In regards to cutlery excellence, few names shine as brightly through modern history as Wusthof. Hailing from Solingen, Germany, the city of blades and the knife-making capital of the world, Wusthof has been a beacon of quality for over 200 years. A true family-run enterprise, Wusthof is among the planet's most well-known kitchen knife makers. In this article, I’ll explore Wusthof's world-class cutlery, from chef's knives with precision blades to utility knives with ergonomic designs. For professional chefs or home cooks, Wusthof sits at the heart of the kitchen.

Choosing Wusthof Cutlery

Selecting the ideal Wusthof cutlery is akin to choosing a slice of culinary history. Wusthof knives are renowned for their precision; hand-crafted, high-carbon steel blades, and full tang construction. Their craft ensures the durability, polish, and consistency of each piece. While their knives might not be the fanciest or most eye-catching ones on the market (I did list their more eye-catching options below), they are certainly the most traditional with their classic Western blade shapes and triple-rivet handles. Knives like these are built to inspire your confidence in the kitchen for decades to come.

Now, there are a few different lines of Wusthof knives available, and the list below will feature all of them. To help you know what you’re looking at, here’s a brief rundown of each knife line and the features present in their aesthetics and construction.

Gourmet

This line of knives uses a stamped metal construction and is known for being lightweight and affordable. These are perfect for professionals and beginner chefs who want quality but aren’t ready to spend on more expensive knives. While I’ve never seen the bolster fail on these knives, I do notice that to support the rigidity of the knife, the handle material extends into the blade to provide more rigidity — I sometimes wonder if that’s a weak point of the design. Either way, I have used these a bunch without issue and might even prefer them over the full-bolster design of the classic knives.

Classic

These are the knives that built the reputation of Wusthof and Solingen, Germany. The full-bolster design adds heft, rigidity, and durability to the blade, making it incredibly tough. But that same design can add some ergonomic challenges for any chef who uses a pinch-grip handling style. I love using these knives and don’t mind the full bolster.

Ikon

At the high end of polish, balance, ergonomics, and design, the Ikon knives are understated yet nearly perfect. For anyone burning to spend money on traditionally styled German knives, this is my first choice. The main highlight for these over the Classic line is they use a half-bolster design, which makes them a little bit easier to sharpen, but they are perhaps less safe for beginners, who might not have full awareness of where their fingers are around the heel of the blade.

1. Gourmet 3-Piece Set

Starting off the list with an affordable and fundamental entry point, Wusthof Gourmet is a lightweight take on the traditional forged Classic line. These are great for culinary professionals because of the reduced mass and cost while shaving no corners on performance or durability. Between the chef, bread, and utility knife, this set could be all that anyone needs in the kitchen — especially if you’re a true minimalist! With stamped high-carbon-steel blades and full tang construction, these knives are handcrafted with care in Solingen, Germany.

2. Wusthof Classic 9-Piece Block Set

Wusthof's Classic line is the heavy-duty, full-bolstered construction that built their name, highlighting their precision, polish, and traditional design. The knife block leaves some room for your own choice of a few extra knives, but there isn’t much more that you could want here (other than a steak knife set?). My personal favorite from this set is the 5.5-inch Asian vegetable knife that blends the features of a santoku while retaining a mostly pointed tip for picking blemishes off veggies.

3. Wusthof Classic Ikon 15-Piece Block Set

An example of Wusthof's commitment to excellence, the Classic Ikon line presents a high-polish, half-bolstered design and well-considered knives. Favored by home cooks for their easy balance and comfortable grip, this set covers all of the basic prep knives and provides six lovely steak knives. There’s one empty slot in the block; I would say if you needed anything, maybe consider adding a slicing knife to the kit.

4. Wusthof Classic 8-Piece Block Set

Available in several fresh handle colors and introducing a modern and refreshed block with a reduced footprint, this Classic set gives a big splash of style to their most vintage knife set. Like any other line of Classic knives from Wusthof, these are still handcrafted in Germany and have all the traditional knife shapes, including that 6-inch chef knife and the serrated utility (great for tomatoes, peppers, and peaches.) If I were to go with a Classic line, I’d personally go with this pink set, but they also have a deep red sumac with bronzed, triple-rivet handles made with high-density synthetic material that will not fade over time.

5. Wusthof Gourmet 16-Piece Block Set

A testament to Wusthof's lightweight stamped lines, this Gourmet set might be one of the more understated and unrecognized in their lineup. The color of the high-density synthetic handle is swapped for white instead of black to brighten the tones of the kitchen, but what truly sparks my interest is the complete variety of all the knives in this set. For example, there are six different utility knives for peeling, straight cuts, selectively removing blemishes from vegetables and meats or just halving the sandwich you’re about to devour. A notable highlight of this set is the all-metal kitchen shears, which really add to the timeless aesthetics of this kit.

6. Wusthof Classic 4-Piece Steak Knife Set

To bring a little more color into this list, here are Wusthof’s Classic steak knives in rich Sumac. I typically don’t recommend having nice steak knives because they get dulled on kitchen plates by hungry dinner guests, but if you’re planning to do it with nice equipment anyway, then these are my top choices. It’s worth noting that many lower-cost steak knives are made with stamped and serrated metals, but these use the same forged construction as all of their Classic line, ensuring consistent durability that comes with some heft. They have a few different colors to choose from as well.

7. Wusthof Villa 6-Piece Block Set

Adding a unique, bright, and warm tone; soft texture; and shape to the kitchen, Wusthof Villa’s eye-catching cylindrical leather-wrapped block is their storage solution to the Amici line. The wooden, curved handles of the Amici knives are pleasing and inviting to hold, and their blades are subtly evolved next to more traditional styles like the Wusthof Classic or Ikon. For example, the sheepsfoot of the Amici santoku uniquely arcs upward at the tip to invite rolling chops while still preserving most of the slicing edge of the knife (in short, this non-traditional shape makes the knife even more versatile.) What a fun set.

8. Wusthof Stainless 8-Piece Steak Knife Gift Set

Steak knives are often neglected in knife sets because they are easily worn down on ceramic plates by hungry dinner guests and tossed in the sink or dishwasher where they will further dull and lose shape. However, steak knives don’t have to live that sad life. It’s possible to keep them sharp and cared for, especially with the wooden case provided in this gift set. The all-stainless construction promises simple durability, while the serrated edge means you won’t have to worry about anyone having to saw at their meal.

9. Wusthof Classic Ikon 2-Piece Cook’s Set

Most of the time you don’t need a full set to upgrade your knives — it’s usually just the one or two that you use most often (and if we’re being honest, usually you just need to get them professionally sharpened before replacing them completely.) But hey, if you’re looking to upgrade the two biggest players in your knife kit, this set brings the 8-inch chef and the paring knife. When anyone asks me about knife ergonomics, I always think first of the Classic Ikons, because the upward spine of the handle perfectly cradles into the palm.

10. Wusthof Chef’s Tools 5-Piece Set

Now I know this whole article has been about knives, but these kitchen utensils pair amazingly next to all Wusthof knife sets in both design and durability, for they’re handcrafted in Germany alongside all the knives. High-quality utensils make a thoughtful family gift, and the durability of these will extend their lifespan into family heirlooms for the next hundred years — or more.

While I love all of these essential tools from the inviting spoon to the soup ladle with double-pour spouts, my favorite is the straining ladle, which is perfect for scooping anything out of boiling water while leaving the liquids behind.

Connect With a Curated Kitchen Expert

Wusthof, the 200-year-old family-run enterprise hailing from the medieval town of Solingen, continues to be a beacon of excellence in the cutlery world. Their precision blades and ergonomic designs are the first choice for professional chefs and home cooks. As you explore Wusthof's offerings, remember that the right set of cutlery can transform your culinary experience. If you’d like some help finding that right set, please feel invited to have a chat with one of our Curated Kitchen Experts today.