There's going to be a lot of cooking occurring during these holidays, and Kyocera knives and peelers offer affordability, versatility and practicality to give you a helping hand.

These ceramic items are made to complement, not compete with, traditional cutlery.

The FK Revolution series of 3-inch paring knives adds another line from Kyocera Advanced Ceramics. The handles are ergonomic with sharp razor blades. They are designed to slice fruits, veggies and boneless meats. The zirconium oxide blades stay sharp at least 10 times longer than traditional cutlery, making them ideal for everyday use.

Here are some of the benefits:

— Sharpness: The strength and density of the ceramic allows for grinding to microscopic precision by diamond wheels. Edge retention is the most significant benefit of using ceramic blades.

— Purity: Unlike steel blades, ceramic blades will never rust or change from its natural state. They are impervious to acids, juices, oils, salts or other elements; each food you cut keeps its original flavor.

— Lightweight: Kyocera ceramic cutlery is about half the weight of other knives, which add weight to the handle to achieve proper balance. Since the ceramic blade is so light, there's no additional weight. This also helps to reduce fatigue during long, repetitive cutting tasks.

— Maintenance: You don't have to worry about it. When the knives need sharpening, send them back to the factory in Irvine, Calif., and they will be professionally sharpened. There is no cost to you other than shipping and handling.

The paring knives are available in all black, or choose a white blade with a blue, green, yellow, orange or black handle. Retail price is $30.

PEEL AWAY

Kyocera also offers a utility knife and peeler set — a great way to introduce advanced ceramic into your kitchen.

The utility knife is designed for fruits, vegetables and boneless meats. The peeler takes care of it all from apples to zucchini with tomatoes in between. The peeler's ceramic blade takes off just the necessary amount and nothing more so you have less waste.

Easy to clean, Kyocera items can also be used on wood or plastic cutting surfaces. The utility knife and peeler come with a black or red handle with a white blade. Originally $70, the set is now retailing for $50.

For more information on Kyocera ceramics, call 800-537-0294 or visit www.kyoceraadvancedceramics.com.

Maggie Reed may be reached at [email protected]. To find out more about Maggie Reed, and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit www.creators.com.