German vs. Japanese-Style Knives In The Kitchen
Knives are an important part of cooking. Cooking with a good set of tools and equipment can be enjoyable, as well as easier and faster. Cooks who prepare meals every day for their families can get by with just about any knife, and we won’t spend much time discussing it. In my family, my mother and sister, both of whom cook nearly every day, are fine with an inexpensive cutlery set from anywhere. Whether you’re a professional chef like my brother-in-law, or you’re a wannabe chef like me who cooks every now and then, these things matter a lot and for you the best choice is to choose Japanese damascus knife.
Professional knives are usually of two types: German style and Japanese style. Both are great, but both are quite different. What you like will greatly determine which knife you buy. Wusthof knives and Henckels knives (the professional J.A. Henckels brand) are examples of German knives. Global and Shuns are Japanese knife brands. There may be multiple brands in the kitchens of professionals and serious amateurs alike. Knives can be picked up at many places, including stores that sell them, but getting in a friend’s kitchen is probably the best way to see how they feel in practice.
Compared to other knives, German style knives feel heavier and are hefty. As robust and strong as German tanks, they can take the punishment. Chef’s knives from Germany are very strong and multipurpose, so you can use them for just about anything. In the US, Japanese knives have traditionally been the top sellers, and just a few decades ago, they were almost unheard of.
Knives of the Japanese style are lighter and do not have as many uses as those of the Western style. They are absolutely sharp but they are brittle, just like samurai swords, and are made by layering steel. Therefore, they would not be used to hack at bone. There are different knives for different purposes, unlike German knives. German knives are like tanks, while Japanese knives are more like Porsches and Lotus cars.
I myself own both types and use each for different kinds of activities. Which one to choose really depends on your own preferences? Research is a good idea. The result, however, is clear. The difference in quality damascus knife for sale can and will amaze you, if you have been using mediocre knives.
