Cutting Edge Knives
Recently I had the pleasure of trying out some fantastic knives courtesy of Cutting Edge Knives. Cutting Edge Knives is an online store dedicated to hand-picking the best Japanese and European knives around. I got to test out three of their favourites - the Masakage Kumo Santoku, the Masakage Yuki Gyuto 8in, and the Stelton Pure Black Large Chef’s Knive. They have also kindly given all my readers a fantastic 10% off when they buy anything in store - just enter the code 1796FOODS at the checkout to get your discount!
When I opened my package, a little envelope fell out containing a note and some plasters, explaining that they send them out with all orders because it’s hard not to cut yourself on your first use. I thought this was a lovely little extra which made me laugh and absolutely made for a great opening experience. (As it turns out I actually didn’t cut myself using any of these knives, though I did manage to nick myself twice with a bread knife that week so the plasters came in handy anyway!).
On first glance I was immediately drawn to the two Japanese Masakage knives. They come in elegant blue boxes, and the knives inside are protected with Japanese newsprint sleeves. That really added to the excitement of the unboxing, and gave them even more of an authentic feel.
The Kumo knife is stunningly beautiful - I would happily just hang that on my wall and look at it all day. The blade is covered in tiny ripples caused by the layering of the stainless steel cladding, and it’s topped off with an unusual octagonal handle made from rich, dark rosewood. The Yuki knife is gorgeous as well. Here the blade is covered in tiny little flecks from the hand working and the edge develops a patina, which looks a little like rust. That might put people off but it’s completely natural, and I found it totally endearing and just made me want to take even better care of it. For my own personal taste, the Stelton did not have the same instant ‘wow’ appeal, but then again I would pick something old and Japanese looking over something modern and minimalist in just about any aspect of life. If you are a fan of chic, streamlined design then this knife would fit the bill perfectly as the matt black finish is very striking, and the blade blends effortlessly into the handle.
To give the knives a decent trial, I decided to test them on some fruits and vegetables that I regularly chop, but that other knives often make a huge drama of - apples, onions, and the most messy of them all, tomatoes. Using the Japanese knives on the tomatoes were a revelation. Even with my other ‘good’ knives I find that tomatoes often end up a big pile of mush on the chopping board, and these just sliced straight through with ease, leaving not a single drop of spilled seeds. Their combination of super sharp blades and lightweight handles also made them ideal for finely chopping the onion.
The Stelton on the other hand is much heavier and wasn’t as well suited to the more delicate tasks. However it really came into its own with the apple and chopped it in half with practically no effort from me at all. For more heavy-duty jobs this knife would work great, and I feel like it might finally solve my lifelong struggle to easily cut a butternut squash!
In conclusion, I certainly preferred the Kumo and Yuki knives and I would happily buy either of these any day. Their combination of beauty and performance made them ideal additions to my kitchen and they would make a perfect present to anyone who loves to cook (or just to yourself). The Stelton was not so much for me, but for a fan of minimalist design it would work fantastically in a really modern kitchen.
To buy any of these knives, or to see the rest of Cutting Edge Knives’ fabulous range just visit their website, or you can follow their updates on Twitter. Remember to use the voucher code 1796FOODS for 10% off all of your purchases.
