Review: Zwilling Four Star Anniversary 8-Piece Knife Block Set
By Kitchen Expert
Wendy M.
17 photos
The Curated Take
4.7/5
The Zwilling Four Star Anniversary 8-Piece Knife Block Set is ideal for budding home chefs. With ergonomic handles and a comfortable grip, these blades maintain sharpness for extended periods. The set offers an array of essential knives for versatile kitchen tasks, from meat and vegetables to bread. The chef's knife excels in precision, evident when slicing delicate tomatoes. These knives simplify kitchen tasks, making them excellent for those prioritizing efficiency and ease without needing an expansive knife collection. The included honing steel ensures longevity and peak performance.
Ideal for
- Ergonomic handles and comfortable grip
- Blades stay sharp for months
Not ideal for
- Large knife block takes up a lot of counter space
- Simple handle design without a variety of color or style options
- Only one color of knife block
Storage
Although the coloring is less fancy than some others with the acacia wood, it does its job and fits in with most kitchen decors. I love the extra slots in...Read more
Blade Sharpness
The blades on this set stay sharper longer due to the ice-hardened FRIODUR technology. For example, I didn't have to sharpen the chef's knife for six months. Once I resharpened...Read more
Variety
My most used pieces in the set are the 8" chef knife, 4" paring knife, and kitchen shears. The shears are fantastic for cutting the skin off of chicken, while...Read more
Handle Quality
The chef knife's handle may be a bit large/wide for someone very petite. However, the other knives in the set have a smaller handle width and are easy to hold....Read more
Balance
The cook needs to put only a little effort into using these knives as they do most of the work. The overall balance of the knives helps with this claim....Read more
Blade Quality
The blade quality is excellent, forged from a single piece of carbon steel and offering a full tang. Due to the FRIODUR technology, the blades on this set stay sharper...Read more
Curated Experts are not sponsored by brands. Their reviews are based on their honest experiences testing products.
Wendy M.
About the cutlery
- Model: Zwilling Four Star Anniversary 8-Piece Knife Block Set
Test conditions
- Why I bought these: Simplicity and quality
- What I used it for: Onions, meats, veggies, and bread
- How many times I've used it: 293
Expert Reviews of the Zwilling Four Star Anniversary 8-Piece Knife Block Set
Wendy M. Originally, I was not too fond of the knife block because it was so big and clunky and only came in a light wood color. I wanted to avoid taking up valuable counter space but quickly found out they fit in my pan counter. Fast forward seven months later, and I am so happy with this set. A variety of knives come with the set without being so overwhelming for the beginner to "knife variety." I use my chef's knife regularly for cutting meat, melons, and veggies. I use my paring knife for smaller tasks requiring more precision or cutting lemons. I don't need the included bread knife, but I have learned how much easier life is if I use the right blade for the right task. The set consists of incredibly sharp kitchen shears that are great for cutting the fat off of chicken thighs. I recommend a quality knife set to anyone who spends time in the kitchen.
Product Specs
| Tang | Full |
| Production method | Forged |
| Blade material | Carbon Steel |
| Set includes | 4" paring knife; 5" serrated utility knife; 5.5" prep knife; 8" bread knife; 8" chef's knife; honing steel; shears; hardwood block |
Review Ratings
Storage
4/5
Wendy M. gave 4 of 5 stars. Although the coloring is less fancy than some others with the acacia wood, it does its job and fits in with most kitchen decors. I love the extra slots in the knife block that allow me to store knives I already own.
Blade Sharpness
5/5
Wendy M. gave 5 of 5 stars. The blades on this set stay sharper longer due to the ice-hardened FRIODUR technology. For example, I didn't have to sharpen the chef's knife for six months. Once I resharpened it with the included honing steel, the knife cut just as good as on day one.
Variety
5/5
Wendy M. gave 5 of 5 stars. My most used pieces in the set are the 8" chef knife, 4" paring knife, and kitchen shears. The shears are fantastic for cutting the skin off of chicken, while the chef knife is excellent for chopping onions, cilantro, and tomatoes. The bread knife that is included is great to have but not something I use daily.
Handle Quality
5/5
Wendy M. gave 5 of 5 stars. The chef knife's handle may be a bit large/wide for someone very petite. However, the other knives in the set have a smaller handle width and are easy to hold. The knife handles have a rubbery coating rather than Delrin or wood, adding to the grip comfort.
Balance
4/5
Wendy M. gave 4 of 5 stars. The cook needs to put only a little effort into using these knives as they do most of the work. The overall balance of the knives helps with this claim.
Blade Quality
5/5
Wendy M. gave 5 of 5 stars. The blade quality is excellent, forged from a single piece of carbon steel and offering a full tang. Due to the FRIODUR technology, the blades on this set stay sharper longer. They are solid, do not bend, and cut through everything from vegetables to meats.
FAQs
What was your favorite moment with this gear?
Wendy M. My favorite moment with the Zwilling set was cutting tomatoes with the chef's knife. I used to struggle to cut through tomatoes with the dull knives I had around my kitchen. Usually, they would end up flattened and not looking pretty by the time they made it to the table. However, the Zwilling chef knife went right through each tomato as if cutting through a piece of butter—no more smashed tomatoes.
Why did you choose this product?
Wendy M. I chose the Zwilling Four Star Anniversary set for its simplicity. This set allows me to have all the knives I need, including kitchen shears, without the fuss of extras, like steak knives.
