The World's Best German Knives

Small, versatile knife with slim blade and plain edge: this paring knife is the second most important knife to have in the kitchen. The small, narrow blade tapers to a point at the tip and is easy to handle making it the perfect knife to trim and slice and peel small produce such as garlic cloves and herbs.

Small, versatile knife with slim blade and plain edge: this paring knife is the second most important knife to have in the kitchen. The small narrow blade tapers to a point at the tip and is easy to handle making it the perfect knife to trim and slice and peel small produce such as garlic cloves and herbs.

Small, versatile knife with slim blade and plain edge: this paring knife is the second most important knife to have in the kitchen. The small, narrow blade tapers to a point at the tip and is easy to handle making it the perfect knife to trim and slice and peel small produce such as garlic cloves and herbs.

WÜSTHOF's precise, double-serrated edge makes a clear difference with this bread knife: in contrast with a single-serrated edge, this knife has serrations within the serrations, meaning that it remains sharp for longer, requires less pressure and is suitable for very precise, smooth cuts. Bread with a hard crust is not crushed when sliced with this double-serrated blade, while bread with a soft crust is also sliced cleanly, without any tearing of the delicate surface. The small blunt section at the tip of the blade is designed for extra crusty loaves. As you slice down to the bottom of the loaf, simply lift the handle up and use the blunt tip to slice through the hard bottom crust.

A classic amongst the range of knives that belong in every kitchen: as well as bread, this knife is suitable for use on hard-skinned vegetables and fruit, as well as for roasts, especially those with crackling. The concave (inwardly curved), serrated edge of the knife works like the teeth of a saw, but is much finer, so no pressure is required to cut any sort of bread and even a hard crust will allow a clean cut. The small blunt section at the tip of the blade is designed for extra crusty loaves. As you slice down to the bottom of the loaf, simply lift the handle up and use the blunt tip to slice through the hard bottom crust.

WÜSTHOF's precise, double-serrated edge makes a clear difference with this bread knife: in contrast with a single-serrated edge, this knife has serrations within the serrations, meaning that it remains sharp for longer, requires less pressure and is suitable for very precise, smooth cuts. Bread with a hard crust is not crushed when sliced with this double-serrated blade, while bread with a soft crust is also sliced cleanly, without any tearing of the delicate surface.

A classic amongst the range of knives that belong in every kitchen: as well as bread, this knife is suitable for use on hard-skinned vegetables and fruit, as well as for roasts, especially those with crackling. The concave (inwardly curved), serrated edge of the knife works like the teeth of a saw, but is much finer, so no pressure is required to cut any sort of bread and even a hard crust will allow a clean cut. The small blunt section at the tip of the blade is designed for extra crusty loaves. As you slice down to the bottom of the loaf, simply lift the handle up and use the blunt tip to slice through the hard bottom crust.

What a Chef's knife is for European kitchens, the Santoku is for Japan and the whole of Asia: so versatile in shape, weight and edge that it can be used for mincing and chopping herbs, vegetables and fruit as well as for preparing fish and meat. The sharp blade of a Santoku allows anything from regular to wafer-thin cuts - it is therefore now indispensable in kitchens all around the world.

What a chef's knife is for European kitchens, the Santoku is for Japan and the whole of Asia: so versatile in shape, weight, and edge that it can be used for mincing and chopping herbs, vegetables, and fruit as well as for preparing fish and meat. The sharp blade of the WÜSTHOF Gourmet 5" Hollow Edge Santoku allows anything from regular to wafer-thin cuts.

The Japanese vegetable knife: extremely versatile and suitable for tasks such as cutting, dicing or chopping. Its shape is reminiscent of a cleaver but should not be confused with it as a Nakiri is not suitable for rough tasks (such as splitting bones). The very sharp and finely ground blade is more designed to prep vegetables, herbs and fruit very quickly and finely. The dimpled edge of the knife (slight depressions in the blade that allow small pockets of air to form) prevents ingredients from sticking.

The utility knife is smaller than a chef's knife but larger than a paring knife, making it the perfect knife for a magnitude of tasks. A utility knife is much like a versatile paring knife and is perfect for mincing shallots, onions, and herbs as well as cutting vegetables or small meats.