Are you looking for good quality, durable knife set for your new kitchen? If yes, you’re at the right place. We’ll help you decide if the Chicago Cutlery knives are worth considering for your kitchen.
Chicago cutlery is an emerging brand of knives and offers a huge range of knife collections. The brand is known to be pretty much popular for being the number 1 brand in forged cutlery and manufactures professional-grade knives for every home.
Chicago Cutlery Fusion is one of their most popular collections that offer various knife sets in super reasonable price ranges. These sets contain all the essential knives you’d need while you’re in the kitchen. Come even com with the sharpening steel and scissors included in the set, so you won’t have to look for these two tools separately.
High-carbon stainless steel is the material used in Chicago Cutlery’s blades. Carbon makes the alloy stronger and prevents it from staining, rusting, or pitting. Chicago Cutlery, however, does not disclose its exact steel formula, unlike many high-end cutlery brands. The construction varies by collection.
Further in this article, we’ll review some of the best Chicago Cutlery Knife sets and you’ll know whether or not you should buy these.
Table of Contents
Where is Chicago Cutlery Made?
Chicago Cutlery is basically made in China. The company’s main manufacturing facility is set up in China and it ensures that its products are made to meet the highest standards, whether it’s about chef knives, slicing and chopping knives, sharpening tools, or scissors.
Why Buy the Chicago Cutlery Fusion?
There are a lot of great things about the Chicago Cutlery Fusion knives that would make you buy them. Firstly, these knives have thicker blades, and many collections come with black handles and full-tang designs. Also, you can choose from stamped and forged knives.
Most of the people, if they have a budget, would opt for the forged as they’re more durable and thicker but expensive too.
Furthermore, when it comes to sharpness, most of the collections by Chicago Cutlery have a 26-degree angle which makes it a 13-degree angle on each side. And, out of a number of cutlery knives we’ve reviewed, this brand offers one of the finest and sharpest edges right out of the box.
Chicago Cutlery Fusion Knives
Chicago Cutlery is simply a great option for anyone who’s looking for a knife set under a reasonable price range. There is a huge wide collection of knives, both individual as well as in sets, so you can opt for whatever suits you best.
However, Chicago cutlery does not really compete with other expensive and high-end brands such as Wusthof and Shun. But, for normal everyday kitchen tasks, Chicago cutlery definitely does a great job. All you need to do is take proper care, sharpen them when it’s needed, and NEVER wash them in a dishwasher!
SPECIFICATIONS
| Manufacturer | Chicago Cutlery |
| Blade Material | Stainless Steel |
| Handle Material | Polymer, Stainless Steel, Walnut Wood, Plastic |
| Blade Angle | 26-Degree blade angle, 13-degree on each side |
| Edge Retention | Serrated |
| Blade Type | Stamped and forged |
FEATURES
Here’s all you need to know about the Chicago Cutlery Fusion knives, the features, qualities, and downsides. Continue reading before you make a purchase!
Material
Overall, the material used for the construction of these knives is High Carbon Stainless Steel. However, the exact formula is still unknown, as the company hasn’t disclosed it yet and does not even intend to do so in near future.
There are varieties of steel on the basis of their durability, thickness, and edge retention. But in the case of Chicago Cutlery, we cannot rank their steel because of the hidden formula.
For the handles, different collections have different handle materials. Some have polymer handles such as the Metropolitan collection, some have stainless-steel handles, and some also have solid Walnut wood and plastic handles.
Also, the handles are designed to fit comfortably in hands with a strong grip to make cutting, chopping, and slicing easier.
Design
You’ll find the design of most of these knives being similar to the classic German-style knives. They usually have thick blades that provide a full tang. The same goes for most of the collections by Chicago Cutlery. However, they still can’t beat the super elegant designs by Shun, Dalstrong, and Wusthof.
But there isn’t just one design or style to these Chicago knives. You’ll find super simple ones too, some on the bold side as well, while some with totally unique design to give an entirely elegant look to your kitchens such as Insignia collection in Steel and Matte Bronze.
Furthermore, on a bit typical and traditional side, you’ll see collections with wooden handles and decent designs. Walnut collection is one of such types.
Sharpness
Most of the Chicago Cutlery knives have a 13-degree angle on either side of the blade, making it a total of 26-degree angle. And most of these knives come super sharp right out of the box, so you don’t have to sharpen them at least for the first time before use. Also, these cutlery Chicago knives are known to have thin blades, that perform a great job while cutting.
As far as the sharpening is concerned, you’ll definitely have to sharpen them when they become dull. Sharpening is a part of the maintenance of knives for a better sharpening experience. However, knives shouldn’t be sharpened too often. Sharpen them only when needed, because too much sharpening would simply reduce the lifetime of your knife.
However, many customers complain that Chicago cutlery fusion knives get dull a bit too quickly as compared to other high-end knives. And so, you might feel a need to sharpen them often.
Durability
Durability is usually the most dependent thing on the price of the product. And same goes for the Chicago Cutlery. The price does reflect the quality of their knives. Most of them, however, remain in super good condition for a long time if kept with care and cleaned with a soft damp cloth after every use.
Furthermore, some customers even complain that the knives in spite of being claimed as having a full tang, do not actually have a full tang. And this is the reason they often break as well. This is unfortunately a huge downside of Chicago cutlery knives and definitely a big compromise in their quality.
Construction
The construction just as the design is different for different collections. Both the stamped and forged blades are available in Chicago cutlery knives. Most people prefer opting for forged blades because they’re more durable and go a long way if kept and maintained properly. However, they’re a bit on the expensive side too.
While the stamped blades, they’re not as durable as the forged ones. And so, they’re less expensive too. But it’s better to spend a bit more money on a quality product than having to spend again and again. So, if you’re confused about which one to buy, go for the ones with forged construction if you have enough budget. You won’t regret it!
Performance
Chicago Cutlery knives simply perform well as long as they don’t chip up. Most of the time, they go a long way if used only for simpler, everyday kitchen tasks. However, they do not perform too well for heavy meat pieces. Furthermore, the customers often complain about the steak knives not being serrated, while they claim to have serrated edges.
In short, the performance of these knives depends upon the type of task you’re using them for. If it’s for smaller kitchen tasks, they work fine. However, for heavy-duty tasks, you might want to look for some other heavy-duty knives.
But one thing to be assured, these knives do a great job in cutting, chopping, and slicing vegetables. Comfortable to grip and allow you to quickly get done with your job!
PROS AND CONS
6 Best Chicago Cutlery Knife Set Collections
There are various knife collections available at Chicago Cutlery. It won’t be difficult for you to discover new products that you’ll love and find what you’ve been looking for. Having so many choices, however, can also be sometimes confusing and intimidating. But our reviews are definitely going to make decisions easier for you.
Also, you may purchase individual knives as well knife sets, whatever you’re really looking for. Sets, however, are more popular.
Here are some of our favorite knife sets from Chicago Cutlery.
- Chicago Cutlery Fusion High-Carbon Stainless Steel Knife Block Set
- Chicago Cutlery Fusion 17-Piece Block Set
- Chicago Cutlery Insignia 2 – 18-Piece Knife Block Set
- Chicago Cutlery Belden 15-Piece Block Knife Set
- Chicago Cutlery Fusion 18-Piece Block Set
- Chicago Cutlery 16-Piece Knife Set
| Image | Product & Features | Ratings | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
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Chicago Cutlery Fusion High-Carbon Stainless Steel Knife Block Set
|
9.7
|
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Chicago Cutlery Fusion 17-Piece Block Set
|
9.5
|
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Chicago Cutlery Insignia 2 – 18-Piece Knife Block Set
|
9.1
|
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 |
Chicago Cutlery Belden 15-Piece Block Knife Set
|
8.8
|
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 |
Chicago Cutlery Fusion 18-Piece Block Set
|
8.6
|
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 |
Chicago Cutlery 16-Piece Knife Set
|
8.2
|
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1. Chicago Cutlery Fusion High-Carbon Stainless Steel Knife Block Set
Made from high-carbon steel, these 12 knives are shaped and balanced to perform a multitude of kitchen tasks. Meal prep is more comfortable with their black poly–handled knives because their grips are padded and non-slip.
Furthermore, you’ll appreciate the small footprint of the block (which comes with your purchase) if you have restricted counter space or if you prefer an organized, clutter-free kitchen.
2. Chicago Cutlery Fusion 17-Piece Block Set
Most of the Chicago Cutlery Sets borrow the style from Classic German knives. The same goes for this 17-piece set. This is simply a complete set of knives you need to have in your kitchen. The honing steel is also included in the set so, you won’t have to look for a separate honing steel every time you use a knife.
This 17 Piece set includes a 7.75 inches Chef Knife, 7.75 inches Serrated bread knife, 7 inches Santoku knife, 5 inches Santoku knife, 5 inches Utility knife, 3.25 inches Paring knife, 8 steak knives, every 4.5 inches, sharpening steel, chop assist, and a Chestnut-stain wood block.
3. Chicago Cutlery Insignia 2 – 18-Piece Knife Block Set
Including 18 knives, this Chicago Cutlery Fusion Block Set is designed to tackle just about anything you can imagine. A high-carbon stainless-steel blade is held in place by comfortable stainless-steel handles. For dicing, peeling, paring, and chopping, the Guided Grip design offers easy handling for professional chefs. The set comes with steak knives, a wood block with a sharpener too.
A decent set for the money. The steak knives are light in weight yet very sharp. That’s what we really liked about this set. Also, the set has knives for pretty much any situation. In addition, the knives are very well finished.
4. Chicago Cutlery Belden 15-Piece Block Knife Set
You won’t find a more complete knife set anywhere else – this set contains six steak knives and a handsome block of cherry wood. This set of Chicago Cutlery Belden knives is renowned for its superb quality and appearance – these knives are among the best in the industry. This cutlery collection features angled bolsters and dual-material handles.
Furthermore, this Belden 15-piece set includes six serrated steak knives, each around 4.25 inches, 2 paring knives (4 inches), 8-inch bread, 8-inch chef, 8-inch slicer, around 5 inches utility knife, 3-inch peeler, and shears in a handsome cherry wood block.
5. Chicago Cutlery Fusion 18-Piece Block Set
If you’re looking for a basic knife set that has razor-sharp edges and excellent cutting ability, the Chicago Cutlery Fusion 18-Piece Block Set is a great option. Having the Chicago Cutlery Fusion 18-Piece Block Set means you have everything you need for slicing, chopping, and cutting.
Additionally, it comes with sharpening steel, so you never have to worry about dull blades.
The set contains eight non-serrated steak knives, a chef’s knife measuring 7.75 inches, a slicer measuring 8 inches, a Santoku measuring 7 inches, a Partoku measuring 5 inches, a bread knife measuring 7.75 inches, a utility knife measuring 5 inches, a paring knife measuring 3.25 inches, and a peeler measuring 3 inches.
6. Chicago Cutlery 16-Piece Knife Set
This 16-piece set is another popular choice under the collection of Chicago Cutlery knives. It is also made up of high carbon steel and features a 26-degree sharpness, 13-degree on either side of the blade. It makes every kitchen task super easy and quick, including cutting chopping, and slicing too. A honing steel is not included in the set, but it does contain scissors.
The set includes an 8 inches Chef Knife, 4.75 inches Utility knife, 6.75 inches bread knife, 6 inches Santoku, 3.25 inches Paring, eight steak knives, every 4.2 inches, a chop assist, shears, and a woodblock.
Is Chicago Cutlery a Good Brand?
Chicago is definitely a fine brand for knives and offers a wide range of knives just within a reasonable price range. Although, as compared to high-end brands such as Wusthof, Chicago Cutlery won’t provide the exact same quality and durability, it does offer great options for decent prices.
Chicago Cutlery Insignia Vs Insignia 2 – Which One’s Better?
In our opinion, Insignia 2 is a better option. It is not only an improved version of Insignia but is also more durable and offers much easier maintenance. Also, the handles of the Insignia 2 series are made of Plastic while the blades are of stainless steel. Overall, Insignia 2 is a great quality set, and the knives are super sharp as well.
Chicago Cutlery Fusion – FAQs
Final Verdict
Being honest with our final verdict, Chicago Cutlery Fusion knives are not as great as the ones by high-end brands such as Wusthof, but they definitely do a great job if you’re looking for a decent, knife set for your kitchen for everyday kitchen tasks.
