slots is a ceramic sharpener. That way every time you put your knife back into the correct slot in the knife block it’s automatically sharpened at the correct angle and without any effort on your part. Brilliant!
My set came with 8 steak knives, kitchen shears (these are my favorite), 8 inch serrated bread knife, 7 inch Santoku, 6 inch utility knife, 8 inch chef knife and a 4 1/2 inch parer knife.
The first thing I freaked out about was cutting a tomato with these knives! It was such a different feeling cutting a fragile tomato with a sharp high quality knife. I just want to make pico de gallo every night now 😉 Check out this video of the proper way to cut tomatoes.
I’ve been doing a lot of chopping lately and have loved learning the proper way to cut an onion. As I mentioned in my Tomato Basil Soup recipe, having a sharp knife makes you cry less when you cut an onion! And chopping the carrots and celery for the soup was so much easier (and more fun) with Calphalon knives.
I suggest giving these knives as a wedding gift or maybe even giving yourself an anniversary gift of these knives. I’ve really loved them so far and am excited to keep cooking them and using them!
Do you want to win a set of Calphalon Knives ($219 value)???
I know you do!
TO ENTER:
Visit the knife skills website and then enter a comment below telling me which video was the most helpful to you! (the pomegranate one was pretty life changing for me!) Make sure to leave your first name and email address so I can contact you if you win!
This giveaway will go only until November 6th, 2015.
Contest entrants are only eligible to win once per sweepstake, per household as part of a campaign sponsored by Influence Central.
(Note: contest is over and winner has been notified by email)
P.S. Make sure to follow Calphalon on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!
This calphalon knife saves my valuable time from sharpening knives. Now, my knives are all time sharp. Thanks a lot Karen for sharing with us such kind of essential tool for kitchen.
I have never known how to fillet a fish, I love the video that shows just how to do it! It looks so easy!
stacymadrox(at)yahoo.com
The watermelon video was very informative. I am always looking for new ways to slice watermelon.
Loved the artichoke video, I've always been too intimidated to cook with them!
I thought the butternut squash one was very helpful to me.
Great videos! My favorite was the rack of lamb. So nicely explained including how to French the rib! The pomegranate one was the runner up. Excellent to know how to break one down!
Brussels Sprouts cut three ways – who knew??? Carla carlaruns(at)gmail.com
It's always good to see someone else cut an onion! I'm Jim, limproved at hotmail.com
I like the celery root video the most.. super informative!
steve weber
groogruxking40 @ gmail.com
I liked the chicken video.
Thomas Murphy
rounder9834 @yahoo.com
The chicken video was the most helpful to me.
Amanda Sakovitz
POKERGRL8 at gmail.com
The butternut squash video. I cook with butternut squash all the time in the winter!
I like the watermelon video! 🙂 nessmadrigal@gmail.com
The butternut squash!
I found bunch of awesome new tips but am familiar with many of them. Hard to pick a fave, but think I will tomatoes. I love the receipe ideas, too. Thanks so much for the giveaway. Phyllis at phylmstrickland@gmail.com
After watching all of the videos, I select brussels sprouts because I will be using my new skills tonight! Shelly sbrewer (at) mail (dot) com
The Celery Root video was pretty amazing. I never knew how to cut one of those and know I do; pretty neat!
I found the one cutting the Smaller Pink Shrimp to be most helpful. I use a lot of shrimp and I always make such a mess out of them. This was quite informative, as were a couple others I watched!
Krissie
CalifKitties {at} Aol {dot} com
These look and sound awesome. I actually have seen a commercial about them several times which is also awesome! I loved the lemon and lime video. I honestly am always so terrible and trying to figure out the best way to slice them.
also, my email is starla.bates(AT)yahoo(DOT)com Starla B
I really enjoyed all the videos! I probably spent 30mins watching them, I kept getting sucked in by the next one! I especially liked the one about garlic. I never knew I could make my own paste. Great tip! My email is sholloway410@hotmail.com
Thanks,
Nick and Shawna Agajanian
I found the eggplant video to be really helpful. Thanks for the giveaway!
SeasideMermaid@twc.com
I watched several and found the garlic and basil videos helpful. But I'm gonna have to go back and watch the chicken video based on everyone's comments. I would LOVE to have these knives!
Definitely the onion. Liked the chicken also.
I like the pomegranate video, it does work well, with a minimal of juice spraying everywhere.
I admit, though, I found myself skipping around from video to video trying to guess which pair of tattooed hands were going to show up!
I like the pomegranate video, it does work well, with a minimal of juice spraying everywhere.
I admit, though, I found myself skipping around from video to video trying to guess which pair of tattooed hands were going to show up!
The video that shows how to cut up pineapple was good.
You would think as much as a cook I would have a nice knife set but no, just the old set I got as a wedding gift 25 yrs ago. I'm sure having high quality knives would help with the cutting. The tomato and chicken video were very helpful. I really need to practice the curled fingers technique as well. Thanks for the chance to win. Dedee. EMAIL: dedee@spicyshelf (dot) com
Breaking down the chicken video was great. I was aware of the oyster part on cooked poultry but never thought about it when sectioning a chicken.
My current knife set was a gift over 35 years ago — sure could use an update.
Segmenting an orange video was very helpful. I had attempted to this before seeing the video last week and it wasn't pretty. Heathe Linteo heatherbulloch@sbcglobal.net
the watermelon one is nice and i dont post my email but my twitter is @purplelover04
I loved watching them cut the pineapple and watermelon. They did it so fast. I always stress out when I hae to cut up a watermelon. I am afraid I am going to cut myself with the knife. I guess the trick is a really sharp knife. Would love the Calphalon knife set. Would keep me from have an accident. Stephanie
izzerbizzer@yahoo.com
My favorite video was of the apples.
maryannecochran@gmail.com
I really liked watching how he cut the onion. My eyes tear up so I'm always looking for better ways to chop onions.
The acorn squash. I had to fight with one tonight! t was good once I got it cut up and peeled.
I like the video on the squash because I didn't realize if you move the blade around the squash it will help take the neck off easier, very helpful. Thanks for the chance to enter.
Andrea D.
short74717@msn.com
I recently found out that fresh pineapple is better than any other kind….so the pineapple one was very informational but wow on the whole chicken breakdown.
Tonia
deakin_family@yahoo.com
I enjoyed all the videos ,but the butterflying porkloin and the Chicken were my favs. chevaliermaryellen@yahoo.ca
The ginger video. I never knew you could leave the skin on
The pork video was the most helpful and I hope to try this method soon. They make it look so easy, but I'm like you, I need new knifes! Thanks for the great giveaway! Patty pgbarger@gmail.com
I enjoyed the chicken and the pomegranate video. These knifes look amazing. Thanks for the giveaway!! 🙂
I watch a number of the videos. The one I like and will use is for Brussle Sprouts. My in laws love Brussle Sprouts and I found two different recipes, a cooked one and a salad. I thought for the holidays it would be a nice surprise to serve these. Now I know how to prepare them. Thanks
We eat a lot of tomatoes so that was most rewarding and my wife LOVES POMEGRANATES! Despite watching various DIY videos on getting the fruit out of the skin the kitchen ends up covered in Pomegranate stains. This video clearly simplifies the task in a very clean and efficient manner!
The acorn squash video gave me a new way of presenting it as slices rather than as a stuffed half or cubed, and since I have some lovely acorn squash sitting in my vegetable basket I will certainly try it that way sometime this week!
the chicken video was the one I was most interested in. I don't know why I'm scared to cut up a chicken but I've never done it. I just know I'll have a lot of unrecognizable parts! mary mann5339@netzero.net
I learned that I've been cutting an onion all wrong. I also watched the fennel video.
Karen sammie0@me.com
Cherries and pomegranate.
clogzilla(at)yahoo(dot)com
Joe S The butterfly and trussing up the pork loin was artistry with a blade. Effective Roast Tying was always a mystery here, I want to see one on dividing up en entire pork knuckle (aka: Socceerball) and dividing up a tri-tip roast. CZ52_99@yahoo.com
Great site! So many useful videos, so thanks for sharing…but I'll chose the chicken video because I've slaughter many a chicken in less dignified ways!
I like those videos. The chicken and pomegranate ones were helpful!
arclawson57@gmail.com
I loved the video on the lemons and limes. While it wasn't new information for me, I appreciated the technique on cutting supremes, as well as slicing out the seeds from the lemon. I also liked the ginger video. These knives look amazing. I'm Corey at coreyrn@bellsouth.net (first choice) or coreyrn1215@gmail.com.
I loved the onion one and the pomegranate one. Both I have difficulty with so the videos really helped!
crazyweirdo33@yahoo.com
I liked the chicken video. That's always tough for me.
Pomegranate and onion videos for me.
The brussel sprouts for sure. I recently discovered I love them but have inly made roasted or steam in a bag. The video showed how ti cut but also gave me a different way to cook them. Can't wait to try.
The chicken video was pretty informative We definitely need new knives in our house!!
i found the basil video most helpful! i must admit, while i do love using fresh herbs when i cooking, i really have no clue how to chop them hahah….as a side note i really love how calphalon's website shows all the food and when you hover your mouse over the image, it shows it chopped up! it's really cool. and made it a lot more fun to pick videos to watch (vs. just having a list of food chopping video links to click on). thanks for sharing :)!
I really enjoyed the corn video…but then I had to watch the chicken video which led me to the onion video…and on and on it went. The idea of self sharpening will take care of all the complaints I get from my children when they visit. They end up sharpening all my knives.
By the way, my name is pronounced Jill and my email is jillwithag7@gmail.com.
First, thanks for this website! I'm going to bookmark it so I have a resource the next time I need to chop something. I loved the one for the onions — my jaw was literally dropping when I saw his technique! Very cool! Thanks.
I love to use fresh ginger, but I never know the best way to cut it..so that one was the most helpful to me!
Michelle M.
svbabe10@yahoo.com
Yolanda ymowad@earthlink.net
I thought (first error) I had good knife skills but I was totally blown away not only by the pomegranate but also by the simple cutting/chopping of a tomato and peach! What happened to all smashed & squishy fruit? These knives are amazing!! If I win I hope I don't cut a finger!!!
the onion will make my life significantly easier! Thank you!
My favorite is the pomegranate one cause I love pomegranates!
Maelena1990(at)hotmail(dot)com
I watched a lot of them, and yes the pomegranate was interesting but the shrimp one was life changing. I stay away from shrimp just because I don't know what to to, but NOW!
Kellie kjq47@yahoo.com
These videos are AWESOME! I was never trained/taught how to cut anything and so I just sort of wing it. My favorite video was the shallots video. I am slightly obsessed with the flavor of shallots, so this video was very helpful; I will feel far more confident cooking with shallots now that I have seen different ways to cut them. Thanks!!
My first name is Michelle and my email address is: michellefries83@gmail.com
The video that shows how to cut up a whole chicken, I needed that. Thanks!
The butternut squash video was very helpful! Natalie natalie2040@gmail.com
Oh for sure…the chicken! I have such a hard time with that! I also loved the Pineapple! I have a hard time with that too! Laura landfjacobson @ charter . net
Chicken video. westtennmods@bellsouth.net
The chicken video made me want to go out and buy a slew of em just to practice. Great stuff!
The chicken and the artichoke videos were the most helpful. Great tips.
Probably the chicken. It's the only one I'm too hesitant to actually do. And a good reminder for upcoming Turkey Day. These are great videos.
Cynthia
sincuh@hotmail.com
As a chef de cuisine, I like watching how other people cut meats, fruits, and vegetables. Pomegranates are always a tricky fruit to cut because of all the seeds seem to always get in the cuts. This demonstration shows how to cut one without the seeds ending up with the cut fruit.
It was the cutting of the chicken.
It was the cutting of the chicken.
I found the papaya to be very helpful, as I've never gotten one before. Also the squid was pretty amazing!
Sue
sumac@sover.net
The chicken video helped me most! I never knew how to cut up a chicken properly…and honestly, my current knives would never be up to the task. Loved these set of videos 🙂
Thanks,
Jenny
engravedpalms@gmail.com
The chicken video.
E-Mail: tiggergirl57@att.net
The brussel sprout video! I love brussel sprouts and I love having other options for using them now that they are in season.
Acorn squash. Those have always been a challenge for me. Was a little surprised not to find sweet potato on the list, especially given the popularity of sweet potato fries. Maybe I just missed it. My email is ssmart@indiana.edu. Scott
I liked to pomegranate video the best. Seems like something I could do and get right the first time – even though I've never cut one open before. (Jasmine ~ enimsaj21@gmail.com)
Loved the onion and chicken both! Darla dprater@voe.org
Loved the acorn squash, i have the hardest time cutting them! Also, the tomato video was very helpful! These knives make cutting so much easier! Michelle mjones0820@yahoo.com
Oh my! I think I watched at least a dozen videos! Very helpful! I love working with sharp knives and would LOVE to have a set of these! I'm a single mom of four boys ages 10-21 and these would definitely come in handy. I loved all the fruit and veggie videos, but the park tenderloin caught my attention more because I've never known how to butterfly any piece of meat. And the thought of stuffing one? Yum!!! You can reach me at lr.mullin @ live dot com.
Linnette
How to prepare ginger was most helpful. I've always shied away from fresh ginger as I didn't know what to do with it. gina grsobx@yahoo.com
I have a couple Calphalone knives and love them, an entire set would be amazing. Watched several of the videos. The pomegranate and fennel were the most helpful.
I am a person who cannot tolerate a dull knife so needless to say I spend a lot of time sharpening. The Chef's knife just blew me away. I do cook every day for my family so anything that makes the job easier and more enjoyable is perfect. What a great idea to sharpen the knife right in the block!
Donna
scirvec30@gmail.com
Loved the chicken video! But I think that I learned the most from the simple watermelon video…. who'da thunk to cut the ends off so that you can set it upright to cut down!!! Duh, GENIUS! Going to go back to watch the rest of them. Have always had Calphalon knives, and these self-sharpening ones look fantastic! Thanks much…. happy cooking.
Phidge
The acorn squash video was very helpful. I love acorn squash but avoided cooking it because it was so hard to get into. I also appreciated being shown the different ways to cut it up. My next favorite was the artichoke — never knew how to cut one up. I'll have to try it when I win the knives … 🙂
The video on butternut squash! One of my favorite veggies.
debyrah@gmail.com
Ooops…michelle_nawa@yahoo.com
It was almost a tie! My favorite was the pomegranate because I spent over an hour this Halloween de-seeding two of them by hand (and with a spoon). His method looked SO easy!! I also loved the ginger video. I have avoided recipes with ginger in the past because it always seemed complicated to peel ginger and his three methods made it look easy. Thanks for sharing!!
I'm very impressed of the fact that they are self sharpening! But the video that caught my attention would be the tomato. It's not easy to slice a tomato if you don't have a sharp knife to use. Thanks so much!
Teresa
teresa_gates@msn.com
These are best videos!! Acorn squash was very helpful…excited to make some tonight!
I watched the pork loin and was hoping for them to show an easy way of getting the silver skin off without taking half the roast with it, like I do. But watching them make matchstick potatoes was pretty cool.
learned how to peel skin first off squid
mai @ mychai2@gmail.com
Whoops! mommymeow@hotmail.com
Wow! So many cool things! The chicken was amazing, tomato looked so easy, and celery root!? My knives have never been sharp enough! But I think the most interesting was the leek. Turns out Ive been cutting it backwards and who knew you could use the green part? LOVED THIS!
I learned some ideas from watching the bell pepper and tomato video. Love new ideas. christine_sandmann@sbcglobal.net
The pineapple was a better choice than how I normally cut. I will try it
Definitely the tomato demonstration video. I can't cut a tomato properly to save my life, my husband always pushes me out of the way and he does it. I would love to win these knifes, the self sharpening has me convinced (a step above Cutco) and now I believe I can show my husband I can slice a tomato!
Woops, forgot my info: jreese53@neo.rr.com Joyce Reese
I watched a few of them and will definitely go back to watch more but so far the most helpful would be the salmon.. those knives look amazing.
Katy… kseverson91@gmail.com
I loved the basil knife skills video! My name is Elizabeth. email ewright@wvu.edu
I liked how to segment an orange. I slways wondered how to do that. I don't think that I own a knife sharp enough to do that, though.
The pomegranate for sure!
Elise – elise.quinn84@gmail.com
I found the onion one very helpful!
I liked the butternut squash video. I always have problems with squash as the skin is so tough. These knives will be awesome. Thanks for the give-away.
jegokey@comcast.net Joyce
Oh absolutely, the avocado video!! I never knew about "twisting" the avocado to separate it and cutting it while it was still in the skin. I must have been living under a rock all of these years! oh yes, and the pomegranate, who would have known you could even cut one of those things without making a huge mess.
Do people still eat these? Love it.
eagibson@cox.net
The chicken video was very helpful!!!!
Casey- flawed.perfection2@gmail.com
Great vids. Went in thinking I'd watch one and watched oodles. Enjoyed the ginger and corn ones, but after reading comments I think I need to go back and watch the chicken one! Tara @ taralynmathew@gmail.com
The most helpful to me was the corn video, showing how to use leverage with the chef knife to cut through a cob of corn and how to remove the kernels easily.
rusthawk at gmail dot com
thanks!
The breaking down of a chicken was pretty amazing! Loved it! maggiesmith711 AT gmail DOT com
I learned from the mushroom one. I had no idea a portobello had to be cleaned like it shows. Judy jastoudt at gmail
i've never known how to break down a chicken, so that was most helpful! sigh–i'm nowhere near as competent in the kitchen as i thought i was. 🙂
Onion!!! Sue sfairbourn at hotmail dot com
The onion! Laura laura0299@gmail.com
The onion and butternut squash were very helpful. Thanks! Joanna jdstrongaz at outlook.com
What a cool site. I watched 6 or 7 of the videos already. I'm with you, the pomegranate one was most interesting. Ed M ed.mcgee@gmail.com
Awesome blog. I liked most the videos. Best for me was eggplant, peppers and pineapple. Thanks for the giveaway.
Sandeep.
These videos are really informative. I learned new techniques for cutting chicken, making a rolled roast. I'm new to fileting so the fish video was informative. These knives look amazing.
I liked the butternut squash video as I am always afraid I am going to cut myself when cutting one open. They are so hard to get through without a decent knife. The video showed the best way to break it down.
How to filet a whole salmon. We live at the beach and I think this would be helpful with most whole fishes.
Must say the chicken video was the most helpful !!!
Alex.dunn@gmail.com
The onion one for me, too. I've never been good at cutting an onion. Can't wait to do it the right way!
ragquiltsbyjulie@gmail.com
Loved the cute strawberry garnish style! I would have never thought to have left the tops on like that. The giveaway looks great. Tina at tina.sundaram@gmail.com
I liked the onion one and also the video showing how to cut the chicken was really helpful to me. Thanks for the videos and the giveaway. Violet Smith violetsmith62@gmail.com
First I have to say that I love your blog, so thank you for posting so many great recipes. I liked watching many of the videos, as I realized my knife skills are not as bad as I thought! My favorite was the one for cutting up chicken. I also really liked the tattoos on the guy in the pomegranite video. Thanks for the giveaway, it would be exciting to win! Lori F. at lorifarrell129@gmail.com
I really needed to see the onion video. I've been slicing them all wrong for years! Thank you for the giveaway.
Rene Nix
crickettnix@comcast.net
All the videos are good but the chicken and pomegranate were the best for my skills.
It seems like I'm forever cutting up peppers and getting seeds everywhere. That was a different technique that I can't wait to try! Also, that lamb rib video was great. Thanks for the giveaway!
Stephanie at skdeal@gmail.com
I think the ginger video was the most helpful. Thanks for a great giveaway.
I liked the chicken video as well corvettesbme@gmail.com
Rack of lamb was great.
Thanks,
Al McIntosh
almac3@att.net
So the onion video was helpful, as I am also a novice when cutting things in the kitchen. I usually just put it in my vitamix to chop— but these super sharp knives would be awesome to use!
I was hopeful that the butternut squash one would solve one of the biggest issues I have when cutting, but it didn't seem to go to the final product. In the end, the ginger one gave me new ideas on how to mince ginger as that is another food i have an issue cutting! Thanks for the post 🙂 Very cool product
Michele (michele.r.mariotti@gmail.com)
The chicken video for sure….those knives make it look like cutting through butter.
The video of the ginger was the most informative to me. I tried to use fresh ginger once in a recipe and it was a total failure. I didn't know if I was supposed to peel it or not, then when I did try to peel it it was impossible to do. Thanks for the information.
Joanne at jostevens68@gmail.com
I liked the eggplant video as well as the pineapple video. I cut up pineapples weekly and they never are as easy as this video made it look. I am sure that it has a lot to do with my dull knives. The pomegranate video was so amazing. I have never seen a pomegranate cut up like this but will remember this one.
birdiebee52 (at) gmail (dot) com
I liked the eggplant video as well as the pineapple video. I cut up pineapples weekly and they never are as easy as this video made it look. I am sure that it has a lot to do with my dull knives. The pomegranate video was so amazing. I have never seen a pomegranate cut up like this but will remember this one.
birdiebee52 (at) gmail (dot) com
I never knew how to get the heart out of the artichoke. My older son loves to eat artichokes, but we've always just thrown away the inner part containing the heart because I couldn't figure out how to tackle it. But now I know!
Cheryl
canewton42@yahoo.com
The chicken video was very helpful. I recommend taking a class as the best way to learn knife skills. I attended one at a local cutlery shop and felt liberated. Nothing beat the satisfaction of easily chopping an onion into six thousand pieces! And then you're in the right place to buy lots of good knives. young.melinda at gmail
I watched probably 10 videos, and most of them did not teach me anything new; but I will definitely remember their technique for pomegranates next time I have one.
The rack of lamb video was really useful, especially since I'm preparing that this week! – Erin, erin [at] erinmorelli [dot] com.
I liked the one about cutting up chicken; while basically the same as I use now, I saw some technique that could be helpful. mikeintexas at gmail
definitely the onion!
The breaking down a chicken video is helpful to me. It's one skill that I never picked up from Grandma and I usually make of mess of the parts. – Kenny, kkshijo@gmail.com