Top Rated Kitchen Knives Include Wusthof, Henckels, and Forschner Knives

Every day, thousands of people search the Internet looking for guidance on purchasing the best kitchen knives and cooking knives. There are a variety of criteria you can use to determine what would be the best kitchen or chef's knives for your budget and purposes; but, one of the best places to start is with expert and consumer reviews. Generally, you can't go too far wrong if you purchase your kitchen knives from a reputable brand, such as Forschner, Dexter, JA Henckels, or Wusthof kitchen knives; but reading objective evaluations from other consumers and experts, can be extremely helpful.

Henckels Knife Set

Buying the right kitchen knife actually involves a lot of different decisions, not the least of which is choosing between a cooking knife that is "forged" versus one that is "stamped". If price is no object, then a forged knife would probably be the preferred choice. Forged chefs knives are generally considered sturdier than stamped knives, but the question is -- are they always worth the extra money? The answer is a definitive, "not always". According to Consumer Reports, "Although the top-rated knives are forged, stamped knives are capable of very good performance." The non-profit consumer education organization points out that stamped knives do not have a bolster and a heel, which do add value to the user experience; but those features probably wouldn't be missed by most people. Visit their web site for a good "crash course" in understanding knife terminology and tips on efficient use and care of kitchen knives.

Henckels Knife Set

The four types of knives that Consumer Reports recommends having on hand in a well-equipped home kitchen are a chef's knife, a slicer, a utility knife, and a parer. For home chefs who like to have a kitchen knife for every purpose, there are specialty food preparation knives made for virtually every task in the kitchen. For example, in addition to the multi-purpose chef's knife and carving knife, you can also buy kitchen knives specifically designed for slicing bread, cheese, ham, or fish (fillet knives). There are also shell fish knives, which are more commonly referred to as "clam knives", "oyster knives", or "scallop knives". For cooks looking for a multi-purpose kitchen knife that slices, dices, and minces, a Santuko knife might be a the perfect supplement to a home cutlery supply.

As far as top brand names for the best chef knives and kitchen knives, the Wusthof classic seemed to be the favorite of expert reviewers, although the RH Forschner by Victorinox Fibrox was deemed the best budget knife set. Among the runners up for best kitchen knives were the Henckels Twin Professional "S" and the Henckels Four Star. Henckels Four Star series is one of the most popular lines of kitchen knives on the market, and includes a wide range of carvers, cleavers, boning knives, peeling knives, and steak knives. The Henckels Pro S series also features virtually every kitchen knife imaginable, including sandwich knives, fillet knives, flexible slicers, hollow edge slicers, and serrated utility knives.

It pays to read kitchen knives reviews, like the ones online at ConsumerSearch.com, but if you stick with well-known brand names, such as Victorinox, Forschner, Henckels knives, and Wusthof, you will rarely be disappointed.

Top Rated Kitchen Knives Include Wusthof, Henckels, and Forschner Knives
Henckels Knife Set

Zwilling J.A. Henckels Twin Signature 7-Piece Knife Set with Block
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Zwilling J.A. Henckels Twin Signature 7-Piece Knife Set with Block Feature

  • Includes 8-inch chef's; 5-inch utility; 4-inch paring; 2-1/2-inch peeling
  • Also: sharpening steel, shears, 11-slot hardwood block
  • Stamped high-carbon stainless-steel blades with laser-controlled edge
  • Ice-hardened blades for strength; hand-honed for sharpness
  • 7.8 pounds; lifetime warranty


Zwilling J.A. Henckels Twin Signature 7-Piece Knife Set with Block Overview

Block Set consists of: 2-1/2-inch peeling knife, 4-inch paring knife, 5-Inch serrated/utility knife, 8-inch Chef's knife, sharpening steel, kitchen shears, and a hardwood block.

Zwilling J.A. Henckels Twin Signature 7-Piece Knife Set with Block Specifications

This knife block set carries a useful assortment of standard knives for outfitting a kitchen. The set includes an 8-inch chef’s knife, a 5-inch serrated utility knife, a 4-inch paring knife, and a 2-1/2-inch peeling knife, as well as a sharpening steel and a pair of shears. All components fit within an 11-slot hardwood block, which offers four extra slots for future knife acquisitions.

Part of Henckels’s Twin Signature of knives, the cutlery in this set have high-carbon, stainless-steel blades that have been stamped from one piece of metal. The edge is cut by laser for a more consistent angle on the blade and hand-honed for sharpness. Blades have also undergone Henckels’s Friodur ice-hardening process, which further strengthens them and protects them from discoloration. The ergonomically designed traditional-style polymer handles are securely fastened to the balanced full tangs with three rivets. Handles seamlessly encase the tangs on these knives so no food particles can ever become trapped in a gap. Twin Signature knives are all dishwasher-safe (although Henckels recommends washing by hand) and are covered by a lifetime warranty. --Cristina Vaamonde

What’s in the Box
8-inch chef’s knife, 5-inch serrated utility knife, 4-inch paring knife, 2-1/2-inch peeling knife, shears, sharpening steel, 11-slot hardwood block.

Available In Stock.

Zwilling J.A. Henckels Twin Signature 7-Piece Knife Set with Block