Think about it.
How good your food turns out depends on the quality of your knives. Knives may be the backbone of your kitchen but it doesn’t mean you need a whole collection of them. What you want is the right knife based on your needs and know how to use them well. Investing in a proper knife can enhance your cooking experience. Whether you’re carving up a roast chicken for the family, preparing a smoked salmon carpaccio or dicing onions for spaghetti, it’s all about the knife and how to use it.
Your Journey Starts in Solingen
Wusthof is one of the leading knife brands in the world. The family-owned company began its operations in 1814 in Solingen, which is famously known as the knife-making capital of the world). The German brand has long been offering premium knives for over 200 years. Trusted by top chefs worldwide, the Wusthof collection of knives are unique, durable and a preferred kitchen tool for many.
The Sterling Wonders of Wusthof
The cutting edge business is still flourishing until today, spearheaded by the seventh generation of the same Wusthof family with seven different models in their production line.
- Classic
- Classic Ikon
- Epicure
- Gourmet
- Grand Prix II
- Ikon
- Pro
Wusthof carries two versions of knives which are the forged knife and the stamped knife. A forged knife is made from individual pieces of steel that are repeatedly heated and hammered into the shape of a blade. This changes the molecular composition of the metal, resulting in a harder and stronger material. The forged models include the:
- Classic
- Classic Ikon
- Epicure
- Grand Prix II
- Ikon
A stamped knife is the shape of a knife that is stamped out of a sheet of stainless steel. The shape is given constant heat treatment and tempering. These models are more affordable than the forged models. The Pro and Gourmet lines are an example of the stamped models in the Wusthof line of products.
How to Choose the Right Knife for You
In the magical world of Harry Potter, the wand chooses the wizard. At Everten, however, we’d prefer that you choose your knife. But how would you know if the knife suits you? Fret not, we will help you out so you know which might be the best choice for you. We will start off with the forged models.
The Forged Knives of Wusthof
This line has a simple design and comes with 70 different knives with a real-wood appearance and texture for the handles that is popular among professional chefs, including full-size bolsters for protection. Fans of the Classic range can choose from a variety of knives and sizes:
- Cook's Knife - 16 cm, 18 cm, 20 cm, 23 cm, and 26 cm
- Paring Knife - 9 cm
- Tomato Knife - 14 cm
- Boning Knife - 14 cm and 16 cm
- Bread Knife - 16 cm and 20 cm
- Carving Knife - 20 cm and 23 cm
- Fish Filleting Knife - 16 cm and 20 cm
- Utility Knife - 12 cm, 16 cm, and 18 cm
- Nakiri Knife - 17 cm
This line has a similar realistic synthetic handle as the Classic, except for the double-bolster styling for protection. The first bolster below the blade offers protection from knuckle slippage, while the second bolster at the bottom of the handle adds balance and visual symmetry to the knife. The Classic Ikon comes with 28 different styles and sizes. This decent selection includes:
- Chef's Knife - 16 cm, 18 cm, 20 cm, and 23 cm
- Filleting Knife - 16 cm filleting knife
- Paring Knife - 9 cm
- Boning Knife - 14 cm
- Bread Knife - 20 cm
- Carving Knife - 20 cm
- Santoku Knife - 17 cm
- Tomato Knife - 14 cm
- Utility Knife - 12 cm
Also within this range is the striking
Blackwood and
Creme colours that are available in a knife block set.
The handles of these knives are made from Richlite, a composite material consisting of sustainably grown and recycled wood fibers which exudes a rich, warm brown colour that is pleasing to the eye. The handle’s shape is thinner and is designed with a slightly rounded shape for comfort. The blades are slightly wider to handle larger cuts of meat. The blades even get a special ceramic coating to prevent food from sticking to the surface. The Epicure line has its share of satisfactory options as well, such as the:
- Cook's Knives - 16 cm, 20 cm, and 24 cm
- Carving Knife - 23 cm
- Double Serrated Bread Knife - 23 cm
- Paring Knife - 9 cm
- Santoku Knife - 17 cm
- Sausage Knife - 14 cm
- Utility Knife - 12 cm
The Grand Prix II has the same blade width and full-size bolster as the Classic line, but the handle looks and feels more synthetic. The slight curve on the handle is ergonomically designed to offer more comfort and control. It resembles that of the Classic Ikon but the difference in material makes it lighter. This line comes with a variety of options from the choices and sizes below:
- Cook's Knives - 18 cm, 20 cm, 23 cm, and 26 cm
- Santoku Knife - 17 cm
- Bread Knife - 20 cm
- Utility Knife - 12 cm
- Paring Knife - 9 cm
So which Wusthof knife do I choose? That is the Question
There are many options available and we understand if you’re feeling a little overwhelmed. But you can make things easier and narrow things down by asking yourself a couple of questions. What will you use your knives for? Will you be using them a lot for the hard-to-cut foods? If yes, you may want to go with one of the forged collections. Otherwise, you can go for the more affordable stamped versions. Here are a few scenarios to help you with your knife-buying process:
- The Classic line gives you the opportunity to impress your guests while enjoying the classic yet modern look at the same time. If you enjoy the classic German style, then this would be a good range for you to start with.
- The Ikon line has beautiful and elegant African Blackwood handles that would really make a statement in any kitchen.
- The Grand Prix II line is a great option for those on a budget working in commercial settings but want the sharpness and reliability of expensive knives at an affordable price.
- The Epicure is a line for those looking for a superior-balanced knife and are willing to pay more for a stunning set of knives that also have the special ceramic coating to prevent food from sticking. This is the Rolls Royce of the entire Wusthof range of knives!
Remember that no matter which one you get, know that when you buy a Wusthof knife, you get a high quality product that you will be able to use for many years to come. 
