Getting the best Wusthof knives for your kitchen gives you access to some of the finest quality and craftsmanship on the market. These premium knives come in different shapes and sizes, so choosing the right one for you can be a hassle.
We’ll guide you through the process and show you 7 of our favorite picks for the best Wusthof knives. Our goal is to get you informed and ready to get a knife that’s perfect for you. We’ll help you get the best possible value for your money – and a knife that’ll take your kitchen game to new heights. Let’s get into the guide!
Top 7 Best Wusthof Knives Review in 2023
We’re going to look in-depth at each of the 7 Wusthof knives we’ve chosen. We’ll cover their unique and important features. You’ll get a good idea of how they perform in the real world and set the right expectations for your next knife.
We’ll finish each review with what we did and didn’t like about each of the knives. Once we’re done, you’ll be ready and able to choose a knife that gives you what you need and offers value for your money. Let’s dive into our top Wusthof knives review!
Wusthof Classic Chef’s Knife
Let’s kick it off with the most essential kitchen knife – the chef’s knife. This Wusthof chef’s knife has a gorgeous thick full-tang design made from premium quality stainless steel. At 8” long, it’s just the right length to find the perfect balance between cutting power and functionality. It’ll handle chopping, dicing, mincing, and slicing with unparalleled ease and comfort.
The triple-riveted handle is ergonomic and has wear and fade resistance. You won’t strain your hands or wrists using this knife for a long period. It’s impeccably well-balanced and effortless to cut with. The full-bolster it set at just the right angle to keep your fingers safe and give you a good pinch grip at the balance point.
The blade is rated at HRC58 which means it’s not too brittle but has good edge retention. Sharpening this knife isn’t nearly as taxing as harder steel knives and it sharpens to an edge about 20% finer than previous models. You’re getting on of the best Wusthof knives for kitchen and all the versatility that comes along with owning a premium chef’s knife.
- Holds an exquisite level of sharpness and rust resistance
- Full-tang and full-bolster enhance the long-term durability of the knife
- Ultra-ergonomic and resistant handle
- Impeccably well-balanced which supports the pinch grip
- Not as hefty as we would have liked
- The handle can be a little slippery
Wusthof Classic Ikon Chef’s Knife
If you’re not a fan of full-bolster chef’s knives, here’s an awesome half-bolster option. You can still get a solid pinch grip, but it’s not so straining on your hands and wrist. This is a great knife if you suffer from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome or have any hand injuries.
The handle has a slightly raised spine that fits your hand well and takes some stress of your wrist. You’ll find the transition from handle to blade is smooth and seamless while still keeping your fingers safely away from the extremely sharp edge of the blade. You’re getting the same 20% improvement in sharpness and edge retention over previous models.
The overall weight of the knife is a little less than the Wusthof Classic 8” Chef’s knife from above. We found the blade to be even better balanced and more effortless to work with for fine and nimble kitchen work. It’s one of the top-rated best Wusthof knives for reduced hand and wrist strain, while not compromising its functionality.
- Effortless to cut with
- Reduced hand and wrist strain
- Very well-balanced with just the right amount of heft
- Intuitive and comfortable ergonomic handle
- Struggles with cutting through very thick meat
- Might be a little difficult to use a pinch grip for long periods
Wusthof Classic Paring Knife
Here’s an incredibly affordable Wusthof paring knife. It’s a great entry is the Wusthof sphere without needing to spend a pretty penny. The HRC58 blade is easy to maintain and it does a great job at staying scuff-free and not chipping. You’ll love the finger guard that lets you get a strong grip without putting your fingers at risk.
The full-bolster adds to the balance and premium feel of the knife. It handles exceptionally well and cuts smoothly and effortlessly. The POM handle is robust and doesn’t fade or wear easily. It’s comfortable to hold and doesn’t slip and slide when your hands are wet.
We didn’t like the look and positioning of the red trident logo, but that’s a rather trivial issue in comparison to the massive value and performance of the knife. Overall, you’re getting one of the best Wusthof knives for the money.
- Very sharp edge with a high cutting power
- Wonderful handling and control for fine cutting
- A high-quality POM handle lasts a long time
- Excellent value for money
- Needs to be sharpened quite often
- The tip has a little too much flexibility
Wusthof Classic Prep Knife Set
If you’re looking for a chef’s knife but feel that it’s not quite enough utility to shed out money on then consider this knife set. It’s a 2-piece set with a 6” cooks knife and a 3.5” paring knife. You’re getting both of these knives for less than the cost of a single 8” chef’s knife.
Both knives have full tang designs and the handles are triple-riveted to better secure them to the blade and ensure long-lasting durability. You’ll immediately notice how comfortable both knives feel in your hand, despite being slightly on the smaller side.
You’ll comfortably hold these knives with large and small hands alike. They use premium quality steel and handle material that resists rusting, discoloration, and wear over time. It’s one of the most versatile knife sets with a premium build and performance, that don’t make any major compromises.
- Full tang design with triple-riveted handles
- Handles are resistant to fading, discoloration, heat, and impact damage
- Excellently sharp edges that come ready to go out the box
- Exceptionally well-balanced and easy to use
- Chef’s knife is a little small at only 6”
- Handles are slightly slippery when oily or wet
Wusthof Gourmet Cook’s Knife Set
Here’s another fantastic set that’s slightly bigger than the above-mentioned set. The chef’s knife has the standard 8” blade and the paring knife has a 4” blade. This set is perfect for the professional or enthusiast’s kitchen where the budget is important.
They have the size and quality craftsmanship to handle heavier workloads – and the consistency to be reliable enough for daily use. We loved the thicker chef’s knife handle (thicker toward the butt of the handle). It guides your hand into sitting comfortably right where the knife is balanced best.
This helps reduce the heftiness of the slightly heavier knife and gives you all the control and accuracy you’d want from a chef’s knife. This set would make an excellent gift to a friend or family member who has recently taken their kitchen and cooking more seriously. It’s probably the best Wusthof knives for money if you’re looking for an affordable set with premium features.
- Excellent quality handles that are resistant and anti-slip
- Easy to maintain and sharpen the edges to a fine point
- Blades are resistant to corrosion and dulling
- Larger blade length than other similar 2-piece sets
- The finger guard doesn’t fully cover the blade where it meets the bolster
- The paring knife has a little too much flex in the blade
Wusthof Classic Utility Knife
This is the first utility knife we’ve looked at in this review. If you’re not looking to sink cash into a high-quality premium chef’s knife, but also don’t want to put up knives that never live up to their claims – this utility might offer you the middle ground you’re looking for.
At 4.5”, it’s long enough to handle almost all the chopping, dicing, and slicing work in a home kitchen. It comes at less than half the price of a premium Wusthof chef’s knife – so you’ll save significant cash. Its full tang build is triple-riveted to a solid and robust handle.
The result is an impeccably well-balanced knife that has the feel of a more powerful and capable chef’s knife. You’ll find that you breeze through chopping up and slicing vegetables and fruits – while still handling softer meats like chicken and fish easily. It’ll quickly become one of your favorite best Wusthof knives and will earn its place in your kitchen.
- Extremely versatile thanks to the ultra-sharp edge and expert handling
- Can be used to work on soft meats
- Full-bolster is looking sleek and attractive
- Good resistance to rusting and wearing
- Struggles with cutting through some thick foods
- The handle is a little on the slippery side
Wusthof Classic Bread Knife
One of the most commonly overlooked additions to any kitchen is a high-quality bread knife. If you’ve ever tried to cut artisanal bread with any old knife, you’ll know how ineffective they are. This Wusthof bread knife is awesome and premium. Its high-end sharpness and edge retention is top-of-the-line.
You’re getting a glorious 9” blade and a full tang that’s triple-riveted to excellent quality and durable handle. It’s large enough to suit users with big hands and balanced enough to not strain your hands and wrist. You’ll be able to cut through hard crusts and pastries thanks to the gentle but powerful wavy serrations.
This is a knife that’s capable of handling all bread cutting and even for cutting fruits and vegetables. Getting ultra-thin slices is simple and the blade is easy to control. You don’t need to worry about the knife following its cutting line, or tearing the bread, fruit, or vegetables.
- Well-balanced to allow accurate and thin slicing
- Excellent sharpness and edge retention
- Full-tang robust build and design
- Top-of-the-line handle ergonomics and material quality
- Quite expensive for a bread knife
- A little more flex in the blade would have been perfect
Why Are Wusthof Knives Worth Paying Attention to?
In today’s knife market there are so many great quality knives available. You are often plagued with too many good options that you end up with buyer’s remorse or the fear of missing out. We’ll show you where Wusthof is strongest and which features give them an edge over the rest of the pack. Let’s take a look.
Steel Quality
Most of Wusthof’s forged knives use the same high-grade 50CR15 steel. It has excellent edge retention and a great balance between hardness and chip-resistance. This stainless steel has a high resistance to corrosion and rusting, making it a great choice for the modern kitchen.
The knives are also forged from a single piece of steel. This makes them exceptionally durable and well-balanced – thanks to the full-tang design. While Wusthof does offer stamped knives, their ranges aren’t nearly as broad or versatile as the forged ranges.
Versatility
From their Classic series to the Gourmet and Ikon series, Wusthof has a selection that suits almost any enthusiast’s kitchen. Their 8” chef knives are incredibly versatile thanks to the slightly curved cutting edge and razor-like sharpness. The slightly softer steel is suited to quick chopping (on a good board), rocking, effortless slicing, and much more. They’re easy to sharpen and maintain too.
Ergonomics and Handling
Wusthof knives are some of the most comfortable and best-balanced knives on the market. When they’re used with a proper pinch grip, the balance point sits right at the pivot, making them feel almost weightless. Decades of experience and development means that you’re getting almost the perfect handle shape while not excluding larger hands and lefties.
Wusthof’s full-bolster design improved your pinch grip by giving you a clean edge to hold to while still keeping your fingers safely away from the blade. You can handle larger and more intense workloads without fatiguing your hands. The well-balanced design also makes Wusthof knives a great choice for people with wrist injuries and conditions like carpal tunnel.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Do Henckels or Wusthof Make Better Kitchen Knives?
A: Both of these knife makers hold their knives to the highest quality standards. Wusthof and Henckels both use premium steel and their unique crafting and manufacturing tricks. That being said, the best Wusthof knives have better edge retention and sharpness due to the slightly harder steel they use. Henckels knives tend to be easier to sharpen are slightly better at resisting chipping and scuffing in the long run.
Q: How Do I Sharpen a Wusthof Bread Knife?
A: Use a high quality tapered sharpening rod and work your way down each of the serrations. These bread knives have excellent edge retention and this time-consuming sharpening process doesn’t need to happen often. Make sure you follow the angle of the bevels and sharpen on both sides of the blade if necessary.
Q: Is There Anything I Can Do to Make a Wusthof Knife Handle More Non-Slip?
A: There are some gels and finishes that you can manually add to the handle of the knife. Be warned that some of these can damage the finish of the knife and cause discoloration and faster wearing. They also need to be applied frequently and pick up dirt quite fast. Your best bet is to use kitchen and cooking gloves or to keep your hands dry and oil-free while using the knives.
Final Thoughts
You should feel ready and confident to make your choice by now. If any of these knives have caught your attention, go back over them to learn everything you need – and then make your choice. These are excellent knives that’ll last you for years. Having the best Wusthof knives in your kitchen will make you a better chef – and remind you how fun working in the kitchen can be.
