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 Classic line is the more conservative counterpart to the Grand Prix line. The only difference, however, is the handle style. I personally prefer the Grand Prix, but this is an issue of personal preference. 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.
I didn't buy my Wusthof knife collection as a set, but I wish I had. This block set includes everything I've aquired over the years, plus a couple of items that are still on my wish list. It may sound like overkill, but nothing here (with the exception of the steak knives) is redundant or unneeded in a well-stocked kitchen. The only improvement I would make is to add a second paring knife.
THE BROAD BLADED (CHEF'S) KNIVES:
-Which chef's knife to use depends on the size and balance of your hand, and how fine the task will be. Petite and average-sized women tend to prefer the 5 or 6-inch blade, average-sized and large men tend to prefer the 8 or 10. (Most sets ship with the 8). If you are a cooking couple, these four will provide a knife comfortable to both sets of hands, and appropriate to both coarse tasks (such as cutting up a watermellon or large squash, or opening a wheel of cheese) and fine ones (chopping an onion, slicing up a bunch of veggies for stir-fry).
THE NARROW BLADED KNIVES:
-The 3.5-inch paring knife gets used for everything. Trimming and cleaning vegetables, mincing small amounts of herbs, creating garnishes, and other places where a chef's knife would be too big and unwieldy.
-The 4.5-inch utility knife works as a paring knife for a larger hand, with a longer blade and a heavier handle. A smaller hand may prefer this to the boning knife for boning.
-The 6-inch sandwich knife is appropriate for sandwiches (spreading filling and spreads, and cutting sandwich meats as well as the finished sandwich), but is also useful for carving chicken or cutting pies.
-The 8-inch carving knife is for slicing roasts or turkey, but will also work well for cakes, including cheesecake. (Use the sandwich knife for carving chicken).
THE SPECIALTY KNIVES:
-The boning knife has a narrow blade to slip around and between bones and tendons. Use this for raw meat use the carving or sandwich knife for cooked stuff.
-The tomato knife is serrated to cut through tomato skins without crushing, and forked to serve the slices afterward. It also works well on salami and sausage (the edge is the same as the Wusthof sausage and brunch knives, though those don't have a fork). I prefer it for citrus over the utility knife, since it also won't crush the delicate pulp.
-The bread knife cuts through tough bread crusts without crushing the delicate inside of the bread, and can also be used as a larger tomato knife.
-The flexible filet will slip easily under the ribs of fish or poultry, and can also be used for skinning.
-The cleaver is for even heavier chopping tasks than the chef's knife cutting right through bones or very tough vegetables like sugar cane. Use the flat of the cleaver to crush garlic, and the back of the cleaver to hammer meat to tenderize it, or to pound ginger or galangal before putting it in the pot. (Unlike a real chinese cleaver, this one doesnt' have the front edge sharpened, so you can't use it as a spatula).
-The peeling knife (also known as the "bird's beak") is not only for peeling thick veggies like broccoli stalks (use a regular veggie peeler for carrots), but also just the right thing for trimming delicate herbs and mushrooms any task where the cutting surface is the curve of your thumb and not a cutting board. The sharp point and thin profile also make this best for cutting out the cores and stems of peppers or thin-skinned squash.
Other reviewers have commented on the dishwasher-ability of the Wusthof Classic line. I've been washing my knives in the dishwasher for many years, and the rivets do corrode eventually from the detergent. The blades do just fine, however (as long as you have a basket to keep them from knocking together). Hi-carbon stainless is a compromise between stainless (which can't hold an edge) and carbon steel (which first turns black from soap, and then dissolves into a pile of rust if not dried right away). The choice of how much work you're willing to put into your knives is up to you.
It's true that a new cook can survive with a chef's knife and a paring knife, but if you can afford this, get it.
Buy Wusthof Classic 26-Piece Block Knife Set Now
Straight up, I do not own this exact set, but I do own some of the knives in the set. I was obliged to make a comment because of another review. I like the Wusthof line, and think that they are of impeccable quality. I also feel that there are knives of equal quality available at far less cost. Be that as it may, I wanted to pass along that my ex wife and I bought a Cutco knife set early in our marriage (for a small fortune), and I cannot for the life of me understand how ANY reviewer could even begin to compare them to a proper forged knife set. For years, I thought that I had really bought the best, until I was introduced to a quality forged knife. There is no comparison in the overall handling and performance. To understand the benefit of a proper forged knife, you really have to try one. Don't get me wrong, the Cutco knives are among the finest of the stamped steel knives, and have a great warranty, but their price is based on the way they are marketed (like the old whole life insurance policies), and they are not in the same utility class as a forged knife set. Buy Wusthof or a more value oriented brand of forged knives and sleep well. Leave the stamped steel knives to the newlyweds.
Read Best Reviews of Wusthof Classic 26-Piece Block Knife Set Here
I own most of the knives in the set and use them daily. I also used Cutco extensively once upon a time when I was young and didn't know any better. All I can say is that anyone who can sit there and say that Cutco is in any way comparable in quality to Wusthof is either a Cutco salesperson or delusional. If you're not willing to take the extra minute per night to hand wash and properly steel a Wusthof (or any other fine forged blade), by all means, get the Cutco or K-Mart specials or whatever. Otherwise, comparisons are simply unfair. You need to use a Wusthof to fully appreciate the difference. I did, and I couldn't retire my old knives fast enough.
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Are you kidding me? To compare Cutco to Wusthof-Trident is like comparing a Chevy to a Mercedes-Benz. Wusthof Classic knives are forged and well balanced, prefered by professional chefs. Cutco knives are stamped and WAY overpriced, prefered by "country bumpkins" who bought them from their sons or daughters. Please take reviews praising Cutco with a grain of salt. They are most likely Cutco salesmen pushing their inferior product. Why else would they be mentioning Cutco on a site that does not even sell it?
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The Le Creuset platter is beautiful and will provide a stunning culinary display; however, it is much smaller than I expected it to be.
