Are you contemplating purchasing a set of Calphalon knives but unsure if they’re worth it? Allow me, an experienced chef, to provide you with a detailed review, built from hours spent testing these knives in a professional kitchen.
What is a good knife?
I understand the desire to invest in a set of knives that can last a lifetime. Quality often trumps other considerations in this arena, so let’s delve into what constitutes a good knife and how to choose the optimal set for your home. To narrow down your options, start by asking yourself two basic questions: “What budget have I set aside for a knife set?” and “What will I be using these knives for?”
Budget
Indeed, finances play a crucial role in life, and they’re even more significant in the world of culinary tools. However, a lower price doesn’t necessarily imply a dip in quality. There are numerous affordable knives on the market that deliver admirable performance. So, if you’re budget-conscious, you need to familiarize yourself with the key characteristics of a good knife, which I’ll delve into shortly.
Purpose
The intended use of the knife set is another crucial consideration. What tasks will you be performing with these tools? If you follow a vegan diet, for instance, you won’t require knives designed for heavy-duty tasks like bone crushing or those with thicker blades. You could potentially invest thousands of dollars in a knife set, only to find half the knives unnecessary for your cooking needs.
To find out more about kitchen knives have a look at our reviews: Calphalon knives or Calphalon vs Cuisinart.
What are Good Characteristics of a Good Knife?
In this section, we are going to be talking about what features your knife must have so that it will be durable, stable, sharp as a razor, and comfortable. Sure, there are innumerable desirable characteristics in a knife but we are going to focus on a few of them.
Full Tang
Full tang means that the blade extends down the handle and does not end where the handle starts. So, it is extremely useful for people who want extremely stable and durable knives.
Bolster
The bolster is the unsharpened part between the handle and the blade which adds an extra safety measure and more weight balance. In case of a slip and possible accident, the bolster prevents you from cutting fingers and so on.
Weight Balance
The last thing we would like to mention is the weight balance. It becomes even more important when your preparation session strings out. A good knife should help you with that not knacker you.
Let’s get to the Calphalon Precision Self-Sharpening Stainless Steel 15-piece with SharpIN Technology review.
Calphalon Precision Self Sharpening 15-piece Knife Block Set with SharpIN Technology
Calphalon is a trusted name in the kitchenware industry, with nearly 50 years of operations under its belt in Perrysburg, Ohio. The company prides itself on offering high-quality knives at affordable prices, a claim I put to the test with their 15-piece set.
Knives and Testing
This set boasts an impressive array of 13 knives, a pair of kitchen shears, and an elegant wooden block with built-in ceramic sharpeners. Having thoroughly tested these knives, I’m excited to share my experiences.
The Calphalon knives performed outstandingly in terms of sharpness. In the Total Card Cut (TCC) test, a standard industry method for assessing blade sharpness, the set scored over 540—a high mark, given that a score of over 550 is exceptional and below 100 indicates poor quality.
If you are interested to read more of my articles you can check my review of the best knife makers in the world or the best knife sets under $200.
Main Knives
8-inch chef’s knife: This versatile tool, suitable for various kitchen tasks such as cutting, slicing, dicing, and mincing, demonstrated excellent performance during my tests.
7-inch Santoku Knife: This Japanese chef’s knife, primarily used for vegetable cutting, has an incredibly thin blade. During testing, it delivered impressively thin slices, living up to its name—“three virtues,” or chopping, slicing, and dicing.
6-inch utility knife: This smaller chef’s knife variant is perfect for simpler tasks or for making small pieces even smaller. Its serrated edge is ideal for slicing soft fruits and vegetables without crushing them. However, I noticed that the steel quality or design of this knife might be subpar, causing potential issues.
Other Knives
8-inch bread knife: Another knife with a serrated edge, this one is designed for slicing bread or pizza. Its sharpness shone during testing, slicing cleanly without squashing the bread.
4.5-inch paring knife: This small but sturdy knife, ideal for peeling fruits and vegetables and chopping small pieces, stood out in terms of sharpness and grip.
Steak knives: The set includes eight steak knives that could easily replace your table knives. Though they showed some minor nicks after testing, they were generally satisfactory.
Design
About Calphalon
Calphalon is a trusted name in the kitchenware industry, with nearly 50 years of operations under its belt in Perrysburg, Ohio. The company prides itself on offering high-quality knives at affordable prices, a claim I put to the test with their 15-piece set.
The Set and My Testing Experience
This set boasts an impressive array of 13 knives, a pair of kitchen shears, and an elegant wooden block with built-in ceramic sharpeners. Having thoroughly tested these knives, I’m excited to share my experiences.
The Calphalon knives performed outstandingly in terms of sharpness. In the Total Card Cut (TCC) test, a standard industry method for assessing blade sharpness, the set scored over 540—a high mark, given that a score of over 550 is exceptional and below 100 indicates poor quality.
The Main Knives and Their Performance
8-inch chef’s knife: This versatile tool, suitable for various kitchen tasks such as cutting, slicing, dicing, and mincing, demonstrated excellent performance during my tests.
7-inch Santoku Knife: This Japanese chef’s knife, primarily used for vegetable cutting, has an incredibly thin blade. During testing, it delivered impressively thin slices, living up to its name—“three virtues,” or chopping, slicing, and dicing.
6-inch utility knife: This smaller chef’s knife variant is perfect for simpler tasks or for making small pieces even smaller. Its serrated edge is ideal for slicing soft fruits and vegetables without crushing them. However, I noticed that the steel quality or design of this knife might be subpar, causing potential issues.
Other Knives and Their Performance
8-inch bread knife: Another knife with a serrated edge, this one is designed for slicing bread or pizza. Its sharpness shone during testing, slicing cleanly without squashing the bread.
4.5-inch paring knife: This small but sturdy knife, ideal for peeling fruits and vegetables and chopping small pieces, stood out in terms of sharpness and grip.
Steak knives: The set includes eight steak knives that could easily replace your table knives. Though they showed some minor nicks after testing, they were generally satisfactory.
Design and Aesthetics
The knife handles are made of polypropylene plastic. Though not the most premium material, they are far from flimsy and provide a comfortable, non-slip grip due to their rounded shape.
The blades, excluding the steak knives, are crafted from high-carbon, no-stain German steel. These forged (not stamped) blades promise more durability, a claim validated during testing.
The storage block, apart from being aesthetically pleasing, keeps your knives sharp with built-in ceramic sharpeners. It’s a practical feature that worked well during my use.
Care Instructions
For stainless steel knives, I’d recommend avoiding dishwashers as it could accelerate rusting. Instead, wash them by hand with warm water, rinse, and dry immediately.
Pros
- Comprehensive range of knives
- Full tang, forged blades for added durability
- Exceptionally sharp out of the box
Cons
- The steak knives seemed to be of lower quality
Conclusion
Overall, the Calphalon 15-piece knife set proved to be a robust and versatile addition to my kitchen. While there were some minor concerns with the utility and steak knives, the set’s overall performance, comfortable grip, and self-sharpening feature left a positive impression. A well-rounded option for those seeking a combination of quality and affordability.
Conclusion
If you think of a good quality knife set and your budget is not thousands of dollars, this is one of the best knife sets you can ever have. So, I definitely recommend these knives.
If you want to learn more about kitchen knives, check our full reviews on the best dishwasher-save knives or the best kitchen knives under $100.
Gary Portman is the founder and main author of Knivesadvice.com. With his extensive knowledge and experience, he is committed to assisting people in choosing the perfect knife for their needs. Through his articles, Gary shares valuable insights on various aspects of knives. With his expertise, readers can make informed decisions and find a knife that is tailored to their preferences and requirements. You can find more info about Gary here.