Wusthof Classic Cook’s Knife Starter Set

Kitchen 6 Piece Stainless Full Tang Cutlery

Wusthof Classic Cook's Knife Starter Five knives and a sharpening steel in this assortment from well known manufacturer Wusthof of Solingen, Germany, would make a very welcome and lasting gift set for anyone starting out in a kitchen of their own. On the other hand, if you are making the decisions yourself it may make more sense to mix and match.

These are excellent knives created in old patterns and with quality that will last a lifetime. Many cooks who have used Wusthof cutlery for decades see no reason to change now, and that's a shame. The best assortment of knives today would include good Japanese versions as well as a selection of the heavier forged European styles like Wusthof. Both have their place in modern kitchens.

But especially as a gift set, this is a fine selection, with knives to cover nearly every task in the kitchen, from paring and boning knives to carving and chef's knives and a serrated edge bread knife for cutting hard crusted breads and rolls. The chef's knife itself, with some acquired skill to match it, will do everything from mincing herbs to slicing vegetables to heavier chopping. These forged blades are capable of heavy work as well as light.

Edge holding is good, but not the best on the market today. When you make knives to do everything, there are some tradeoffs, and in this case you trade a finer edge for durability. Edge bevels are wider, but strong, and there's no danger of chipping. The set is also dishwasher safe, but should be washed by hand to protect finish and edge. Proper care and a few strokes of the sharpening steel before use will keep these knives razor sharp.

Here's a smaller starter set in the Wusthof Classic line.