Is J.A. Henckels a Good Choice for Knife Sets?

By Moses Harun

One cutlery company which had its roots in Solingen, Germany is Zwilling J.A. Henckels. Created in 1731, the company can claim a number of "firsts", among them the first stainless steel blades, multi-purpose kitchen shears, forged knives with molded handles and hybrid forged knives. This manufacturer is also esteemed as one of the highest quality cutlery manufacturers in any country. It would seem that as a result of 278 years of experience, Henckels Four Star Knife Sets could be regarded as the sharpest knives in the block.

Product Descriptions

In accordance with the company's logo - a simplified representation of the star sign of Gemini - the Henckels knives have been designated with the word "Twin" followed by the series name. There are eleven Twin series - 1731, Cermax M66, Select, Cuisine, Four Star II, Pro "S", Five Star, Four Star, Gourmet, Signature and Grip Parers - with another collection made up of cleavers and dicers. All of this company's knives continue to be made in Germany, except the Cermax M66 product line which is made in Japan.

The majority of Henckels knives are formed of high-quality German high-carbon, no-stain steel blades, which have been ice-hardened to improve their blade strength and resistance to corrosion. This is hardly news since Henckels invented the Friodur ice-hardening process for forged knives. As a result, if you are considering bringing home a Henckels knife set, you will enjoy the advantages of German expertise with world-class standards.

Advantages

The wonderful thing concerning Henckels Four Star Knife Sets is the variety made for customers from the homemakers to the world-class chefs. Consequently, many pocketbooks are served by its affordable products in the Twin Signature series to the fairly expensive knives of the Twin Cermax M66 series. However, the quality of materials used and the manufacturing method used are similar with every knife sold by this company.

The professional-grade knives which comprise the Cermax M66 Henckels series cuts like a laser through food. This set of knives are able to cut, slice, fillet, peel and mince better than any other knife in the same category. Moreover, the weight and balance of Henckels' best knives are perfect; to the degree that restaurant and hotel chefs are more and more showing preference for the Cermax M66 rather than, say, similar cutlery sets from Wusthoft.

Even Henckels' stamped steel knives like the Twin Signature product line are fair compromises between expense and value. Apparently, more than two centuries of making knives is likely to pay off!

Disadvantages

Especially in cases where you are buying online, be certain that you are receiving what you ordered and used your hard-earned cash for. There have been reviews about the product descriptions in a Henckels knife set that doesn't adequately describe the items shipped.

Also, there is the matter of reputation. Because Henckles now offers budget-priced knives that rarely but often enough don't satisfy the usual Henckles quality, the other top quality knives suffer from the other's failures. This is similar to the saying of one or two bad apples tainting the whole bushel.

In the end, the choice of a Henckels Knife Set usually hinges on two factors: your cooking style and the depths of your pockets. Normally, you will be forced to balance your wishes with your means but with Henckels knives, the dilemma is made easier. - 32406

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