Chef Knives Reviews

...the tang and handle ARE one piece, in all Wüsthof knives. They are also in a completely different category than Henckel, and the two no longer directly compete as Henckel has chosen to lean more towards quantity production rather than quality. This is not to say Henckel knives aren't good, but they aren't in the same class as Wüsthof.

There are really two main competitors in the high-end mainstream kitchen knife market: Henckels and Wusthof. Those who have used both usually have a preference. My preference (and therefore bias you should know about) is for the Wusthofs.

The Wusthof Culinar line is an all stainless steel look, rather than a black handle. Although the picture and some descriptions want you to think this is a single piece knife, be advised that the hand is a separate piece of stainless steel molded onto the tang. I personally prefer the handle of the Grand Prix and Classic, because the grip is surer for me, but this is, to some extent, a matter of personal preference. This series "looks" more professional to some (like a Viking stove).

This set includes an 8 inch chef's knife, a 3 ½ inch paring knife, a 6 inch sandwich knife, 8 inch bread, a 5 inch salami, a 2 ¾ inch trimming knife, a sharpening steel, and an oak block

The 8 inch chef's knife is a great knife. Wusthof offers four sizes of chef's knives in the Classic version, 5, 6, 8 and 10 inch. For most home cooks, I think the 8 inch knife is the best choice. The 6 inch is a bit small for bigger jobs, but the 10 inch is too big for most jobs. While the 8 inch isn't perfect for all uses, if you are only buying one size chef's knife (and most people only buy one), this is the one I would recommend.

As for the 3 ½ inch paring knife, this knife falls into the category of overkill for me. Most cooks will get by just fine with the 4 ½ inch utility knife. There is really no notable difference in size for the vast majority of applications between the 3 ½ inch paring knife and the 4 ½ inch utility knife. I prefer the 4 ½ inch utility knife, but the 3 ½ inch paring knife will do the trick.

I have found very few uses for the 6 inch sandwich or 5 inch salami knives. I prefer the larger size of the chef's knife or the smaller 4 ½ inch utility knife. These knives are just the wrong width and length for most tasks, and falls into the overkill department, except when part of a set.

The 3 ¾ inch trimming knife, however, is a good length for small tasks, like trimming fat from cuts of meat.

The bread knife, is a great knife. Many people think tomatoes are the hardest food items to clearly cut. I think bread is much more difficult; but this knife makes the task seem easy. However, I prefer the 9 inch knife over the 8 inch included in this set.

When it comes to sharpening steels, I have found very little difference between Henckels and Wusthof. As long as you buy a high end steel, you really won't go wrong. Therefore, I shop for this item on price, and Henckels has a price advantage. However as the steel comes with the set, you won't go wrong with this steel.

This set is a good deal as far as price. However, keep in mind you really only get 7 knives. Adding the set of steak knives (which I consider a luxury, and not a necessity), will fill the remainder of the block.

A knife is meant to last you for life and what better than to have the best!

This is probably the only knife I know that's made of single piece construction! That means there's no shortcuts to making this knife, no ways in cheaping out to create this knife.

Made of pure 18/10 stainless steel and by one of the world's reputable German Knife Company you can't go wrong.

I picked-up a 10" Wushtof Chef (the one on this page) and a 6" Chef when I was in Germany and I love them. The 10" is large enough that you can cut large items and also has a wider blade that helps with "proper" chopping technique for those of us who are not "professionals". Of course, the wider blade also allows you to scoop-up a good amount of ingredients for transfer to where-ever you need them.

Even for being such a large blade, the knife is light, balanced and easy to handle. I anticipate that these knives will last me a lifetime if properly cared for (for example, I always use the honing rod before use which will help prevent the need for sharpening). I recommend these knives to everyone I know who enjoys cooking even the least bit and I feel it's better to have a few well-selected quality knives than one of those "sets" of cheapies (most of which are filled with blade styles you'll never use anyway).

I have not bought this set, but I have bought most of the individual knives in it one by one and spent considerably more money. I have tried most of the high-end brands and have a strong preference for Wusthof - I have a 20 year old Wusthof chef's knife that is still going strong. None of my Wusthof knives have ever bent or cracked, they all still take an edge very easily, and have tolerated my habit of putting them in the dishwasher with no problems at all.

One comment on the prior review... I agree that a couple of the knives in the set seem unnecessary. For example, I almost always use my 6" chefs knives, because they fit my hand best, and use my 8" occasionally for larger items. But that doesn't mean a set with 6", 8" and 10" knives is wasteful. My husband, who has larger hands, hates my 6" knives, and always reaches for the 8" or 10". If you have 2 cooks in the kitchen (or more!) this variety may be very useful.

This is the mother of all knife sets.

There are really two main competitors in the high-end mainstream kitchen knife market: Henckels and Wusthof. Those who have used both usually have a preference. My preference (and therefore bias you should know about) is for the Wusthofs.

The Wusthof Grand Prix line is a more modern design than the Classic series, with a simple black handle. The balance and grip of these knives are as close to perfect as I have found. For those wondering what benefits a higher priced knife provides, one benefit is that the blade (or tang) is one piece all the way through the handle. This makes the blade much stronger, and less likely to snap.
This set includes a 6, 8, and 10 inch chef's knives; 2 ¾ inch peeling knife; 3 ½ inch paring; 4 ½ inch utility; 5 inch tomato; 9 inch bread; 5 inch boning; 8 inch carving knife and fork; 6 inch sandwich; 6 inch flexible fillet; 7 inch santoku; 6 inch cleaver, eight steak knives, sharpening steel, kitchen shears, and an oak block
The chef's knives are great knives. This set includes all three sizes of chef's knives offered in the Grand Prix line, 6, 8 and 10 inch. For most home cooks, I think the 8 inch knife is the best choice. The 6 inch is a bit small for bigger jobs, but the 10 inch is too big for most jobs.

The Wusthof 4 ½ inch utility knife is a great all-around knife. This is the knife I use for the majority of my small chopping work (when I don't use a Chef's knife).

As for the 3 ½ inch paring knife, this knife falls into the category of overkill for me. Most cooks will get by just fine with the 4 ½ inch utility knife. There is really no notable difference in size for the vast majority of applications between the 3 ½ inch paring knife and the 4 ½ inch utility knife. I prefer the 4 ½ inch utility knife, but the 3 ½ inch paring knife is a good addition to the set.

I have found very few uses for the 6 inch sandwich and the 5 inch salami knives. I prefer the larger size of the chef's knife or the smaller 4 ½ inch utility knife. The knives are just the wrong width and length for most tasks, and fall into the overkill department, except when part of a set.

The 2 ¾ inch trimming knife, however, is a good length for small tasks, like trimming fat from cuts of meat.

The 6 inch cleaver, is a good cleaver. Most people really don't use a cleaver anymore, as they buy either pre-cut/pre-packaged meats, or they have the butcher cut the meat into loins or steaks for them. If you really are going to use a cleaver, this one is my favorite. The weight and balance are very good.

The 5 inch boning knife is a good knife. I think this knife is slightly more useful for the everyday cook than the cleaver. I find this knife useful for both boning and fat trimming.

The bread knife, is a great knife. Many people think tomatoes are the hardest food items to clearly cut. I think bread is much more difficult; but this knife makes the task seem easy. This set includes the 9 inch knife that I prefer over the 8 inch.

When it comes to sharpening steels, I have found very little difference between Henckels and Wusthof. As long as you buy a high end steel, you really won't go wrong. Therefore, I shop for this item on price, and Henckels has a price advantage. However as the steel comes with the set, you won't go wrong with this steel.

This set is as complete as they come. If you can afford it, I highly recommend it.

There are really two main competitors in the high-end mainstream kitchen knife market: Henckels and Wusthof. Those who have used both usually have a preference. My preference (and therefore bias you should know about) is for the Wusthofs.

The Wusthof Grand Prix line is a more modern design than the Classic series, with a simple black handle. The balance and grip of these knives are as close to perfect as I have found. For those wondering what benefits a higher priced knife provides, one benefit is that the blade (or tang) is one piece all the way through the handle. This makes the blade much stronger, and less likely to snap.

This set includes an 8 inch chef's knife, and a 3 ½ inch paring knife.

The 8 inch chef's knife, is a great knife. Wusthof offers three sizes of chef's knives, 6, 8 and 10 inch. For most home cooks, I think the 8 inch knife is the best choice. The 6 inch is a bit small for bigger jobs, but the 10 inch is too big for most jobs. While the 8 inch isn't perfect for all uses, if you are only buying one size chef's knife (and most people only buy one), this is the one I would recommend.

As for the 3 ½ inch paring knife, this knife falls into the category of overkill for me. Most cooks will get by just fine with the 4 ½ inch utility knife. There is really no notable difference in size for the vast majority of applications between the 3 ½ inch paring knife and the 4 ½ inch utility knife. I prefer the 4 ½ inch utility knife, but the 3 ½ inch paring knife will do the trick for most tasks.

This set is a good deal; however, if compiling a set myself, I would include the chef's knife and the 4 ½ inch utility knife. Judge for yourself.

I grab these to knives first. This is the perfect starter set, as you can do most anything with these two knives. The larger chef knife is perfect for when cutting meat, vegetables, dicing herbs, and so much more. The smaller knife is perfect for when going after the smaller vegetables, or fine cuts. These knives are high quality, that can't be beat. They hold a blade very well, and have a good weight in your hand. If you like a pistol style grip these are the perfect knives for you. I honestly can't say enough about these high quality knives.

In 1998, Consumer Reports tested the Wusthof Trident Grand Prix knives & rated them "excellent in every way," describing them as being "the best set the testers had ever used" and stating that they're "the smoothest, most balanced knives we've ever used. Molded plastic handles are textured for better wet grip. Great for chef's blade grip. Heavier than most. Many different types available." Based on their high recommendation of these knives, I purchased a 7-pc. block set. I'm very happy with them.

I purchased this block after debating between Wusthof and Henckels which in my mind were both synonymous with fine cutlery. The Grand Prix line shares the same blade as the Classic and Culinar, the only difference is the molded plastic handles which are comfortable, hygenic and have a more modern look compared to the Classic. The first thing I noticed upon receiving the set was that the knives varied in sharpness significantly - the Chefs knife and paring knife were duller than the utility knife. Overall they didnt wow me, this is the first set of good knives i have owned and perhaps I expected too much - I've always seen those TV commercials where they were cutting paper thin slices off a tomato and these knives seemed to mash them rather than slice them if you cut too thin. I have used the sharpening steel and that improves the performance but it gets old constantly running the knives along the steel everytime you want to use them ....So when it came to purchasing a boning knife i went with Global and wow...that thing is scary sharp. I'm actually using it for many different slicing tasks besides cutting meat and it performs great. I'm trying to justify purchasing a block of Globals after only having my Wusthof's for 3 months. Now the Wusthof's are without a doubt a quality product but I think Wusthof and Henckels really have some competition - but like trying to decide between a "Chevy" or a "Ford" i only wish that I knew that there were other choices out there beyond the Big Two.

These are fantastic knives - if you've been cooking using cheap knives, these will be a revelation. Sharpness is important, but so is balance and weight. If you don't think weight is important, you've never tried to split a whole head of cabbage. Or winter squash. These knives will last for a lifetime - literally. If you're on a budget, far better to buy just a few good knives than a 10 piece set of inferior knives. But if you can afford this excellent 10 piece set, don't wait! I've been cooking for 20 years and I only wish I'd discovered the importance of good knives much sooner. I've had my Grand Prix set for 6 years now and with care (no dishwasher, ever!), regular honing and sharpening, my knives are good as new.

This is a fabulous set of knives! They are well-balanced and the ergonomic handles are very comfortable for both my husband and me to use. We considered the Classic set, but in a hands-on comparison, we favored the feel of this handle. The blades are exactly the same between the Classic and the Grand Prix, so get your hands on some and let personal preference decide which line is right for you.

There are really two main competitors in the high-end mainstream kitchen knife market: Henckels and Wusthof. Those who have used both usually have a preference. My preference (and therefore bias you should know about) is for the Wusthofs.

The Wusthof Grand Prix line is a more modern design than the Classic series, with a simple black handle. The balance and grip of these knives are as close to perfect as I have found. For those wondering what benefits a higher priced knife provides, one benefit is that the blade (or tang) is one piece all the way through the handle. This makes the blade much stronger, and less likely to snap.

This particular model, the 10 inch cook's (or chef's) knife, is a good knife. Wusthof offers three sizes of chef's knives, 6, 8 and 10 inch. For most home cooks, I think the 8 inch knife is the best choice. This knife, the 10 inch, is a bit big for most jobs. The 6 inch is a bit small for bigger jobs. While the 8 inch isn't perfect for all uses, if you are only buying one size chef's knife (and most people only buy one), the 8 inch is the knife I would recommend.

Therefore, if you are buying your first cook's knife, I would recommend the 8 inch size. This is a great knife, but I don't think the size is right for mainstream users.

You've heard it before, the most dangerous knife to use is a dull knife. Well I didn't realize just how true that was until I cut myself while slicing tomato with my all to DULL knife. While at my parents I picked up their very formidable 10" chefs knife and began slicing away at an onion. My first reaction was "WOW"! This Wustof Trident knife not only sliced and chopped with little effort, it felt good to hold. The balance is just right, and the curved blade made short work of a bunch of parsley. The 10" may be a little large for some jobs so I'll be ordering an 8" or maybe just a complete set! The price is high, but once you've used them you'll know what you've paid for. Outstanding knives, truely outstanding.

There are really two main competitors in the high-end mainstream kitchen knife market: Henckels and Wusthof. Those who have used both usually have a preference. My preference (and therefore bias you should know about) is for the Wusthofs.

The Wusthof Grand Prix line is a more modern design than the Classic series, with a simple black handle. The balance and grip of these knives are as close to perfect as I have found. For those wondering what benefits a higher priced knife provides, one benefit is that the blade (or tang) is one piece all the way through the handle. This makes the blade much stronger, and less likely to snap.

This set includes an 8 inch chef's knife, a 3 ½ inch paring knife, a 6 inch sandwich knife, a 6 inch chef's knife, a 9 inch bread, a 4 ½ inch utility knife, a 5 inch salami knife, a sharpening steel, and an oak block

The 8 inch chef's knife and the 6 inch chef's knife are great knives. Wusthof offers three sizes of chef's knives, 6, 8 and 10 inch. For most home cooks, I think the 8 inch knife is the best choice. The 6 inch is a bit small for bigger jobs, but the 10 inch is too big for most jobs. While the 8 inch isn't perfect for all uses, if you are only buying one size chef's knife (and most people only buy one), this is the one I would recommend. Adding the 6 inch makes the set almost complete.

The Wusthof 4 ½ inch utility knife is a great all-around knife. This is the knife I use for the majority of my small chopping work (when I don't use a Chef's knife).

As for the 3 ½ inch paring knife, this knife falls into the category of overkill for me. Most cooks will get by just fine with the 4 ½ inch utility knife. There is really no notable difference in size for the vast majority of applications between the 3 ½ inch paring knife and the 4 ½ inch utility knife. I prefer the 4 ½ inch utility knife, but the 3 ½ inch paring knife will do the trick.

I have found very few uses for the 6 inch sandwich and the 5 inch salami knives. I prefer the larger size of the chef's knife or the smaller 4 ½ inch utility knife. The knives are just the wrong width and length for most tasks, and fall into the overkill department, except when part of a set.

The bread knife, is a great knife. Many people think tomatoes are the hardest food items to clearly cut. I think bread is much more difficult; but this knife makes the task seem easy.

When it comes to sharpening steels, I have found very little difference between Henckels and Wusthof. As long as you buy a high end steel, you really won't go wrong. Therefore, I shop for this item on price, and Henckels has a price advantage. However as the steel comes with the set, you won't go wrong with this steel.

This set is a great deal, and includes just about the right assortment of knives. Adding the steak knives fills the block perfectly.

There are really two main competitors in the high-end mainstream kitchen knife market: Henckels and Wusthof. Those who have used both usually have a preference. My preference (and therefore bias you should know about) is for the Wusthofs.

The Wusthof Grand Prix line is a more modern design than the Classic series, with a simple black handle. The balance and grip of these knives are as close to perfect as I have found. For those wondering what benefits a higher priced knife provides, one benefit is that the blade (or tang) is one piece all the way through the handle. This makes the blade much stronger, and less likely to snap.

This set includes an 8 inch chef's knife, a 3 ½ inch paring knife and a 6 inch sandwich knife.

The 8 inch chef's knife, is a great knife. Wusthof offers three sizes of chef's knives, 6, 8 and 10 inch. For most home cooks, I think the 8 inch knife is the best choice. The 6 inch is a bit small for bigger jobs, but the 10 inch is too big for most jobs. While the 8 inch isn't perfect for all uses, if you are only buying one size chef's knife (and most people only buy one), this is the one I would recommend.

As for the 3 ½ inch paring knife, this knife falls into the category of overkill for me. Most cooks will get by just fine with the 4 ½ inch utility knife. There is really no notable difference in size for the vast majority of applications between the 3 ½ inch paring knife and the 4 ½ inch utility knife. I prefer the 4 ½ inch utility knife, but the 3 ½ inch paring knife will do the trick.

I have found very few uses for the 6 inch sandwich knife. I prefer the larger size of the chef's knife or the smaller 4 ½ inch utility knife. This knife is just the wrong width and length for most tasks.

This set is a good deal; however, if compiling a set myself, I would include the chef's knife, the 4 ½ inch utility knife, and the 9 inch bread knife. Judge for yourself.

I am always impressed when I find a product that is so well made that I wonder how anyone can improve upon it. These knives are of a very high quality and I would recommend it to anyone who insists on having a quality tool. However, it is important to take care of these knives. This is not the knife for those who do not like doing maintenence. You must use the steel before every use and hone it or have it professionaly sharpened every 6 months to a year. If you do these simple maintenence chores these knifes will last a lifetime!

This is perhaps one of the nicest looking knives after the Wusthof Culinar design. However, the handles of this Grand Prix line do get slippery while cutting meat when my hand got wet or when the juice from the meat gets onto my hand. Plus, the handle is shorter in length than the Henckels 4star line. So if you're looking for the perfect functioning knife (scrificing on the looks a bit), go for the Henckels 4 star line.

There are really two main competitors in the high-end mainstream kitchen knife market: Henckels and Wusthof. Those who have used both usually have a preference. My preference (and therefore bias you should know about) is for the Wusthofs.

The Wusthof Grand Prix line is a more modern design than the Classic series, with a simple black handle. The balance and grip of these knives are as close to perfect as I have found. For those wondering what benefits a higher priced knife provides, one benefit is that the blade (or tang) is one piece all the way through the handle. This makes the blade much stronger, and less likely to snap.

This set includes an 8 inch chef's knife, a 3 ½ inch paring knife, a 6 inch sandwich knife, 8 inch bread, a 5 inch salami, a 2 ¾ inch trimming knife, a sharpening steel, and an oak block

The 8 inch chef's knife is a great knife. Wusthof offers three sizes of chef's knives, 6, 8 and 10 inch. For most home cooks, I think the 8 inch knife is the best choice. The 6 inch is a bit small for bigger jobs, but the 10 inch is too big for most jobs. While the 8 inch isn't perfect for all uses, if you are only buying one size chef's knife (and most people only buy one), this is the one I would recommend.

As for the 3 ½ inch paring knife, this knife falls into the category of overkill for me. Most cooks will get by just fine with the 4 ½ inch utility knife. There is really no notable difference in size for the vast majority of applications between the 3 ½ inch paring knife and the 4 ½ inch utility knife. I prefer the 4 ½ inch utility knife, but the 3 ½ inch paring knife will do the trick.

I have found very few uses for the 6 inch sandwich or 5 inch salami knives. I prefer the larger size of the chef's knife or the smaller 4 ½ inch utility knife. These knives are just the wrong width and length for most tasks, and falls into the overkill department, except when part of a set.

The 3 ¾ inch trimming knife, however, is a good length for small tasks, like trimming fat from cuts of meat.

The bread knife, is a great knife. Many people think tomatoes are the hardest food items to clearly cut. I think bread is much more difficult; but this knife makes the task seem easy. However, I prefer the 9 inch knife over the 8 inch included in this set.

When it comes to sharpening steels, I have found very little difference between Henckels and Wusthof. As long as you buy a high end steel, you really won't go wrong. Therefore, I shop for this item on price, and Henckels has a price advantage. However as the steel comes with the set, you won't go wrong with this steel.

This set is a good deal as far as price. However, keep in mind you really only get 7 knives. Adding the set of steak knives (which I consider a luxury, and not a necessity), will fill the remainder of the block.

Finally, I would recommend you compare this set with the 10 piece couple's set, listed as ASIN: B00005MGKD. That set replaces provides a second chef's knife, a longer bread knife, and deletes the 2 ¾ inch trimming knife. It is more expensive, so compare your needs, and see my review of the other set.