Article By: Suraiya Fardous
- December 9, 2023 , Last updated on : December 10, 2023
A few German knife brands have taken the spotlight because of their outstanding knives that outperform other brands by a wide margin. As a result, brands from other countries have started producing German steel knives to keep up with the competition. However, kitchen knife sets made in Germany still take the top spots because the German knife companies there know how to work their own steel. The best German knives will make your life much easier in the kitchen.
Buying guide for the best German knives
The requirements for buying the best German knives will not be the same as the requirements for buying other types of knives. For example, if you want to buy the best oyster knives, you need to check their shucking ability. In contrast, you need to check the country of origin of the knife or at least the materials used to make the knife. Here is how you can select the best German knives on the market.
Type
First and foremost, the type of knife you need will depend on why you are getting the knife. You can get one of the best German chef knives if you are unsure what type of German knife you prefer. You can go for German butcher knives if you want a knife to cut raw meats in your kitchen. The type of knife you need to get will depend on your requirements.
Size and Weight
The size and weight of the German made knives that will be ideal for you will depend on your personal preference. If you prefer lighter and smaller knives, you can go for 6-8 inch knives. Alternatively, if you prefer heavier knives, you can go for 12-14 inch knives. Knives that weigh less are more beginner-friendly because they are easier to handle. However, heavier knives can get through tougher ingredients more easily because of the assistance from their weight.
Package Deal
Last but not least, you can go for the best German knife sets if you want to have all sectors of your kitchen covered. When you get a knife set, you will get different types, sizes, and weights of knives. As a result, you can use the ideal knife you need to perform your specific task at hand.
Best German knives | Top 11 Picks
Since German knives are so popular all over the world, the number of German knife makers has risen significantly, which makes it tough to select one for yourself. As a result, we have selected the best German Knives on the market and ranked them based on personal experience and user reviews.
List of the best German knives
ZWILLING German Knife Set
Wüsthof Gourmet Knife Block Set
McCook MC19 Knife Set
Master Maison Kitchen Knife Set
McCook MC65B Black Knife Set
MOSFiATA Professional Chef’s Knife
Henckels Classic Chef’s knife
Astercook Knife Set
Wüsthof Chef’s Knife Set
ZWILLING Knife Block Set
HENCKELS Knife Set
ZWILLING German Knife Set
Material: German stainless steel
Set: 19 pieces
The ZWILLING German Knife Set is the overall best German stainless steel knife set on the market because of its outstanding features. Additionally, all the knives in the set combined ensure that all your requirements are taken care of in the kitchen. As a result, this is the last knife set you need to get if you take care of the knives. Their German origin makes them a popular choice among competitors.
Besides the versatility of the set, the knives in the set are very sharp as well. Additionally, they have excellent edge retention because of their German stainless steel build, which does not corrode easily. Lastly, all of the knives in the set have ergonomic polymer handles that are durable as well.
We loved the riveted handle on this knife, which is not only comfortable but also ergonomic. If you are wondering what the difference is, we say it is comfortable to hold because it feels nice to hold. We say it is ergonomic because it is very easy to use.
Pros:
Versatile set
Ultra razor-sharp
Excellent edge retention
Ergonomic polymer handle
Cons:
Very expensive
While the knives in the ZWILLING German Knife Set have all the desirable features you can expect in German knives, the set itself is very expensive. However, if you can meet its price tag, the set undoubtedly has the best German knives you will find on the market because of their sharpness and edge retention.
Wusthof is a family-owned German company that has been in business for seven generations. The Wusthof knives made in Germany are some of the best knives you will find anywhere in the world. All the knives in the Wüsthof Gourmet Knife Block Set are made from high-carbon stainless steel, which lets them resist fading, discoloration, heat, and impact. As a result, if you maintain them, this one set will last a lifetime.
The Wüsthof Gourmet Knife Block Set has knives that are easy to maintain. This, combined with its durable build, makes them some of the best German kitchen knives you will find on the market. Besides that, it also has a lightweight build and incredible sharpness, which makes the knives very easy to use.
We think this is the last set that you need to get for your kitchen. It is a versatile set that contains all the knives you will need in a typical kitchen. Additionally, the knives and the block are very durable and will last a lifetime, which is why we say it is the last set you need to get.
Pros:
Resists fading, discoloration, heat, and impact
Incredible sharpness
Lightweight build
Easy maintenance
Cons:
Lower number of knives
Even though the Wüsthof Gourmet Knife Block Set and the ZWILLING German Knife Set have similar price tags, the Wüsthof Gourmet Knife Block Set has a lower number of knives. Other than that, their lightweight build, combined with their incredible sharpness, makes them the best German knives on the market.
If the price tags on the Wüsthof Gourmet Knife Block Set and the ZWILLING German Knife Set seem a bit too much for you, you can go for the McCook MC19 Knife Set. Even though it is a much more affordable set, the knives in the set are still comparable to more expensive ones. This is because they have the optimum sharpness that is required for precise cutting.
Besides having outstanding sharpness, the knives are also very easy to resharpen so that you can use them for a long time. Additionally, the knives in the set can be easily cleaned with handwash without any issues. However, it is suggested that you do not put the knives in a dishwasher since it ruins their sharpness.
They provide a bamboo cutting board and four plastic cutting mats with the set. As a result, you do not need to mess up your countertop when cutting your ingredients. Lastly, the board and mats can be doubled as serving trays as well.
Pros:
Optimum sharpness for precise cutting
Easy to resharpen
Easy and fast clean-up process
Affordable option
Cons:
Could be more comfortable to use
The only issue we have with the McCook MC19 knife set is that the knives are not as comfortable to use as some of their competitors. However, if you do not physically compare them with other knives, you will not notice the difference. Other than that, their optimum sharpness, combined with their affordable price tag, makes them the best German knives.
If you want an affordable German knife set, which has knives that are more comfortable to use than the knives in the McCook MC19 knife set, then the Master Maison Kitchen Knife Set is for you. They are comfortable because of their optimal weight balance, which ensures your hands do not get tired. Additionally, the knives have a sleek and beautiful design as well.
The block where you can store the knives comes with a built-in sharpener, so you do not have to get a separate knife sharpener to keep your knife in top form. Overall, the 19-piece set contains everything you will ever need in a home kitchen.
Pros:
Optimal weight balance reduces fatigue
Block with built-in knife sharpener
Sleek design
Cons:
Needs to be sharpened occasionally
Even though the Master Maison Kitchen Knife Set comes with a block that has a built-in knife sharpener, the knives in the set lose their sharpness quite often. However, you can easily use the sharpener to resharpen them again. Other than that, their optimal weight balance, combined with their sleek design, makes them the best German knives.
Looking for an affordable knife set that has a wide variety of knives? The McCook MC65B Black Knife Set is the one to get. There are twenty knives in the set, and all of them have a full tang build, which makes them very durable. Additionally, all the knives in the set are tarnish-resistant and rust-resistant.
The set contains a total of 20 pieces, which ensures that all your cutting requirements in the kitchen are taken care of. The wood block comes with a built-in sharpener. Simply place the knife in the sharpener and pull it out. Repeat this until you believe it is adequately sharp.
Pros:
Full tang build
Tarnish-resistant and rust-resistant
Wide variety of knives
Cons:
Handles could be more ergonomic
The only problem that you might face when using the knives in the McCook MC65B Black knife set is that the handles are not very ergonomic. However, you can easily get used to them with a bit of practice. Other than that, their full tang build, combined with their rust resistance, makes them the best German knives in the competition.
MOSFiATA is one of the most popular German chef knife brands that use high-carbon German stainless steel to make their knives. The MOSFiATA Professional Chef’s Knife from them particularly has a beautiful and aesthetic laser-engraved pattern that lets it fit in every kitchen. Additionally, it has an ergonomic design that makes it comfortable to use. While the previous knives come in sets, this is a single knife that comes with a sharpener.
Pros:
Laser-engraved aesthetic pattern
Anti-corrosion and anti-tarnish blade
Ergonomic design
Cons:
Blade’s point can be easily chipped
The biggest drawback of the MOSFiATA Professional Chef’s Knife is that the point of the blade can be easily chipped if too much pressure is applied to it. Other than that, its ergonomic design, combined with its anti-corrosion and anti-rust build, makes it one of the best German knives that you can get.
The Henckels Classic Chef’s knife is one of the best German-made knives because of its long-lasting sharpness. Besides the sharpness, the blade and the handle are durable as well, so the knife can last for generations. Lastly, the knife has a satin-finished blade that allows you to cut your ingredients with precision. So, if you want a German knife that you can use to make precise cuts for gourmet meals, this is the one for you.
Pros:
Durable build
Satin-finished blade boasts precision cutting
Long lasting sharpness
Cons:
Weight balance could be better
The only drawback of the Henckels Classic Chef’s knife is that the weight balance was neglected when trying to make the knife more durable. Other than that, its long-lasting sharpness, combined with its satin-finished blade, makes it one of the best German knives on the market that you can get.
The Astercook Knife Set has some of the best German steak knives that you can proudly present in front of your guests because of their beautiful black design. They are made from premium stainless steel that makes the knives dishwasher safe. Since it is rust-resistant, you do not need to worry about cleaning it in a dishwasher. Additionally, the build materials also make them non-stick and rust-resistant. However, you will have to preheat the pan beforehand to take full advantage of the non-stick properties.
Pros:
Non-stick & rust-resistant build
Dishwasher safe knives
Beautiful black design
Cons:
Competitors provide knife sharpeners
While most of its competitors provide a knife sharpener built-in the block, the Astercook Knife Set does not come with a knife sharpener. However, if you already own a knife sharpener, then their beautiful black design, combined with their rust-resistant build, makes them the best German knives that you can get in a set.
The Wüsthof Chef’s Knife Set has one of the best German pocket knives in the set. Wüsthof is known for its exceptional knives that have excellent edge retention. All of the knives in the set have full tang triple riveted builds, which makes the knives very durable. Additionally, the build also makes the knife look good. Lastly, you can perform all of your daily kitchen duties with these three knives because of the versatility they provide.
Pros:
Full tang triple riveted build
Exceptional edge retention
Contains all the essential knives
Cons:
Comparatively expensive
Even if the Wüsthof Chef’s Knife Set is not the most expensive set on this list, considering this set only has three knives, it is comparatively an expensive set. However, if you can afford the set, it is definitely one of the best German knives on the market because of its full tang build and excellent edge retention.
If you want a German knife set with an aesthetic hardwood block for storing the knives, the ZWILLING Knife Block Set is the one to get. You can easily fit the knives with the block to complement the interior of your kitchen. Besides that, the knives have superior sharpness. Lastly, they are very easy to clean because they are dishwasher safe. However, you should dry the knives thoroughly after taking them out of the dishwasher.
Pros:
Comes with an aesthetic hardwood block
Superior sharpness
Easy to clean
Cons:
Limited flexibility
The only setback we had with the ZWILLING Knife Block Set is that it is not very versatile. For example, it does not have any heavy knives like butcher’s knives for sizing up big chunks of raw meat. Other than that, their superior sharpness, combined with the included aesthetic hardwood block, makes them the best German knives on the market.
The HENCKELS Knife Set contains twenty different types of knives, which makes it one of the most versatile sets on the market. Additionally, all the knives in the set have professional-level sharpness. Besides that, they are very lightweight, which makes them easier to use. Lastly, they were built to last a long time. If you are a beginner but you are in need of a knife that you can use till you improve your skills, this is the perfect one for the job.
Pros:
Professional-level sharpness
Built to last
Lightweight and easy to use
Cons:
Not easy to clean
The biggest problem with the HENCKELS Knife Set is that the knives and the block are not easy to clean because they are not dishwasher safe. Other than that, their professional-level sharpness, combined with their lightweight build, makes them some of the best German knives that you can buy.
The best German knives for you will be the knives that meet your specific requirements. For example, if you want a chef’s knife with long-lasting sharpness, go for the Henckels Classic Chef’s knife. Alternatively, if you want the overall best German knife set, go for the ZWILLING German Knife Set. If you liked our top picks, check our choices of the best BBQ knife sets and knives for slicing brisket.
