Customer Reviews

Cuisinart 15-Piece Knife Set with Storage Vault

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I had been searching for a knife set for quite some time. I wasn't sure, however, if I was prepared to pay for the more expensive sets. I saw this set at a major department store on sale, so I went ahead and bought it. My first impression was that the knives are sharp, very stylish, well balanced, and not too heavy. The latter is a wonderful feature, especially for my husband who suffers from carpel tunnel syndrome. He feels the knives are a very comfortable grip. Their sharpness actually makes chopping and dicing a fun task.
A minor drawback from this set is that the vault is rather bulky and takes up a bit more counter space than an average wood block. Also, another more important drawback I noticed was that you need to wash and dry these knives almost immediately after using them otherwise they will begin to develop rust spots. This actually disappointed me very much and I tried contacting Cuisinart but to no avail. So, I will keep my set and continue to make sure they don't sit for too long after being used. For this reason I give this set 3 stars. I would like to give 3.5 but that option does not exist in this rating system.

I have several sets, by several manufacturers. These are the ones I use the most. Very sharp, and they keep their sharpness. Be very careful with these knives. Regarding the issue of needing to dry these after washing them. Yes that is correct. Now they don't rust, and really the tarnishing is very slight should you leave them wet (and will clean off with barkeepers helper, the same thing you use on Calphalon pans, available at Walmart for $1.50). You can't put good knives in a dish washer anyway, it is no big deal to give them a wipe. Just be careful not to cut yourself. However, one must understand that there is an inverse relation between sharpness/durability of edge, and "stainless" quality. These knives use a alloy that finds a balance between not rusting, and still being easy to sharpen to a fine edge, keeping a good edge for a long time. I personally will take sharper knives, and take 5 seconds to wipe them and put them away immediately. I don't think you can find knives of better quality at this price.

I am simply amazed at what people consider quality. If you look at most of these reviews they are basing the quality of these knives if they have rusted. One even called it cheap because it rusted.

Folks, these are forged knives made from 420 steel. You can only go up one more step in quality and retain the same hardness without using exotic metal processes. Low quality cutlery is generally made out of grades like 409 and 430.

Here's how it works. The sharpest knife is made out of high carbon steel. High carbon steel is the hardest and therefore also keeps its sharp edge longer. The more carbon in steel the more it is going to rust. Something with a lot of carbon is a standard metal shop file... the type of file that you use to sharpen you garden tools. Leave it out in the rain and you'll have more rust than you ever imagined. Most likely that same file is the hardest (and highest tempered) metal you'll ever hold in your hands.

To prevent rust you add chromium. The more you add the less it will rust. Once you add over 13% chromium you are legal to say you have "stainless steel." The only problem with adding chromium is the steel can not be tempered as hard. Chromium also adds "gumminess" (relative to hard steel) which makes sharpening difficult because it is like trying to sharpen chewed bubble gum. IOW, under a microscope you'd see little pieces that extend to the left and right instead to a fine point. You know, like the bubble gum stuck to the bottom of your shoes in a parking lot.

420 steel keeps the chromium level as close to 13% as possible. Why? So the steel can be hardened. Hardness is measured on a scale called the Rockwell Hardness scale. This steel can go up to a RC56 hardness. Henckels FourStar only goes up to a RC58.

Some Damascus knives go up to RC60 but they can cost upwards of $1,200 per set. They also tell you to "hand wash only." Why? Simply so they won't rust since you'll quickly get them dried after hand washing.

Some of the finest butchering knives are made by Sheffield and have been making knives since the Middle Ages. They really became popular starting around the 1600's. For butchers they have two types of knives; hardened carbon steel and if you are one not to take care of your knives they will sell you the same model in 420 stainless steel. Six steak knives will cost you about $350.00 if you can't afford the butcher's knife.

I lost my fine Henckels in a divorce and replaced them with a less expensive model of Henckels. I was disappointed that they were not rusting in the dishwasher. What that meant to me was the steel isn't as hard as my old Henckels.

But yes, if you want to spend a lot more and get Henckels they may not rust quite as much and they will be a harder knife. That's because you move into a much more expensive stainless steel that contains molybdenum and vanadium. You will also get a sticker that tells you to hand wash. If you ever watch professional cooks you'll see that they have a dish towel tucked at their waist. They will use this repeatedly to wipe their knives. Why? So food will not stick to the knives, dry and make a rust spot.

I will never 'hand wash' a knife unless I plan on using it in a few moments. I don't care what they say about not using a dishwasher. It is so very, very easy to remove rust from knives. Just use your Comet. I like to use Bar Keepers Friend. It does the same as Comet but designed to remove rust and shine stainless steel. A couple of wipes gets rid of the stain or rust.

Don't forget this is Stain Less, not never-stain, never-rust.

I like the idea of having knives handy on the countertop while cooking but have been concerned with the safety of having such sharp knives just sitting out especially if young children are around. This cutlery "vault" still makes it easy to access the knives, but just takes a second to push the button to tilt it forward to take the knives out. It can also be locked so even if small children can push the button it would take an extra step to unlock, which they probably can't do.

I shopped around quite a bit online for a cheap, but decent knife set. I have a mixed set of decent knives, but I wanted something that matched (call me vain). These DID fit the bill: they're cheap (I picked them up for around 80 during a Friday sale), sharp, and all match.
When they do lose their edge I won't be afraid to sharpen them myself since I didn't pay $400 for the set. I also won't be too angry when they start getting rust spots (oh, they WILL rust, I am sure of it... I am too lazy to dry them off after washing them every time). In fact, ignore the reviews that complain about them rusting, that should be expected in this low to mid level price bracket: they've got to keep the knives sharp without using expensive alloys so they cut the nickel out of the cheaper steals used in stamped knives and up some other minerals -- the result is a sharp knife that holds its edge fairly well, but rusts (heck, my "premium" Wusthof paring knife rusted, c'est la vie).
The Chef knife has good weight and balance, especially compared to the other knives in the set, but doesn't have the balance of my Chicago Cutlery santoku (the santoku in the set is a joke, but then again I don't like the bolster on my CC one and balance is a personal thing).

The paring and utility knife arrived with stains on the blades. Not a huge deal for me since I expect rust spots in the next year to start appearing on my more used knives. The warranty says these could be replaced for free, but I don't care enough to send them in.

Pros: Inexpensive, sharp, unique stainless "block"
Cons: Very light, unique block (it was bigger than I expected), great grips. Oh, did I mention they were light? I'm worried that the bread knife won't cut straight lines in large loaves because it'll bend, the light blades just don't feel sturdy. Can't easily take the scissors apart for cleaning. Made in China.

In the long run I think the block will be easier to damage than a traditional wood or bamboo block, or at least it will show damage a little more readily. The block is also a little annoying to clean.

As in all things on the internet, check these out in a brick and mortar to see if you like thembefore purchasing. I know I will do more hands on research before buying my next set.

I bought this set of knives 2 years ago. I have not experienced the rust or pock marks that other reviewers have, and I have been pleased with the way my knives have stayed sharp even with a LOT of use. The purpose for my buying this set was because of the locking feature. I have little children at home and wanted to make the knives inaccessable to them. Unfortunately the locking mechanism is a little too hard to open for me. Mine gets stuck on lock and then I can't get it open without pulling on it with great force. And when you are pulling on something full of sharp knives, that is a little uncomfortable to say the least. I have worried more than once that the force I have had to use to open it would cause the knives to all fly out when it came free. They never have, but it is unnerving. I tried to contact Cuisinart about it, to no avail. No complaints on the knives, and I love that there are extra slots in the block for expanding the set, which I have. But don't buy the product strictly for the locking feature, it is not worth it.

Thought I was getting a Cuisinart bargain, but the quality is very cheap. The vault was crudely made and dented in shipping, lifting it from its equally crudely made foundation. The opening mechanism is also poorly designed, rough and cheap; I can't imagine how it can stop a child with enough persistent twisting of the knob. While photogenic, the knives have no "substance"; blades are okay (not great by any means) while handles are hollow. The recurring rust mentioned by other reviewers is not surprising for carbon stainless steel blades; most other CARBON stainless steel knives also spot. Cuisinart does provide directions/recommendations for immediate hand-washing and drying. Cuisinart seems to be trying to cut cost while selling its name brand; this set should be more appropriately listed as "Faberware" quality (a lower-end brand of Cuisinart). For the money, a decent "Chicago Cutlery" set from Target wuld have been a better choice. Since purchase of this set, I am no longer unquestioning of Cuisinart quality.

Thank God I finally have a set of perfectly sharp knives just in time for Thanksgiving:) It is truelly easier and faster to cook when you have sharp knives. I've used the Santoku for all my prep so far and I am loving it! The block is also great because everything is labeled. No more sliding the knife out just to see it wasn't the one you wanted. The knives are comfortable in the hand as well. Can't go wrong with this set.

Before you decide to purchase this item, evaluate the block in addition to the knives. The block is an ugly behemoth. It is larger than most coffee makers. It will consume counter space. Its only redeeming feature is that it is somewhat childproof. It is NOT difficult to open, as other reviewers commented. I believe they are not operating it correctly, which is totally understandable as no directions come in the box. There is a knob on the side that operates much like a childproof cap. You must push it in and turn it. This disengages a locking mechanism that keeps the knives in an upright position, which prevents them from being removed from the block. Once the block is unlocked, you must squeeze the trigger on the handle of the block to lower it. It actually works very smoothly with no yanking involved.

For the price, I'm sure these knives will do the adequate job they are designed to do. I purchased them with the intention of keeping them in a guest house that we use for family gatherings, knowing the knives would not be used a great deal. I thought I was willing to settle for a cheaply made set. I was wrong. I have a set of 5-star Henckels in my kitchen and I am spoiled, I guess. These Cuisinart knives are practically weightless and what mass they have is more in the handle than the blade. This is a poor balance for ergonmics and safety. The blades of the steak knives are flimsy. They can be bent easily from side to side with the push of a finger. Probably because they are so light weight, I don't feel that the metal handles provide a good grip (the handles feel hollow). That feature alone would prevent me from purchasing these again or recommending them. I sliced a few vegetables for practice and found them to be adequately sharp for what you can expect from cheaply made knives.

I personally do not like the huge storage block. That is why I give only two stars. I don't give just one star because these are, after all, cheap knives and you do, with cutlery, get what you pay for, so you must expect that they will not be wonderful like a $400 set of Henckels. I was just hoping that since I bought my Henckels nearly ten years ago (which by the way have never rusted - I do hand wash but often not until the next day!) that perhaps demand and innovations in manufacturing had made prices come down while quality of lesser knives would have improved. I was wrong.

How can you go wrong at this price? I've been using the set for about 3 weeks and I'm very happy with the knives. Time will tell but they seem to be keeping their edge very well without using the sharpening tool. The locking case is an excellent idea for many reasons, especially if you have small children.

I've no doubt there are better knives out there but these are great for everyday use. And you don't have to economize on groceries to afford a set.