Difference in Henckels Knives

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When it comes to knives from high-end brands, there are a couple that comes to our minds. Henckels is one of them. This world-class knifemaker is known for its wide range of spectacular knives and knife sets, which make it ideal for any kitchen.

With the plethora of choices they offer, consumers often wonder about the difference in Henckels knives. If you, too, have your eye on a knife from this brand, we suggest you keep reading on to get all the information you need.  

Difference in Henckels Knives   

When you do a quick online search about Henckels knives, you will find information on two distinct brands. These are: 

Zwilling J.A. Henckels

The Zwilling J.A. Henckels is their premiere brand, and they are known to manufacture some of the best quality knives that are manufactured exclusively in Germany.

In order to identify these knives visually, what separates them from the other knives is their unique “twin” logo, which is a red, double stick figure symbol that embedded on each handle.  

J.A. Henckels International

The J.A. Henckels International is distinctly different from its counterpart. This brand represents all of this brand’s entry-level knives. These are typically made in Asia (majorly China) and Spain.

This entire range of knives is designed for those who are on a tight budget but want a good quality knife. Identifying this knife is simple; it is a single stick figure on the knife’s handle.

Which Henckels Knife Set Is the Best?  

There isn’t a quick or easy answer to this question. In the end, it all comes down to your budget and your needs. There is a wide range of packages that are available by J.A. Henckels, and this constantly updates with more knives, which means that there is definitely a combination of knives that will suit you.

Of course, it goes without saying that choosing just one can be a bit confusing. Hence, the best advice we can offer is that you should find a knife or a set that gets you the most for the money you pay.

Each package offered by this brand differs in some manner from the rest. These differences are mostly on the basis of:  

  • The style or the make-up of the knives—that is, whether they are stamped or forged
  • The number of pieces that are included in the whole set. This can include sharpening stones, scissors, and steak knives. Even the storage block is considered to be a part of the set. However, the real value of the set lies in the knives itself.  
  • The design, which typically differs only between the handle and not the blade
  • The degree of the quality that is built into every single knife

Whichever package you choose, whether from the premium brand or the entry-level line, you can count on the fact that you are getting a well-built, high-quality set of knives that are constructed from a special formula, high carbon, and no-stain steel.

This formula is top secret information, and rightly so. After all, they have been producing some of the best knives on the market for almost three centuries.  

How Are Henckels Knives Made?  

Henckels knives have two kinds of blades: stamped or forged. While the company makes both of them, they are famously known for their forged steel knives. It is hard to tell these knives apart by sight alone, but make no mistake that these two knives are entirely different in their function and performance.

Choosing between these two comes down to your preference, but most chefs we had the pleasure to talk to preferred the forged knife.

Forged knives are the traditional, foundry-made knives that are created from individual pieces of steel. The steel is placed in an extremely hot oven and is heated to extreme temperatures. It is then extracted and molded into shape, hardened, and then ground to make a fine knife.

Stamped knives, on the other hand, are cut from a single, large sheet of rolled steel. The shape of the blade is then cut out by a large press in a single shot. This is a very cookie-cutter sort of approach. Once the shape is cut, every single piece is then polished, and the blade is ground to a sharp edge.  

Maintaining Henckels Knives  

Once you have invested in a Henckels knife, make sure that you are sharpening its blades regularly. When they are fresh out of the box, these knives are razor-sharp, and this will easily last for quite a few months at a time.

While all that’s great, they will eventually need sharpening, so that is something you should never ignore. Maintaining a sharp edge will ensure that you are getting the best experience from the knife.

We also recommend that you use only plastic or wooden cutting boards. This is important as you do not want the backboard’s material to be harder than the metal blade of the knife. Additionally, glass cutting boards are an even terrible idea, and you should not cut on the kitchen bench either.

Like with any prized knife, your knife should also be hand-washed and dried right away. Never allow the knife to be sitting on the counter or along with other dirty dishes with food particles still attached to it. Clean them immediately after you use them, rinse, and then dry.

Even if the knife reads that it is dishwasher-safe, we do not recommend washing it in the dishwasher. In fact, you must also avoid using harsh ingredients. High-quality knives, such as the ones that come from Henckels, are an investment that you must protect well.

Conclusion  

Whether you are a professional or a home cook, having a good knife or knife set is important as you can only be as good as the tools you use.

Henckels, without a doubt, is a great brand, but before settling on a knife or a set, it is imperative that you understand the difference in Henckels knives. We hope that this article has successfully managed to do that.

The most important difference you need to understand is the difference in the brand itself. Make sure you know which brand you are choosing, as one is primarily meant for people on a budget, while the other is known for its high-end quality.

We can assure you that settling for any knife from this brand will be something you will not regret. Learn more about other knives as well by bookmarking our website and visiting us for regular updates.