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Sunday, January 10, 2010

Getting a Quality Knife Set for the Ages

/ On : 3:05 AM

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By Moses Harun

With a history covering almost two centuries, Wusthof keeps providing the world with well-made kitchen knives and shears, pocket knives, and other accessories. Based in Solingen, Germany, Wusthof remains run by the same family and presently employs in excess of 350 employees, each of whom, you could presume are committed to creating each Wusthof knife set as sharp as its reputation.

Product Lines

The Wusthof knives are crafted using two methods - forging for the high-end line and stamping for their less expensive line. Consequently, contingent on your bank account size, you can enjoy being the proud owner of a set of legendary Wusthof knives albeit having different levels of sharpness.

The forged knives are available in the Classic, Ikon, Classic Ikon, Le Cordon Bleu, Culinar, Grand Prix, and Grand Prix II lines but the stamped knives are used for the Gourmet, Emeril, and Silverpoint lines. There is a pointed difference between forged and stamped knives in any high-end knife collection, with professional chefs preferring forged knives most of the time for their chef's knives. Stamped knives are usually only preferred for steak and paring knives.

Whatever Wusthof knives set you decide upon, though, all Wusthof knives are an amalgam of 15 percent chromium, 0.5 percent carbon, and a small amount of molybdenum. Adding this to the Wusthof logo - a trident in a circle against a red background - Wusthof blades are distinctive from thier competitors' knives.

Advantages

While we're trying to avoid sounding like a sales hype for Wusthof, this company's knives have been proven time and again to be one of the best knives in the business. Evidence of this statement is Wusthof knives are the preferred cutting tool of expert chefs including Gordon Ramsay, Jamie Oliver and James Martin, and furthermore being annually voted as one of the top-rated knives by Consumer Reports and Cook's Illustrated.

For amateur chefs, the slip-proof traditional handle lends itself comfortably to a variety of hand sizes and therefore helps many guests or spouses to feel confident handling the knives in the set. Naturally, these knife blades are very sharp and just about never rust, stain or lose their edge. More than anything else, high-quality manufacturing processes and materials are the defining characteristics of a quality knife.

Disadvantages

The main feature that can discourage the non-professional from buying a Wusthof knife set will be the expensive price. Considering the lowest priced set of low-end Gourmet paring knives is priced at $35, you will easily find other knife brands selling more knives at similar prices. For the many Wusthof sets, $300 is peanuts.

Also, you may find products that have thinner-than-is-comfortable handles such as the Wusthof Classic. Naturally, men are more affected with this situation thanks to their more substantial hands. And of course, some do not care for a stainless steel handle, preferring instead the polypropylene type.

By and large, Wusthof knife sets will give more quality for any price. It cuts very nicely and efficiently like all high-quality knives should, does the job for generations as this manufacturer has done, and looks very professional when placed on your countertop. With a product as good as this, you probably will want to invest in another set as a gift for a new chef. - 24553

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