This comprehensive cutlery set provides all the knives you need for slicing, dicing and mincing almost any ingredient – for preparing so many kinds of recipes. Also included are eight steak knives and a wooden storage block that keeps the knives organized and will look great on your kitchen counter. Sharp and durable, there’s a reason Solingen, Germany, has been producing Zwilling knives since the 1700s.
Yoshihiro is, in our opinion, one of the best choices for home chefs that don’t want to pour hundreds if not thousands of dollars into their knives. Its entry-level blades range from mid-$100 to around $250, with more elevated options for more serious chefs. Yoshihiro boasts “modern stainless metallurgy” in the forging of its blades, leading to the traditional Japanese blade aesthetic gotham steel cookware sets without the high maintenance of reactive high-carbon steel. Shun is a popular Japanese knife brand often connected to celebrity chef Bobby Flay (although Flay told Men’s Healthback in 2010, “I’m not married to a particular brand”). This brand has been churning out knives in Seki City, Japan, for just about 20 years, but Seki has been known for forged knives for centuries.
The Global G-835/WS 6-Piece Knife Set with Block is absolutely our pick if you’re looking to upgrade. It doesn’t have every extra piece like a honing steel or shears, but it was absolutely the sharpest set of knives in the group. The chef’s knife feels like an effortless extension of my arm, and the serrated bread knife sliced through the crusty baguette surprisingly easily.
Each Cuisinart knife is made from durable stainless steel and has a ceramic coating that prevents food from sticking to the blade. Shoppers even say the Cuisinart knives are better than professional alternatives due to their sharp blades that cut “like razors.” Inspired by the hammered tsuchime finish of Japanese knives, the Artisan series is Cuisinart’s biggest departure from their Classic series. They still use forged high carbon stainless steel blades, though there is no bolster to protect your lead finger. Use the Right Tool for the Task With a wide variety of knives, this set is useful for many different types of prep work.
So, we can assume this is the angle Cuisinart knives are sharpened to at the factory. Assuming Cuisinart’s manufacturers in China are hardening their blades as much as possible, 55 is still a low rating for a kitchen knife (one of the lowest I’ve seen, and I’ve reviewed dozens of brands). Two of its collections, the Modernist and Graphite cuisinart knife collections, boast sleek and modern-looking stainless steel handles, which set them apart. Some cooks may find appeal in the fact that Cutco is, according to Prudent Reviews, one of the few remaining domestic cutlery manufacturers. Just because the brand is produced on American soil doesn’t mean it’s readily available, though.
The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we believe in. Both cuisinart knife companies use durable synthetic material to make their handles. Henckels is owned by Zwilling J.A. Henckels, one of the most renowned knife makers in the world, founded in 1731.
Each criteria will give you greater insight as to the sort of knife you need, and how much you should budget for it. Once more based on the Cuisinart Classic design, the Nitrogen series reimagines the handles for a more ergonomic grip. This is especially evident in the Nitrogen santcoku — a Japanese style knife that greatly benefits from the balance provided by a thicker handle. The Graphix series paring knife is the major standout from this line. That’s because a paring knife requires delicate movements, and even a small slip can lead to nicked fingers. The textured grip from the Graphix series helps keep this paring knife firmly in your grip.