Let's talk about professional knives. Having been a professional chef and restaurateur, I think I know what is required of a knife and if a knife possesses those qualities. I was about to plunk down about eight hundred for a set of Wusthof or Henkels knives because that's what one does to get fine, forged, German cutlery, right? Well, I began reading about several brands of knives and Mercer caught my eye. They are made in Taiwan and are very affordable. Right then and there, being somewhat of a knife snob, I was about to exclude them from the mix. But wait. They're made from the same fine, forged German steel as the old standards. They have solid handles, full tangs and only partial bolsters, which make them lighter and easier to sharpen. Plus, Mercer knives are used in the overwhelming majority of culinary schools all over the world. Perhaps I should give them a try based on the myriad reviews praising their sharpness, durability and value? OK. Well, let me tell you. Although I only have them a short time, they have performed flawlessly in every task I have thrown at them and they hold a razor sharp edge. Don't be afraid to snare a set before somebody smartens up and raises the price! How long will they last? Only time will tell, but based on the quality of craftsmanship and the materials used and the reviews of others who have had them for years, I'd say it's a good bet they will be around longer than I will. Read more
I wanted to upgrade our 20 + year old Henkel International knife block set and was looking at Messermeister Meridian Elite knives but I am just starting to cook at home as my wife has cooked mostly for the family for years. Messsermeister is a beautiful knife but also expensive so I decided to try this Mercer set instead. All the knives seem nicely balanced, are sharp and feel good in my hand. It is a great set! I have tried all the knives on the "tomato test" and they all stick to the skin and cut as I draw the knives back. They are finished a little less then the Messermeister but not dramatically so. Messermeister knife blades are really finely polished and the handle is a little more contoured but the Mercer is a great step up from the Henkel set which were stamped knives, were never really sharp and blocky handles. At this point I'm happy with the Mercer, I'll see how the cutting edge lasts as far as sharpness and how they take to steeling and resharpening when they need it. IMO they were a great deal and I received 5 knives, a sharpening steel and a knife roll bag for about half of what I would have gotten a Messermeister set with just 3 knives ... I do know that a person doesn't need a lot of knives but I will say it is a little nerve wracking for me cutting grape tomatoes with an 8 inch chef's knife (not there skill wise yet). The sharpening steel seems like it may be a bit aggressive so I may need the one from my older set. Read more
I finally upgraded form my Chicago Cutlery. Stamped bladed and wooden handles. They were great knives but soft blades that couldn't hold an edge and needed regular steeling, handles needed maintenance as well. These Mercer have been an amazing upgrade. I couldn't get my head around the expense of German knives, too much $ for what you get. The Mercer are priced great. Quality is on par with the other German brands, at a fraction of the price. Steel is super hard and keeps an edge. Put the steel to it once a week and the knives still slice paper after 6 months hard use. They are a bit lighter and thinner than the other German brands, which I like. You don't need that weight if you have a hard solid blade. I slice and cut with these, I don't chop. This set comes with a great mix of Knives. The styling is also spot on, they look good and are super easy to clean. Handles are bomb proof and comfortable. Bolster is just right to protect the finger without making it hard to sharpen fully. One for every use and I use them all. If you are looking for a solid upgrade that won't break the bank, this is a great set. Read more
Good quality and super sharp. Very happy with my purchase. Read more
I’d been out of the kitchen for some time and started a new position back in it. I decided to get a cheaper set of knives to use at work and this was a great option. The value for the knives you’re getting is unbeatable. They’re comfortable in the hand, don’t weigh an exhausting amount and sharpen easily. For being workhorses that’s a plus. On the downside, they don’t stay sharp for as long as I would hope and there is some noticeable chipping to a few of the blades already. I do use them a great deal though. Overall, it’s a great starter kit or secondary kit to preserve your best knives. Read more
I've been wanting a good set of knives for a while. ~$200 per knife was not an option for me, which means no Wusthof. I also didn't want a large set that comes with unnecessary (for us) items like steak knives. I am happy I found Mercer brand! Affordable and good quality knives, 5 most-used-in-the-regular-kitchen knives plus honing rod - perfect! I've been using this set for a year and I am very pleased with quality. I cook most days, knives are still pretty sharp with the help of the honing rod. I think after a year the chef and utility knives could benefit from my fancy-shmancy sharpening stones, and they will, when I find time and inspiration to do it. But I will procrastinate till I absolutely have to do it 😆 A special shout out to the bread knife - super sharp and slices any bread with the ease! I didn't really need a roll that came with the knives, but it was slightly cheaper to buy this set than to get all knives separately. I bought a wooden knife block from another brand that could fit all of these knives and few extra that I have. Read more
