Who Needs A Steak Knife Set
Even if you havent seen the movie, you probably know the line: First prize is a Cadillac … Second prize is a set of steak knives. Third prize is youre fired. Alec Baldwins speech is cinema legend. Its also insightful. Glengarry Glen Ross premiered in 1984, when there was nothing more quintessentially American than big cars, lost jobsand steak for dinner. Of course second prize is a set of steak knives! Almost everyone would have appreciated themif not the circumstances they arrived under.
Today, second prize would be something else. Americans are eating less meat in general, and less beef in particular, so not everyone needs a set of steak knives these days. But if you eat meat regularly, you really should have one. Its amazing how much nicer it is to slice a tenderloin or chop with a well-made blade designed for that purpose. And that will hold true even if youre already using a cheapo set of serrated steak knives, let alone if youre hacking away with the dull table knives that came with your silverware.
A nice set of steak knives also dresses up a place-setting, so if you like to entertainor just like to make a fancy meal now and thenyou may appreciate owning a set, too. Finally, one thing that held true in 1984 still holds true in 2015: steak knives are a special gift for the right person. You can even spend Cadillac money, if youre feeling extra generous.
Use The Table Knife Once And You Won’t Need To Ask Why It’s Our Best
Praised by our customers for being enduringly sharp and exceedingly versatile, this knife is comfortable to hold and perfectly balanced.
The Table Knife is an ideal choice even if steak isn’t on the menu cut salads, spread butter and more with this long admired member of the CUutco line.
- Exclusive Double-D® edgeThe Double-D® edge provides a clean, smooth cut every time and stays sharp longer than straight-edge knives. Can be factory sharpened.
- Ergonomic handleUniversal fit for large or small, left or right hands. Thumb and forefinger lock into place for safety and control. Fatigue-resistant design.
- This set includes
How To Contact Cutco
If you need any other information that wasnt included in this Cutco knife review, you can get in contact with the brand by any of the methods below:
- Phone: 1-800-361-8800
- Contact Form: Available on its website
Cutcos customer service hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 12:00 am, or Saturday 9:00 am to 3:00 pm ET.
Need more tools for your kitchen? Get cooking with these trusted brands:
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Differences Between Cutco And Wusthof
Now that you understand the similarities, lets take a close look at what makes Cutco and Wusthof kitchen knives different.
Manufacturing Process: Wusthof offers six forged-knife lines and one stamped-knife line. Cutco only offers stamped knives.
Durability: Due to their manufacturing process, Wusthof forged knives are more durable and hold their edge longer than Cutcos stamped knives.
Sharpness: Wusthof knives are sharpened at a 28-degree angle , which is slightly sharper than Cutcos, which are sharpened at a 30-degree angle .
Handle Design: Each of Wusthofs seven knife lines have a slightly different handle designed for function, safety, comfort, and aesthetic. Custos handles all have the same ergonomic design but are available in a variety of colors.
Handle Material: All of Cutcos handles are made out of an engineered material called Thermo Resin, while the material of Wusthofs handles varies by style. Most are made out of a synthetic material that is very similar to thermo resin called Polyoxymethylene however, their Ikon and Epicure lines are made out of natural wood that is exceptionally stable, hard, and beautiful.
Warranty: Although Wusthof guarantees their products will be defect-free, Cutcos Forever Guarantee, Sharpness Guarantee, and 15-Day Unconditional Money Back Guarantee give you more protection against unexpected issues.
Where They Are Made: Cutcos products are made in the USA, and Wusthofs are made in Germany.
Where To Purchase Cutco Knives
Cutcos knives are primarily sold through sales reps employed by their wholly-owned subsidiary, Vector Marketing. Vector Marketing hires college students and people just starting their career to sell Cutco knives face-to-face, often to family and friends.
There are rumors that Vector Marketing is a multi-level marketing company, which is synonymous with a pyramid scheme or scam, but those rumors are entirely false.
With multi-level marketing companies, sales reps are required to recruit and hire other sales reps. Their pay is based on their sales and any sales made by the reps on their team.
Vector is NOT a multi-level marketing company. In fact, they are a direct sales organization, and their sales reps are not responsible for hiring reps to work under them.
If youre interested in buying Cutco knives, you can schedule a demo on their website, or you can purchase their products at one of the few retail centers sprinkled throughout the central and eastern parts of the U.S.
If you dont mind purchasing a knife sight unseen, you can either buy Cutco products directly from their website or on .
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Where To Purchase A Wusthof Knife
Even though it would be a fun trip, you do not need to travel to the City of Blades to buy genuine Wusthof knives. Unlike Cutco knives, customers can purchase Wusthof products anywhere that premium kitchen products are sold, including Crate and Barrel, Williams Sonoma, and, they are also available on and SurLaTable.com.
What Wusthofs Customers Are Saying
Wusthof customers love their knives, as evident by their . The company has a long track record of customer satisfaction. Although their warranty is not as forgiving as Cutcos, under typical use, there is hardly ever a need for a replacement.
Wusthof customers rarely complain, but those that do usually have unrealistic expectations based on the premium price they paid. The interesting thing about these complaints is that Wusthofs prices are typical for high quality forged knives and are right in line with Zwilling, Shun, and even Cutco, whose knives are not forged.
Anyone complaining that Wusthofs knives are too expensive should opt for one of their cheaper lines, like the Gourmet or Pro, or buy lower quality brands altogether.
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% Off Single Table And Steak Knife Offer Terms
15% off Single Table Knives and Steak Knives valid through 11:59 p.m. ET Oct. 22, 2021. Offer valid with Traditional Table Knife , Stainless Table Knife and Steak Knife only. Choose from available handle colors. Prior purchases excluded. Cannot combine offers. All prices are in Canadian dollars. Prices and offers apply only to orders shipping within Canada.
Provide your email for a chance to win a $100 Cutco Gift Card.
By submitting your entry, you agree to the giveaway terms and conditions.
Why Are Cutco Knives So Expensive
Cutco knives are quite pricey, even when compared to luxury knife brands like Zwilling.
Why are they so expensive?
The answer is surprisingly simple: theyre made in America, theyre sold in a format where the seller earns a commission, and they have an incredible warranty thats vigorously fulfilled by the manufacturer. In other words, theyre expensive to make, youre essentially paying the salesman a small fee each time you buy one, and the company has to charge more than the cost of a single knife because of the warranty.
This business model has worked out for Cutco quite well. Even though their knives are expensive, word-of-mouth advertising is massively helped by in-home demonstrations by Cutco salesmen.
Its also very easy to find a friend or relative whos used their Cutco products for many years, meaning that new consumers like you or me are much more likely to trust in their longevity. Finally, while fulfilling each and every warranty claim is very expensive for Cutco, it also helps them sell more products.
When a customers knives break through circumstances that are totally the customers fault, Cutco usually replaces them. This means the customer is quite likely to tell all of their friends about how good Cutcos warranties are, thereby selling lots of knives for Cutco.
With Cutco, the question to ask is not are Cutco knives good? but rather are Cutco knives worth the cost?
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Are Cutco Knives High Quality
Cutco knives are generally considered to be high-quality, but because they are stamped and not forged, their durability may be less than those who are made with fire and a hammer.
Stamping refers to the process in which knives are cut outfrom a single sheet of steel. If stamping sounds foreign to you, be aware that stamped knives come with their own set of advantages, like being lighter and more flexible.
Best Starter Set: Henckels 4
Henckels is another big name in cutlery, and even though this set is on the lower end of its price range, its performance does not disappoint. The blade is serrated from point to halfway up the blade, and has a sharp, straight edge the remainder of the length to the handle. Most of the cutting action happens where the serration is, and the micro-serrated edge does a great job in cutting through the meat without shredding or ripping. The riveted plastic handle is chunky, with a slightly contoured shape that fits comfortably in the hand.
It’s on the short side, but the thickness of the handle would definitely suit someone with larger hands. Low-maintenance folks will appreciate that these knives are dishwasher safe, and the molded plastic packaging they come in is suitable for storage, if not particularly attractive. With a great price point and decent performance, these knives are an ideal starter set for the college student or new apartment dweller looking to build their kitchen collection.
Buy It: $20 , zwilling.com, or walmart.com
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Cutcos Forever Guarantee And Forever Sharpness Guarantee
Before we get to their knives, it is important to know that Cutco offers a Forever Guarantee.
It doesnt matter if your Grandmother originally purchased your Cutco knives and then handed it down to you, or if you received the knives as a wedding gift. If you are not satisfied with the performance of your knife at any time, you can return it to the company, and a company representative will correct the problem or replace the product.
This guarantee only applies if you use the knives conventionally. If you break your knives cutting something you probably shouldnt be, Cutco will replace them for half the cost, plus taxes. Damage due to unconventional use completely voids almost every other knife makers warranty, including Wusthof.
Cutco also offers a Forever Sharpness Guarantee. Customers can send their knives and a small fee to the company, and they will return your sharp knives to you.
The fee is nominal and is required to cover shipping. To have up to 10 knives sharpened, it only costs $9. If you send more than ten but less than 26 knives to be sharpened, the fee is $11, and up to 40 knives are $13. Not too shabby for practically brand new sharp edges.
In addition to their Forever Guarantee and Forever Sharpness Guarantee, Cutco knives also come with a 15-Day Unconditional Money Back Guarantee, which allows you to return your knives for any reason and get a full refund within the first 15 days of receipt.
Cutco Knife Set Reviews
This set of four kitchen knives is a favorite of Cutco reps around the nation. Its quite expensive, meaning they get a big chunk of change for themselves, and its loaded with all the usual Cutco features. The big draw of this knife set is that it lasts practically forever with no maintenance, meaning youll never have to buy a set of steak knives again.
If youve read my other knife reviews, you probably know that I think the most important part of a knife is the metal theyre made from. These Cutco knives are made from 440A stainless, which is a very high grade steel that holds an edge pretty well and is very easy to maintain. Itll last for many years and stay sharp without a lot of maintenance.
Unfortunately, that doesnt matter very much when it comes to serrated steak knives. These are not the tools you use when slicing tomatoes or preparing meat or even chopping herbs. Instead, theyre something that sits next to your plates when you set the table for guests. The sharpness matters a little bit, certainly, but its far less important than the appearance of the knives and the brand name thats stamped on the blade.
The question, then, is is Cutco a good brand?
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What Cutco Customers Are Saying
Since Cutco knives were traditionally sold door-to-door, some chefs are quick to overlook this product however, Cutco customers are usually pleased with their knives. The blades tend to hold their sharpness, and since the company offers such a good warranty and free sharpening for the life of the knife, there seems to be little risk in purchasing these knives.
Although the average consumer may not be knowledgeable about knife production, experts say that Cutco knives are inferior because they are stamped instead of forged. Stamped knives are cut from a sheet of steel instead of being manufactured from a single piece of steel. Stamped knives are less costly to produce and are not as durable, sharp, and substantial-feeling as a forged knife.
Experts also question the quality of the 440A stainless steel that Cutco uses to manufacture its blades. Other knife companies that are at the same price point as Cutco use 440C steel. In general, 440A steel is usually used in cheaper knives.
Now that you know a bit more about Cutco, lets take a look at one of their biggest competitors, Wusthof.
Most Comfortable: Cutco Steak 4
Cutco knives have a loyal following, and for good reason: The company offers a lifetime guarantee on its knives and offers free lifetime sharpening services . When it comes to serrated knives, which can’t be sharpened with most traditional sharpeners, this is a great amenity.
The Cutco steak knives have a high-quality construction, with the resin handles riveted seamlessly onto the full-tang blades, and special, serrated edges that are designed so there’s a cutting surface in every direction, whether the knife is moving forwards, backwards, or straight down.
While they do tear the meat a little more than some of the other blades on this list, they do work well even on gristly pieces of meat, with just a little pressure and effort. These are some of the most comfortable knives we’ve tried: The polished resin handles have a unique shape that fits perfectly in the hand, wider in the middle with indentations at the thumb and pinky. It almost feels like they’ve been molded to fit the grip, and seems like it would be comfortable for both small and large hands.
Buy It: $296 cutco.com
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Best Overall: Shun Premier 4
Shun’s Premier line of steak knives puts the meaning behind the phrase, cutting “like a hot knife through butter.” They really do effortlessly slice through even tougher cuts, with the lightest of pressure and very little sawing motion. Meat is cut cleanly with absolutely no tearing, which is ideal for very rare cuts so juices will stay intact.
Their performance is in part due to its construction: The knives are crafted with Damascus cladding, where micro-thin layers of metal are stacked and welded together creating a lightweight blade that’s also durable and can be sharpened to a razor-thin edge. This construction also contributes to the knives’ beauty: Damascus construction is indicated by the rippling, watery pattern on the side of the blades. The handles are equally well-designed made of polished Pakkawood , they feel sleek and are tapered a bit at either end so they fit nicely in the hand. It’s lightweight but well balanced in the hand. The handles are thick enough that it would be comfortable to use for someone with larger hands, and the width of the blade gives plenty of clearance for the knuckles.
Made by Kai Corporation, a cutlery company with roots in Japan’s knife-making tradition, the knives come in a hinged wooden storage box.
Buy It: $440 , williams-sonoma.com, or surlatable.com
Cutcos Three Blade Styles
Cutco offers three styles of knives blades, including Double-D Edge, Straight Edge, and Santoku. Heres what you need to know about each.
Double-D Edge
Cutcos featured style is the Double-D edge. Even though Double-D edges look serrated, this is not an accurate way to describe the design. Double-D edges are recessed. The teeth provide three sharp surfaces with which to cut, and the teeth protect the central part of the knife. One benefit of this design is that it allows the chef to cut at any angle. You may cut straight down, forward, or backward.
The Double-D edge can be sharpened but needs to be done so by the company. Cutco promises that you wont need to sharpen the Double-D knife as often as its straight-edged counterpart. Cutco makes the blades with a 440A high-carbon, stainless steel.
The Double-D Cutco knives feature an ergonomic handle that fits any sized hands. Its is appropriate for left-handed and right-handed chefs and features a fatigue-resistant design. The handles are available in a variety of colors, which can include dark brown, red or pearl white.
Users of the Double-D knives will enjoy the strength and balance that comes with having the blade extend the full length of the handle.
Straight-Edged Knives
Cutco also offers straight-edged knives that come sharpened at a 15-degree angle per side. Most kitchen knives are sharpened between 14 and 20 degrees per side, so 15 is normal.
Santoku Knives
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