Henckels Knife Sets: An Industry standard of excellence

Henckels Knife Sets: Some food for thought

A prime consideration in determining which one of the many Henckels knife sets is best for you, will be your style of cooking and the ability to have the right knife for the right job. Naturally, a more complete set, while providing maximum versatility is more costly. In evaluating a knife set try and select only the sets that include knifes you will use.

Here are the various knives commonly found in knife sets:

1. Vegetable knife
The vegetable knife is a small knife with a sturdy blade, straight cutting edge and stiff tip. Its' primary use is for cutting small fruit and vegetables with precision.

2. Peeling knife
The peeling knife is small and has a curved blade - it looks like and is sometimes referred to as a"bird's beak" It peels vegetables and potatoes really well with its fine edged blade. 

3. Paring knife
Small, versatile knife with a slim blade with hard tip and straight cutting edge. Peels, cuts, cleans and garnishes fruit and vegetables. Also suitable for preparing meat.

4. Utility/Sandwich Knife
This is a jack-of-all-trades knife is handy for many general jobs. It is usualy the first one I grab when not using the chef knife.

5. Serrated Utility Knife
This knife is an all around work horse for any cutting job where you have a hard exterior and soft inside. I use it for bread, tomatoaes and meatloaf where the lenght and heft of the bread knife is overkill.

6. Bread knife
This is the very long blade with a wavy or scallpoed edge. The wavy edge goes smoothly and quickly through tough crusts. Most hane handy prongs on the end. 

7. Boning knife
This knife is the indispensible tool for boning chicken or cutting close to the bone. It is usually narrow with a somewhat curved and flexible blade. Gets into tough to reach places for cutting meat off the bone.

8. Slicing knife
We used to call this the roast beef knife. It has a narrow, long and strong blade with a fine cutting edge. The blade itself is around 10". Best used for carving roasts and turkey at holiday meals.

9. Chef's knife
In my opinion the most important and frequently used knife. The standard size is 8", but I have chef knives in several sizes. Sturdy, heavy knife with broad, strong blade and fine cutting edge. The chef's knife is also known as the cook's knife. Ideally, the handle is rocked up and down with one hand while the fingers of the other hand rests lightly on the back of the blade. But sometimes it is fun just to chop away like mad.

10. Santoku knife
Asian-type knife with broad blade and especially sharp cutting edge. The all rounder of the Asian kitchen can be used threefold: for preparing meat, fish and also vegetables. Available with fine edge and hollow edge.

11. Steak knives
Slim, strong knife; blade has ground back and straight cutting edge. Cuts steaks and all meats effortlessly.

Here are some of the more complete Henckels Knife Sets and the specific knives they contain:

From the 'Forged Synergy' line, a 16 Pc "East Meets West" Block Set

Block Set Includes:

3" Paring Knife
3" Vegetable Knife (Kudamono Parer, Fine Edge)
6" Utility/Sandwich Knife
7" Santoku Knife, Hollow Edge
8" Carving Knife
8" Chef's Knife
8" Bread Knife
6 - 4 1/2" Steak Knives (Stamped)
9" Stainless Steel
Kitchen Shears
Hardwood Block - Black

This Henckels knife set retails for around $450.

Next is a 13 Pc Block Set from the 'Fine Edge Pro' series.

Fine Edge Pro 13 Piece Block Set includes:

3" Paring Knife
5" Serrated Utility Knife
7" Santoku Knife, Hollow Edge
8" Chef's Knife
Kitchen Shears
9" Steel
Wood Block
6 - 4" Steak Knives

This Henckels knife set retails for around $240.00

Fine Edge Synergy 17 Pc Block Set includes:

2 3/4" Paring Knife
5 1/2" Boning Knife
6" Utility Knife
7" Santoku Knife, Hollow Edge
8" Bread Knife
8" Chef's Knife
8" Carving Knife
8 - 4 1/2" Steak Knives
9" Steel
Hardwood Block

This Henckels knife set retails for approx $225.00