We were surprised at how sharp and precise the edges on these blades were, too. There was very little drag when slicing through both delicate and dense foods. Most German-steel knives are sharpened to a 20-degree edge, but these have a 14-degree cutting edge, giving them the sharpness of a Japanese-style knife with the durability of German steel.
There’s no need to shell out a small fortune—or stick to the registry—when it comes to shopping for your favorite couple. Instead, consider grabbing practical items that they’ll get plenty of use out of over time, like a set of towels, a Dutch oven, or even a custom cutting board. Everyday products like these can really help the happy duo settle into married life with greater gotham steel cookware sets ease, and best of all, none of these best wedding gift ideas under $50 will break the bank. If you’re serious about cooking, it’s time to enter the world of Japanese knives. Famous for craftsmanship and traditional forging techniques, quality Japanese knives are sturdy, lightweight and wicked sharp. Miyabi is the third tier of knives by the Zwilling J.A. Henckels company.
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 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.
We’ve sharpened the first set we had only a few times in the five years we’ve had them. I’ve purchased these for gifts because people comment on them when they come for dinner. And while a full explanation of every type of kitchen knife is outside the scope of this article, I can direct you to my article on essential types of kitchen knives for the at-home chef. There, I explain the design and function of 19 different knives, with examples of how they’re used. Brightly colored and coated in ceramic around a stainless steel core, the Advantage series is Cuisinart’s most specialized. That’s because the colors aren’t just meant for decoration.
If your budget is there, we recommend upgrading to Zwilling. Cuisinart will shine in the majority of kitchens that see an average amount of use. Across its different series — Classic, Graphix, Nitrogen, Artisan, and Advantage — you’ll find different handle and blade upgrades to suit different cooks. The Artisan series for example, incorporates Japanese techniques in blade finishing, while the nitrogen-infused knives in the Nitrogen set make for harder steel that stays sharper longer. The Graphix set is not much different than the Classic set other than its more textured metal handle for better grip.
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 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 primary reason Cuisinart uses this steel is that it’s cheap. Using cheaper steel allows them to sell affordable knives, even if the edge retention, stain resistance, and overall quality suffer as a result. Although Cuisinart knife collections have differences in design, the materials are mostly the same.
Most Zwilling collections are forged knives and some are full tang, but this brand has no shortage of knife collections. Overall, we were pleased with the performance of the Günter Wilhelm 6-Piece Premier ProCut Knife Set. These German steel knives were sharp and precise, cutting through onions and segmenting citrus without issue. The triple-tang design is neither lightweight nor too heavy, creating a balance that makes them easy to use for any task.