Ginsu Kotta Series Knife Set: Review and Buy Online

Ginsu made a name for itself by combining door-to-door sales techniques with television commercials, becoming far more famous for the marketing than the products themselves. Practically inventing the infomercial back in the 70s, Ginsu became rather infamous for its sales pitches, racking up millions of sales but perhaps alienating the anti-"as seen on TV" crowd.

But marketing will only go so far, and once the commercial is over and the product finds its way into the hands of its purchasers, all they care about is quality, and millions of users have been happily enjoying Ginsu knives for decades. Construction includes high quality Japanese stainless steel, with lasting edges and tough handles, with a lifetime guarantee against defects, and with proper care, a Ginsu knife set will last for quite some time.

The Ginsu Kotta series represents the middle ground of the Ginsu lineup, offering good value while still featuring the always-sharp serrated cutting edges that made Ginsu famous. The stainless steel handles provide an almost futuristic look, which will look...um...sharp...in any kitchen.

The Kotta series comes in a variety of sizes for kitchens of all different needs, so you can start a whole kitchen setup from scratch, or pick a starter set, suitable for smaller families or those who don't need every knife imaginable.

Here are some of the larger sets available in the Ginsu Kotta series:

Ginsu Kotta Series 04897 14-piece cutlery set is a good place to start, featuring a wide variety of knives that should handle whatever you throw their way. Included in the set:

• 8" Chef Knife
• 8" Slicer
• 7" Santoku
• 5.5" Boning Knife
• 5.5" Utility Knife
• Six 4.5" Steak Knives
• 3.5" Paring Knife
• Shears
• Storage Block

A step up is the 16 piece set, which also includes:

• 8" Bread Knife
• 6.5" Cleaver

Then there's the flagship 20 piece set, which is actually a bit different, including a different set of knives, plus some kitchen utensils as well:

• 8" Slicer
• 8" Bread Knife
• 6" Chef Knife
• 5.5" Utility Knife
• 5" Tomato Knife
• Eight 4.5" Steak Knives
• 3.5" Paring Knife
• Shears
• Slotted Spoon
• Spoon
• Pasta Rake
• Spatula
• Storage Block

For those keeping score, that means you lose the Santoku and boning knife, and the chef's knife is shorter, but you get the four kitchen utensils. So just take your pick according to your needs.

For those who don't want to spend on a full set of knives, there are some great options among the smaller sets, ideal for setting up a starter kitchen for less intensive culinary needs.

Starting with the smallest, the 5 piece Kotta set includes:

• 6" Chef Knife
• 5" Santoku Knife
• 5.5" Utility Knife
• 3.5" Paring Knife
• Storage Block

Going up a step to the 8 piece set, you also get:

• 8" Slicer
• 5.5" Boning Knife
• Shears
• (Plus an extra 2" on the Chef and Santoku knives)

Going up to the 11 piece set will get you:

• Four 4.5" Steak Knives
• But you'll lose the boning knife.

Ginsu makes a range of knives, though all of them use high-quality Japanese stainless steel that has earned the company such a reputation. The Kotta and Essential series feature the serrated edges that never (or rarely) need sharpening, while the Chikara and Shoku knives have fine edges that will occasionally require some care (though a honing rod is generally included with these sets).

The Essential series offers the best value, but since all the knives offer lasting performance and durability, you might be able to get away with just picking out the one you think looks the coolest.

Check out a Ginsu Chikara Knife Set Review for more more details and options for sale.