imarku TS18 18-Piece Japanese Knife Set: what is included and who it suits

The imarku TS18 is an 18-piece kitchen knife set that comes with a solid wood block. It covers the usual jobs in a home kitchen, from chopping vegetables to carving a roast, and adds steak knives for the table. Here is what's in the box and what the steel and handle details mean.

What's in the set

According to imarku, the set includes:

• an 8-inch chef knife and a 6-inch chef knife
• a 7-inch Santoku knife
• an 8-inch bread knife
• an 8-inch slicing knife
• a 4.7-inch utility knife
• a 3.2-inch paring knife
• eight 4.7-inch serrated steak knives
• an 8-inch sharpening rod
• kitchen shears
• a solid wood block

The chef knife is the general-purpose tool, and the Santoku is a shorter Japanese-style blade often used for slicing, dicing and mincing. A serrated bread knife cuts through crusts without crushing the crumb, and the small paring knife handles peeling and detail work.

Steel and edge

The blades are made from Japanese high carbon stainless steel. In general, a higher carbon content makes steel harder and better at holding an edge, while the stainless element helps resist rust. imarku also says the blades go through vacuum heat treatment and tempering. The brand gives a hardness figure, but the listing's number looks like a typing error, so check the box or the manufacturer for the exact Rockwell figure if it matters to you.

Each blade is hand polished to a 14.5° edge on each side, according to imarku. A narrower angle typically cuts with less resistance, but a very fine edge can be more delicate than a thicker one, so it favours careful use on a board rather than prying or cutting bone.

Handles and balance

The handles are contoured Pakkawood, a wood-based material that is usually resin-impregnated for better moisture resistance than plain wood. imarku says the shape supports a secure grip and that the blade and handle are balanced for steady control during longer prep sessions.

Storage and upkeep

The solid wood block keeps the chef knives, steak knives, shears and rod together and within reach. The brand recommends washing the knives by hand and drying them thoroughly to preserve their sharpness and finish, which is standard advice for most quality knives. Dishwashers can dull edges and harm wood handles. The sharpening rod is for routine edge maintenance between occasional deeper sharpenings.

Packaging

The set arrives in a gift box, and imarku suggests it for weddings, housewarmings and birthdays. The listed size is 7.7 x 14.3 x 10.2 inches.

Who it suits

It suits households setting up a first kitchen, people replacing a mixed collection of knives with a matching set, and cooks who often serve steak and want matching knives at the table.

What to check before you buy

• Counter space: measure the spot for the block.
• Blade lengths: make sure the sizes suit your hands and the food you prepare most.
• Hand-washing: confirm you're happy to wash and dry the knives by hand.
• Sharpening: check how the rod should be used, and whether you'll want a whetstone later.
• Safety: keep knives out of children's reach and keep them in the block.

The short version

• Eighteen pieces: chef, Santoku, bread, slicing, utility and paring knives, eight steak knives, shears and a rod.
• Japanese high carbon stainless steel with a 14.5° edge on each side.
• Pakkawood handles and a solid wood block.
• Hand wash and dry to keep the edge.
• Supplied in a gift box.

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