A KNIFE SET THAT EARNS ITS PLACE IN THE KITCHEN

Station cooking can mean anything from preparing a quick breakfast before everyone heads out to putting together a big evening meal. There are vegetables to chop, meat to prepare, bread to slice, fruit to cut up and plenty of smaller jobs in between.

Having the right knife for each job makes a surprising difference.

The Global Kabuto set includes six knives, ranging from an 8cm paring knife through to a 22cm bread knife, along with the black Kabuto knife block. There is a 20cm cook's knife for the bigger jobs, smaller knives for more precise preparation, vegetable and utility knives, and a serrated bread knife. For me, that variety is one of the biggest advantages of the set. You don't need to make do with one knife for absolutely everything.

When you're standing at the kitchen bench with a pile of onions, carrots, potatoes and other vegetables waiting to be prepared, a good-sized cook's knife makes the job considerably easier. When you're trimming something smaller or doing a fiddly job, the paring knife is there. And when it is time to get through the loaf of bread for breakfast or those cinnamon scrolls need to be cut and you can’t find that bloody roll of string that everyone tells you to use, the bread knife does exactly what you expect it to.

It is a simple thing, but having the right tool for the job saves time and makes cooking a lot less frustrating.

SHARPNESS MAKES A DIFFERENCE

Anyone who has spent time cooking in a busy kitchen knows the difference between a good sharp knife and one that has seen better days.A blunt knife makes chopping harder, slower and less enjoyable. You end up putting more pressure into the cut, and the whole process becomes unnecessarily difficult.

What I particularly like is that they feel like proper working knives. They aren't unnecessarily bulky, and they have a nice balance in the hand. When you've got a lot of preparation to get through, that matters.

The knives have Global's distinctive stainless-steel handles with the familiar dimpled grip. The seamless construction also gives them a clean, uncomplicated feel, which is especially welcome in a kitchen where knives are being used regularly. You need knives that are going to be comfortable to use and not give you blistered every time you are constantly chopping.

IDEAL FOR FEEDING A HUNGRY CREW

One of the best tests of kitchen equipment is whether you still appreciate it when you're cooking a large meal and you're already tired.

Station cooking isn't about beautifully presented individual plates. More often, you're preparing generous quantities of food for people who have worked hard all day, in the heat and are ready for dinner.

That's where a versatile knife set like this earns its keep.

A big pot of vegetables, a roast, a barbecue spread, sandwiches for lunch or a simple breakfast can all involve plenty of chopping and slicing. The larger cook's knife handles the heavier preparation, while the smaller knives are handy for all those jobs where you don't need a big blade, and because the knives come in a proper block, they can stay together on the bench rather than disappearing into different kitchen drawers.

THE BLACK KABUTO BLOCK LOOKS THE PART

The knife block is another reason I like this particular set. As most of you are aware, I like a cleanly presented kitchen, with a somewhat homely vibe. A little hard to do in a commercial kitchen but,  the black finish of the knife block looks smart without being overly fancy, and it suits the practical feel of a station kitchen. More importantly, it keeps the knives organised and easy to grab.

When you're halfway through preparing a meal, the last thing you want is to be rummaging around in a drawer looking for the right knife. Having everything together on the bench is simply convenient.

It also makes the set a good option for anyone setting up a new kitchen. Rather than slowly buying knives one at a time and ending up with a mismatched collection, you've got a complete selection ready to go.

THEY DO REQUIRE A LITTLE CARE

The one thing I would say is that these are quality knives, so you should treat them accordingly, which is truly why I believe my knives have lasted me 5 years, with 3 of those years cooking on cattle stations.

They are not the sort of knives I'd throw into the dishwasher and forget about. Hand washing and drying them properly is the way to go. Keeping the edges sharp with the appropriate sharpener or whetstone will also help maintain their performance.

That's hardly a drawback, though. Any good knife deserves a bit of care, and looking after them properly means you can get years of use from them.

I'd also recommend using a decent cutting board rather than chopping directly onto hard surfaces. It is a small habit that makes a noticeable difference to how long a knife stays sharp.

WOULD I RECOMMEND THEM FOR A CATTLE STATION KITCHEN?

Yes, absolutely.

For me, the biggest selling point isn't the Japanese name or the good-looking black block. It is the fact that this is a genuinely useful set of knives. I have used them both in a cattle station kitchen and my own home kitchen, and can confidently say, they are the best of both worlds.

They cover the jobs you're actually going to be doing. They're comfortable to use, properly sharp and versatile enough to handle everything from peeling a few vegetables to preparing a substantial meal for a hungry crew.

If you're cooking on a cattle station, you don't necessarily need a kitchen full of gadgets and specialty equipment. You need a handful of good tools that you can rely on every day.

The Global Kabuto 7 Piece Knife Set in Black fits that description.

It looks good enough to sit proudly on the kitchen bench, but more importantly, it is practical enough to get covered in onion skins, carrot peelings and whatever else you're preparing for dinner. That's the sort of kitchen equipment I appreciate. Something that looks good but is built to be used.

For anyone setting up or upgrading a station kitchen or simply looking for a quality knife set that will handle plenty of everyday cooking, this is one I'd be confident would do the job.

When you've got a hungry crew waiting for dinner, a good knife might seem like a small thing. Spend a few hours preparing a big meal with a good one, though, and you realize just how much of a difference it makes.