Don't overspend on kitchen knives; here's what you need

You've probably seen knife block sets with 11, 15, or 22 blades. But fancy cutlery won't make you a better chef. And à la carte knife shopping will simplify your kitchen and could save money.

Virtually any home cook would be better off with these three essential knives:

8-inch chef's knife.

For chopping, dicing and carving, it's your go-to in all seasons. A high-quality chef's knife can do almost everything, so if you're going to spend money, spend it here.

Paring knife.

A sharp paring knife can do the work of many specialty knives: boning, fileting, peeling, decorating, trimming, and fluting.

Bread knife.

To slice bread without crushing the loaf, you really need a serrated bread knife. Your bread will thank you.