Best Kitchen Knife Brands NOT Made In China

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In this video,   I highlight the best kitchen knife  brands that are NOT made in China.   You’ll learn where they’re made and why  they’re worth buying. Let’s get started. Wusthof is a German company that has been  family owned since it was founded in 1814.   They manufacture their knives in Solingen,  Germany which is known as the “City of Blades”   due to the rich knife-making legacy of the  area. Their knives are the epitome of German   engineering — they’re expertly-designed,  precisely-crafted, and built to last. Most   collections are made of forged German stainless  steel tempered to 58 on the Rockwell scale,   which means they’re durable and won’t chip easily.  The full-tang, which is the part of the blade that   extends through the butt end of the handle, adds  heft and balance to these sturdy knives.Wusthof   offers several knife collections with unique  designs. Some have black synthetic handles,   while others are made of natural wood. The two  most popular collections are the Classic and   Ikon. If you’re looking for German-style knives  with thick forged blades and comfortable handles,   you can’t go wrong with Wusthof. Zwilling  also makes knives in the famed City of Blades,   Solingen, Germany. The company has been around  since 1731, making it one of the oldest businesses   in the world still operating. Zwilling blades  undergo an ice-hardened process called FRIODUR.   This method of cooling the hot metal in sub-zero  temperatures after forging ensures a sharper,   more corrosion-resistant blade with better  edge retention. Zwilling offers over a dozen   collections but the most popular, and the  two that I recommend, are Pro and Professional   “S.” Both have a classic Western-style with a  high-carbon steel blade, curved edge for rocking,   and a contoured, triple-riveted black handle. The  main difference between Pro and Professional S is   that Professional S knives have a full bolster  that runs from the spine to the edge. The full   bolster adds weight and balance to the middle  of the knife but it doesn’t allow you to sharpen   the entire edge because the heel is too thick. If  you’re looking for hefty, durable knives that are   made in Germany and will last forever, Zwilling  is a great option. Bernd Dressler and his wife   Debra founded Messermeister in 1981. The company  started as a distributor and was originally named   Dressler American Marketing Company. In 1985, they  rebranded it as Messermeister, which means knife   master in German. Today, Debra and her daughters  are at the helm, making it not only a family-owned   but a women-owned business as well. Messermeister  is an American company based in California but   makes its knives in Solingen, Germany. While many  brands have moved on to more automated systems,   Messermeister blades are still made by hand, using  a hot-drop hammer-forged process. As you can see,   Messermeister blades are incredibly thick. They  are much wider than Wusthof Classic blades. The   added thickness makes the knives heavier and  more sturdy but also a bit less nimble. Like   Wusthof and Zwilling, Messermeister knives are  sharp, balanced, durable and feature the classic   German design with black, riveted handles.  If you want to support a women-owned business   that’s been making quality German-style knives  for several decades, check out Messermiester. Shun is an award-winning cutlery  brand owned by the KAI Group,   a blade manufacturer that’s been in business  since 1908. Every Shun knife is handcrafted   in Seki City, Japan, a region that’s become  home to the top Japanese blade makers for   over 800 years.   The two things   that make Shun knives special are blade materials  and design. Shun uses a variety of highly-refined   “super steels” to manufacture each blade. These  high-carbon steels provide Shun knives with   superior sharpness, edge retention, and stain  resistance. The handcrafted blades feature   distinct Damascus and hammered patterns that not  only look great but create pockets of air that   help food slide off the blade. If you prefer a  simply-designed Western-style workhorse knife,   stick with Wusthof and Zwilling. But, if you want  lighter, more nimble Japanese-style knives that   are made in Seki City, Japan, Shun is one of the  best brands on the market. MAC may not have the   brand recognition of Shun, Wusthof, or Zwilling,  but the company has been around since 1964 and has   sold over 25 million knives. Since the beginning  MAC knives have been handcrafted in Seki City,   Japan. MAC blades are made of a high-carbon alloy.  It doesn’t contain as much chromium as stainless   steel, so the blade is more prone to rust and  stain. But with less chromium the knives will   stay sharper for much longer and perform better  than typical knives. By using this type of steel   MAC is making a conscious choice to prioritize  performance over appearance. The MAC MTH-80 chef’s   knife has gotten high praise from publications  like Good Housekeeping and Food & Wine Magazine   and was recently named the best chef’s knife by  The New York Times Wirecutter. I recently put   it to the test and it’s lightweight, balanced,  incredibly sharp, and retains its edge longer   than almost any brand I’ve reviewed. Global was  founded in 1985, by Mino Tsuchida and industrial   designer Komin Yamada. These knives are made on  the west coast of Japan and have a distinct look   that instantly stands out. Rather than having a  synthetic or wood handle bolted to the blade with   steel rivets like most kitchen knives, Global  knives are stainless steel from the tip of the   blade to butt end of the handle. Although Global  knives appear to be one singular piece of steel,   they’re actually made with three parts. The handle  is two pieces welded together. The blade is then   cut from a sheet and welded to the handle. Sand  is added to the hollow handle to add some heft   and make the knives more balanced. The pattern of  recessed dots or dimples on the grip of the handle   is an iconic feature of the brand. The black  dots not only improve the grip but provide a nice   contrast against the steel handle. Some people  love this look of Global knives, while others   prefer something more traditional. But, one thing  is for sure, they stand out and are memorable.   Made In partners with a family-owned French knife  factory in Thiers, France — a region that’s become   known as the Capital of Cutlery because companies  in this commune have been producing fully forged   knives for over 700 years. Today, Thiers is home  to about 100 knife makers, a cutlery museum,   and has road names that translate in English  to Cutlery Street and Factories Street. The   point is — it’s a place that’s full of cutlery  expertise, talent, and tradition. Its economy   relies on knife making, and, because of that, they  do it very well. Made In forged its blades using   the same German steel as Wusthof and Zwilling.  Each blade does through a nitrogen hardening   treatment that increases hardness, durability,  and improves edge retention. I’ve thoroughly   reviewed Made In knives, and they perform just as  good, if not better, than brands like Wusthof and   Zwilling. However, Made In knives cost less since  they sell exclusively online and avoid retail   markups. In addition to kitchen knives, Made In  manufactures cookware, bakeware, serving ware,   and kitchen accessories. K Sabatier is another  highly rated French brand, but I have not tested   their knives yet. If you’ve used them, let me  know what you think of them in the comments. Cutco was founded in 1949 in New York and is  the largest kitchen cutlery manufacturer in   North America. While other companies  have moved manufacturing overseas,   Cutco has produced knives from its factory  in Olean, New York, for over 70 years.  I’ve thoroughly reviewed Cutco knives, and  they’re well-built and ultra-sharp. One of the   most unique features is their Wedge-Lock  handles. Instead of a smooth surface,   the handles contour in and out, creating  an ideal shape for gripping. Unlike most   kitchen knife brands which offer a 30-day return  policy and a limited lifetime warranty on defects,   Cutco is committed to customer satisfaction.  Each knife comes with Cutco’s Forever Guarantee,   which states, “If at any time you are not  satisfied with the performance of your product,   we will correct the problem or replace the  product.” They also provide a free sharpening   service for life (you just have to pay a small  shipping fee). You can’t find Cutco knives in   retail stores. You can buy them online or schedule  an in-home demonstration with a sales rep of   Vector Marketing, the main distributor of Cutco  knives. Kramer Knives are made in Bellingham,   Washington by the skilled hands of Bob Kramer.  Kramer is one of the few Master Bladesmiths in the   US — only 120 other people hold that title. Each  knife is hand crafted by Bob Kramer himself, and   they are truly a work of art. There are two ways  to get your hands on one of these masterpieces.   The first is to buy them through an auction on  Kramer’s website. They start at $250 with bid   increments of $250. The second option is to shop  the very limited selection of knives available at   a fixed cost on KramerKnives.com. For most people, these knives are  way too expensive and not practical. But if you   can afford it and want to experience the work  of one of the few master bladesmiths in the US,   sign up for the email list and place a bid at the  next auction. In addition to hand making knives   in his shop in Washington, Kramer licensed  several of his designs to Zwilling and you   can buy those for a fixed price on Zwilling.com  or Amazon. With these collections, you get to   experience a Kramer knife for a much lower price.  However, they’re made in Zwilling’s factories   in Japan. Lamson is one of the oldest cutlery  manufacturers in the US. Silas Lamson and Abel   Goodnow started making knives in Shelburne Falls,  Massachusetts, in 1837. The company was initially   named Lamson & Goodnow. Today, the knives are  manufactured in Westfield, Massachusetts. The   blades are made from either high-carbon  stainless steel from Solingen, Germany,   or Lamson’s proprietary alloy. They feature  beautifully crafted wood or acrylic handles. Victorinox was founded in 1884 in Switzerland  and is best-known known for creating the iconic   Swiss Army Knife. Today, this family-owned company  produces several knife collections,watches, travel   gear, and fragrances. Fibrox is one of their most  popular collections. These knives are designed   with input from professional chefs and made in  Victonriox’s factory in Switzerland. Each knife   has a comfortable synthetic handle with a grippy  texture and a razor-sharp blade. These may not   be the most elegant-looking knives, but that’s not  why you buy them. You pick this collection because   it’s comfortable, safe, sharp, lightweight, and,  arguably the best part—it’s inexpensive. All of those   attributes make it one of the most popular knife  collections in restaurant kitchens.    If you want to know more about the brands in this video, I’ll link to my full reviews of each in   the description below. I’ll also link to websites  that sell these brand. Those are affiliate links, so I'll earn   a commission if you click and buy but at no extra cost  to you. If you found this video helpful, check out this   video where I highlight the best cookware brands  that are not made in China. And don’t forget to   click the logo to subscribe to the channel. Thanks  for watching, we’ll see you in the next video.
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Channel: Prudent Reviews
Views: 11,844
Rating: undefined out of 5
Keywords: Best Knives, Best Kitchen Knives, Best Kitchen Knives Not Made in China, Best Kitchen Knives Made in Germany, Best Kitchen Knives Made in Japan, BEst Kitchen Knives Made in France, Best Kitchen Knives Made in the USA, Best Kitchen Knives Made in Switzerland
Id: _a-c76YDifE
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Length: 11min 2sec (662 seconds)
Published: Thu May 18 2023
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