Cutlery Reviews

I gotta tell ya...this has been the best "out of the box" knife that I have used in a long time and I have purchased and used every FORGED 8 inch chef's knife from every line of every manufacturer listed here on Amazon. The factory edge was perfectly honed and sharp as a razor right from the get go. Usually I have to use a sharpening steel for a few strokes to reclaim the edge but not this one. Maybe I got lucky but I do love it dearly.
The 4 Star line has been around since 1976 and Henckels knows that we "Pros" love it for it's low maintenance, ease in sharpening, comfortable grip, sanitary design AND price. The blade is classic German in shape, a long, round curve for perfect rockin' and a good weight for heavier work (although in the mid to late '90s they went to a French shape and weight for some reason). This 4 Star can't be beat for dollar value.
This is my 5th one purchased in the last 23 years...the previous ones were all "stolen" by line cooks on the job...'nuf said.

I've been using my Henckel's chef's knife for many years now, and I continue to be impressed with it at every use. The size, weight and balance make it comfortable to use, even for larger "projects" that might cause your hand or arm to get tired with a lesser product. Even after countless uses, the edge remains super sharp, requiring only rare application of the sharpening steel. I found this out the hard way a few days ago with a careless slip of the hand... The heavy duty stainless steel has stood up perfectly to umpteen-bazillion trips through the dishwasher, without the tiniest hint of rust or discoloration.

In short, this is truly a professional quality knife, as is every item in the Four Star, Five Star and Pro-S lines. Yeah, this puppy costs $80 or more, but it's definitely a worthy investment. You really do get what you pay for! Just a word of caution -- stay away from the lower-end Henckel's International line, which is much cheaper but not of comparable quality.

I love to cook, and I've spent a lot of money on cookware. For some reason, however, I continued to buy cheap knives. I guess I always felt that the actualy cookware I was using was so important, that I didn't really understand how having such a good knife would improve things.

Then I got this knife as a gift from a friend who comes over for my cooking a lot. I couldn't believe what I'd been missing! The weight of the knife, combined with such an incredible blade makes 'slicing and dicing' one of the best parts of cooking! This blade has taken everything I've thrown at it effortlessy. I bought a Henkle sharpener to go with it, but it holds its edge so well I don't sharpen it too often.

This kinfe also looks great. Plus, with Henckel quality, you know this will last almost forever.

Pros:
-Holds an edge very, very well
-Solid and heavy - makes chopping so easy
-Well balanced - feels great in your had
-Henkel quality

Cons:
-I only have one! (seriously, I don't have a real con).

I received mine for Christmas. For some reason, they don't make many electric knives anymore, but this one exceeds my expectations.

I've used it to cut breads and cheeses (for fun) and a multitude of other unnecessary things and it works great. Attractive looking too.

This knife will spoil you. Cutting through the thickest of meat is a breeze. I wanted to order a few for Christmas presents, but they wouldn't guarantee a by Christmas delivery. This is a gift that keeps on giving with years and years of great service!

This is, by far, the best electric knife I have ever used! I have tried many others that cost between 10.00 and 30.00 and all they did was chew whatever you were cutting into pieces. I have come to believe greatly that you get what you pay for. I have used the knife to cut meat and bread. The knife blades are so sharp that they can cut through hot bread without mashing or creating a pile of dust from the crust. My mother has borrowed it because the electric knife she owns just can't "cut it"..haha. I think I will order her one of her own for Christmas this year. You won't regret this purchase..look at it this way..you can spend 50.00 now and never have to worry about getting another electric knife or you can spend 20.00 and be back looking for another one in a year.

Global knives are the only knives I would have in my kitchen. In terms of comfort, durability, and performance, Global makes the best knives I have ever used.

The light weight of the knife allows for easy chopping without the wrist strain that heavier chef's knives tend to give. The grip is comfortable, making the knife easy to grasp without slipping, and the blade only needs the occasional sharpening. I use mine for all sorts of duties, like chopping veggies, crushing garlic, and even slicing through tough meats. This particular knife has never let me down, and it could cut through a shoe and still slice a tomato paper thin. And with the aformentioned qualities, it makes any novice slice like a pro.

The price might seem a bit high, but when you think about the durability of this particular knife when compared to less expensive, lesser quality knives, you can see why it is worth the extra money. A cheaper quality knife will dull, ship, or even break over time, meaning that it will need to be replaced more often. You might as well get a better knife. This is the one I would recommend, and myself and my friends use it, and we have no complaints.

As a professional cook, I don't like to waste time with gadgets or gimmicks at work. I was tired of the the dull, poor quality knives that my company supplies. I had the opportunity to try a Wusthoff knife during a busy shift. While it was better than the company knives,the weight made delicate tasks difficult. I held the Global at a cutlery shop and immediately noticed the balance and light weight it possesed. I purchased it on the spot. The knife is the best I have ever used. Global was able to produce a superior knife and it has proven itself day in and day out by handling everything from cutting frozen beef to slicing through tomatoes with ease. I will never go back to another brand, the knife is THAT good.

A knife is a knife is knife right? No not really. I had a friend who was a sushi chef, who the majority of his coworkers had these crazy custom made knives from japan that were imported (i dont even think they had a brand to them) but he was too cheap to pay and got a set of these. i tried his out right before i was ready to purchase some expensive henckles and found the balance and shape of the knife to be much more... well how can you describe a cutting expierience? i guess it was more cutt-arific...like i said i was ready to buy some henckles (spelling?) and he suggested to spend a few extra bucks and grab these... After forking over the dough, I have to say that I am huge huge fan of the global brand in general now and i bought one more knife and when i get the chance I am going to get more. i am excited to have some steak knives soon.

like others mentioned, these are lightweight, which some chef's and wannabe chefs probably would discredit or not like. Also the handles are smaller than other knives... but it doesn't seem to matter... i have big hands and i still love em'. they just feel good and they make me want to cut things for the sake of cutting... i guess i'm insane. call the mental institution

I have had mine for about 2 years now and still haven't sharpenend it yet (i use it a lot, i have yet to cut a tin can with it like Popeil would, but maybe some rainy day i'll try it)... anyway i'm not saying you don't need to sharpen them because it is probably a good idea... but i have yet to after two years of abuse and they seem to be about as sharp as when i first got them.

i would recommend this brand over others such as henckles or weisterholdodsodaidfpdslfj (or however you spell it). in fact i was so picky about making sure i found the knife that defined me as a person, that i forced the kids at the store up the street (williams sonoma) to let me play with a few different brands one evening after a cooking class and i have to say hands down this is my choice for knivery.

i'm sure there are others out there that might argue not having the weight on the knife is bad, but this damn thing is so sharp you don't need the weight. the only thing missing is a dragon in the blade (that was a joke referring to the QVC channel)

what else to say? the design is pretty damn contemporary and i have had several girls compliment me on them saying they look hip. in fact they did go well with the chicken, and i think they may have even raised brownie points!

maybe cooking utensils can define you as a person?

GO GLOBAL and HAPPY CUTTING!

In June of 2003, I wrote a blurb praising this starter set. My opinion from then hasn't changed, except the last part where I wrote that I couldn't justify Wusthof's price for those knive you don't use every day. Well, I lied. Since then I have replaced virtually every knife I had then with a Wusthof. Whether I was dicing veggies, carving a roast, or simply cutting up a chicken, I just got to the point where I could no longer tolerate using an inferior knife for the job; so I upgraded as I went along. All my old knives went into my camping box (you're supposed to be "roughing it" when camping, right?).

The knives in this set are superb. The problem is that after using them, you are liable to do as I did and spend lots of money later. Be warned.

I highly recommend this as a good starter set for Wusthof knifes are a high quality made knife, well balanced, hold a good edge,a lifetime guarantee,& #1 rated by Consumer Reports. I feel the 4 1/2" utility knife is a very good companion to these 2 also.Just make sure to feel the difference of each style for yourself; for some like the Grand Prix but I prefer the Classic. They cut through stuff like butter & make cutting alot less of a chore!

A great pair of knives. I use them daily and wouldn't trade them for any other knife I have ever touched. The balance and weight are perfect. Take care of them, and they will last forever.

After spending 6 years as a sous chef and using a variety of knifes, I can asure you that this knife is top notch! The Santoku is the knife of choice for vegetable prep because it is so well balanced for "rocking" and "chopping." For those that grip with your pointing finger onto the blade, the shape of the handle is far better than the 5 star series. The cryogentically cured steel stays sharp for months. In the four years that I've used this knife I have never used anything but a worn steel to sharpen the blade. A "must have" for the serious home cook.

Now that I have the kids helping me cook dinner/chop vegetables etc. I needed another "chef" knife. Rather than duplicate the chef's knife, I got this one and am very pleased. It's narrower blade makes slicing easier, the curve of the blade has a nice rocker motion to it. I think of the two styles I prefer the French Chef's over this one but as a second knife this one is great.

Purchased this knife to complete my knife collection. I'm not a serious (or even a great) cook but I love Henckels Four Star knives and have used them for over 20 years. This knife (as well as the others in the Four Star Collection) is well balanced and very sharp. It makes me want to take cooking lessons so my meager skills can match the knife's potential. My efforts in the kitchen may not taste gourmet but I feel like a chef with this knife in my hand. Marian

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 an 8 inch chef's knife, a 3 ½ inch paring knife, a 6 inch sandwich knife, 7 inch bread, a sharpening steel, and an oak block

The 8 inch chef's knife is a great knife. Wusthof offers four sizes of chef's knives in the Classic line, 5, 6, 8 and 10 inch. For most home cooks, I think the 8 inch knife is the best choice. The 5 and 6 inch are a bit small for bigger jobs, but the 10 inch is too big for most jobs. While the 8 inch isn't perfect for all uses, if you are only buying one size chef's knife (and most people only buy one), this is the one I would recommend.

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 will do the trick.

I have found very few uses for the 6 inch sandwich knife. I prefer the larger size of the chef's knife or the smaller 4 ½ inch utility knife. This knife is just the wrong width and length for most tasks, and falls into the overkill department, except when part of a set.

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. However, this particular bread knife, at 7 inches, is probably too short. I prefer the 9 inch knife.

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 a good deal as far as price. However, keep in mind you really only get 4 knives, two of which I think are the wrong selections, and one of which I think is too short.

I actually purchased the 6 knife starter set... The only difference is it did not come with the bread knife (good to have), although I will probably purchase one in the future. I use the 6 inch serated knife for bread, bagels and tomatoes. I think this is a good bargain because I don't feel you need all the knives in the 10 piece set. The block is good to have in order to keep your knives protected and handy. I tried both the Henckels and the Wustoffs and I prefer the fit and feel of the Wusthoffs. I highly recomend these knives.

Finally we purchased a set of fine knives. What a difference! I can't really compare these to other fine knives, but I can't imagine better quality.

The 6 inch sandwich knife and the 8 inch chef's knife are great. The handles are smooth and the cutting is effortless. My favorite, however, is the 3 1/2 inch paring knife. It is balanced and cuts so smoothly.

I love this set of knives.

For those of us who love to cook much of our pleasure is experienced in the preparation - whipping egg whites to a perfect frothy peak, cutting cookies into imaginative shapes or slicing cleanly, quickly and neatly the ingredients for casserole or soup.

This Japanese inspired Santuko knife by Wusthof has certainly added to my joy in the kitchen. It's the perfect implement for slicing, dicing or chopping. Alternating indentations prevent food from sticking to the blade, while its heft and balance are perfection.

A razor sharp blade allows me to slice as thinly as I wish, whether it be for carpaccio or the prosciuto we so enjoy. It's ideal for the cheese and ham in panini, and makes quick work of onions and celery for a family recipe for vegetable soup.
Of course, an added bonus is the Wusthof name, which we have learned means quality.

I do recommend that you hand wash it, just as you would a fine piece of silver. Believe me, this knife is sterling in every way.

- Gail Cooke

Forgive the LOTR reference, but this knife really makes most others obsolete.

You've probably already read the great reviews from noted reviewers, but I think there's an important point to mention. Most people end up buying a large block of quality knives b/c they feel it offers the best value. In actuality, most of the set goes unused and they simply stick with a Chef's knife.

This particular knife offers a more convenient shape and style than traditional Chef's knives. It feels more "ergonomic" when slicing, chopping, etc. It is also sharp enough to easily slice meats. The hollow edge doesn't seem to prevent sticking with vegetables (zucchini), but I haven't directly compared this with a non-hollow edge. For those who are looking for a great, all-around knife I really don't see much competition for this product. Big blocks of knives are nice for show, but for the practical-minded this knife makes the most sense.

This knife is fantastic. Makes the boring job of chopping a whole lot easier. One thing to be careful of though, when things stick to the sides of the knife, it is best not to use your finger to slide them off, it will get ya. Otherwise, I highly recommend it. It is worth every penny!

I'm sure by now, you're confused by which brand you should choose... is it the Henckels or the Wusthof Santoku? If that isn't your dilemma, skip on down to the next reviewer. I just got the Santoku for a steal of a price... and that is why i went for this over the Wusthof which goes for $5 more (Classic hollow-edge). I was looking at the Wusthof for over a month and was completely impressed w/ the feel and balance. I think the Henckels still comes in just below the Wusthof. There are hundreds of other knife manufacturers in Solingen, Germany... it's only that Henckels spent tons of money on global marketing. Back to the knife... once i got home, I quickly dug for a carrot (tougher to chop) and a cucumber. I tried to chop the carrot like i was banging on a drum... and it chopped fine. As far as the traditional, knuckles out cutting technique, it worked fine. My only advice for you is to definitely try out both knives and look for the most comfortable. You'll notice that one may have a heavy-heel/light-handle feel to it(vice versa)... it is ALL PREFERENCE. I actually got kind of tired chopping the carrots b/c theAlso keep in mind... the hollow edges on the knife really don't make a difference. If anything, it's an aesthetical bonus. So try out the non-hollow edged ones... it may be a few $$$'s cheaper. Also keep in mind, the difference between the Pro 'S', "4-Star" and "5-Star" knives are the handles. I didn't like the "5-Star" knives b/c of the ergonomic handle. Anyone can tell you that you're not supposed to wrap your hands around the whole handle. Instead you should be using your thumb and index to grip the finger guard/bolster. So thus, the Pro 'S' is a good pick, but I'm still going to give the 5-star rating to the Wusthof Classic 7" Santoku.

I bought one of these knives for my wife because she wasn't comfortable with traditional chef's knives, and I didn't like to see her using a pairing knife as a primary kitchen knife. After going to a few different stores and trying out different knives, she decided on the Henckels Pro S 7-inch Santoku. Although I probably would not have picked this knife for myself, I'm now hooked. Here's what I like most: (1) It came with an excellent factory edge. In fact, it was much sharper out of the box than my Global chef's knife. I probably won't use my Global much more until I can get it professionally sharpened. (2) Excellent balance and overall quality. It just feels good in your hand. This is something that everyone needs to try and decide for himself. (3) Versatility. The wide blade is better for scooping up chopped vegetables, herbs, etc than most chef's knives. It is sharp and light enough for relatively delicate work, but long and sturdy enough to handle bigger jobs. (4) Unlike traditional European-style knives, where the blade comes up against the bolster, the entire blade is exposed. This gives you more useful blade space, and is much better for future sharpening (bolsters get in the way of sharpening and stick out once part of the blade has been removed in the sharpening process). The only things I might change are that the 7-inch blade is a bit shorter than I would like, and the handle is relatively small (this is one of the factors that were best for my wife, however). The advice that I would give to anyone purchasing this knife is to please take care of it. Do not run it through the dishwasher, cut on hard glass or marble cutting boards (pure evil), or use any gimmicky home sharpening system. Maintain the edge with a high quality honing steel (a smooth steel is gentlest on the blade), and sharpen only occasionally by someone who knows what they're doing.

If you enjoy cooking Vietnamese, Thai, Chinese, or any other Asian foods you will find this knife a joy to use, and a welcome friend in the kitchen.

In the past I've used my Henckel 8" or 6" Chef's knives to prep veggies and meats for stir fry dishes. They did a fine job..but this knife makes the job so much more effortless. Beautiful for thin slivers of meat or all forms of vegetable cutting...slant cut, diced, nituke, jullianne.

One thing I appreciate about this knife is the 7" length and the lighter feel in my hand. It still has the nice balance that you would expect from a Henckel knife, but with a bit less heft. A pleasure to use!

If you love cooking with great kitchen tools...you'll love this one!

L

Just to clarify on those who commented that the "bread knife" in the set is too short. Technically, it's a serrated utility knife, not a bread knife and is fabulous for cutting tomatoes. The bread knife is also serrated, but is much larger...I have one myself and it's great for cutting big loaves of bread.

This is a great knife set. The knives are high quality and well balanced. The utility knife is great. After using this set for almost two years, I only have two complaints. The paring knife is a little small to cover all potential uses. Another 1/2 inch and it would be perfect. Also, the bread knife is almost useless. In addition to the fact it is the least used knife in the set, it is too short to be effective on all types of breads (varying loaf sizes, etc.). Add a longer paring knife and a carving or boning knife instead of the bread knife and this set would get five stars.

The Henckels 4 star knives are wonderful. I am able to get such a good grip on these. Very happy with the set. The only difference between this 4 star set and the 5 star set is the handles. I personally liked how my hand contoured to these handles. Previously owned the famous and expensive cutco knives. These are just as well balanced. Highly recommend.

My 3" paring knife broke. I decided to replace it with the Henckels 4 Star model. What a mistake! It is beautiful, sharp, extremely well balanced and obviously well made. Naturally, the rest of my knives took great offense, and I promptly ordered the whole set of 4 Star knives, block and all. At least I'll get a free set of Henckel's steak knives!

It seems that everyone's kitchen drawer holds more than one paring knife - ours certainly does, and this small knife by Henckels is a favorite.

The three inch blade makes it perfect for paring whether it be a garlic clove or potato.

With a user friendly handle it fits neatly into your hand, and is easy to grip for lengthy chores.

Pop it in the dishwasher, and it's like new.

About 5 years ago I got into cooking stir fry a little bit and found that cutting carrots, onions and many other vegitables was quite a chore with the cheap selection of knives that my kitchen was stocked with. I had to get sometimes near paper thin slices of various ingredients and there was no way even the best knife sold by Target could stack up to the task. I went to a real cookware store and purchased this knife and the 14" chefs knife for starters.

The first slice through an onion I knew where the extra money goes, some of it is for the name, but the rest is all quality. These knives will amaze you with how well they feel with their perfect balance and with a little work, you can get the blade sharp enough to shave with. When I held the chefs knife balanced on a tomato and just pulled, the weight of the knife sliced through it with a clean stroke. The paring knife is handy for so many more things than just paring (which it does quite well), I've used it more than once as a steak knife. For some reason I cant stand serrated edges anymore.

Cut all the coke cans you want with your Ginsu, but leave the real jobs to a real knife.