Wüsthof Classic 3 Piece Knife Set Review and Giveaway

*** SORRY COMPETITION NOW CLOSED BUT PLEASE READ THE REVIEW! ***

I have always dreamed of owning a set of high quality knives that even a top chef would be most envious to own – and recently I was lucky enough to receive just that. I was sent out the Wüsthof Classic 3 Piece Knife Set to review from Haus, the UK marketing and distribution representatives for Wüsthof. Wüsthof’s Classic range, Classic knives are fully forged and take a rather whopping 40+ processes to manufacture! The Wüsthof Classic 3 Piece Knife Set includes the 20cm Cook’s Knife, 9cm Paring Knife, and the 2-Stage Pull-Through Hand-Held Knife Sharpener. The set usually retails at around £171.00 but is currently on sale at Haus for £129.00 which, if you ask me, is an absolute bargain. (If you’re the cheeky so and so that has simply arrived here for the competition then just scroll down to the bottom of this post!)

Who Are Wüsthof?

Wüsthof is a family owned business and was founded in 1814, in Solingen, Germany. The Wüsthof company is currently ran by Viola and Harald Wüsthof – the seventh generation of the same Wüsthof family that founded the company over 200 years ago. Even to this day Wüsthof knives are still expertly crafted in Solingen. Otherwise known as ‘The City of Blades’, Solingen has been home to master blacksmiths for over a whopping 2,000 years and German knife manufacturers such as Wüsthof have earned the reputation of making the highest quality blades. Whilst on the pursuit of excellence, Wüsthof have been dominating knife sales around the world for many decades.

How Are Wüsthof Knives Made?

Wüsthof use Precision Edge Technology to make their beautiful blades, known as ‘PEtec’, which offers a superior blade sharpness that raises the bar for modern cutlery manufaction. Modern hand-sharpened knives are riddled with blemishes that diminish the blade’s overall performance whereas Wüsthof’s PEtec ensures a smoother and more refined blade edge is yielded, providing increased sharpness and more importantly – prolongued sharpness retention.

What I love about the Wüsthof Classic range is that it is beautifully simplistic yet incredibly elegant – Wüsthof aren’t about flash gimmicks and gadgets – they’re about being honest and ethical, and their products are as sharp as they are strong.

Before the blades are sharpened they are firstly measured by lasers, computers then calculate the precise sharpening angle for each blade to ensure complete accuracy. The blades are then sharpened on a whetstone by precision robots and the knives are given a final polish using a specialised disc. This process yields in high quality knife blades that allow an optimum cutting edge along the entire length of the blade, providing a high cutting performance with a 20% sharper edge than can be obtained by the standard manual sharpening process. As a result the blades are of higher quality than most brands and will stay sharper for longer.

All of the Wüsthof Classic knife range has been forged. For those of you that don’t know, a forged knife is basically a knife made from steel which has been heated and hammered repeatedly in order to realign its molecular structure, making it stronger, more durable, and more resilient. Just think back to old sword making – yes really! Modern ‘stamped’ knives however, have pretty much just been stamped out of a roll of steel and are thus much weaker than their forged counterparts. Forged knives will stay sharper for longer, withstand a lot of stress, and will not chip.

Why Buy Wüsthof?

As mentioned above, each Wüsthof knife blade has been manufactured in a high-tech and precision computerized environment resulting in a durable blade that is perfect in every aspect, every time. Wüsthof uses stainless steel along with molybdenum and vanadium to enhance the hardness and durability of their blades, thus increasing their resistance to corrosion, making them tougher and more rust resistant. Each individual knife blade has been sharpened from heel to tip, leaving the factory floor in optimum condition so when you receive your knife set and open it up you instantly know you’ve bought knives of the highest quality.

But quality aside Wüsthof are an ethical company too, whom are aware of and committed to environmental awareness and sustainability. Wüsthof has an impressively proactive central environmental management department that ensures their production methods are continually optimised in order to increase their energy efficiency as well as limit waste water contamination and reduce the emissions of CO² and other gases. Wüsthof are proud to boast that the majority of the the air and water that leaves the plant is completely uncontaminated due to their impressive filter system. I think it’s safe to say that most companies are sadly not as dedicated to environmental issues as Wüsthof are.

How Did The Wüsthof Classic 3 Piece Knife Set Perform?

The 20cm (8″) Classic Cook’s Knife

Probably the most essential knife in any kitchen, the Wüsthof Classic Cook’s Knife is a large and versatile knife with a traditional slightly curved, long and wide blade with a smooth edge which is designed specifically for slicing, mincing, and dicing all kinds of food. The cook’s knife is often one of the most frequently used types of knife both in the domestic and professional kitchen, hence the name (in fact, you might sometimes heart to it as being referred to as the ‘chef’s knife’).

The Wüsthof Classic Cook’s Knife has a long, wide, and curving blade that makes it perfect for using a professional dicing technique – I’ve definitely been brushing up on my knife skills since receiving it – especially the old claw grip! The knife can also be used to flatten, shape, and pick up foods, and the spine itself is so strong and robust that it can be used to crack nuts or shellfish – whoa momma! I haven’t tried this yet but I’d love to in the future.

The knife isn’t too large or too small – it’s just right (think Goldilocks and baby bear’s porridge) and is as great at small detail work as it is for cutting larger vegetables. The triple-riveted polypropylene handle has a nice weight to it which means you don’t have to apply too much pressure when cutting or slicing, allowing the knife to become an extension of your hand so that you can totally get your rock on. The handle itself feels more like wood than plastic when you hold it in your hand however, and that totally made me feel like I was a culinary gift to the kitchen.

The blade itself can come through at different angles effortlessly, making any kind of chopping a light weight task – my old, cheap Argos knife literally feels like a butter knife in comparison to this bad boy and there is no slipping all over the chopping board. Overall I found this knife great for mincing onions, cutting über thin slices of sweet potato (that could totally be used for making crisps by the way), chopping nuts effortlessly and without them flying around the chopping board, flattening garlic, and delicately chopping through my favourite herbs without bruising them.

If you’re on the lookout for a heavy duty yet versatile knife that doesn’t skimp on quality or performance then the Wüsthof Classic Cook’s Knife is definitely for you. Available to buy as part of a 3 piece set or individually direct from Haus, RRP £99.00. For US and international customers head on over to the Wüsthof site for your nearest stockist.

The 9cm (3.5″) Classic Paring Knife

I’m a little ashamed to admit, but my old paring knife was the least used knife in the kitchen. The Wüsthof Classic Paring Knife however, is probably the most versatile paring knife I’ve ever laid my culinary hands on, and to be honest it’s pretty much a super versatile mini cook’s knife. It’s a small and handy knife with a short, straight blade and smooth edge which makes it perfect for mincing shallots, onions, and herbs as well as de-veining prawns, removing the ribs from chillies and peppers, and of course peeling the hard and soft skins of many different kinds of fruits and vegetables. Its super sharp tip also makes for the mean precision hulling of strawberries. But it doesn’t stop there – it can cut through tougher fruit and vegetables too – even sweet potatoes.

I loved using the Wüsthof Classic Paring Knife for the smaller and more mundane kitchen tasks such slicing cherry tomatoes and mincing garlic and root ginger for my curries, but also for the more small and detailed knife work too, and especially for cutting into my pomegranates, perfectly opening them out like elegant flowers. In fact I think it’d also be great for detailed pastry work too but I haven’t had the opportunity to try this out yet.

If you’re wanting a knife that allows you to chop through fruits and vegetables like apples, peppers, and carrots as though they were butter but were also wanting to get into the more creative and decorative side of fruit and veg cutting then the Wüsthof Classic Paring Knife definitely delivers. Did anyone say avocado rose?!

If you’re looking for a compact and super versatile knife that can chop through almost anything but delivers ultimate precision control for detailed work then the Wüsthof Classic Paring Knife is all you need. Available to buy as part of a 3 piece set or individually direct from Haus, RRP £50.00. For all US and international customers head on over to the Wüsthof site for your nearest stockist.

2-Stage Pull-Through Hand-Held Knife Sharpener

Keeping your knives sharp is super important – especially when you fork out for a high quality set such as the Wüsthof Classic range. But the main reason to keep your knives sharp is for your own safety. Over compensating for a blunt blade by adding extra force can lead to unwanted slips which is crazily dangerous – believe me I have learnt the hard way! A sharp knife, is a safer knife by far and although there are many ways to keep your knives sharp a pull through and hand-held knife sharpener makes it super duper easy and safe to do, all in the comfort of your own home.

So, this may or may not be news to you but you actually only need to sharpen your knife once or twice a year once the blade becomes dull (that’s blunt to you and I). You do however need to ‘hone’ your knife frequently – even as frequently as after each use, but typically after every one and a half to two hours of use. Although doing this more often that that won’t cause any real damage.

I know what you’re thinking – what the hell is the difference between honing and sharpening?

Well, honing actually re-aligns the microscopic teeth in the blade, whereas sharpening a knife takes a small amount of steel off the blade. In fact, over-sharpening your knife will lead to it eventually losing its original and intended blade shape. Honing your knife doesn’t remove the steel to create a new edge in the same way that sharpening your knife does and so won’t damage your knife if done frequently. Depending upon how often you use your knives, you may only need to sharpen them once or twice a year.

The Wüsthof 2-Stage Pull-Through Hand-Held Knife Sharpener has two stages – ‘fine’ for honing the blade and ‘coarse’ for sharpening at the required 14⁰ angle. The fine stage uses ceramic slats for regular maintenance whereas the coarse stage uses diamond-coated abrasive wheels that reset any dull blade. A pull-through knife sharpener takes away the faff of having to figure out the angle to sharpen and hone your knives at.

Honing and sharpening my knives with the pull-through knife sharpener was a total doddle – you simply drag the knife through the required notch 3-4 times, pulling gently towards yourself with just a little light pressure – the weight of the blade alone should be enough. In fact it’s a common misunderstanding that you have to apply pressure when sharpening and something that I am too guilty of in the past. Don’t add extra pressure as you’ll end up with a dull knife in no time.

If you’re thinking it isn’t important to buy the same branded sharpener as your knife then you’ll be surprised to hear that you’re wrong. The steel hardness of your knives varies from one manufacturer to another and so you need to use a steel that is tempered at a higher Rockwell degree than the knife. All Wüsthof forged knives are tempered to 58⁰ Rockwell.

If you want to keep your Wüsthof blades in fine shape then the Wüsthof 2-Stage Pull-Through Hand-Held Knife Sharpener is for you! Available to buy as part of a 3 piece set or individually direct from Haus, RRP £17.95. For all US and international customers head on over to the Wüsthof site for your nearest stockist.

Are There Any Drawbacks?

As stated earlier, these knives are made of a high carbon steel which means although that they are virtually rust resistant and technically dishwasher safe, you probably don’t want to let them sit in water for too long or wash them in the dishwasher.  Dishwashers use harsh chemicals and the sharp blades of your Wüsthof knives could also cause unwanted damage to your cutlery baskets or even worse the rest of your cutlery. This is because the blades rub against everything within the basket. Wüsthof recommend that you hand-wash these knives immediately after use with a damp cloth in some warm water with a little mild dish soap. You must then dry them immediately. Personally I don’t mind doing this – if you’re going to have a high quality product you might as well treat it like one. There’s also something really therapeutic about the ritual of wiping down your knife after each use.

Passion Fruit Ceviche made with Wüsthof Classic Cook’s Knife and Paring Knife.

The Verdict

I’ve been using this beautiful Wüsthof knife set for almost 2 months now and each knife has become an extension of my own arm, my knife skills have drastically improved, and my prep time has decreased substantially. I’ve been knocking out some amazing recipes – from my Banana Skin Curry to Mixed Berry and Kale Summer Salad. I’ve even chopped up my chocolate chunks for my Vegan Chunky Monkey Ice Cream and sliced my sea bass to perfection in my Passion Fruit Ceviche. It’s safe to say that I couldn’t live without these beauties and I’m hoping to save up to invest in a few more products from the Wüsthof range.

What I love about the Wüsthof Classic range is that it is beautifully simplistic yet incredibly elegant – Wüsthof aren’t about flash gimmicks and gadgets – they’re about being honest and ethical, and their products are as sharp as they are strong. Each knife included in the set is precision forged to the highest quality and has a strong bolster and high carbon stain resistant steel.

Wüsthof ooze passion, diligence, and perfection and their knives shout out the exact same motto too. If you’re looking for a high quality set of knives that will last you a life time then I couldn’t recommend the Wüsthof Classic 3 Piece Knife Set anymore than I already have. With no negative criticism (that’s a first for me) you’ve nothing to lose other than the upfront monetary investment.

The Giveaway

Up For Grabs

One lucky winner will win the following:

• 1 x Wüsthof Classic 3 Piece Knife Set, RRP £171.00

The Features

The Wüsthof Classic 3 Piece Knife Set is of the highest quality and its multiple culinary uses would make any home chef envious. It boasts the following features:

• A 20cm Cook’s Knife designed specifically for slicing, mincing, and dicing.
• A 9cm Paring Knife that acts as a mini cook’s knife – ideal for chopping vegetables, peeling, and decorative and detailed knife work.
• A 2-Stage Pull-Through Hand-Held Knife Sharpener that will hone and sharpen your knives keeping them in top quality condition, and your fingers safe.

How to Enter:

1. To enter into the competition just simply sign-up to the Greens of the Stone Age Newsletter by filling in this form – this will give you 5 entries into the competition! Already signed up? No problem just follow step no. 2.
2. Next using the Rafflecopter giveaway widget below, select ‘Sign-up to my Newsletter’ and fill in your first name and e-mail address for verification purposes. If you don’t complete these two steps your entry will be disqualified!

For Additional Entry Points

To up your odds of winning:

• Leave a comment using the comments box below telling me what knife skills you’ll be polishing up with or what dishes you’ll be making if you win! You may only do this once.
• Follow Greens of the Stone Age on Twitter, and any of the companies involved in the giveaway, using the option on the Rafflecopter giveaway box below. You may only follow each company once.
• Visit (and follow if you’d like to) Haus on Facebook. You may only follow once but may visit once daily.
• Tweet about the competition using the ‘Tweet about the giveaway’ box below. You can do this once daily!

*Competition open to UK entrants only. Sorry!
** Competition opens 12:00 1st August 2016 to 23:59 14th August 2016. (All times GMT.)

The Lucky Winner

• The lucky winner will be picked at random.
• The more entries into the competition, the higher the chance is that you will win!
• The lucky winner will be e-mailed within 48 hours of being picked to obtain their details and forward on to the Haus team, who will then arrange a suitable time to mail out your prize!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks for entering and good luck!