Best J.A. Henckels Steak Knife Sets in 2023 – Buying Guide & Reviews
If you've ever struggled to saw through a steak, or worse yet, sent the steak, together with some tablewares, off the plate onto the floor in an attempt to cut it, you will understand the importance of having a quality set of steak knives. When someone has spent so much of their time and effort to make a perfect steak, it makes sense to get the finest of knives so you and your dining mates can truly enjoy it.
There are many quality steak knives from various brands, but we will limit this review article for the best J.A. Henckels steak knife sets.
How to choose the best steak knives: serrated or smooth edge?
Straight-edged steak knives glide through the meat effortlessly (that is, if they’re sharp), leaving a clean, smooth surface. Straight edged knives get dull much faster on a ceramic plate, and need sharpening much more often than serrated knives. However, they are also much easier to sharpen or hone. As a result, you can keep them for decades.
Serrated knives, meanwhile, saw through the meat, resulting in a slightly more jagged and shredded cut. They can work for much longer than non-serrated ones without the need for sharpening. That said, with lots of small “teeth”, they are more difficult to sharpen and to clean, especially the micro-serrated ones.
There are no rules stating the best steak knives have to be straight or serrated— it's mostly a matter of personal preference. If you're unsure, perhaps you could try ones with a mixed edge, which are meant to make the best of both worlds.
Best JA Henckels steak knife sets
J.A. Henckels offer a wide selection of steak knives (as is the case with other Henckels kitchen knives,) with prices ranging from a few dozen bucks to half a grand (as in the case of their Miyabi Artisan line).
Taken into consideration ease of use, price, and aestheticity, below are our picks of Zwilling and JA Henckels steak knife sets for your consideration.
1. J.A. Henckels 8-pcs Stainless-Steel Steak Knife Set in Gift Box
High quality, exquisite looking, and bearing the Zwilling J.A. Henckels name on it, this 8-piece steak knife set will make a great gift for your family or friends.
Sharp serrated knives
Super durable material
Beautiful rosewood box
Safe in dishwasher
Difficult to sharpen
The knife set comes in a lovely rosewood box with a deep-auburn, mahogany finish, and the well recognized Zwilling logo on it. Held closed with a brass clasp, it almost feels like a jewelry box, except slimmer.
Inside the box are 8 sleek metal steak knives, each proudly printed with the brand name and logo along the blade. They’re all Spain made with a special formula of stainless steel that makes them not only extremely durable but also very pleasantly shiny.
Each of the knives comes in a one-piece construction, with the thin, elegant handle connecting with the blade seamlessly. This enhances the sturdiness of the item significantly. It also means that these knives are easy to clean. In fact, while hand-washing is always recommended, they’re perfectly safe in a dishwasher.
With serrations on their edges, these knives are extremely sharp. The streamlined design allows them to slice through the toughest meat effortlessly, leaving very little visible fiber tear on the surface. If you are upgrading to these from casual knives, you will realize all the struggle you went through trying to eat your steak is totally unnecessary!
Classy and modern in style, this set can easily make a perfect addition to any stainless steel set of silverware/flatware. If you’re having guests over for a meal, be prepared to get compliments on the knives!
Check Latest Price On Amazon2. J.A. Henckels International 8-pc Stainless Steel Steak Knife Set
If you want a decent set of steak knives from J.A. Henckels but don’t want to spend too much, definitely give this set a try.
Sharp, durable
Beautiful, elegant
One-piece construction, easy cleaning
Affordable
Slightly jagged cut
Cheap looking box
Difficult to sharpen
The steak knives come in a pretty unappealing plastic packaging. I find it so cheap looking it’s almost an insult to the Henckels name.
However, once you’ve seen and touched the knives, you will find that they’re actually an incredibly good bang for the buck. They’re of very decent quality and aestheticity!
This set comes with 8 pieces, each a one-piece stainless steel construction with a full tang, making it very nicely weighted and sturdy. The tang is slim, sleek, and elegant (if you have larger hands you may find it a little too small). It can match well with, and even add classiness to your silverware or stainless steel flatware.
The blade, meanwhile, is thin, and is fully serrated. It’s incredibly sharp - as you may expect a Henckels to be - and stay so for years without sharpening or honing. With a remarkable distance between its teeth, however, this blade tend to tear a bit while it cuts. As I said, I like it that way, but if you prefer very fine, smooth cuts you may find this set unideal.
This set is dishwasher safe, and many users have confirmed that the knives come out of the DW like new. However, as usual, I’d recommend hand-washing them. With a one-piece construction, they’re super fast and easy to clean anyway.
Check Latest Price On Amazon3. Zwilling J.A. Henckels Professional S 4-pc Steak Knife Set
These German made steak knives are the ones you can pass on to your grandkids. And they’ll actually feel thankful.
Straight edge
Extra sharp
Super durable
Well balanced, nicely weighted
Can be sharpened
Lifetime warranty
Pricey
What makes them so special?
First, these steak knives are made with Henkels’ well-known Sigmaforge technology. Each knife is constructed out of a single piece of special formula stainless steel, with a strong blade and a full tang running all the way through the handle.
The knives then undergo a process called Friodur ice-hardening, which enhance blade durability and minimize discolorations. They can hold up to decades of use with proper care!
Typical of forged knives, each of them comes with a bolster in the center, giving it extra weight and balance. With a triple riveted ergonomic tang, these are a bliss to hold in your hand.
I personally prefer serrated blades, but if you have a soft spot for perfectly fine, smooth cuts, you will fall in love with these. All of the edges are laser controlled, and are hand sharpened and polished by Zwilling’s professional artisans.
Not surprisingly, they are super sharp, even for a Henckels. They literally cut through the toughest steaks like a hot blade through butter.
Unlike serrated blades, however, these straight edge knives need frequent honing and occasional sharpening in order to keep their sharpness. Run them through a steel or a sharpener after several uses, and they will be happy to serve you through your lifetime.
These knives are dishwasher safe, but they will hold up for longer if washed by hands. With no teeth, they’re very easy to clean anyway, so it’s not worth the risks to put them into a dishwasher.
Check Latest Price On Amazon4. Zwilling J.A. Henckels 4-pc Steak Knife Set
Tired of standing at the sink to hand wash your knives after every use? Go for this steak knife set from Zwilling J.A. Henckels.
Sharp, durable stainless material
Slim, seamless, sleek, elegant
Stay sharp for years without sharpening
Dishwasher safe
Lifetime warranty
Difficult to sharpen
The set includes 4 slim, shiny inox knives. Since each is a seamless piece of exclusive-formula stainless steel, they’re extremely easy to clean. In fact, these are among the very rare knives that you can leave inside a dishwasher after use. They will come out like new - no dulling, rusting, or damages!
The blades are thin and are 4 inches long, with the Zwilling J.A. Henckels name, logo, material printed along each one. These are made in Spain, as written on the blades.
The knives are all fully serrated, which means they can cut through the toughest of steaks with ease. They’re very very sharp to start with, which is expected of all Henckels, and they can keep their edges after years of frequent use.
With the surginal sharpness, they give quite a clean and smooth cut through the meat. If you’ve been using casual steak knives, this set will be a total upgrade! They cut so effortlessly and with barely noticeable shredding - not one of those knives that make you embarrassedly saw the meat and make a mess on your plate.
With a solid stainless steel handle, these knives feel well-weighted and balanced in the hand. Since each is a single seamless piece of inox, they will not only complement your existing silverware or flatware, but will also add elegance onto your dining table on their own.
In fact, I think they look even more beautiful than the pricier knives by Henckels or other brands!
Check Latest Price On Amazon5. J.A. Henckels International Prime 4-pc Steak Knife Set
Not the fanciest among J.A. Henckels steak knife sets, but this set is very well loved for its functionality and affordability.
Sharp, corrosion resistant blade
Full tang
Slim, ergonomic shape
Stay sharp for years without sharpening
Affordable
Lifetime warranty
Difficult to sharpen
Each of the knives comes with an ergonomic black synthetic triple-riveted handle. The tang runs through the whole handle, giving extra balance and stability to the whole item.
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As stamped knives, these have reasonably thin blades. Along the blade is the printed logo and brand name, which, if the diner knows a little about knives, will add extra exiquility to the meal. Unlike lesser steak knives that feel thick and bulky in the hand, these J.A. Henckels are slim and feel easy to grip.
All of the knives in this set are micro-serrated, which means they have a lot of tiny teeth along their edges. These help to cut through the meat easily and leave a smoother cut than normal serrated knives. The teeth are also what keep these knives sharp for years without sharpening.
Cleaning these knives are easy, but you may need to wash the edge a little more carefully, as little particles of food or dirt could get in between the teeth. They’re dishwasher safe, according to the manufacturer, but I’d recommend washing them by hands. The strong soap and the movements in the dishwasher can leave pretty bad damages on these knives.
Unfortunately, the micro serration means you won’t be able to sharpen the knives once they’ve got dull. That will take years, but if you’re planning to pass your steak knives on to your grandchildren, these are not the ones to pick.
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