If you cook a lot or plan to, it might be worthwhile to invest in fine cutlery. Visit a kitchen store or an online retailer and look through the selections. Look for a chef's, or French, knife. This is the standard workhorse knife of Western kitchens. It's a wide knife that tapers to a fine tip and can be used for cutting, chopping and slicing.
Long knives are actually easier to use than smaller ones because there's more blade to do the work.
Look for a chef's knife with a stainless-steel blade. The entire blade should be sharp and should continue for the entire length of the handle. Almost all kitchen tasks can be accomplished with these basic knives. Augment your basic set with a serrated knife for cutting breads and fruit and a honing steel to keep your knives sharp. Such knives often have plastic handles and are made from stamped steel.