Quick Summary: The Wusthof 7-Piece Knife set is our top choice because it has everything you need from a paring knife to kitchen shears and includes the knife block with your purchase. These are precision-forged steel with comfortable handles for maximum comfort without strain with each use.
No kitchen is complete without a good and high-quality set of knives. Whether you are a dedicated vegan or an unapologetic nonvegan, either way, you definitely use knives to prepare your food.
It might come as a surprise to you but the truth is that we all know the significance of good knives, yet we easily fall into the trap of buying the most unfit model for ourselves.
Rather than buying ordinary kitchen knives, we would suggest that you purchase the best Wusthof Knives. These knives are the favorite of every chef, butcher and are best suited for regular use.
The perfection of these knives is a result of craftsmanship that has been passed through generations of this German-owned company.
All the Wusthof knives have a high carbon stainless steel blade that is known for its durability as it resists spots, stain, and rust.
Additionally, these knives are equipped with a perfectly contoured handle that makes it user-friendly and safe to use.
Special Precision Edge Technology has been incorporated with these knives to increase their strength and make them last longer.
A single Wusthof knife is sharp and versatile enough to be used for multiple purposes but, there are individual knives that have been designed for specific cutting, slicing, peeling purposes.
Let blunt, dull knives be a worry of the past and buy the best Wusthof knives today.
Comparison of 10 Best Wusthof Knives
 | 1. Wusthof Classic 7-Piece Knife Block Set (Best Overall) Give your kitchen tools a much-needed glow up with the Wüsthof Classic 7-piece slim knife block set made from Acacia tree wood and high quality, durable, high-carbon stain resistant stainless steel. | Read Our Review |
 | 2. Wusthof Gourmet Seven Piece Starter Block Set (Best Budget) Start a new chapter of your life with the new Wüsthof Gourmet Starter Block Set complete with a 9-slot high-grade wood block and a 7-piece high-carbon stainless steel kitchen knife set. | Read Our Review |
 | 3. Wusthof Classic 16-Piece Knife Block Set Never miss a single slice with this Wüsthof 16-piece knife set that comes in a 17 slot wooden block made from an Acacia tree containing fully-forged knives locked using a traditional triple-riveted handle. | Read Our Review |
 | 4. Wusthof Classic 8-Inch Cook’s Knife Bring out the chef in you with the Wüsthof 8" Classic Chef's Knife equipped with a classic triple-riveted handle and forged from a single block of high-carbon stain-resistant stainless steel. | Read Our Review |
 | 5. Wusthof Classic 10-Inch Bread Knife Never miss your breakfast and slice through your bread like butter with this 10-inch German-made sturdy, sharp, high-quality forged stainless steel serrated edge Wüsthof Classic bread knife. | Read Our Review |
 | Buckle up for Thanksgiving with this ultra sharp Wüsthof 6-inch Utility Knife equipped with a laser-cut high-carbon, stainless German steel that effortlessly bones raw meat, fish and poultry. | Read Our Review |
 | 7. Wusthof Classic Paring Knife Easy and accurate paring are the main foundations of this small, well-balanced Wüsthof paring knife forged from a single block of high-carbon stainless steel, tempered to 58-degrees Rockwell and locked with triple-rivets for precise control. | Read Our Review |
 | 8. Wusthof Classic 7-Inch Santoku Knife This German-made Wüsthof 6-1/2" Classic Hollow Forged knife is forged from one piece of specially tempered high-carbon steel with a stain-resistant alloy attached to a highly durable polymer handle. | Read Our Review |
 | 9. Wusthof Classic 7-1/2-Inch Heavy Cleaver Prep your spareribs with this amazing Wüsthof 7" Gourmet Cleaver that cuts through bones like butter thanks to its sharp blade made from a block of high-grade stain resistant stainless steel. | Read Our Review |
 | 10. Wusthof Hollow-Ground Carving Set Feel like a professional chef with this Classic 2-piece carving set featuring Wusthof's durable construction and timeless quality. This set pairs a hollow-edged carving knife and a carving fork for easy handling and effortless carving. | Read Our Review |
Top 10 Wusthof Knives Review
First up, we’ll briefly introduce you to our Wusthof knives top picks in three key categories. Then we’ll explore the Wusthof brand in further detail, before delivering several in-depth reviews.
Editor Pick as the best Wusthof Knife
1. Wusthof Classic 7-piece Knife Block Set
Five of the superior Wusthof knives can be yours in this world-class collection, including an 8″ chef’s knife, an 8″ bread knife, a 6″ Kiritsuke prep knife, a 5″ serrated utility knife, and a 3.5″ paring knife.
All knives are from Wusthof’s Classic line and feature full tang, bolster, and triple-riveted handles.
The stain-resistant stainless steel blades are forged using Wusthof’s Precision Edge Technology, making them 20% sharper than competing blades. Kitchen shears and an extremely slim wood knife block that comes in six attractive styles round out this must-have set.
An indispensable collection of five precision-forged, high-quality knives from Wusthof’s best-selling Classic collection, in addition to kitchen shears and a stylish knife block. This set will add immediate cachet and unrivaled utility to any kitchen lucky enough to house it.
Pros:
- Designed to have 20% more sharpness
- Enhanced durability due to Precision Edge Technology
- Cuts smoothly with 14inch cutting edges on each side
- Supported with a strong Polyoxymethylene handle
- Comes with a sleek knife block for placing and storing the knives
- This product has a lifetime warranty
Cons:
- The set of knives is not budget-friendly
- The knife block does not have a smooth finish to it
The budget Pick
2. Wusthof Gourmet Seven Piece Starter Block Set
Get a hold of some of the best knives for the money with this great budget set of Gourmet blades. Included in this collection are a 3″ paring knife, a 4 1/2″ utility knife, a 6″ serrated utility knife, and a 6″ cook’s knife.
Also includes a 9″ steel to keep your new knives sharp and come-apart kitchen shears.
The 9-slot block also allows you to add to your set at a later date (we’d highly recommend a long bread knife). All Gourmet knives are precision laser-cut stamped and made of carbon stainless steel.
A great collection of knives for anyone in the market for quality and affordability, this set gives you everything you need to rule your kitchen with an iron fist. With comfortable grips and balanced weight, wielding these knives will quickly feel second nature.
Pros:
- Its synthetic polypropylene handles are sturdy and long-lasting
- Sharp because of high carbon stainless steel blades
- Every item is heatproof and resists discoloration
- Knives are safe to use and perfect for starters
- Easy to wash and maintain
- Comes with a lifetime warranty
Cons:
- The knives are not extremely sharp as advertised
- Not for professional cutting and slicing
Read Our full Review Of Wusthof Gourmet 10 Piece Knife Here
The Upgrade Pick
3. Wusthof Classic 16-piece Knife Block Set
For the uncompromising chef, this massive collection of the Wusthof knives provides high-quality blades for any and every occasion.
The 17-slot knife block is filled to the handles with Wusthof Classic knives, as well as a 9″ steel and shears.
Included are six Classic steak knives that will leave your dinner guests speechless as they effortlessly slice up their food (make sure you still have six at the end of the night).
Made with cutting edge technology and to the highest standards, this set will forever change what you thought was possible in the kitchen.
This is an enviable collection of some of the sharpest and most durable kitchen knives in the world, contained within a grand knife block that comes in seven varieties.
This could be the only knife set you’ll ever need to buy, making it more than worth the investment. – Wusthof Classic 16-piece Knife Block Set.
Pros:
- The blades are stain and rust-resistant
- Consists of long handles which give a stronger grip
- Cuts thoroughly with 20% increased sharpness
- Its knife block has smartly designed spaces to accommodate all knives
- Made with high-quality stainless steel
- All knives are designed with a precise full tang for strength
Cons:
- Not suitable for small families
- Very expensive
4. Wusthof Classic 8-Inch Cook’s Knife
The Wusthof Classic 8-Inch Cook’s Knife is our choice for the best Wusthof Chef Knife and stands as an essential kitchen knife for every household.
There’s a reason Wusthof’s Classic line is the company’s best-selling and that’s because these blades offer the perfect balance between high-quality craftsmanship and affordability.
The Classic chef’s knife comes in blade sizes ranging from between 4 1/2 inches to 12 inches, but for our money, the 8-inch blade is the ideal size to precisely perform the variety of tasks that a cook’s knife is adept at, be it slicing, dicing, chopping, or mincing.
The Wusthof Classic 8-Inch Cook’s Knife feels perfect in your hand. The Polyoxymethylene handle is comfortable to hold and contains just the right amount of grip.
Some handles have a slippery feel or are overly rough to the touch; this knife’s handle finds the perfect balance between the two.
This Wusthof cook’s knife also has a solid amount of heft to it without being so heavy that it feels unwieldy.
Speaking of balance, the knife’s overall balance (or weight ratio) is also great, thanks to the full tang (triple-riveted) and bolster.
It doesn’t feel blade- or handle-heavy and that balance has a surprising psychological effect; you just feel like a more skilled chef with it in your hand (and you are!).
The strong balance meant we barely needed to exert any force to cut through most items, which you’ll love when you have a busy day or night of cutting up ingredients ahead of you.
We utilized both the pinch grip and handle grip when testing the Classic 8-Inch Cook’s Knife and found that it felt and performed well using either.
For our Wusthof kitchen knives reviews, we tested each of the blades out on a variety of subjects and found this one performed exceptionally well on all of them.
We sliced through squash with the utmost ease, diced onions into tear-inducing chunks, and manhandled pork into delectable cubes.
There are wide-bladed versions of the Classic chef knife for sale that give you a little more power, but we found this knife’s 1 7/8″ blade was more than enough to tackle everything we threw at, while being fine enough to handle more delicate tasks.
The blade also comes to a nice sharp point at the end, allowing you to poke it into something for an easy starting point to a cut, which is one of the many reasons it ranks atop the list of the best Wusthof Chef knife.
As with most of the chief Wusthof knives, this knife was very sharp right out of the box and was made even sharper after just a little bit of honing.
After putting it through extended testing, the knife was still extremely sharp, which tells us that it could likely last through weeks of moderate use without even needing to be honed, let along sharpened.
While we can’t personally vouch for how well the blades hold up after years of use, all indications are that they do so exceptionally well, ranking among the best kitchen knives even after decades of regular use.
One niggling issue is that the finger guard covers the entire side of the handle, which is ideal for safety, but lessens the extreme destructive power of the knife’s heavy heel, where the most force can be exerted on something.
The red trident logo on the handle, which adds a nice aesthetic touch, is also likely to peel off after extended use, as it appears to be a simple sticker.
Whether you’re a vegan just looking to chop your way through a garden of vegetables, or a meat lover looking to slice yourself through whatever flanks of meat you can get ahold of, this is an essential kitchen knife to add to your collection.
You can purchase it alone or as part of 7- (our top pick) or 16- (our upgrade pick) piece sets that include a smartly-designed wood knife block (the black block looks especially striking).
We’re confident that the Wusthof Classic 8-Inch Cook’s Knife will perform any task exceptionally well and for years to come.
Pros:
- Perfect to use for chopping, dicing, cutting and slicing
- Comprises of 8 inches sharp and wide blade
- Paired with a 4.5-inch long sturdy handle
- It has 20 % more strength because of precision-forged full tang
- Stays stable in the hand because of its lightweight structure
Cons:
- The blade develops water spots and rusts
5. Wusthof Classic 10-Inch Bread Knife
Bread lovers, rejoice! Your steaming loaves of bread are about to get sliced the way they deserve: perfectly!
The Wusthof Classic 10-inch Bread Knife is one of only two 10-inch bread knives in Wusthof’s collection and gets our highest marks.
When it comes to a serrated bread knife, size is of the utmost importance, which is why we think it’s an absolute no-brainer to spring for the 10″ Classic blade.
The longer blade allows you to slice your way through your bread with a nice even cut, whereas smaller blades can force you to cut your bread in a see-saw pattern that takes more work and results in less reliable slices and more crumbs.
Being a Classic Wusthof knife, this is another triple-riveted full-tang knife that feels great in your hand. The large serrated teeth on this knife bit into hard crust with ease, starting your cut without any compression of the bread.
It was just as well suited to cutting through soft, spongy bread, leaving nary a crumb behind in its wake and slicing through it like a hot knife through butter.
We also loved how this knife was able to cut through tomatoes without compression, leaving clean slices perfect for sandwiches with minimal leakage.
While we’re big fans of the 9″ double serrated bread knife found in Wusthof’s Classic Ikon knives collection, we prefer the smaller handle and longer blade of the 10″ Classic.
This is one of the best and a must-buy for anyone who makes their own bread or buys uncut loaves of bread.
Pros:
- Cuts smoothly through pieces of bread or baguettes
- Comfortable to hold with polyoxymethylene (POM) handle
- Tackles rough and tough crust through the sharp serrations
- Equipped with full bolster for safety in use
- Each side is made 14 degrees more sharper
- Protected with a strong lifetime guarantee deal
Cons:
- Limited usage as it cannot be used for every food
6. Wusthof 6″ Utility Knife
Our favorite Wusthof utility knife is the 6″ Ikon model, with its striking handle made of Grenadill wood.
This knife feels sturdier than most utility knives thanks to its full tang and double bolster, and the shape of the handle felt just right for precise control, tapering down as it nears the blade.
We preferred the Ikon’s handle over the 6″ Classic’s smaller handle, though cooks with smaller hands may prefer the Classic’s.
The precision forged 6″ Ikon utility knife has an extremely sharp blade thanks to Wusthof’s Precision Edge Technology, which is just as important, if not more so for a smaller knife that offers less leverage.
We had no trouble cutting effortlessly through anything we put before it.
We prefer the longer blade of this version, but if you don’t have a paring knife in your collection, you could consider some of the other knives, including the Ikon 4 1/2″ utility knife, or the Ikon 5″ serrated utility knife. Whichever you choose should prove indispensable in the kitchen.
Pros:
- Weighs only 2.4 ounces and is therefore lightweight
- The sturdy stainless steel blade is stain resistant
- Supported with a composite shaped handle that gives its stability in handling
- Ideal for boning meat and poultry
- Safe to wash through the dishwasher
- Attached finger guard protects your hand while you use it
Cons:
- It does not have a bolster
7. Wusthof Classic Paring Knife
The Wusthof Classic Paring Knife, which comes in 3.5″ and 4″ lengths, is our top choice in this category.
Given that this knife will handle your most delicate tasks, we’d recommend the 3.5″ blade, which gives you that much more control.
The full tang, triple riveted Classic paring knife has just enough heft that it felt good in our hand and well balanced.
The handle may be a little on the small side for those with bigger hands, but we felt it works given the delicate tasks you’ll be performing with it.
The blade’s edge sharpness and retention are definite strengths, enabling you to cut through small objects with ease without squashing them first.
The only small disappointments are that it doesn’t come with a sheath and the sticker on the handle will probably come off before long, especially if you’re constantly washing the entire knife (as opposed to just the blade).
Nonetheless, this is one of the best knife and one of our favorites to use.
Pros:
- It has a precision forged structure
- Ideal for trimming, slicing, and peeling because of a narrow small tip
- The handle does not discolor and resists fading
- Equipped with a firm handle and stays stable during usage
Cons:
- The label wears off quickly
8. Wusthof Classic 7-Inch Santoku Knife
It was easy to select the Wusthof Classic Santoku Knife as our favorite in this category given that it’s the only santoku knife made by Wusthof.
The Classic Santoku Knife does come in three different sizes though, 5″, 7″, and 8″. As the 5″ is a little small for our tastes and 8″ is the common size of a chef’s knife, we like the 7″ santoku knife.
Of course, if this knife is meant to serve you in place of a chef’s knife, you may prefer to go for the largest size.
The blades on these knives are distinctively curved to deliver maximum power near the mid-point when chopping and have alternating hollows on each side of the blade.
This creates air pockets that make it harder for starchy or wet foods to stick to the blade, which slows and lowers the effectiveness of your cutting.
They’re ideally suited for use with chopping or slicing motions, as opposed to the rocking motion that better suits chef’s knives, but rank among the Wusthof knives regardless of cutting style.
Pros:
- Produced with high quality tempered carbon steel
- The blade is resistant to every type of stains and also rust
- Most suitable to use for the preparation of Asian cuisine
- Designed with a finger guard to prevent your hands from serious cuts
- Gives you a balanced grip with its well-built bolster
Cons:
- Limited utility as it is only suitable for butchering activities
9. Wusthof Classic 7-1/2-Inch Heavy Cleaver
The 7 1/2″ Wusthof Classic Heavy Cleaver is our favorite Wusthof Cleaver Knife. This is a solid, heavy cleaver, weighing in at 1.9 pounds.
With that weight behind its incredibly sharp blade, you barely need to use any force behind your swing to hack through even the toughest meat.
It’s like cutting meat on easy mode, which is kind of how it feels cutting anything with any of the knives.
We put this cleaver to the test against a chef’s knife when it came to cutting up a chicken and found this cleaver took far fewer strikes and required far less effort behind each swing.
It really is a necessity for anyone who deals with a lot of meat. Wusthof also carries a 6″ cleaver and a 7″ Chinese cleaver, but for our money, the 7 1/2″ heavy cleaver can’t be beaten.
Pros:
- Comes with a thick blade that can cut through bone
- Safe to use for extensive cutting because of its bolster
- Saves energy and does not require much energy for smooth cutting
Cons:
- Does not come with a cover that can be used for protection from the sharp blade
10. Wusthof Hollow-Ground Carving Set
If you’re in the market for a high-quality Wusthof carving knife, then this 2-piece set is an essential purchase.
It features an 8″ Classic carving knife, which is the perfect size to shear off slices of even the widest roast, along with an all-important 6″ fork.
This Wusthof carving knife is hollow edge (or Granton edge), allowing it to easily slide through meat without any added friction, and comes with Wusthofs usual incredible sharpness.
This carving knife is among the other thanks to its extremely thin blade, allowing for precision cuts. The fork is also extremely high-quality, being full tang and perfectly balanced like the knife.
However, one mild disappointment is that the fork’s prongs are slightly thick and not curved quite as much as we would prefer.
However, this is a minor issue (and may not be an issue at all for many people) and does little to reduce our love for this great carving set.
Pros:
- Best to use for cutting meat because of its narrow and long tip
- Designed with an evenly spaced vertical indentation that lessens friction
- Meat fork enables easy slicing of roasted meat
- Meat fork makes serving convenient by letting the meat stay stable and in place
Cons:
- This is heavy in weight and thus creates inconvenience in usage
About Wusthof
Wusthof is a 200-year-old company based in Solingen, Germany, a city so renowned for its craftsmanship of various bladed implements over the centuries that it’s known as the City of Blades.
Needless to say, Wusthof has a pedigree that few others can match. A family-owned business throughout its history, Wusthof utilizes its proprietary Precision Edge Technology to forge blades with superior sharpness, edge retention and durability.
Wusthof Knife Product Line
Epicure – The top Wusthof knives that money can buy, Epicure kitchen knives feature full tang, full bolster, and ergonomic Epicurean handles.
Ikon – The impressive line of Ikon kitchen knives feature full tang, double bolster, and a triple-riveted African Blackwood handle that sports a very attractive wood grain.
Classic Ikon – The stylish line of Classic Ikon knives feature a striking black handle made from polyoxymethylene, as well as a double bolster and full tang.
Classic – Classic is Wusthof’s largest line of high-quality kitchen knives and also its best-selling knives. The precision-forged blades come with full bolster, full tang, and a polyoxymethylene handle.
Grand Prix II – Wusthof’s Grand Prix II knives feature a rivet-free polypropylene pebble-textured handle, along with full (concealed) tang and full bolster.
Gourmet – Gourmet knives are laser-cut stamped and come with a full tang (on 4 1/2″ or longer blades), but no bolster. This is Wusthof’s second-most plentiful line of kitchen knives and one of its most affordable.
Pro – Pro is Wusthof’s line of high-quality, budget kitchen knives. These knives are laser-cut stamped and come with partial tang and soft-poly handles.
What Is A Good Wusthof Knife?
A good Wusthof knife will feel like an extension of your hand, turning your arm into a food slicing tour de force, enabling you to hack and slash your way through your kitchen like a samurai chef.
The perfect Wusthof knives have well-honed blades that will effortlessly and cleanly dissect your favorite sources of food, ensuring you’re getting the most nutrition from them.
Wusthof knives will also last you for years or even decades, becoming trusted allies in your ongoing quest to prepare the perfect dish.
What Sets Wusthof Knives Apart From Other Brands?
Wusthof is one of the few companies whose products can bear the coveted moniker “Made in Solingen”.
The city became the first in the world to have its name listed as a registered trademark, and maintains a strict standard of which companies can proudly display it.
Not only must all blades bearing the Solingen name be manufactured entirely within the city, they must also uphold the highest quality standards, which Wusthof kitchen knives for sale most certainly do.
You can buy the leading Wusthof knives with total peace of mind, as they come with a lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects.
Things To Know About Wusthof Knives
1. What Is The Difference Between Forged Knives And Laser-Cut Stamped Knives?
When you research on various Wusthof kitchen knives, you’ll notice that the blades are either forged or laser-cut stamped. Let’s take a quick look at the characteristics of these two blade-making processes.
Laser-cut stamping is a more economical method of crafting kitchen knives than forging, which is why the Pro and Gourmet laser-cut knives are Wusthof’s most affordable knives.
These knives tend to be lightweight and don’t have bolsters. They are great for chefs on a budget or for those who want to buy a collection of Wusthof knives that are ideally suited for different needs.
Forged knives are the best, being crafted from pieces of steel that have been beaten mercilessly to strengthen them, and are then cut into their final shapes.
These powerful kitchen knives generally have full tangs and bolsters. Forged Wusthof knives also remain sharper for longer and are easier to sharpen than stamped knives when the time comes to do so.
2. What Are The Most Important Knives To Start A Set?
If you’re looking for just two or three good knives that will give you the broadest range of uses, you’ll absolutely want to start with a Wusthof cook’s knife (also called a Wusthof chef’s knife).
These indispensable knives can be used for most basic cutting tasks, including slicing meat and chopping vegetables.
A good Wusthof paring knife is also an essential knife to buy, which will handle all of your delicate cutting tasks, such as slicing up a clove of garlic.
You’ll probably want to add at least one more good Wusthof knife to your collection depending on your needs.
Wusthof carving knives, cleavers, and boning knives are also among the best Wusthof kitchen knives to buy, offering huge benefits for certain tasks over other knife types.
3. How Do I Keep Wusthof Knives Sharp?
Even the top knives will eventually lose some of their sharpness. Not to fear, because there are numerous ways to return them to the heights of their slicing and dicing glory.
The best way to sharpen a Wusthof knife is by using a Wusthof sharpening steel, whetstone, or handheld sharpener, as the strength of their sharpening steel is suited to match the blade strength of the knives to be sharpened.
Wusthof also provides a low-cost mail-in sharpening service if you’d prefer the professionals to handle sharpening your knives.
4. Warranty Of knives
Wusthof knives come with a lifetime limited warranty against manufacturing defects resulting from normal use of your knives. The warranty does not cover knives damaged through other means, such as misuse or accidents.
Now that you’re armed with the knowledge of how Wusthof kitchen knives are made and their various features, let’s turn a critical eye on these knives and put them through their paces.
How will we do that? By cutting lots and lots of things for our Wusthof knives reviews.
Wusthof Knives Reviews – How To Choose?
We put just over one dozens of the best leading Wusthof knives to the test to find the best knife from each of 14 main knife styles and blade types.
Our 14 reviews represent our top pick in each of those categories, and rank as the absolute Wusthof knives you can buy.
If you’re looking to buy a set of Wusthof knives that will serve your every cutting need with unrivalled utility and precision, these are the knives you need to buy.
Disclaimer: Lots of food was harmed in the making of these reviews. No fingers were harmed.
Related article: Wusthof Gourmet 10 Piece Knife Block Set Review
Final Verdict
When you think kitchen knives, Wusthof is the foremost name that should come to mind.
From their top-of-the-line blades all the way down to their most affordable kitchen knives, the Wusthof brand oozes quality craftsmanship.
We hope you enjoyed reading through our Wusthof kitchen knives reviews and that they provided some valuable insight.
Most of all, we hope they convinced you to take the plunge and buy a Wusthof knife (or seven); we’re positive you won’t regret it.
