Customer Reviews

Wusthof Classic Ikon 5-Inch Santoku Hollow Edge Knife

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This was the first "nice" knife I've bought, intending on getting an entire set over the next few months, and it is a winner.

Obviously the first thing you notice is the blade's sharpness (I almost sliced myself when I first picked it up). It will cut through pretty much anything with ease. I busted it out the night I first bought it and sliced some radishes paper thin with ease. In fact, the hardest part is avoiding your fingers. The santoku portion means foods you are cutting will slide off the knife because of the "air pockets" that the grooves create.

The next thing you'll start to notice is the balance of the blade itself. Even compared to other Wusthof knives, the Ikon is exceptionally more balanced and lighter in the hand.

Finally, on an aesthetic level, the African wood handle sold me. It's contoured so it fits your hand well, yet feels sturdy enough to last a lifetime. The lack of a huge "red" Wusthof symbol on the handle is nicer, in my opinion, than the more inexpensive Wusthofs.

My recommendation, save your money from buying inferior knives and buy this one instead. You won't regret it.

I thought hard about getting the asian style(global, shun) but I hear they're harder to sharpen than the German knives. This knife is more comfortable than the Wustof classic, with an ergonomic grip that's very natural to hold(my hands are slightly smaller than average), even if some think it looks weird. Compared with the classic, the Ikon feels better balanced, too. I didn't know much about this knife when I bought it, but it's a solidly built, comfortable, sharp and does a nice job keeping from sticking to food. Best knife I've ever used. Highly recommended.

I got The Wusthof Classic Ikon Santoku 5" knife after researching about the different tiers of models and their craftmanship. The Classic Ikon line I would consider Wusthof's middle-of-the pack line of knives. Before I did my research, I have already purchased a set of Gourmet line knives (entry level). Let me tell you, The quality between the two lines is like night and day.
The balance, quality and ergonomic on the Classic Ikon santoku is amazing. Very light weight and cuts up vegetables and boneless meats with ease. I am a lefty in a world of righties, so this fits well on either hand. This fact (along with pricing) is a reason why Shun knives with their cool Demascus blade out of the equation: because of their special "D" handles makes them -handed specific...but I digress.
I am an amateur when it comes to cutlery and cooking, but when friends and family come over and help prepare the meal, I always get the "woah!" expression when they use this knife. It also helps that I have my set on a magnetic rack on the wall to showcase them. My sister was so impressed that I instantly knew what to get her for Christmas.
Keep in mind that when you do need to sharpen this knife, to do it with an Asian knife sharpener. It has a sharper angle than other knives like the Chef's knife. I believe it's 15 degrees for Asian knives like the santoku versus 20 degrees on the others like the Chef's.
From an amateur's perspective, this is the best knife I have ever used (except for the all-mighty butter knife!).

My first Wustof. Definitely will get another Wustof. Sharpest knife I've ever owned or used. Cut myself on the thumb fairly deep the first time I used it. Blade so sharp, I didn't feel pain, only the slicing motion. (Pain came later, of course). If all Wustof blades are as sharp, then the prices they charge are worth it. Just be careful out there.

Good knives are expensive....no doubt about that, but for someone that cooks a lot you cannot afford not to have well balanced, sharp knives of good quality. My husband bought me this knife as we cook a lot and I cut and dice lots of fresh fruits and veggies. I LOVE this knife! It is stainless steel, it feels well balanced in my hand, and effortlessly chops and makes razor thin cuts. I will definitely seek out additional knives in this series as I have been nothing but pleased with this knife. For me, I would rather have a few good quality knives that cost a bit more than a whole block full of inferior knives that will need to be replaced sooner. If you agree and want a good all around knife, I would start with this one. It may be more expensive, but I feel it is well worth the price.

I was nervous about spending so much money (over $50.00) for a single knife, a small knife at that, to add to my already large collection of knives. But this knife has surpassed all my expectations and continues to bless my life as I work around the kitchen. It is sharp and has maintained its edge. It sits beautifully in my hand and i chop and slice with an ease I haven't before. I like it so much I am saving up to buy the seven inch Wusthof Santoku. I recommend it highly.

I've been using Wusthof knives for about 15 years and have found them to be consistently good, and hold an edge well when sharpened. Even though my set is relatively comprehensive, I did not have their Santoku knife and figured I'd pick it up eventually when the price was right. I didn't think spending $165 was worth it, and in fairness this knife goes for much less on sale. At a super special Black Friday deal, $49.95 was more in my price range. In retrospect, sale prices are usually low enough that it was not worth the wait.

For certain things such as carving thin slices off of hot roasted turkey or soft prime rib, you need a knife that cuts through without the slightest resistance. You want something that the meat will not stick to, and that will let you cut thin uniform slices without them falling apart. The first thing I tried was cutting a 2.5 inch thick raw steak into two 1.25 inch thick steaks. It was like cutting tofu with a razor. If you've ever tried to slice the last remaining inch of a roast and thought it was impossible, think again.

I cheated a bit by taking this knife out of the package to use it for some challenges, and then putting it back so I can give it to my wife as a gift. I haven't put this knife to extensive use as I normally would before writing a review. I'll update this once I have more experience. But even if I use it for nothing more than the purposes I've tried so far, that's enough reason to own it and give it five stars.

If you could own only one knife, this wouldn't be it. It's too delicate for the toughest tasks and I'd keep it away from bones. (Especially my own!) But why would you want to own only one knife? If you want a complete knife set, and had to narrow it down to a bare minimum, I'd put this on the list right after a top quality paring knife and cook's knife. If you have a top quality knife block set and are wondering if you need to add anything to it, this is the one.

Who ever thought chopping and mincing were an art and experience to be enjoyed? If you have a crappy knife, you will dredge the task. But if you have this Wusthof chef knife, you will be transformed into a rock star top chef in the kitchen - or at least feel like one a bit.

If you are like me and just want one superb, beautiful-looking chopping knife (knives for meat more specialized), then this is a great choice to enjoy fully in the balanced feel in the hand, the clean aesthetics and the silky slicing feel. Super fast in mincing with a special ability to cut paper-thin slices. Wonderful feel of control.

A top knife worth the price (most good things worth nothing are not bargin-basement prices). Life is too short to use a bad knife and not look forward to cooking. Start a new phase in your culinary life with this gem and ditch the loser piece of steel posing for a real tool in the kitchen. (hint: give up one dinner out and use money to buy this knife!)

I have small hands and not a lot of strength in my hands. I own a number of Wustoff knives, but always wanted to try the Ikon. The sale price was more than I could pass up. This knife has quickly become my favorite to use for most every chore in the kitchen. The handle really fits my hand and the balance is perfect, it almost does the chopping without any effort on my part--I really have to be careful not to take off the tips of my fingers! Would really like to have a whole set.

I love the way this knife feels. I do not like large knives, and this one is just the right size for my liking. I use it almost exclusively for everything, slicing and chopping vegetables and meat. My husband, who has many Henkle knives, has been using this often too. This is equally as good as his expensive Henkle knives he has owned for 30 years.