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You want to expand your cooking skills, and you know that one of the things you must do or have when it comes to perfecting your cooking abilities is to invest in new knives. After doing plenty of research on different knife brands, you decided that the best type of blade for you is the German knife. Therefore, you decided to go for the Wusthof brand. Good call!
Wusthof is an elite German knife brand that has been around for over two centuries. It is most definitely a high-end brand, and now that you know that is the one you want to buy, you want to know what the different Wusthof blades can offer. That is why it is time to evaluate the Wusthof Classic knife or the Gourmet blade. Let’s take a look at overviews for both, and let’s start by providing an overview of the Wusthof Classic knife.
Wusthof Classic Knife Overview
The Wusthof Classic knives are a popular part of the collection. These forged knives go through a multi-step process involving heating high-carbon and rust-resistant steel sheets and forming them into the shape of durable blades as they go through the machines. Forging knives is a complex process that involves producing thick, heavy, and durable blades. Additionally, the Wusthof Classic features a full tang and bolter, which keeps your hands protected as you use the knife so it will not slip onto the blade. Therefore, your chances of experiencing injury are lower.
In addition to that, the full tang gives you the balance you need as you use the knife. Additionally, the Classic line features razor-sharp blades, which is something you expect from forged knives. In addition to that, the angled edge is a 14-degree angle per side. That translates to a total of 28 degrees when you use both sides. That ranks high on the sharpness scale. The only way to clean the knives is to handwash them as you cannot put them into the dishwasher. That is the basic overview of the Wusthof Classic line. Let’s now go over the Gourmet line overview before comparing both knives.
Gourmet Knife Overview
The Gourmet line from Wusthof is in high demand by many home cooks and some professional cooks. These are stamped knives which means the sheet of high-carbon and rust-resistant steel goes through a machine that laser cuts the steel sheet. You can imagine the steel sheet is cut the same way cookie-cutter cuts through dough. The difference is instead of the shape of a cookie cut from the sheet; you have blades cut from the sheets. That is the definition of stamping blades, and that is what Wusthof does for its Gourmet line.
The Gourmet line does not feature a bolster, and it does have a full tang even though it is not exposed. The edge angle is at an 18-degree angle per side which makes the knife quite sharp. In total, the edge angle is at a 36-degree angle. You have to handwash this knife, and it is not dishwasher-safe. Which Wusthof brand is the better one? Now, let’s compare the Classic to the Gourmet blades.
The Comparison Between The Wusthof Classic And Gourmet Knives
You may wonder what the point is to compare both knives made by the same company. However, there are many differences between the Gourmet and Classic lines. The differences include the variations in design, blades, sharpness, design, weight, and cost. One significant difference between both is that Wusthof stamps the Gourmet knives, and the company forges the Classic knives.
Forged knives go through a complex 40-step process involving heat-molding blades from a sheet of high-quality steel, which makes the knife thick, durable, and hard. Forged knives also typically feature bolsters that keep the hand separated and safe from the blade. That right there is what makes the Classic line different from the stamped Gourmet line.
Wusthof Gourmet knives go through different manufacturing processes for that reason. Stamped knives go through a simpler process consisting of 14 steps where the machine stamps the blades from a sheet of steel. These knives are lighter than forged knives, not as sharp, and are less durable. Therefore, the Gourmet knives are more lightweight, less durable, and not as sharp as the Classic line. Additionally, the Gourmet knives do not feature a bolster as the Classic knives do, which means you have to be very careful when using the Gourmet knife.
Therefore, now that you see significant differences between the Classic and Gourmet knives, you may think that you are better off getting the Classic knives by Wusthof. You immediately would believe that the Classic knives are better quality than the Gourmet for that reason. However, does that mean that the Classic knives are necessarily better than the Gourmet? Let’s delve into that a little more.
Is Wusthof Classic Better Than Gourmet?
Forged knives are usually higher quality than stamped knives which means that the quality of the Classic line is better than the quality of the Gourmet line. However, it is not fair to say that one is better than the other. Firstly, the Classic line is better for professional cooks, experienced home cooks, and culinary school students to use a high-cost durable, and an extremely sharp knife. That is considering that they cook often.
When it comes to new home cooks, they are better off with getting the Gourmet knives. The Gourmet knives are cheaper than the Classic, and because they are lighter than the Classic knives, they are easier to hold. You only have to be careful when you use them because of the lack of bolster. However, many people prefer to use knives without a bolster. Therefore, the best knife for you is the one that you like. You need to understand the differences and pros and cons, and then you can make your decision.
Conclusion
When you are looking for the best knife to use to enhance and grow your cooking, you want to find the one that is of good quality. Many people choose German-made knives, and Wusthof is an excellent make. Once you decide on the brand to use, you will want to begin comparing knives within the brand. Therefore, you will want to compare the Classic to the Gourmet Wusthof knives and determine which type is better for your needs. Remember that both have significant differences as the company forges the Classic line, and it stamps the Gourmet line. Once you learn about each of the manufacturing processes, that will influence your decision.