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Ceramic knives are not new but you are seeing more of them. They do require extra care however as they are fragile and they are ultra sharp. For one thing, ceramic keeps a sharper edge than steel because it is actually harder than steel, rating 8.5 on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness compared to 6 to 6.5 for hardened steel.

Introduced by Hampton Forge during the 2011 New York Tabletop Show, the manufacturer says these knives were tested for durability, such as drop tests. Early versions of ceramic knives that came on the market were known to chip and these are much more resistant to chips. That said – like steel – knives should not be used inappropriately – like for chopping frozen meat or the edge could be damaged. Keeping the guards on in a drawer prevents the knives from potential damage and also is for safety as you don’t want to touch the blade by accident. As with all precision cutting tools, a quick rinse or a little detergent is all that’s needed.

Duraceramica comes in four styles: 6” chef knife with a raspberry red handle; 5” santoku knife with a mint green handle; 5” utility knife (serrated) with a lemon yellow handle; 4” parer knife with a citrus orange handle. Cool and fun looking and price accessible. The set may cost around $19.99 and come to market this Fall.

producer: hampton forge