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Wusthof Classic Gourmet 3-Piece Knife Set by Wusthof
Product SummaryManufacturer: Wusthof Brand: Wüsthof Release Date: 2001-07-31 Model: 9608 Product features: - Indispensable collection covers most cutting needs
- Includes 8-inch cook's, pointed 3.5-inch paring, and 6-inch sandwich knives
- Forged high-carbon stainless steel blades, hand-honed for razor-like sharpness
- Traditional-style composition handles are triple-riveted for strength and permanence
- Dishwasher safe
Accessories:
Kitchen and Housewares Reviews of Wusthof Classic Gourmet 3-Piece Knife SetCustomer Review: The right three knives for the new cook Summary: 5 Stars
Wusthof makes the best knife blades in the business, and in my opinion the best quality knives. Cheaper knives generally dull more quickly, and some never get truly sharp at all. Wusthof knives, in contrast, get clean, exact cuts every time, and are a joy to use.
The "Wusthof Classic" style of this set, with the three rivets attaching the black composite handle pieces to the full length tang of the blade, used to be the only style of handle Wusthof made. Wusthof now makes several other styles, including the slightly less expensive "Grand Prix" line with a molded handle, and the much more expensive "Culinar" line with stainless steel handles. If you have money to burn, you might want to look at the Culinar line, but for most people, the Wusthof Classic knives are likely the best tradeoff between money and quality.
The three knives in this set are the ideal knives for a brand new cook with no existing kitchen equipment. The chef's knife and the paring knife are needed in any well equipped kitchen; the "sandwich knife" is a compromise that can substitute, albeit imperfectly, for any of three or four other special purpose knives.
Amazon currently lists the Wusthof classic chef's knife in six different sizes; the 8" blade size is one of the sizes I own, and it works well for almost any cutting task in the kitchen. There are times when it feels like a larger size might work even better, such as when dealing with a large roast or turkey, but the 8" always seems to be sufficient in the end; there really aren't any times when I want a smaller chef's knife for general purpose use.
Paring - for example, peeling potatoes - is more of a special purpose task, for which a specialized knife is really superior. The 3.5" blade length in this set may seem short, but it's short for a reason. Often while one is using the paring knife in one hand, one is holding the object being cut in the other. The short blade length makes it easier to avoid stabbing oneself while maneuvering both the knife and the object.
The 6" knife is a little different. Unlike the other two knives in this set, the 6" knife is really only perfect for a very limited set of tasks. Its strength is that it can substitute, if a bit imperfectly, for a variety of other knives that may be missing from the kitchen of a brand new cook. For example, it can be used for utility tasks that require more than the 3.5" blade length of the paring knife - which is to say, most utility tasks - if the cook doesn't already have a 4" or 4.5" utility knife. It can also be used, in a pinch, when what the cook really wants is a second chef's knife - for example, to cut fresh vegetables for a salad when it wouldn't be hygienic to reuse the big chef's knife that was just used on raw meat. The 6" knife won't be perfect for these tasks, but it will work, and will be much better than no knife at all.
As the new cook collects more knives, the 6" knife will likely be used less and less. It won't ever become completely unused - I just used mine this evening, despite having half a dozen other Wusthof knives to choose from, because the 6" length is perfect for slicing a tenderloin roast - but eventually it will become one of the lesser used pieces in the set.
That may make the 6" knife less than cost effective for a cook that already has an established set of kitchen tools. For such a cook, one of the other sets might be better - perhaps the two piece "starter" set with the chef's knife and the paring knife, along with perhaps a Wusthof sharpening steel. For a brand new cook with no kitchen equipment, though, this three piece set is close to perfect, and it is the set I started my Wusthof collection with, 20 years ago.
Description of Wusthof Classic Gourmet 3-Piece Knife SetCreate your cutlery collection with a sturdy foundation with the Wusthof Classic three piece chef's knife set. This set of specialized German engineered knives is equipped with high-carbon stainless steel blades and is precision forged from a single piece of steel. Stain and corrosion resistant, this set includes one eight inch chef's knife, one six inch utility knife, and one three and a half inch paring knife. Use the chef's for easy chopping and dicing, the utility knife for slicing and cutting, and the paring knife for peeling and garnishing fruits and vegetables. Each knife features a straight edge blade with a 16 degree blade angle and a triple riveted ergonomic handle that features a full tang. Ideal for any home chef, this Wusthof Classic three piece chef's knife set makes a wonderful gift.
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