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When you want to expand your cooking skills, you want to upgrade your kitchen appliances and other apparatus. That means you will want to begin looking into new knives because they must upgrade your cooking and food preparation skills. When it comes to knife-hunting, there is a lot of work that goes into it. That is because you must know about each of the knives, their quality, and their purpose. You want to explore different brands of knives, and let’s talk about two different ones and compare them. Two high-quality knives out of many that we will talk about are the Shun and Wusthof brands. Let’s go over the overview of the Shun knife brand first.
The Shun Knife Overview
Japanese knife-makers established the Shun brand in 1908 in Seki City, Japan, and the company has 11 blade collections and other utensils. These forged knives go through a 100-step manufacturing process known to have high quality, including elite craftsmanship. The influence behind the knife-making process goes back to traditions that Japanese wordsmiths utilized as they carry a legacy.
The materials used for the blades, in addition to the innovative designs, are what make the Shun knives stand out. The blades that the Japanese knife-makers use come from super steels, including high-carbon, SG2, VG10, and VG-MAX. These incredibly refined materials are corrosion and chipping-resistant, in addition to featuring excellent edge retention. That is one reason behind why Shun knives are incredible.
Another feature that makes this brand one of the best around is that they feature elite designs. They have razor-sharp angles and feature gorgeous finishes. Some knives have the Damascus design as several alloys and metals layer one another. They also feature handles consisting of synthetic and hardwood mixes, so they have unusual and appealing designs. If you decide to invest in the Shun knives, you will receive quality. However, before comparing them to Wusthoff, let’s provide an overview of the Wusthof blades.
The Wusthof Knife Overview
The Wusthof brand of knives is a German brand, and the establishment of the brand happened in 1814 in Solingen, Germany. Wusthof makes both stamped and forged knives, and the creation of the forced knives involves a 40-step process. They heat-mold the blades by using a piece of high-carbon steel. However, the focus here will be the forged knives since they are the best quality, and you can compare them to the Shun brand.
Wusthof knives different because they consist of elite-quality materials, other knifemaking processes, and additional designs. Wusthof blades feature not only high-carbon steel but metals that are resistant to rust. Add to that. There are alloys added that improve the durability of the knives, the hardness and help keep corrosion at bay. The materials that make the handles are known as polyoxyethylene and are tight and will not fade quickly. The handles feature a bolter which helps to keep the knife balanced and holds your hand from slipping. Therefore, it keeps your hand safe so it does not fall on the blade.
You will also find a full tang on the blade, which helps keep the knife sturdy and helps with balance. You can expect the handles to fit comfortably in your hand when you use them since they are ergonomic. Now you know about the overview of Shun and Wusthof, let’s compare the brands.
A Comparison Between Shun And Wusthof
If you compare Wusthof to Shun, you compare a Japanese knife to a German one, and there are significant differences. If you are looking into slicing food finely, the Shun brand is ideal. That is because Shun features razor-sharp thin knives that allow you to cut food in light and delicate pieces quickly. However, you will want to slice foods that are soft and not frozen. Otherwise, that can ruin the knife.
If you are looking to cut foods aggressively and cut through hard foods, you are much better off getting the Wusthof brand. They are a lot more durable and feature a thicker blade. You cannot do as quickly with Wusthof knives to slice foods the way Shun knives can finely. However, that is the fundamental difference between Japanese and German brands, and Wusthof and Shun are no different.
Aside from that, the Shun and Wusthoff designs also differ significantly. Shun knives feature the Damascus appearance, and they also have hammered patterns. They are aesthetically appealing. However, there is a purpose to the designs, too, which means the designs create an uneven edge. And the variable blade improves the knife’s performance as it forms air pockets between the blade and the food. That helps with slicing food finely and thinly without any imperfections in the cut. What about the Wusthof knife designs?
The Wusthof knife features a smooth finish in addition to a traditional appearance which includes a bolster. The bolster prevents your hand from slipping to the blade, which keeps it safe as you cut. It also helps the knife remain sturdy and balanced as you use it to cut. Wusthof has a classic appearance, unlike Shun.
The last significant difference between both knives is that Shun is a razor-sharp that cut at 16-degree angles for each side. That makes it 28-degrees in total. Wusthof’s blades are slightly sharper as they cut at a 14-degree angle for each side, making it 28-degrees in total. That sounds odd, considering that Japanese edges are usually sharper than German-made blades.
However, the main difference is that if you want to use the Shun brand, you will want to only use it for finely slicing soft foods out of the fridge or at room temperature. The Shun knife can delicately slice food, whereas the Wusthof knife cannot. However, the Wusthof brand is ideal for aggressively cutting harder or frozen foods, and its durability makes the blade more versatile. That means you can cut around the bone and gristle you cannot do with Shun knives as their edges are too thin and fragile. Therefore, the best knives for you are the ones that meet your particular needs.
Conclusion
When you are looking into buying new knives when you upgrade your cooking and food preparation skills, you must learn about the differences between Japanese and German knives. Both blades serve different purposes, and when you compare brands such as Wusthof, German-made knives to Shun, Japanese-made knives, you must know the differences between each one.
Both knives serve different purposes, and you can even become a proud owner of both brands for that reason. However, bear in mind that both makes of knives are expensive. And you know how the old saying goes – you get what you pay for because both knives are high-quality.