KITCHEN KNIVES

Wusthof vs Shun: A Review Comparison Between German Wusthof and Japan’s Shun knife Sets

14.06.2019

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It’s always been a long-standing battle between the east and the west as to who reigns superior. While each is a master in its own field a comparison article is just something that made perfect sense to me. In this article, we look at Wusthof vs Shun comparison.

As a buyer or collector of knives, most of you would agree with me when I say it’s a hard choice when it comes down to German vs Japanese blades, both have distinctive features, are made with precision and crafted for perfection.

The similarity that I find amusing between the two makers is that both well know across the world for the craftsmanship, disciple and high standards. So, it just seemed justified that I give you this Wusthof vs Shun article. A comparison between the best of the best since we have tried two sets of knives from each brand the result was clear but the choice difficult as always. Let’s begin, shall we …

Wusthof vs Shun

My Opinion on The Wusthof Epicure Line

Let’s start with the Epicure knife sets by German makers Wusthof, previously on knife planet I did a review for a set of knives by them, safe to say I was smitten and in love with the workmanship, the effort and thought that has been put into the making of these knives is clear from the minute you open the packaging.

This family-owned business has been around for over 200 years in business and is the most trusted brand by most well-known chefs around the world, Wusthof spent two years on these sets and are known to be the most technically advanced knife sets in the western world.

Let’s talk specifics

  • Recycled Wood Fiber Handles
  • Steeper Curve at the Tip
  • Ceramic Blade Coating (This is what makes chopping and dicing faster with this line.)
  • Wider Blade

The Epicure 8” chef’s knife: A Must Have

This is a dream come true for cooks. This is a knife that will be used a lot in the everyday preparation of food, so it’s a good choice for home users, too. When using this knife, we were able to thoroughly test it during our weekly preparation of food, and while being comfortable and versatile, this knife was also well-balanced and sped up prep time dramatically. From end-to-end, the knife is 13” long, with the blade being 8” in length. In terms of weight, the knife is just 0.75 pounds.    which some chefs claim helps speed up the cutting with precision.

Pros

  • Full-tang blade offers maximum stability
  • Long, 8” blade is perfect for heavy-duty cuts
  • The handle is extremely comfortable and can fit all hand sizes

Cons

  • The weight is balanced on the front of the blade

> Check The Wusthof Epicure Cook Knife on Amazon <

The Epicure 7-Piece Set Reviewed

In case you ever wondered what kind of knife set world’s top chefs uses at home… well, this one the specifics and pros and cons remain the same but there are some features that stand out given that this is a full set of knives each one has its own speciality.

The set includes…

  • Paring Knife: A 3.5” paring knife is included. This is the go-to knife when plucking seeds out of jalapeño pepper or de-veining shrimp.
  • Serrated Utility Knife: The 5” serrated utility knife is great for cutting meat, thicker vegetables and other foods.
  • Chef’s Knife: An 8” chef’s knife is included that can help cut through hardier vegetables, smaller bones and larger cuts of meat.
  • Bread Knife: The set includes a 9” bread knife that can be used effectively for all bread needs.

> Check The Wusthof Epicure Knife Set on Amazon <

All in all, both the set are perfect but let’s not conclude just yet we still have a Japanese warrior to review let’s start then …

Shun: Quality Japanese Knives

The Shun – Japanese for perfection and named righty so, similar It’s German rival Shun has also been in the industry for over 100 years now. In honour of the sword smiths of Seki, Japan. At Shun, every knife produced is painstakingly handmade, a process that involves not less than 100 handcrafted steps to complete. Thanks to advanced technology and materials, the artisans at Shun have upheld the same level of respect and admiration as their ancestors by exquisitely crafting razor-sharp blades.

Why Shun? Shun knives offer the widest assortment of European and Japanese blade shapes as well as modern designs. These knives feature:

  • VG-10 stainless steel with vanadium, result in minimum care maximum precision & sharpness
  • Resin-impregnated natural hardwood handles – wards off bacteria & waterproof
  • The blades are sharpened to 16°, which ensures proper and precise cutting.
  • Complimentary lifetime sharpening services.
  • NSF certified.
  • Lifetime or limited lifetime warranty.

The Shun 10-Piece Knife Block Set Reviewed

Each knife was carefully thought of and added to the set perform specific functions in the kitchen. As a result, this knife block set offers an unmatched level of versatility, which means you are likely to find a knife that is suitable for all your cooking needs,

Whether you are a sue chef, mom or a professional chef. A wavy pattern runs along the blade of every knife included. Aside from enhancing the aesthetic value of these knives, this attractive pattern allows the blades to slide through food quickly. Also included are the Shun multi-purpose kitchen shears, the Shun Honing Steel to help you keep the blades sharp, and a 13-slot bamboo knife block. In addition to holding the ten knives perfectly, the 13-slot bamboo knife block makes a great focal point and adds beauty to your kitchen.

> Check The Shun 10-piece Knife Set on Amazon <

The Shun 6-Piece Slim Knife Block Set Reviewed

You should try the Shun Classic 6-piece Slim Knife Block Set if you are looking for an appropriately sized assortment of starter knives. Each piece was handcrafted in Seki, Japan and together they will perform the essential cutting tasks of everyday cooking.

Hard sharpened at 16 degrees with a Rockwell hardness of 60-61, At a glance, you will notice that every blade included in the Shun Classic 6-piece Slim Knife Block Set features a beautiful waved pattern. The eye-catching design resembles a combination of ripples in water and tree-rings. Highly skilled artisans must fold, weld, grind and polish the steel painstakingly to form this pattern variation. Allowing the blade to glide through the food.

The set includes…

  • Three and a half-inch paring knife
  • Seven-inch Santoku knife
  • Eight-inch chef’s knife
  • Nine-inch combination honing steel

Pros

  • The full tang provides balance and strength
  • Limited lifetime warranty
  • Razor-sharp, durable, and corrosion resistant knives
  • Offers incredible edge retention thanks to Shun’s proprietary high-performance VG-MAX steel

Cons

  • The knife block might not look appealing to some.

> Check The Shun 6-Piece Knife Set on Amazon <

Conclusion: Wusthof vs Shun

With two single and set knives reviews from each maker, the result is clear it’s a personal choice… depending on your needs and requirements,  while chefs would want to have a set each from the German and it’s Japanese counterpart , an everyday amateur cook may want to use the Japanese shun knife it has something to offer forever  budget while being handcrafted with the right amount of aesthetic value  and made with 10 stainless steel edges giving longer usage and perfect cuts each time , while the German Wusthof is eco friendly lighter and dramatically precise for someone who needs speed and has to cook more often than the rest of us .

Both being leaders in their own segments the choice for me is clear — one of each, please. But In case you want a more detailed review of each of the knife mentioned in this article, I have articles and reviews here on knife planet blog and it just might be what you are looking for.

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