The first cut of meat you make into a juicy, grilled steak is a thrilling experience. You don't want to ruin the moment with dull cutlery. Wusthof steak knives can help you enjoy your dinner. Of course, there are many steak knives in the world. Choosing the set for you is a highly personal matter, but one thing that every steak knife should do is cut steak.
Wusthof Steak Knives - Comparison Table
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For starters, you don't want to hack and saw at your beautiful ribeye. This slab of meat is a work of art. It's been marinating all day. It's grilled to medium-rare perfection (which is the only sane way one should eat their steak). However, going at it with a dull knife would be like attacking the Mona Lisa with a hammer. Instead, you want your steak knife to glide gracefully through the meat with each gentle motion of your hand. There's no need to butcher it a second time. If your steak knives require you to saw vigorously to bite into the meat, then it's time to look into something like Wusthof steak knives.
All About Wusthof Steak Knives
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The Wusthof brand goes all the way back to 1814. After the defeat of Napolean and the end of thirty years of war in Europe, two brothers returned to Germany from the army and began making knives. There, they set up shop in Solingen, known then, as it still is today, as the "City of Blades." From the start, Wusthof took the symbol of a white trident on a red background as their logo. The Wusthof brothers created an enduring brand. Today, Wusthof still creates knives in Solingen. Seven generation of Wusthofs put their hearts and souls into their family product.
That's part of the reason Wusthof is synonymous with "quality." Professionals use Wusthof knives every day to chop, dice, and julienne.
But steak knives are a different story. Wusthof steak knives didn't join the company's lineup until the late 1980's. That's when Wusthof realized that Americans, Australians, and Canadian really like steak. One thing that we find interesting is that every Wusthof knife gets hot-drop forged. A single red-hot slate of steel gets pounded into shape by a massive two-ton forging hammer. That makes Wusthof one of the only knife manufacturers to create blades in a hot-drop forge.
Specifications
Wusthof steak knives consist of high-carbon steel mixed with a stain-resistant alloy. Additionally, the full tang is triple-riveted along the polypropylene handle for extra stability. If you prefer a shinier look, you can choose polished stainless steel handles. In addition, there are two types of Wusthof steak knives from which to choose. One is the "Gourmet" steak knife, which is more affordable but has less pure steel. Also, the gourmet line is stamped instead of hot-drop forged. However, if you want something higher-quality, and higher-priced, you can go with the "Classic" Wusthof steak knife. These are what you would expect from a premium brand.
Gourmet Wusthof Steak Knives
- 18/10 stainless steel
- Stamped
- Is not rust-proof
- Does not have stain-resistant alloys
Classic Wusthof Steak Knives
- Hot-drop forged high-carbon steel
- Blades get hand-sharpened before boxing
- Compound angle tapers from the spine to the edge for added strength
- Stain-resistant alloys
Pricing
Because Wusthof steak knives are high-quality, you can expect to spend serious money on them. However, the Gourmet line of steak knives is Wusthof's attempt to break into the crowded mid-range market. That is where the vast majority of consumers shop. For a set of four Gourmet Wusthof steak knives, expect to pay between $70 and $90. A set of six knives will cost you between $90 and $120.
On the other hand, the Classic Wusthof steak knives are much more expensive. These are premium knives that treat your steak with the tenderness, and respect, it deserves. That kind of gentle steak-cutting touch doesn't come cheap. So you'll pay between $200 and $260 for a set of four, while a set of six classic knives will cost you between $300 and $400. Also, both types of steak knives come with Wusthof's excellent lifetime warranty. If there is any defect in the blade or handle due to manufacturing, Wusthof will replace the knife for as long as you own it. However, this doesn't include normal wear and tear or issues caused by improper care and handling.
How We Reviewed
We wanted to bring you a fair and balanced review of Wusthof steak knives to help you make an informed buying decision. To do that, we went to numerous sources. We learned all we could about Wusthof steak knives and the manufacturing process involved in making them. Then, we scoured Amazon customer reviews. We love customer reviews. Not only are many of them entertaining to read, but they also give us the information we can't find anywhere else. Do these knives rust? Are they as strong as the company says they are? Are customers satisfied with their purchase? The best answers to the toughest questions come from real people
Finally, we compared Wusthof steak knives to a few competitors. This way, we were able to see how well they stack up, and if there could be a better knife out there for you to choose. After all that, we were able to make an informed recommendation on whether or not you should buy a set of Wusthof steak knives.
What Customers Said
Once we dug through the company marketing and history, we turned to Amazon to see what real people had to say after they bought a set of Wusthof steak knives. Because there are two types of Wusthof steak knives, we divided the customer reviews into two.
The first reviews we looked at were for the Gourmet line of Wusthof steak knives. These are the more affordable, mid-range knives. Remember, they get stamped out of lower-grade stainless steel. That didn't seem to bother Amazon customers, who rated them 4.5 out of 5 stars. Almost everyone loved that the knives arrived razor-sharp out of the box. People also enjoyed the sturdiness of the handles, and the full tang provides excellent stability. Also, many people were pleased with how nicely the knives slice through meat.
On the other hand, quite a few customers had complaints about the flimsiness of these knives. The stamped stainless steel is floppy. Several people noticed that there was light rusting after a few cycles in the dishwasher.
Next, we perused the customer reviews for the Classic Wusthof steak knives. Although these knives can cost as high as $400, the people who bought them said they were worth every penny. They gave them 4.7 out of 5 stars, making them some of the highest-rated steak knives on Amazon. One customer even wrote: "They're expensive, but so worth it!" Another mentioned that these knives slice "...meat like butter." Overall, people were in love with these premium steak knives. Also, many customers praised the design of the handle, which is comfortable to hold.
However, quite a few customers complained that these knives do not hold their edge. They seem to require sharpening after every use. Also, they are not dishwasher safe and need hand washing, which can be a turn-off for some people.
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Strengths and Weaknesses
Because Wusthof steak knives are available in two wildly different qualities, it can be difficult to determine their overall strengths and weaknesses. However, we looked at each set and were able to get a good idea of where they excel, and where they fail.
Strengths
Weaknesses
How They Stack Up
The last step in our review process was to compare Wusthof steak knives to some of the competition. We chose brands that you're most likely to come across in your shopping. Also, we compared both sets of Wusthof steak knives to competing sets from the same price point. This way, we were able to help you choose your steak knife set.
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First up in our comparison are J.A. Henckels International steak knives. Henkels is, without a doubt, Wusthof's biggest competitor. Both German companies have spent the past fifty years slugging it out for knife dominance, and together they make up the most significant slice of market share. Henkels has Wusthof beat in historical longevity. The company started back in 1731, also in Solingen, Germany. But it wasn't until 1818 that Henkels went into the consumer market, opening shops in Berlin, New York, and Vienna. Today, Henkels has the honor of being the oldest and largest knife manufacturer in the world.
Because Wusthof has the Gourmet line of steak knives, Henkels put out the International line of steak knives. Both are in the same league, that is, the mid-range price point. Both offer decent quality from respected names. These knives are from stamped stainless steel, and the edges are laser-cut for precision. Like Wusthof, the International steak knives have a full tang held on by three rivets. You can buy these knives for between $ and $$.
Customers on Amazon gave them 4.4 out of 5 stars. Most of them praised the sharpness of the blades, saying they cut through meat easily without mashing the flavor all over the place. Some people noted the cheap plastic. Also, they did not compliment their premium dishware.
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Next, in the mid-range series of knives, we have the Dalstrong Gladiator series. These steak knives from Chinese knife masters Dalstrong are the most unique-looking knives we've seen. Dalstrong is another popular knife brand among professionals. Dalstrong is from Yangjiang, the famous knife-producing region of China. Since the 1980's, Dalstrong grew to become one of the best consumer knife brands in the world.
The Gladiator steak knives are as cool-looking as they sound. Each blade has five inches of high-carbon forged German steel and hardened to 56+ Rockwell hardness. The edges get hand-sharpened. And there's a series of mean-looking dimples running along the blade. This gives them extra glide through the meat. Like all good knives, these are full-tang with three rivets holding them to the black pakkawood handle. They look amazing and feel amazing as well. Also, they cost between $ and $ for a set of four knives.
These were rated as high as the Classic Wusthof steak knives on Amazon. Customers gave them 4.7 out of 5 stars. One customer wrote: "Even my tough, overcooked pork chops were no match for these knives!" Everyone raved about the sharpness of the blade. Also, people fell in love with the premium look of these knives. On the other hand, some customers noticed rust spots forming near the handle, which is common with wooden handles.
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Next, we looked at some higher-end competition to the Classic Wusthof steak knives line. The first brand we chose was Cangshan, which hail from the same blade-producing region of China as the awesome Dalstrong knives. Cangshan began as the dream of a young Chinese man. He named the company after the Kangshan mountain region where he grew up. In the 1980s he started production in Yangjiang, which has a 1,500-year tradition of making swords, knives, and all those other cool blades of Chinese lore. By 2000 he had 800 employees. His knives were sold all over the world.
The Cangshan TC Series 1022247 steak knives could use a better name. But they don't need better design. These get forged from single slabs of Swedish high-grade steel, and the serrations are laser-cut for precision. We don't like serrated knives for cutting meat, but with the Cangshan series, we'll make an exception. The curved handles wrap around a full tapered tang. That means they fit in your hand incredibly naturally. These knives cost between $$$ and $$$ and come with a lifetime warranty.
Customers gave these Cangshan knives 4.6 out 5 stars. They praised the super-sharpness of the knife and loved the feel of them in their hands. Many people wrote long praise for the comfort and grip of the handle. Unfortunately, several people had problems with the knives going dull rather quickly, which becomes an issue with serrated knives.
Should You Buy?
After researching Wusthof steak knives, reading customer reviews, and comparing them to the competition, we were able to determine if you should buy these knives or not. If you're looking at mid-range knives, you can't beat the Dalstrong Gladiator steak knives. They are better quality than Wusthof steak knives for the same price, and they look amazing. On the other hand, if you are in the high-end market, then Wusthof steak knives are what you want to buy. We love the Classic line of steak knives and know you'll enjoy them with every bite of your delicious, juicy steak.
