Henckels Knives Reviews — How Good Are They?

Anyone who has worked with knives knows how crucial a quality set of knives is in the kitchen. They essentially work as an extension of your hands, affecting everything from cutting, chopping, or dicing.  

Given the importance of knives, it’s no wonder that users are often baffled about what to choose. Among all the alternatives, German knives have always held a significant place. And if you want something that’s affordable and performs well, Henckels International is a German brand you’re bound to come across.

This is a sub-brand that has the same parent company as the renowned Zwilling lineup, so you know what to expect. But we won’t rely on mere expectations. The Henckels knives reviews here will tell you how to decide upon the right set for your budget and requirements. Let’s dive in.

5 Best Henckels Knives – Comparison Table

Top-Rated Henckels Knives Reviews

Given Henckels’ extensive catalog, you can find tons of different knives to choose from. Here are my favorites that cover all of the different requirements you may have.

1. Henckels Graphite 20-pc Self-Sharpening Knife Set

At the top of the list, we have a 20-piece set that comes with all of the possible options you may require. Given how Henckels International is the more affordable lineup of its parent company, this set does not disappoint us in that regard.

Even with such a large arsenal, this comes with a very reasonable price tag. Is there a catch, then? Well, there is a minor one, but let’s first get through the goodies. First off, the handles are made of stainless steel.

The best thing about these handles is that you’ll have an easier time cleaning them, and there’s minimal risk involved with any hygienic issues. They do feel a bit cold to the touch, but that isn’t an issue worth nagging about.

So, how about the blades themselves? Well, that’s where the catch is. For the most part, these blades perform very well as they’re made with quality stainless steel. As a result, they do not corrode easily, and it’s comparatively easier to clean them.

Maintenance here is more effortless than something like carbon steel. However, the issue is with the manufacturing process, as these are stamped instead of being forged.

You may know the drawbacks of that. For one, these are usually not as durable and as sharp over time as something like carbon steel. These may not last you decades like a quality forged option either, but that’s entirely expected for the price.

Plus, it’s not difficult to maintain these blades’ sharpness, and you won’t have a hard time getting a good result out of them. Another benefit about this set is that it’s self-sharpening.

That just means that when you put the knives back into their places, there’s an automatic sharpening slot that will get the sharpness back as it was.

Sure, it may not be as effective as doing it yourself with a proper sharpening tool. But having these sharpen the knives over and over again gets you decent results!

Since the whole knife is made with a single piece of stainless steel, the overall balance is impressive with the handle. They come with a standard triple-rivet solid handle that allows you to control and maneuver the knives with exceptional ease.

So, what do you get in the package? First off, there’s a three-inch paring knife, which is great for working with small delicate objects.

There’s another four-inch one too if that’s something you need. You also get a five-inch utility knife, a bread knife, a carving knife, and a carving knife — all of which are 8 inches.

There’s a bonus pair of kitchen shears, a 5.5-inch boning knife, and a prep knife.

As you can see, that’s quite the package you’re getting! Overall, I found very little to complain about these knives, and even the stamped forging process is quite reasonable for the price you’re paying for them.

2. Henckels Statement 20-pc Kitchen Knife Set

Up next, we have got another 20-piece knife set. This one comes from the manufacturers’ Statement lineup. Let’s start with the ease of maneuverability this time, as that affects the experience for everyone.

These knives feel quite light, and their full tang design makes everything easier to maneuver and creates delicate and accurate cuts. It also ensures that the knives do not feel lopsided and you maintain a great balance even during longer periods.

There are also triple riveted handles with stainless steel caps, which work quite well to complement the balance that the full tang design creates. The overall shape is quite ergonomic as well, which I liked.

Given that this knife set has a lot in common with the previous one, we see a similarity in the price tag as well. Although, that is a good thing since this one ends up being quite affordable as well.

So, what about the blades in this case? Well, the manufacturer uses high carbon stainless steel to create all of the blades. As you may know, high carbon options combine the good sides of carbon steel and stainless steel in one place.

As a result, these knives will not rust easily, and it will be effortless for you to maintain them. Secondly, the high-carbon steel also ensures durable blades and a prolonged lifetime.

This particular Henkel’s Knives Set also does well when it comes to retaining the edge. Even after these knives eventually lose their sharpness, it doesn’t take a lot of work to get them back in place.

However, the manufacturing process follows the same principle as the previous set. The stamping process means that these knives are not as robust as most of the forged blades would be.

That is completely fine for what we get, however, as I’ve repeated numerous times. What do we get in the package for the price?

Firstly, there is a 3″ and a 4″ paring knife — both of which are suitable for smaller fruits and vegetables.

You also get a 5-inch utility knife and an 8-inch chef’s knife for all the versatility. They can do everything ranging from chopping, slicing, mincing, and dicing for all sorts of ingredients with ease. For the boning workloads, there is a 5.5″ boning knife with a much-needed flexible blade.

The bread knife and carving knife are also 8 inches in length and perform pretty well. If you want some of that Asian chopping or dicing, the set has a 7″ Santoku knife. Lastly, there is a pair of kitchen shears for added versatility.

Another good thing about these knives is that they’re dishwasher safe. Although I don’t usually recommend washing your knives in the dishwasher, it’s there if you ever need it.

All in all, this is another solid contender for the best Henckels knife set that you can get for an affordable price. Sure, it’s not perfect by any means, but you get a lot for the price that’s hard to beat.

3. Henckels Statement 12-pc Kitchen Knife Set with Block

The previous Henckels Knives’ Reviews were on point as the knives are pretty sizeable. However, not all users need that many knives or have a budget for them. Getting a more compact set makes more sense for them.

If that’s you, the next pick is the way to go.

Here is another set from the manufacturer’s Statement lineup. That means it follows the same sort of aesthetics, same design, same handles — you get the idea. The only difference is that this is a 12-Piece Knife Set.

Let’s talk business. What do you get in the package?

One distinction is that you get six steak knives instead of the eight from the previous sets. There’s only one paring knife with a three-inch blade for the delicate fruits and vegetables.

There is a 7-inch hollow-edge Santoku knife that is excellent for everything ranging from chopping or slicing fruits to even mincing raw meat.

The hollow edge is a godsend to me. You’ll know how annoying it is when slices get stuck to the knife’s edge. Hollowed edges create tiny air pockets on the knife’s edge and prevent that from happening.

There’s an eight-inch chef’s knife, which works for all of your purposes that does not require too much power or too delicate control. You also get an eight-inch bread knife. You mostly use that to cut bread, obviously, hence the serrated blades.

The set also comes with a nine-inch knife sharpening steel and a hardwood knife block. This just adds a little bit of convenience.

These knives also utilize a “Full Tang” design. This term means that these knives have one single piece of high-quality steel, and the blade extends into the handle length itself.

The most significant benefit of having such a design is that you get exceptional balance and maneuverability out of the knives.

They become easier to use and do not feel too tiring even when used for a prolonged period. Of course, this design does not mean much if you don’t have a quality handle.

Fortunately, the set does not disappoint us in that regard. The handles are quite ergonomic, which allows for tireless cutting over longer periods. In this case, the handles aren’t made of stainless steel.

Henckels used polymer to create them. That does not necessarily have any obvious drawbacks. You can easily clean them when compared to something like wooden handles, which gives you a hygienic edge.

But the backside does not mean much if the blades don’t do their job. Once again, we see the blades are crafted from high carbon stainless steel.

That is an exceptional material for the price, and the value is quite hard to beat. These blades retain their edges for a long time and do not rust easily.

From all aspects, this is a great option if you want something even more affordable and compact than the previous models.

4. Henckels Silvercap 14-pc Kitchen Knife Set

For many users, resharpening the blades feel like an annoying chore. And I understand why it may seem so. In that case, it helps to choose blades that maintain their edge for a longer period or are much easier to sharpen. The next pick does that.

This set comes from the manufacturer’s Silver cap lineup, which is a 14-piece knife set. Let’s start with the material first. As expected with knives that come from Henckels, we get high-quality German stainless steel in this case as well.

Keep in mind that this is not the high-carbon stainless steel like you’ve seen in the previous set. This could be a drawback when you consider that high-carbon steel is much easier to work with and maintain.

Nevertheless, this material manages to hold its own pretty well. Corrosion rarely seemed like a headache for its users. And maintenance was a complete breeze given how easy it is to clean stainless steel.

As you’ve come to expect by now, the blades are precision stamped, meaning they’re not forged like the higher-end models.

While it has a slight drawback regarding strength and durability, it’s not as big a deal if the manufacturer does a good job with the stamping process.

This set costs slightly more than the previous lineup we talked about.

But that’s for good reasons, which we’ll now see. First of all, the sharpening process. These blades are micro-serrated, which means they rarely require you to sharpen them, let alone do that once every few days.

The knives have plastic handles with stainless steel caps at the end, hence the name. As expected, they are also full tang knives — the blade goes right into the handle without any joints. This results in much more balanced and maneuverable knives.

This is a 14-piece set; there are two paring knives, one measuring three inches and the other four inches.

You get a five-inch Santoku knife that does everything from finely mincing onions to dicing to chopping. There’s an eight-inch bread knife, and the star of the show is probably the eight-inch chef knife, which I think you’d enjoy using.

Cutting with rocking motions, making different chops, dices — everything seemed effortless (especially if you have knife skills).

There are also six 4.5″ steak knives and a pair of kitchen shears. If you feel like you don’t need a larger set and don’t want to go too far down either, this set is a nice balance in between.

They’re pretty lightweight, easier to control and last for a long time without any corrosion. And given how they retain their sharp edge, there’s not a lot to complain about.

Of course, it may cost you slightly more than the previous options, but it can be worthwhile to invest in it.

5. Henckels Definition Self-Sharpening Knife Block Set

Some manufacturers now provide automatically-sharpening knives set. Rest assured that they won’t come close to doing it yourself manually. But it can reduce the amount of work you put in to maintain the knives’ sharpness.

The following set comes from Henckels’ Definition lineup. This variant is a 14-piece one, which is a nice middle ground in terms of number. Let’s start with what you get with it.

Firstly, there’s a 3″ paring knife that does a decent job of working on smaller, more delicate ingredients. But if that’s a bit too small for some of the workloads, there’s also a 5″ serrated utility knife that’s pretty versatile.

Then there’s the most versatile one — the 8-inch chef’s knife. This one is suitable for all sorts of work, as one would expect. If you need something for mincing or dicing with a narrow sheep’s foot blade, there’s also the 7″ Santoku knife.

Other than that, you get an 8″ bread knife, six 4.5″ steak knives, and a pair of shears. The shears are far from the show’s highlight, but they rarely are in knife sets. Since this features a self-sharpening capability, there is also a self-sharpening block. The slots are labeled on it, so you won’t have a hard time placing things.

In terms of design, this set comes with a pleasing brushed stainless finish with a wooden base. While this bit is purely subjective, the handle isn’t. All of the knives in this set are triple-riveted, which is expected of Henckels.

They also feature a full tang design, which creates a remarkable center of balance for the knives. As a result, users will have a great time controlling and maneuvering them regardless of the work they’re doing.  

They’re ergonomically designed and curved as well. You shouldn’t have a hard time getting used to that, no matter the size and shape of your hands. All that’s left is the blade.

As with many of the options from this lineup, the knives use stainless steel. That’s a predictable move, as this material is affordable, it does not stain, and it’s easy to work with. There’s only one slight drawback, and that’s the fact that it isn’t as good at edge retention as the higher-end materials.

Nevertheless, the self-sharpening slots are pretty efficient at bridging that gap. You won’t have to resharpen the blades regularly. And when you do, much of your work will be reduced thanks to the automatic sharpening system.

Then comes the pricing. This set remains predictable in this aspect as well.

It’s undoubtedly one of the most reasonable options in its price range. Unless you want to spend more on higher-end knives, I’d recommend it as long as your size and number requirements are fulfilled. Is it the best Henckels Knife set? You tell me!

6. JA Henckels International Statement Kitchen Knife Set

While it may seem trivial to some, users like me require their knife sets to match the aesthetics of their kitchen. The following set is one of my favorites from that perspective. It comes with a brownish knife base combined with black knife handles.

How about the functionality, though?

This may sound like a cliché in these JA Henckels knives reviews, but this set is excellent for the price it comes in. And that praise contrasts the rest of Henckels’ own lineup.

This is a 15-piece set that has almost everything you may ask for. There’s a 3″ paring knife — a standard Henckels design that works really well with smaller foods. And unlike the previous options, this set comes with two Santoku knives.

The first one is 5 inches, while the second is 7″. If you do a lot of chopping, dicing, or slicing, having these knives would be a godsend. Both of the knives have hollowed edges, meaning food won’t stick to them when you’re slicing or chopping ingredients.

Of course, they won’t do the job of a good chef’s knife. There’s an 8″ chef’s knife in this package that provides a great experience in all sorts of tasks. You also get an 8″ bread knife with serrated edges for quick and clean cuts.

There are six steak knives, each measuring 4.5 inches. And as the final piece to improve versatility, there’s also a 5″ serrated utility knife.

If you feel like there’s something in the middle that the chef or Santoku knives cannot do, feel free to resort to this.

I liked the standard sharpening steel to keep the blades up to par, a pair of shears, and a beautiful woodblock to store everything in. All in all, users won’t miss much in this set as far as knives are concerned.

But…. what about the performance of these babies?

As far as the handling goes… the ergonomic handles do a great job of providing you with a comfortable and accurate grip. Working for long hours didn’t feel tiring, either. The knives feature a full tang design, meaning the whole thing is made from one piece of steel.

That, and the triple-rivet construction method means that the user can breeze through any task. They provide remarkable control and maneuverability combined with a lightweight experience. Go through several Henckels Knives Reviews and you’ll find the same thing highlighted in bold lines.

The whole set uses stainless steel as the primary material, which is predictable for the price. Unlike forged blades, they’re made in a stamping process — something that you’d also expect.

Regardless, the quality steel manages to retain its edge for a decent while, and resharpening didn’t seem to be too difficult. This set doesn’t resharpen automatically, but that’s not a crucial feature, to be honest.

If you wanted the best Henckels knife set without having to pay too much, this set is an easy recommendation for me.

7. Zwilling J.A. Henckels Professional S 2-Piece Chef’s Set

All of the options above are superb for the price, and they can be more than enough for your usual kitchen requirements. However, professional workloads require something better. The next pick can be the ideal option if you want that.

Moreover, it’s also suitable if a 15-piece set seems like too much for your requirements. This 2-piece chef’s set is exceptionally versatile and compact at the same time.  

You get two knives here — a chef’s knife and a paring knife. The former is perhaps one of the most versatile multi-purpose knives. You can do everything from slicing meat to chopping and dicing vegetables to disjointing large portions with it.

The chef’s knife here is 8 inches in length, which hits a sweet spot. Given the multi-purpose nature of it, having one of these knives is a must for anyone. It has a 15-degree angle, which is pretty standard.

The other knife is a 4″ paring knife. This is a knife with a shorter blade that can do all sorts of intricate cuts and chops. Since chef’s knives aren’t as good at that purpose, a paring knife complements them really well.

Think of tasks like deseeding fruits, intricately chopping up vegetables or herbs, or even peeling them. This paring knife is excellent at all of these workloads. But how do two of these knives cost almost the same as a 15-piece set? And is it justified?

It certainly is, especially if you’re a professional. For one, this set is manufactured by forging a single piece of steel, as opposed to the stamping process. As a result, these are tougher, more resilient, and will perform better.

The material here is also remarkable — high carbon stainless steel. It brings you the best of both worlds. There will be no corrosion whatsoever, and maintenance will always be a breeze.

Furthermore, it’s superior in terms of edge retention. You won’t have to keep resharpening the blades every now and then, and the sharpening process is effortless too.

The knives go through an ice-hardening process during manufacturing as well. That makes the edge remain sharper for a more extended period. This set doesn’t fall behind regarding the handling capabilities either.

Henckels uses their standard polymer handles here, and the experience is quite comfortable. The curved shape is comfortable to hold even if you’re working for a longer period.

As expected, these also feature a full tang design with a traditional triple-rivet handle. That allows for better control, be it for tougher foods or delicate ones. The bolster also becomes more maneuverable with the seamless transition, making the whole experience exponentially better.

It should now be apparent why these knives cost more than the options we’ve seen above. And you should be able to realize why that cost is more than justified. Nevertheless, not everyone needs professional-quality knives, so the decision is up to you.  

8. Henckels Solution 12-pc Knife Set

Now that we’ve looked at a more professional-style set, let’s get back to the comparatively affordable Henckels knife set. This is the most affordable set that we’ve seen so far, so read on if that piques your interest.

Let’s start with the material, shall we? As we’ve come to expect from budget sets, this one also relies on stainless steel for the blades. The benefit is that you get decent enough edge retention, and there’s little risk of rust involved.

That’s because this steel does not corrode like high-carbon knives. However, there are some caveats involved as well. For one, these don’t hold their edges for as long as something like high-carbon stainless steel knives.

Additionally, the knives are all made through a stamping process. That means they’re cut out of a single sheet of metal instead of being forged like the higher-end models. That’s entirely reasonable for the price, and you shouldn’t feel the difference in usual tasks.

Other than this compromise made for the price, the blades do a decent job. Another benefit is that they’re all dishwasher safe, which makes cleaning much more straightforward (although I would still suggest a hand wash).

Let’s take a look at what you get in the package now. There is a 4″ paring knife that can fulfill all of the delicate necessities like peeling fruits and vegetables or making accurate cuts.

Then there’s a 5″ utility knife if you need something bigger and more versatile. It can be used for all sorts of prep tasks. After that, there’s the OG of multi-purpose knives — the 8″ chef’s knife. You could mince, slice, chop potatoes, meat, and everything in between with it.

Additionally, there are six 4.5″ steak knives, which is a standard for these sets. The kitchen shears are decent in quality and should do their job well. The package includes a 9″ sharpening steel to keep the knives in shape, and the 11-slot woodblock to contain everything.

There’s also a hollow-edge Santoku knife, whose importance you probably realize by now. The slight cuts in the edges prevent food from sticking, which is otherwise very annoying. In terms of control, these don’t disappoint.

The handles are standard for Henckels’ lineup, and they’re certainly ergonomically sound. Using and holding them for longer periods didn’t seem to result in fatigue, which is a great thing. The full tang design created a nice balance between the top and the lower portion to keep things easy to use.

The fact that these knives are quite lightweight also helps the overall control and maneuverability. That’s about it; I can’t complain about this set given what it provides for the price. I would suggest going higher up the price ladder if you can, but otherwise, this is a decent option for sure.

9. J.A Henckels International Forged Premio 18-Piece Set

For many users, a single knife set is what they rely on for all sorts of purposes. That’s why the number of knives (and their types) in a set makes a huge difference to them. The ninth Henckels knife review is ideal for people with such requirements.

It is an 18-piece set that has everything you may need for your typical day-to-day tasks. So, let’s start with what you’ll find in the package. There’s an 8″ chef knife, and you probably know how great JA Henckels chef knives are by now.

This knife can do all sorts of work, ranging from slicing, chopping, dicing to mincing. Given how essential a multi-purpose knife like this is, the manufacturer has done a great job.

There’s a 3″ paring knife as well. If some of the delicate tasks seem a bit too delicate for the chef knife, you can resort to this one. Things like peeling fruits and cutting smaller fruits and herbs can be done really well with it.

Then comes the 7″ Santoku knife with hollowed edges. This knife is great for all sorts of mincing or slicing tasks. You can also create really fine slices thanks to the thin and sharp blade. Additionally, the little slits on the edge create air pockets that’ll prevent ingredients from sticking when you’re making delicate cuts.

The set comes with an 8″ bread knife, and the serrated edges do an excellent job. For the boning requirements, you get a 5″ knife as well. Lastly, there’s a utility knife to help you with prepping tasks and a pair of kitchen shears.

As you can see, it has all of the typical knives that you may require for your usual tasks. Well, how about the user experience, then?

As we’ve come to expect from this manufacturer, all of the knives feature a full tang design that increases the knives’ strength and balance. Furthermore, it makes things much more effortless to control during use.

The triple-rivet design is complemented by ergonomic handles that feel quite comfortable to hold and work with. The benefit of these handles is that you can clean them without worrying about hygienic issues that persist in wooden ones.

The steak knives use slightly different handles and aren’t as comfortable as the rest, but that’s normal. The comfortable bolsters make it more convenient for the user to handle and maneuver the blade, which wouldn’t have been possible otherwise.

There’s one thing you should remember, though. Not all of these knives are made in Germany, as Henckels outsources that to different locations. That isn’t a drawback by any means, but it’s something many users assume wrongly.

Lastly, we have the pricing. As usual, this set is pretty affordable and reasonably priced for what you get. It can be a great purchase as long as you keep your expectations in check.

10. Henckels Definition 7-Piece Self-Sharpening Block Set

As I’ve been saying, the number of knives you want in a set comes down to personal preference. That’s why I’ve included different numbers of combinations to cover all the bases. The final pick that we have is a 7-piece set, which is the sweet spot for many.

This set belongs to Henckels’ Definition knife series — one that we’ve already looked at. One highlight of this knife series is that it features a self-sharpening wooden base. That means every time you put the knives in and out of their slots, they’ll automatically sharpen to some extent.

Bear in mind that it’s not the same as a full-fledged sharpening session, so you will still need to sharpen them from time to time. But they do lessen the load on your shoulders, so this is a welcome feature.

This is especially helpful because of the material in use here, stainless steel. Unlike a high-carbon stainless steel blade, the vanilla version does not hold its edge for as long. Consequently, you’ll usually need to resharpen them more often.

But I’ll invoke the same commandment again — you can’t complain for the price. German stainless steel is a great option in this bracket. You get impressive sharpness, minimal risk of rust stains, and impressive control.

These are made from a single piece of steel, and the full tang design makes a huge difference in experience. You’ll find an impressive balance during use, and controlling the knives to make accurate cuts is effortless. 

The manufacturing process is done by stamping the steel, which is somewhat inferior to the usual forging process. While that shouldn’t be a huge deal for many, it is something that you should keep in mind.

Firstly, there’s a 3″ paring knife for the comparatively delicate tasks. In addition to that, you get a 7″ Santoku knife, an 8″ chef’s knife, and a 6″ utility knife. The Santoku knife is great for thin slices and chops, thanks to the sharp and thin blade.

The chef knife manages to maintain its versatility as usual, and a utility knife is a great option for prepping your ingredients and cutting smaller items. I’m also a fan of the wooden base, which looks great and comes with labels for all the slots.

That way, you won’t have a hard time putting things back in place. Overall, this knife set has a lot going for it. It doesn’t cost an offensive amount, it has all of the essentials that you may need in the kitchen, and the quality is pretty decent.

And given the nifty self-sharpening bit, you don’t have to worry too much about resharpening them every now and then. And that concludes our list!

The Approach to Buying Knives — How Do You Choose One?

A quality set of knives can last you a long time and play a significant role in all that you do in the kitchen. Hence, choosing the right one is essential. Given the importance, I’ve prepared a whole guide to help you figure out what to choose and how to approach the selection process.

Manufacturing Process — Forged vs. Stamped

 You’ll find that knives are made in two methods, stamped or forged. This little factor affects everything between a knife’s price and performance.

Forged Knives

Forged knives are made from one bar of steel, meaning there are no joints or different pieces in between. The steel is heated repeatedly to pound it into the shape of a knife. This process takes a lot of skills and specialized equipment, but the result is a premium and long-lasting product.

These knives may be a tad costlier than the stamped ones, but they’re more balanced and manage to hold their edge for a longer period. And since these can even last you decades with minimal care, I’d recommend going down this path if you’re not short on budget.

Stamped Knives

Stamped knives are the ones that are directly cut from a sheet of metal and turned into blades. As you can imagine, these don’t go through the same forging process, which does reduce the cost of manufacturing significantly.

However, it also means that these products don’t have the same resilience as the alternatives. These knives typically don’t hold their edge for as long as the forged knives, either.

Sure, there are stamped knives that are of exceptional quality, but they cost quite a bit more as well. If you find that the cost difference isn’t too huge for you, then I’d always recommend going for a forged knife.

Knife Types

The list above talks about knife sets, so what’s the point of talking about the types of knives? Well, not every set comes with the same number for various kinds of knives, and the properties vary pretty significantly.

This whole thing depends on the users’ preferences, so knowing what to pick is a necessity. Here are some of the most popular options you’ll find included in the set.

Chef Knives

These knives are the most common and versatile ones you can find in a kitchen. You’ll probably recognize the rounded belly and sharp edge, which are two of the most discernable factors about these knives.

Having a chef’s knife in your arsenal is an absolute necessity, and almost all knife sets will come with at least one. These are exceptionally useful due to the curved belly, especially with chopping, dicing, or cuts in rocking motions.

Paring Knives

Paring knives are the shorter ones that you’ll find in the set. These have a very slight curve and a sharp tip accompanied by reduced weight to allow for better control. The best thing about these is that they’re easy to maneuver.

That allows users to use them for small and delicate ingredients, which large options like chef knives may not be able to do. Cutting, chopping, and slicing fruits are also some purposes people use these knives for.

Utility Knives

As the name suggests, this category of knives is also the jack of all trades like chef’s knives. While chef’s knives may be a bit tougher to maneuver when you’re working on delicate items, these can be the best knives for those.

For instance, chopping up shallots is surprisingly tough with a chef’s knife. On the other hand, you could perform that task with ease with one of these knives.

There are various other knife types, for instance — boning knives, bread knives, carving knives, and many more. All of them fulfill specific purposes that other knives cannot fulfill. You’ll come across knife sets that may or may not include all of these alternatives.

That’s why knowing what you need and making a compromise in some sectors may be a necessity.

Choosing the Knife Materials

The material used in a knife is undoubtedly one of the most crucial elements that determine its quality. Not only does this tell you about the knife’s sharpness and performance, but also how well it would perform in the long run.

Stainless Steel

Stainless steel is perhaps the most common material used in knives in the modern era. The biggest benefit of this material is hidden in its name — it’s resistant to corrosion. These require little maintenance and do not rust even if you aren’t very careful about it either.

Moreover, knives made with this material typically belong to the lower-priced line, which is a crucial aspect. You can even find stamped knives that cost very little, although I don’t recommend going down that path.

One issue is that this material doesn’t hold its edge for as long as some of the other options. Nevertheless, quality stainless knives do a great job of retaining their sharpness and provide a convenient experience even when sharpening them.

Carbon Steel

This material is exactly what the name suggests — a mix of carbon and steel. The addition of this material results in a stronger and more resilient blade. As a result, these blades can hold their edge for longer periods.

The extra hardness of these blades also means that they can be thinner than most options. This results in exceptionally sharp knives that create precise cuts (think of carbon steel Japanese knives, for instance). But it’s not all sunshine, either.

For one, these are less flexible than things like stainless steel, and they’re not resistant to corrosion either. So, if you need anti-rust properties, carbon steel may not be the way to go (go for stain-resistant carbon steel instead). You also need to spend some time on maintenance, which is something to keep in mind.

High-Carbon Stainless Steel

High-carbon stainless steel is the beefed-up version of stainless steel combined with carbon steel. For example, the stainless part in it means that the material won’t corrode as easily as carbon steel. That reduces the required maintenance and prolongs the knife’s life.

On the other hand, it manages to retain the hardness and rigidity of carbon steel. As a result, manufacturers can create really thin and sharp knives that can create surprisingly precise cuts.

Resharpening these knives are also pretty easy, and many manufacturers create their own mixes to get users their desired specialty. Many Japanese knives or even Zwilling Henckels International Classic knives do this to squeeze the most out of the blades.

These knives can also be made through both stamping and forging processes. However, all of this does mean that this material will cost you significantly more than the typical materials do.

Damascus Steel

If you’ve got the budget to go for something tougher, better, and more beautiful, I’d recommend Damascus steel knives. This name refers more to a forging process that the steel goes through.

One of the most renowned examples of such steel would be Japanese knives. Many of them have a unique texture on the blade, and that’s thanks to this manufacturing process.

The steel in this case is forged and folded into itself, again and again, creating a tough and long-lasting product in the process. These knives don’t rust easily, and they manage to retain their edge for a long time as well.

Moreover, you don’t have to spend a long time resharpening them either, which ticks all of the boxes regarding user experience. But as I said already, this manufacturing process makes these knives costlier than most other options you’d find. That’s why many avoid them altogether.

Final Words

It takes a long time for a brand to create a name for itself, especially in a saturated market filled with thousands of competitors. Coming from the German city of blades, J. A. Henckels has done well for itself to secure a strong position.

I designed these Henckel’s knives reviews with the purpose to help you figure out your needs and preferences a little better and choose an option accordingly. I hope it helps as much as you expected it to.