What type of kitchen knife should I buy?

Every household should have at a minimum: a serrated knife, a paring knife, and a chef's knife. The serrated knife is good for cutting breads. A paring knife is handy for peeling and slicing smaller objects such as fruits. A chef's knife is a multi-purpose workhorse that can be used to accomplish most tasks such as slicing and dicing meats, vegetables, and fruits.