The 8″ Chef’s knife is the de facto workhorse of the kitchen. Choose wisely on this one, since you’ll be using it a lot.
Many people ask the question “Should I buy Wusthof or Henckels?” It’s a fair question, but is about 15 years out-of-date. This knife, as well as the Henckels Chef’s Knife are examples of heavy, full-bolster German knives that have been popular for several decades.
If you like that kind of knife, this Wusthof is a great choice.
The blade, tang, and bolster on this knife are all constructed from a single piece of high-carbon stainless steel, meaning that the blade won’t wobble or come loose. The grip is ergonomic and slip-resistant, plus the handle is sanitary because it is made of non-absorbent plastics.
It is covered under a lifetime warranty, but should be hand washed for optimum performance and appearance. It also features a wide blade that can do double-duty as a spatula in addition to a cutting implement.
But here at OnlyKnives, we tend to recommend knives that are a bit sharper and a bit lighter. And ones that do not have that clunky full bolster in the middle. That bolster can get in the way of resharpening, which is bad news.
For the same price, you might consider a Chef’s knife from Shun. It’s a different beast entirely, but may just open your eyes to the world of sharp, light Japanese Chef’s knives. Want to know more about the difference between German and Japanese knives? Check out our History of Kitchen Knives.
Let us know which way you go!
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