These were a Christmas gift from my parents. I requested these specifically after doing several months of research on knives.
Many knife manufacturers come up with so many different 'lines' for their knives that the consumer has no idea what the hell he's looking at. It took me months to research these knives and determine they were the best value. Why?
Henckels has two major lines: 'Twin' and 'International.' Twin are made in Europe, International are made in China. Within the 'Twin' classification are about five or six different lines, from 'gourmet' to 'pro-s' with a lot in-between, but only two types of blade construction are found within this line!
Basically, when you buy a knife, you're either buying 'forged' steel--a blade produced all from one piece of metal in a multi-step process that requires much skilled labor for every blade--or 'stamped' steel, a mass-production method where the blade is cut from a sheet of cold-rolled steel. Needless to say, forged is better. And anything from China is almost certainly going to be a 'stamped' blade.
But Henckels is spreading two types of blade construction across five or six different brands, each more expensive than the last. They differentiate their knives by more ergonomic handles.
Seriously. That's the difference. This $170 kit contains all but two of the most fundamental cooking knives (what's missing is a slicer/carver, steak knives, and a bread knife). These can easily be added to the kit and still yield a much lower price than the 'full' kits of more expensive lines. It is the absolute cheapest set of FORGED Henckels blades, anywhere. The exact same blade can be purchased with a slightly different handle in the Five Star, Pro-S, and even Four Star II sets (that's right--Henckels made a new line that is much more expensive to replace these and doubled the price. The difference is a metal cap on the handle).
The 'Gourmet' and 'Signature' lines are, frankly, a waste of your time. They are stamped blades.
Henckels' forging method is spectacular and they are a company worthy of your business. But you are a customer who deserves to get the right value. This is the right value. And it's probably discontinued by Henckels now in lieu of the much more expensive Four Star II line, intended to replace these and give them a much better margin on their sales.
After spending weeks going between the Calphalon Katanas, Wustofs classic, and the plethora of Zwilling knives I finally made the decision to purchase this set. I didn't choose the Katanas because they didn't seem to hold an edge very long and it didn't feel that great in my hand. The Wustofs I decided were too pricey because after all, I am not a professional chef, but I still want a quality set of knifes that will last me a long time.
After looking through the various Zwilling series, I discovered that there is very little difference between this older model of knife compared to the newest lines out. Here is a breakdown of the differences in the lines:
TWIN Professional `S' full tang, three rivet traditional handle
Four Star original molded handle knife
Four Star II updated version of the four star upscale knife, original molded handle with a metal cap on the end.
TWIN ProfectionFull tang, three rivet design of the poly handle is ergonomic, fitting the grip perfectly.
The new bolster design provides solid, balanced feel giving a full cutting edge.
The blades are the same on all of the above. One is not considered better than the other all have special formulated steel made to Zwilling J.A. Henckels' specifications and all are Friodur® ice-hardened, a process of heating, cooling and re-heating that changes the molecular structure of the blade for optimum no-stain features and an extremely long-lasting edge.
So when you see that the new 7 piece Four Star II set is $299 and the other sets are even more expensive, you can see the value in this $169. I purchased mine at Bed Bath with a 20% and the matching steak knives. It's a sweet deal.
Lastly, do these things cut! I used to have the Henckels International line. There is no comparison between the two. The balance, edge, and sturdiness of these are fantastic.
Buy Zwilling J.A. Henckels Twin Four Star 7-Piece Block Set Now
I was a chef for 11 years, and early on I learned the necessity of owning top quality knives.
I purchased a set of J.A. Henckels Four Star knives in 1987, and I am still using them today -a quarter-century later. They have survived two divorces (not my ex's fault; the knives were far sharper than I was), a dozen moves back and forth cross-country, and most important: daily use, week in & week out, in professional kitchens and at home.
When it comes to chef's knives, as with so many other things, you DO get what you pay for, so my advice is simple: Buy the best knives your budget allows for, take the time to learn how to use them* and care for them**, and they will last a lifetime.
*Proper use includes how to hold your knives, the correct strokes for cutting, paring, etc., and the proper cutting surfaces.
**Learn how to keep your knives sharp with stone & steel, how to clean them and how to store them.
J. A. Henckels' knives are an investment well worth the money; they will make cooking far less stressful and a lot more fun for many years to come.
Read Best Reviews of Zwilling J.A. Henckels Twin Four Star 7-Piece Block Set Here
I bought these knives for my first-time homeowner son, as a housewarming gift, because I had accumulated a number of the 4-star knives for myself.
As I told my son the musician -a good knife is like a musical instrument, you have to keep it "in tune" (sharpened) for it to work at its best. A good, sharpened knife can be poetry in motion, for those who like to cook. But it has to be sharpened to stay like that -otherwise, the "never need sharpening" knives would be a better choice. I run my knives through a two-wheel manual sharpener about every 2 or 3 times I use them. I use an electrical knife sharpener about once or twice a year.
The handles on the 4-star can discolor (whiten) if regularly washing in a dishwasher with powdered detergent. I usually wash mine manually, but I will put them in a top rack occasionally, and I use a gel detergent.
This is a great set of knives for those who don't mind sharpening frequently. I hang mine on a magnetic knife holder, I don't care for a block on the countertop. I am a bit envious -there is a Santoku knife in this set that I don't have. Because I have small hands, I use the 6" chef knife instead of the 8". I have the 3" paring knife; the 4" would be a good addition to my set.
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This set seems to be discontinued, and has been replaced with the Twin Four Star II line of knives. I'm not sure what the difference is the only thing I can tell is the handles on the new II series have a metal cap on the end of them which to me seems merely cosmetic. Regardless, these are some of the best knives I've ever used. Granted, I'm not a chef, and I've never owned anything nicer then a Calphalon knife, but these things are amazing. They feel like a precision tool in your hands, cutting through anything you throw at it smoothly and with ease. I recently visited family for the holidays and had to cook for a week with an inferior brand of knife, and it amazed me how spoiled you get with Henckels knives. I'll never use anything else again!! For $169 these are a great value and I would highly recommend them to everyone considering a good set of knives for their kitchen!!! I'm feel like a chef in the making with these!
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I use this R100 at work and it is underpowered and lacks options. The work bowl is too small for bigger jobs. The grey bowls are inferior to clear bowls. I purchased a 14 cup (3.5 quart) Cuisinart at home and it works much better, stronger motor, includes more options, and has a much better bowl capcity by a full quart. The price difference is very substantial; even without consideration of price, the Cuisinart is far superior.
