Wusthof Gourmet 5-Piece Studio Knife Set

Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program Cool, I thought, when I saw this set of Wusthof knives coupled with kitchen shears in what looked to be an attractive storage block.

Wusthof makes knives perfect for those of us that consider ourselves to be a little more talented in the kitchen than your average housewife. Their knives are not super high end, but they are certainly a major notch above many other brands at traditionally reasonable prices.

The cost of this set is about equal to that of what you would pay individually for the 6" Cook's Knife and the two different sized paring knives. Buying the set is like getting a bonus gift of shears plus a block into which all four utensils fit. Or so I thought..

My older Wusthof's Cook's Knife is a few years old. Compared to the one in this set, it is heavier and longer by an inch. No big deal there, I'm just contrasting the difference before stating I found the new knife to be of equal quality to my old. My issues are with the paring knives and the wood block.

The block that holds the set is pitted and looks unfinished on the left side. It is as if an entire step in the sanding process was missed. If that was all, I could just turn the set to face that one side to the wall. However, the face of the block is split along the grain with an especially big gap running from the top to the area between the Cook's Knife and the first paring knife.

What looked to be an attractive holder on-line is ugly and cheap looking in person. Even if it had been finished correctly and did not have the split in front, it would still not look worthy of the Wusthof label for no other reason than the mismatched knife holes. They are just big slots that are not specific to knife size leaving the paring knives plenty of room to slide around and lose what edge they have. Very disappointing.

Still, even though the block holder looks junky, the price is a good deal, right? Wrong. The shears are nothing special. If I was buying only shears I could get an equal quality pair for about $10.

Neither of the paring knives that came with the block (3" or the 4.5") match the quality my 3-5 year old Wusthof paring knife. Side by side, the handle of the 3" knife that came with the block looks a little smaller than mine and definitely weighs less.

Instead of this questionable set, I would recommend buying a Wusthof 7" Cook's knife and their 3" Paring Knife that they sell separately. Get a no-name set of shears only if you need really them. The need for shears is minimal; I cannot remember using mine at all in the last year.

What looked at first to be a good deal for a great set of knives in an attractive block turned out to be, in my opinion, a marketing tool to move inexpensive paring knives and shears.

Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program I will begin by saying that I have no previous experience with Wusthof knives, or really any other name-brand knives. We are the kind of people who buy a knife here and there, now and then, and keep it until it doesn't work well any more. So you will not get from me the kind of high-end, fancy terminology review that would be done by a really into-it, professional or amateur cook.

The block we received looks just fine. No splits, unfinished sides, or other flaws. It is quite compact, with a small footprint on the counter. The slots in the holder are all uniform sizes, and not fitted to the various knives or shears. I don't know if that will harm the knives in any way. I don't plan to jostle them and would be careful in pulling them out and replacing them in any event.

The largest knife is somewhat on the small side for a chef's knife, with hollowed out grooves on the side. These are supposed to keep food from sticking to the blade, a problem we have had in the past with other knives. I'm not entirely sure the design of this knife completely eliminates the problem, but it does seem to help somewhat.

The utility knife is a nice step up or down from the other two knives. It comes in handy for slicing vegetables.

The paring knife is small and sharp. The shears operate smoothly and come apart for easy cleaning, which is important to me. I have an older pair of similar shears that do not come apart, and keeping them clean is much more work.

The set is light in weight, compared to some of our other, admittedly low end knives. This is not a problem for us. The knives feel balanced and comfortable in my hand. I might add that my husband, who has larger and somewhat arthritic hands, likes all these knives very much.

We cook at home almost every day, although we are by no means gourmet cooks. From what we have read on-line, this kind of knife is easier to maintain and easier to keep sharp than the more expensive, forged lines. That sounds good to us. For our level of skill and interest in cooking, this set is perfect.

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Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program This "Studio"-size set has three quite useful knives along with a fantastic pair of scissors in a compact and solidly made knife block. There are two versions of the Studio set, of which this, the "Gourmet" set, is the most affordable, and, for most folks, also presents the best value for your dollar. However, if you are very demanding when it comes to knives, you will probably want to pass this one up and buy the Classic set.

Wüsthof is a premier cutlery company located in Solingen, Germany, and they make several different lines of knives, all of which are forged, except for those in the "Gourmet" line, which are stamped. It seems a bit counter-intuitive to call the budget products "Gourmet", because if you really are going to do a lot of cooking and want the best quality and longest lasting, you will appreciate or even demand the classic knives. But if they are out of your budget, you can still get some quality German knives with this set. They would be a good introductory set, and probably fine for many people who aren't "Gourmet" chefs, lol. I would guess that they are better than the knives most people have in their kitchen. The technology for making stamped knives has come a long way, and of course, the German Wüsthof company will give you the best that is available within that technology.

Qualities particular to this set, besides the much lower price tag include: they are lighter, they come to a very sharp point, and the blades are extremely sharp. This type of metal is extremely hard. As to the individual knives, the six inch chef's knife has hollow scallops along each side of the blade, which the Classic does not. These are supposed to reduce drag during cutting. The blades seem relatively more flexible. The small paring knife will come in handy for detail work. The middle size knife--a 4 1/2 inch utility knife will be good for cutting sandwiches, slicing and some chopping. The "big" knife--a six inch chef knife will be handy for most jobs, but it really isn't big enough to do all that a chef's knife should do--for instance, it would be difficult to chop up a cabbage head with it. I am used to my 8 inch Wüsthof for such jobs. Some people prefer an even bigger chef's knife, but as an average sized woman, the 8 is big enough for me. The plus side is that this more handy, but you might want to supplement it with a santoku type knife for variety and power. A serrated bread knife would also be useful.

I really like the come-apart scissors. They are the same ones that are in the "Classic" line.

In sum, this "Gourmet Studio Knife Set" fills a niche for people who want a compact set of nicely designed, sharp knives for budget price. I received this set as a Vine reviewer, and I will definitely use them, but I personally greatly prefer the heft and quality of the Wüsthof "Classic" line, and I am willing to spend the extra dollars to have a product that I can enjoy using for my lifetime. I hope this helps.

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Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program Wusthof is the premier name in quality knives and they arguably make the best knives in the world according to sources including Consumer Reports. It's important to remember, though, that like most manufacturers they make knives at different price points, and that means some compromises in materials and build. To a professional chef, the knives they use are a primary tool relied heavily every day. They must be razor sharp, retain their edge and have a durability to withstand years of use. A home cooking enthusiast looks for the same qualities and takes pride in knowing they have the best tools available. A more casual user, especially one on a tighter budget might be looking for just a good sharp knife.

There are two basic methods of manufacturing a knife. Stamped knives are cut from a large sheet of steel whether cut by a laser or punched out with brute force. Obviously this is the quickest method and allows a large cost savings to the manufacturer making the knives less expensive to purchase. The metal is often to some degree thinner and metal softer, meaning a lower carbon content. The metal part of the knife consists of the blade and a tail extension that is embedded or joined to a handle. The advantages of stamped knives are that they are less expensive, they are lighter, and keep a sharp edge but not nearly as long as the knives made by the more laborious and expensive forging process. This is the process used in making this Gourmet line of Wusthof.

Wusthof's most famous and traditional knives belong to the "Classic" line. Those knives are forged, that is formed from a single block of steel. They say there are 40 steps in their production. The steel has a higher carbon content making the metal harder and thus allowing it to retain its sharpness longer. Instead of having a "tail" extending from the blade that is joined to the handle, the metal handle extends the full length of the entire knife. A handle is added by "sandwiching" the blade handle between two exterior sides of the handle and then it is riveted in place with three rivets. The result is a blade that is heaver, a knife that feels much more substantial in the hand, retains its edge longer and has an obviously superior construction.

Which one is for you? It depends of your needs. I own a large Classic set and have owned them for years. While only a casual cook at home, I find these knives a complete joy to own and their effectiveness is superb. Preparation is expedited and cuts are precise. The Gourmet line offered here is a perfectly acceptably group of knives. In the short time I have them they seem very sharp and effective. I don't like the light feel in my hand and the construction, though to most would seem normal, by comparison is clearly a cheap alternative. But it is offered at about half the price. I imagine they will need to be sharpened more often which takes time and I don't enjoy doing. So consider the differences and see what meets your personal needs. Either way Wusthof is a superior knife in my experience and i recommend them highly.

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Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program I was thrilled to receive these knives from the Vine program. I already had a few Wusthof knives and love them. My prized Wusthof 6-inch chef's knife had recently been broken by a burglar using it in an attempt to pry open a locked case and I was glad to be able to replace it.

This set would be ideal for someone just setting up a household, or just learning to cook or wanting a good set for a vacation home. It would cost quite a bit more to buy the items individually. A few points:

These knives are from Wusthof's "Gourmet" line of stamped knives. In the past, stamped knives were regarded as inferior to forged knives. Current engineering can produce stamped knives that are just as good as forged knives, and some claim they can be better. These knives are made from high quality steel and have a full tang (the part of the knife that extends into the handle) so the strength and stability of the blade is equal to any. These are lighter weight than the comparable forged knives but well balanced and the handle is classy and comfortable.

The largest knife is a 6" chef's knife. This is an excellent size for a starter or backup chef's knife unless your hand is very large indeed. In my experience, most people are uncomfortable using a larger knife, especially if they have no formal training in how to use a knife. This particular knife has granton-type hollows on the sides of the knife. These hollows make some cheeses and vegetables less likely to stick to the blade, which is a good thing.

The kitchen shears are very sharp and also come apart into two pieces for easy cleaning very important.

The utility knife appears to be exactly the same as a steak knife from Wusthof Gourmet 4-Piece Steak Knife Set which I also recommend. Just right, and a nice smooth edge, not serrated. A serrated edge can be useful, especially for tomatoes but is unnecessary if you keep your knife edges sharp.

The paring knife is small and flexible and is helpful for boning as well as paring.

The wooden knife block is attractive and uses up very little counter real estate, unlike some monsters that are full of unnecessary knives.

I'd recommend getting a ceramic sharpening 'steel' to maintain the knife edges.

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