5 Best Henckels Knife Sets – 2021 Reviews & Buyer’s Guide

5 Best Henckels Knife Sets – 2024 Reviews & Buyer’s Guide

Henckels was founded in 1731 by Johann Peter Henckels. It is a German company and based in Solingen, Germany. Solingen is also known as the “City of blades,” the city where the world’s best and most renowned knifemakers are based.

There’re very few competitors who might argue that they have a richer history than J.A. Henckels. Their Zwilling logo is one of the oldest brands in the world. Zwilling means “twin,” and it is the German word for the astrological sign Gemini.

Henckels is known for its exceptional knives and tools and is well-trusted by professional chefs, culinary experts, and home cooks from all over the world. Henckels has several different brands, each of which offers dozens of knife sets.

This article is intended to cover all the information you need before buying a Henckels knife set. There’s a wide variety of Henckel’s sets available in the market. You will find in-depth reviews of our favorite sets, with each set having its specifications, features, pros, and cons.

It is important to look at all set’s features and specifications before buying. We hope this article guides you and will help you in choosing the right knife set.

If you’re in a hurry and want a quick overview, just scroll down to check Henckel’s knife set reviews quickly.

Best Henckels knife sets

You will get to know the best Henckels knife sets available in the market for purchase in this part. Hopefully, you will find the set that suits your needs.

Image Product & Features Ratings Price
Top-Pick

Twin Signature

Twin Signature

  • 19-piece
  • Made with special formula German steel
  • Polymer handles
9.9
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Budget-Friendly

Statement

Statement

  • 12-piece
  • Traditional triple-rivet handles
  • Dishwasher safe
9.7
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Premium-Pick

Now S

Now S

  • 8-piece
  • Made with special formula high-carbon no-stain German steel
  • Colorful Polypropylene handles
9.5
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Forged Premio Forged Premio

  • 18-piece
  • Plastic Handles
  • Easy to clean
9.3
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Classic Classic

  • 7-piece
  • Polypropylene handles
  • Made with high-carbon stainless steel
9.1
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1. J.A. Henckels International Forged Premio 18-Piece Block Set

J.A. Henckels International Forged Premio 18-Piece Block SetThis set is one of the larger knife sets offered by the J.A. Henckels. The product name and brand logo can be found around the blade as well as on the butt cap. This set comes with 17 knives that make it better than other sets.

All the knives in this set feature a plastic handle, which is fastened with three rivets. And, all knives come with a full tang that provides the perfect balance in handling a knife. Moreover, the knife’s butt is a metal cup that further secures the handle and the blade. This looks beautiful and also easy to grip.

All the knives in this set come with forged blades except steak knives. Forged knives are more durable than steak knives, and they will never bend under high pressure. They have a bolster at the center, which makes it more balanced.

This set’s knives are sharp right out of the box, so you will never feel any difficulty in cutting. The knife’s sharpness and cutting ability have shocked many customers. However, if you sharpen them after some days, they will maintain their sharpness for a long time.

The other quality of this set is that this set’s knives are extremely easy to clean because of a smooth bolster that separates between the blade and the handle. Even though knives are prone to dullness, sometimes rust is left on them, making them dirty. If you want a better result of the set knives, it is recommended to dry them immediately after washing.

This set comes with all the essential knives and tools. This includes:

  • Boning Knife
  • Paring Knife
  • Bread Knife
  • Serrated Utility Knife
  • Chef’s Knife
  • Utility Knife
  • Santoku Hollow Edge
  • 8 Stamped Steak Knives
  • Kitchen Shears
  • Sharpening Steel
  • Hardwood block

I recommend this set to those chefs who want high-quality knives to enhance speed and precision in the preparation work. Moreover, this set is perfect for home cooks as well as for professional cooks.

Pros
  • Knives are sharp right out of the box.
  • Durable
  • This set’s knives come with a full-tang
  • It comes with a hardwood block.
  • Easy to grip the
  • It comes with a variety of knives and other tools.
Cons
  • A bit costly
  • Knives require sharpening after some time.

 

 

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2. HENCKELS CLASSIC Knife Block Set, 7 Piece

HENCKELS CLASSIC Knife Block Set, 7 PieceAs you know that Henckels is one of the world’s finest cutlery manufactures of knives. This 7-piece set is made in Spain from high-carbon stainless steel that is no doubt a premium material. However, this one is made with a bit less quality than the company’s other sets.

This set’s knives are fully forged that offers durability and a smooth transition from blade to handle. All the knives feature a satin-finished blade that boasts cutting and offers a long-lasting sharpness.

All the knives in this set come with black polypropylene handles, which are fastened with three rivets. The handles look more beautiful and give more comfort when you grip the knife in your hand. Moreover, the knives are well balanced in the hand that helps you in cutting or slicing.

The good thing about this set is that the knives in this set are dishwasher-safe. However, it is recommended to wash knives by hand. The other good thing about this set is that this set comes with a lifetime warranty. You can replace your product if you got a faulty product or met with any other problem.

This set includes:

  • Serrated Utility Knife
  • Chef’s Knife
  • Parer Knife
  • Santoku Hollow Edge
  • Sharpening Steel
  • Kitchen Shears
  • Hardwood Block

I recommend this set for home cooks. If you are a home cook, this set will fulfill all your needs. It may also work for professional chefs, but I don’t guarantee it.

Pros
  • Dishwasher-safe
  • Lifetime Warranty
  • Sharp
  • Handles are comfortable to grip
Cons
  • This set is made with a bit lesser quality than the company’s other sets

 

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3. J.A. Henckels International Statement Kitchen Knife Set with Block, 12-pc

J.A. Henckels International Statement Kitchen Knife Set with Block, 12-pcThis set is one of the best J.A. Henckels International knife sets. This set’s amazing features, well-priced, make it better than other sets. The knives in this set are made from high-carbon stainless steel that offers durability to the knives.

This steel creates unmatched performance and value. This set’s knives are durable, and you can use knives for a long time. Moreover, you can cut everything confidently and effortlessly with this set’s knives.

All the knives in this set come with a stamped blade that makes these knives lighter than forged knives. Moreover, all the knives feature a full-tang, so you will always enjoy fatigue-free cutting.

This set’s knives feature a traditional triple-rivet handle that offers more comfort. The triple-rivet handles are curved, which makes this set’s knives perfect for long use. This set is ideal for everyday use. Moreover, the stainless-steel end cap adds aesthetic appeal to your block.

This set includes:

  • Bread Knife
  • Paring Knife
  • Hollow Edge Santoku Knife
  • Chef’s Knife
  • 6 Steak Knives
  • Sharpening Steel
  • Hardwood Block

All the knives in this set are dishwasher safe, but it is recommended to wash all knives by hand as hand-wash retains a knife’s optimum cutting edge for a long time. The good thing about this set is that all the knives in this set come with a lifetime limited manufacturer warranty.

This set has all the essential knives and tools and is ideal for every kitchen task. It is perfect for both home cooks as well as for professional cooks. You will always enjoy using this set’s knives. Moreover, this set is the best in all its aspects, so I would highly recommend this set to you.

Pros
  • All the knives are durable.
  • Sharp and long-lasting
  • Dishwasher safe
  • Lifetime Limited Warranty
Cons
  • Knives may dull after some use

 

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4. Zwilling J.A. Henckels TWIN Signature Knife Block Set, 19 Piece

Zwilling J.A. Henckels TWIN Signature Knife Block Set, 19 PieceTwin Signature knives are made in Germany with special formula steel that has been perfect for over 280 years. They combine special formula steel with Zwilling’s FRIODUR ice-hardening technique that makes the blade super sharp.

All the knives in this set come with a Rockwell hardness of 57, which means this set’s knives will maintain their edge for a long time. The Rockwell hardness ensures the durability of the knives, and the knife’s blades will not stain or chip and remain sharp for a long time.

The knives in this set are stamped from a single piece of German steel that reduces a knife’s weight. This helps in handling the knife for a long time. You will not feel any fatigue even after a long time. This set is extremely sharp, and they don’t compromise on sharpness.

All the knives except Santoku’s knife come with a 15° cutting edge per side, ensuring a super sharp edge that is stain and rust-resistant. This helps in effortless cutting for a long time.

This set’s knives feature a polymer handle that is perfectly bonded to the full-tang. The polymer handle ensures fatigue-free cutting every time, and you will enjoy using this set’s knives. All the knife’s handles are durable as well as look stylish when you hold a knife in hand.

This set includes:

  • Chef’s Knife
  • Peeling Knife
  • Serrated Utility Knife
  • Santoku Knife Hollow Edge
  • Paring Knife
  • Utility Knife
  • Bread Knife
  • Sandwich Knife
  • 8 Steak Knives
  • Sharpening Steel
  • Kitchen Shears
  • Bamboo Storage Block

Zwilling J.A. Henckels Twin Signature knives are dishwasher safe, but hand washing is recommended. Moreover, this set’s knives come with a lifetime warranty.

This set has all the essential knives and tools that make it more appealing. This set is perfect for all cooks, i.e., home chefs as well as for professional chefs, and is ideal for everyday use. I highly recommend this set to all chefs.

Pros
  • Sharp and durable
  • Best for all chefs
  • This set comes with a Rockwell hardness of 57
  • Sharp cutting edge
  • This set’s knives maintain their edge for a long time.
  • This set has all the essential knives and tools.
  • Good value of money
  • Dishwasher safe
  • Lifetime Warranty
Cons
  • Knives may be rusty

 

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5. ZWILLING Now S Knife Block Set, 8-pc, Blueberry Blue

ZWILLING Now S Knife Block Set, 8-pc, Blueberry BlueIf you do not like the stainless or traditional black handles, this set from Zwilling might be the one for you. This set’s vibrant colors make it more appealing.  This set comes in three different colors, i.e., Blueberry Blue, Grenada Orange, and Lime Green which makes it more attractive. Natural ingredients inspire all the colors. Moreover, this set looks beautiful in your kitchen.

This set is made in Germany with special formula high-carbon no-stain steel that is durable and ensures you use this set’s knives for a long time. The blades of the knives are made with FRIODUR ice-hardening technique that makes the blade more durable, super sharp, and allows for longer edge retention.

All the knives feature a colorful polypropylene handle that looks beautiful when you hold a knife in your hand. The polypropylene handle has an anti-slip treatment, which means you can grip it with wet hands without any fear of slipping a knife from your hands. Moreover, the handles ensure fatigue-free cutting. You will not tire even after extended use.

This set includes:

  • Serrated Utility Knife
  • Paring Knife
  • Bread Knife
  • Fine Edge Knife
  • Chef’s Knife
  • Sharpening Steel
  • Kitchen Shears
  • Knife Block

I like all the things in this set except a block. The block looks beautiful, but the problem is that it stands upright. This means if you place it under a cabinet, you won’t be able to pull out the knives without moving the block. It’s not a big deal; otherwise, this set is perfect.

I recommend this set to you if you want a set that looks beautiful and helps you in tackling any kitchen tasks. This set is perfect in terms of beauty as well as performance. This set will be perfect for home chefs and might be for professional chefs. However, if you are a home chef, I highly recommend this set to you.

As you know, this set comes in three different colors, but I personally like the look of the Lime Green version. Moreover, this set’s customer reviews are mostly positive, with many praising the knives for their sharpness.

Pros
  • Durable and beautiful
  • Knives are sharp and help in the fatigue-free cutting.
  • This set comes in three different colors.
  • Easy to grip
  • You can also grip the handle of a knife with wet hands.
Cons
  • Block stands upright
  • This set’s knives may be rusty.

 

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Difference between J.A. Henckels international and Zwilling J.A. Henckels

Henckels knives are available in two major lines, i.e., J.A. Henckels international and Zwilling J.A. Henckels. The difference between these two lines are as follows:

Zwilling J.A. Henckels brand was established in 1731, whereas the J.A. Henckels International brand was established in 1895. Zwilling comes with a Twin logo; on the other hand, Henckels International comes with a single person holding a spear logo.

Zwilling J.A. Henckels knives are made in Germany and Spain, whereas J.A. Henckels International is made in Spain, China, and Thailand.

All the Zwilling knives are made of Henckel’s special formula steel, whereas Henckels International knives are made of ordinary quality stainless steel. All Zwilling Knives undergo the FRIDOUR process for enhanced durability, but Henckels International knives don’t undergo the FRIDOUR process.

Zwilling knives hold their razor sharpness for a longer time than Henckels International knives. As Zwilling is a premium brand, it is usually more expensive than similar ones from Henckels International.

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What features should we look for before buying a Henckels Knives set?

If you are planning to buy Henckels knives set or any other set, make sure to evaluate the following features of the knives.

Sharpness

Sharpness is the first thing you should look at with a knife. Each knife in the set should be as sharp as possible so that it performs all your tasks more effectively. Make sure the knife is not dull because a dull knife may make your cutting or slicing process more difficult. It is recommended to choose knives that are razor-sharp and maintain the edge for a long time. If your knives don’t maintain the edge well, make sure to sharpen them frequently.

Grip in hand

The other important thing you should look at a knife is how comfortable it is. Make sure the blade and the handle of the knife are balanced so that the knife’s handle easily grips in your hand. You should look at how comfortable the knife’s handle is for prolonged use. Moreover, you should buy a set that is slip-resistant so that the knife will not slip from your hands in wet conditions.

Types of Knives

It is recommended to choose a knife set that will cover all or at least most of your needs. However, the most used knives you should look at in a knife set are a utility knife, a chef’s knife, a boning knife, a bread knife, and a peeler knife.  If you want more than this, some sets include many other knives and tools such as Santoku knives, Sharpening steel, and Shears. It’s up to you to decide what’s right for you.

Read About Steel:

Does tang also need attention? – Types of tangs

Most people only think about the blade, but the tang also needs attention. There are different types of tangs, but the most popular types of tangs are a full-tang and a partial-tang.

Full-tang

The full-tang extends to the entire handle in terms of length and width. Full-tang offers better balance and stability to knives, which helps in a better cutting experience. Full-tang knives are more durable and last longer than partial-tang knives. Moreover, they are more expensive than partial-knives, as they require more material to make.

Partial-tang

The partial-tang doesn’t fully extend to the knife handle. Partial-tangs are common on budget knives because they are smaller and take less material to manufacture. These knives are less durable and can bend or break under high pressure or force. Partial-tang knives are less expensive than full-tang knives.

Which knives are better: full-tang or partial-tang?

Obviously, full-tang knives are better than partial-tang knives. They are more durable and last for a long time than partial-tang knives, but they are a bit expensive. If you want a knife in terms of durability and long-lasting, go for full-tang knives.

Moreover, if you want to cut off something soft like herbs or tofu, then go for partial-tang knives. Other than that, full-tang knives are always a better choice.

Conclusion

Henckels is known for its great knives and tools. They make high-quality knife sets and are well-trusted by professional chefs, culinary experts, and home cooks worldwide.

Many Henckels knife sets are available in the market, but the best ones are those that we have gone through. We have listed the 5-best Henckels knife sets, and I’m sure at least one of these sets will fit your budget or needs.

FAQ’s

Where are Henckels knives made?
Henckels is a German company and based in Solingen, Germany. Henckels knives are available in two major lines, i.e., J.A. Henckels international and Zwilling J.A. Henckels. Zwilling knives are manufactured in Germany and Spain, whereas Henckels International knives are manufactured in Spain, China, and Thailand.
Are J.A. Henckels knives good?
J.A. Henckels is a good brand famous for making knives. Henckels knives are sharp and durable and do the cutting job perfectly. Henckels knives are made of high-quality materials, so I personally recommend Henckels knives to you.
Which is better J.A. Henckels vs Wusthof?
Henckels was founded in 1731, while Wusthof was founded in 1814. Both companies make high-quality knives. Henckels knives come with a Rockwell hardness of 56 -57, while Wusthof knives come with a Rockwell hardness of 58. This means Wusthof knives hold their edge a bit better than Henckels knives. On the other hand, Henckels knives are easier to sharpen.
What are the best knives for cutting through vegetables?
Almost all knives help you in cutting through vegetables. However, the best knives for cutting vegetables are the Paring knife, Chef’s knife, Nakiri knife, Utility Knife, Gyuto knife, Santoku knife, etc.