When I discovered Wusthof Classic Ikon knives, my desire to host parties came back to life.
How did I lose this love for food preparation in the first place? I used to love hosting gatherings. I look forward to Thanksgiving and Christmas because I get to cook delicious food for the people that I love. What I don’t love though is the pain on my wrist and arms the day after.
You cut up so many sweet potatoes that your arm and wrist start to hurt. Chopping up squashes into smaller pieces is difficult, too, since it is such a hard food to cut into, you tend to grip the knife so hard that it brings pain to your fingers and knuckles. It made me wonder how chefs and professional cooks do this day in and day out.
Continue reading this Wusthof Classic Ikon Review to find out how I solved this problem.
Wusthof Ikon Knives – Easy to use
It occurred to me, maybe it was my knives that made food preparation such a pain. If only I could find knives that are ergonomically designed to prevent this. Thankfully, there are knives that are designed to prevent your wrists from getting worn out from cutting up food items repeatedly.
After trying out numerous brands, I finally found the brand and line of knives that worked well and prevented pain and fatigue. The Wusthof Ikon knife line will help you rediscover your passion for preparing food.
Let’s start this review by looking at the manufacturer of the very popular Ikon line of knives. Wusthof is a family-run business that began its operations in Solingen, Germany way back in 1814. Over a hundred years later, it has established itself as a leading manufacturer of quality knives. The craftsmanship, ingenious design, and good material are just a few factors that make this brand a leading name in the food preparation industry.
The Review
This brand has several product lines which include the Classic, Gourmet, Ikon Creme, Ikon, Classic Ikon, and many more. Of the lines, it is the Wusthof Classic Ikon set that is most well-known for having the handles that make it so much easier for home cooks and professional chefs to cut and prepare food items for cooking.
They are specifically made to make the knives easier to grip and lighter to hold. It allows the user to cut, slice, and chop food without too much strain.
* Wusthof Classic Ikon 7-Piece Walnut Block Knife Set
This particular set contains 4 of the 28 different knife styles and sizes offered in the Classic Ikon line. Those are the 6-inch utility knife, the 3.5-inch paring knife, the 8-inch bread knife, and the 8-inch Wusthof Classic Ikon chef knife. To complete the 7-piece set, this also comes with the 9-inch sharpening or honing steel, a pair of stainless-steel shears, and the beautiful knife block.
For a budding cook who is just beginning to make his way around the kitchen, this set may be sufficient. With the available knives, you can chop large and medium-sized produce into smaller pieces, you can cut meat, you can even fillet a fish or peel a fruit.
You are pretty much set for any type of simple food preparation.
Let’s look at the knife block first. It is made from quality polished wood with 13 slots. The extra slots are convenient if you already have a few knives of your own. This way, you won’t have to keep your new and old knives separate. Plus, since the block is very slim, it is not going to eat too much space in your kitchen. The knife storage only measures 10.5 x 8.5 x 4.5 inches. It is even smaller than a regular bread toaster.
If you already own the Wusthof Classic knives, you will notice that the Wusthof Classic Ikon set’s blades are shaped very similarly to it. It is fully forged, meaning it has been formed from one slab of high-carbon, stainless-steel metal. This ensures that the knife doesn’t break apart at the seams because there is literally no seam.
This steel is specially created for Wusthof and is made up of chromium, vanadium, and molybdenum. The combination of metals makes each blade very durable and resistant to stain and corrosion.
Wusthof uses 40 steps to create each and every forged knife. These are done to ensure that the blades achieve a hardness of 58 on the Rockwell scale but still remain flexible.
The process is all done by robots to ensure that each and every knife comes out with the same quality. Once the knives come out of the production line, they are inspected and polished by humans. They polish the blades using Wusthof’s patented Precision Edge Technology or PEtec. The sharpening is done by hand but is inspected using lasers.
It is the knives’ handles that will actually get your attention the first time you see and touch a Wusthof Classic black knife. Compared to the Classic’s, the handles of the knives from the Classic Ikon line are V-shaped.
It has exactly the same look as the Blackwood handle of the Ikon line. The only difference is the material used. This is made from black resin. The advantages of this resin over the Ikon’s wooden handles are it is more effective in resisting scratches and water damage.
The handle’s shape is best to cradle any hand size, making it more comfortable to wield. It is well-balanced too, so it feels as if the knife is just an extension of your hand rather than an added weight. It is secured to the blade with three rivets to ensure that it holds together the entire lifetime of the knife.
It also has a full tang.
The blade is embedded in the handle all the way to its end. Unlike half or partial tang where the handle can separate from the metal eventually, this technique ensures that the handle and blade are joined forever.
The bolster, that thick part between the blade and the handle, does not reach the edge of the knife blade. The bolster is placed there so that your finger can be protected when you grip the knife. It also helps in keeping the knife well-balanced. This design makes it possible to sharpen the entire blade from tip to the back.
A lot of professional chefs prefer this design because it enables them to use the entire edge of the knife’s blade for slicing or cutting. Plus, it looks good because the bolsters are shined by a robotic arm to achieve its great finish.
Cleaning and maintaining the knives is crucial in ensuring that they last you a lifetime. Getting the Wusthof Ikon set is an investment and you need to protect your investment by washing it properly and drying it off completely before putting each knife back into the knife block. In doing so, you will prevent rusting, which some users have been complaining about.
While Wusthof claims that their knives are dishwasher safe, they still recommend that the parts of the set be washed by hand. Small nicks on the blade edge may be observed after some use. This can be removed by running the honing steel along the edge of the knife. Professional sharpening can be done once a year to get back the knives’ original edge.
Storing them in the knife block is ideal because it prevents the knives from rubbing together and damaging their edges. You can also use a magnetic holder for the knives if you don’t have much space in your kitchen. What’s best is that should something happen to the knives and they break, the set comes with a lifetime warranty.
Here are the pros and cons of buying the Wusthof Classic Ikon 7-Piece Walnut Block Knife Set:
Pros:
Complete set for a beginner cook- Very durable material
- Full tang ensures handle stays on
- Handle design makes the knife comfortable to use
- Blades are hard and sharp
- Comes with a lifetime warranty
Cons:
- Can rust if not maintained properly
* Wusthof Classic Ikon 14-piece Knife Block Set
If you have outgrown your 7-piece set or you simply want to start with a more extensive knife collection, it is advisable to get the 14-piece set from the Classic Ikon line. This one features the same durable blade material, same ergonomic design for the handles, and same bolster placing as the 7-piece set. The only difference is that there are 11 knives in this set versus four in the previously reviewed set.
Each Wusthof Classic Ikon 14-piece set comes with the paring knife, utility knife, bread knife, and chef’s knife. Additionally, it comes with a 5-inch serrated utility knife.
You might be wondering what the difference is between this knife and the serrated bread knife. For this brand, it is the size. The serrated utility knife is designed to cut through fruits and vegetables cleanly. You do not tear the fibers of the produce so that you can use them for sandwich fixings. That is the reason why this knife is also known as the sandwich knife.
Another knife that is featured in this set is the hollow-edged, 7-inch Santoku knife. While this sounds very intimidating with its Japanese name, it is basically just a knife for general purpose. The main difference that this has from a chef’s knife is the size. Another notable difference is the hollow edge.
This makes food release easily from its surface.
Finally, with the chef’s knife’s curved blade, it is easier to cut small pieces of food using the rocking back-and-forth motion. Since the Santoku’s knife is straight-edged, it is more ideal for chopping downward. This may be the ideal knife for cutting large fruits and vegetables like squash and watermelon. It may also be used as a cleaver to split meat if needed.
The 8-inch carving knife is also part of this set. It is almost like the chef’s knife but longer and thinner. This knife is perfect for cutting uniform and precise slices of meat such as a roast.
If you love having steak dinners, then this knife set really is the perfect one for you. This Wusthof Ikon Black set comes with four steak knives that measure 4.5 inches each. These will make your meals go faster as the knives can cut through steak like paper.
To complete the 14-piece Wusthof Classic Ikon set, you also get the 10-inch sharpening or honing steel, a pair of stainless-steel kitchen shears, and the beautiful knife block. The kitchen shears are very versatile. You can use it to cut up rosemary for you roast, separate parts of a chicken, de-vein shrimp, even remove the shell of a crab if you want to. Plus, it is so convenient to have if you need to cut open plastic packaging for ingredients.
You have to follow the steps mentioned above in order to keep these knives well-maintained. Always remember to dry the knives completely before storing them to avoid rusting. Should it rust, it is best to call the manufacturer rather than try to troubleshoot it on your own using an abrasive product.
Just like the previous collection, this set is also backed up by a lifetime warranty. This way, should your set become rusty, getting it fixed or replaces is just a few clicks or a call away.
Here are the pros and cons of buying the Wusthof Classic Ikon 14-piece Knife Block Set:
Pros:
- Comes with a storage block
- Knives are durable and versatile
- Handles are triple-riveted onto the metal blade
- Handle design makes the knife comfortable to use
- Blades are hard and sharp longer than other brands
- Comes with a lifetime warranty
Cons:
- Can rust if not maintained properly
Conclusion: Which One Should You Choose?
There is a reason why so many people choose to include these sets in their wedding registries despite it costing a little more than other brands. The Wusthof Classic Ikon line is worth the investment. They are durable enough to use every day and are designed to last a lifetime.
They are versatile and come with different styles and sizes of knives to suit any cooking style or need. If you have a limited budget and do not require too many knives, you can go for the 7-piece set. For more experienced cooks that require more specialized tools for complex food preparations, the 14-piece set may be more suited to your kitchen needs.
As soon as you start using these knives, you will rediscover your passion for preparing food. If you have read this Wusthof Classic Ikon Review closely, you will know that either of the two sets will be a wonderful addition to your kitchen arsenal.
