Anyone who has prepared a high-quality piece of meat with love will hardly want to sabotage it with a not very sharp table knife . The solution: With steak knives you not only cut beef, but also crispy chicken or a fine schnitzel.
But what distinguishes good steak knives that you can enjoy in the long term? We compared various steak knife tests for you and found out the most important properties. Read our buying guide for more information.
Buying advice for the steak knife test or comparison: Find our personal steak knife test winner with our help!
- Anyone who invests in good steak knives with an attractive look should not clean them in the dishwasher. Even if many manufacturers declare them as dishwasher-safe steak knives, we recommend hand washing.
- Choose a steak knife set that you can also use to host guests at the barbecue. Occasionally you will even find cutlery sets that include forks in the same design.
- The sharpness is the main factor for a steak knife with serrated edge or smooth edge. However, handling the steak knife with a wooden handle should also be easy and ensure a good feeling in the hand.
Do you need a hand-ground knife with a premium blade to cut a good piece of meat? Find out in our steak knife comparison 2020 what is really important for good but affordable steak knives .
We compared tests in which materials such as stainless steel were evaluated and the sharpness of the knives also plays a major role. Those who love meat will benefit in the long term from investing in high-quality steak cutlery that can last a lifetime with good care.
1. Why a steak knife cuts meat easily and precisely
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First of all, we want to differentiate WMF steak knives or products from other brands from conventional table knives. At first glance, a conventional knife looks different from a steak knife.
Table knives consist of one piece and are made entirely of stainless steel, for example. Both the blade and the handle are made of the same material.
This is where the meat knife differs, which, for example as a steak knife with a wooden handle, is more reminiscent of a kitchen knife . The handle and blade of the steak knife are made of different materials, which ensures better grip in the hand.
They embrace the wood, can exert very precise pressure and cut the fibers of the beef with sawing movements. The following handle materials were used in the steak knives in tests for the handles:
- plastic
- Wood
- stainless steel
Steak knives with a stainless steel handle are comparatively new and ensure that they visually match your normal table forks when setting the table. In addition, these variants are more suitable for the dishwasher , since handles made of stainless steel are less sensitive than wood and plastic.
In addition to the handles, there is a second distinguishing feature , because you have the choice between a steak knife with a serrated edge and one with a smooth blade. We'll go into the advantages and disadvantages separately later.
2. Buying advice: Why a set of steak knives is an asset not only in the steakhouse
In steakhouses and burger shops, the handy steak knives are not only good tone, they also ensure the comfort of guests . But even at home you can cut your meat much more precisely if you use a steak knife. We recommend that you get a steak knife set straight away, so that your guests can also benefit from it.
Have you ever tried a neck chops from grill to cut with a table knife? When the tendons and bones remain in the meat to act as flavor carriers, cutting them up can be a challenge. Many people then use a blunt knife to cut generously around the “problem areas” and the remains are thrown away.
Tip: Minimize table waste with steak knives. Work precisely like a surgeon and only cut away what really doesn't belong in the stomach.
In fact, steak knives are wonderfully suitable for making very precise cuts in the meat without great effort . The ergonomic handles are comfortable to hold, materials such as plastic and wood give even more grip and the sharp blades effortlessly cut the fibers.
The tip of the blades often points up slightly, which you may not see immediately when you buy a steak knife. This very pointed shape increases the possibility of extremely delicate cuts. Because you can position the knife tip with millimeter precision and carry out the cut through the fibers from there.
3. The best steak knife convinces with several properties
The sharpness of the steak knife is one of the most important factors in any type of steak knife.
You should not only make your purchase of steak knives dependent on optical aspects. After all, how important the knife lies in the hand is more important than the color of the handle . So let's look at a few key features in more detail.
3.1. Blade length and cut of the steak knife
With the blade length in cm you will find differences between the different suppliers. In steak knife tests, we found blades from 9 to 12.5 cm that are absolutely suitable for a normal menu. If you do not regularly prepare XXL T-bone steaks, you will be able to cope with any variant.
A particularly important factor and almost a question of faith is the sharpening of the blade. There are basically two variants : serrated edge like a bread knife or smooth edge.
When serrated, the numerous small tines on the cutting surface ensure that you can slide through the meat with almost no pressure - if you carry out the sawing movement.
It's a bit like slicing baguette: you use a bread knife to saw shapely slices , while you have to press a carving knife with high pressure onto the crust. The baguette is crushed rather than cut.
Steak knives with a smoothly ground blade are extremely sharp and can actually be guided through uncomplicated meats with just one cutting movement. However, the smooth blades often wear out faster, which sooner or later minimizes the effect of the steak knife.
The advantages and disadvantages of serrated edges over smooth blades:
- cuts even if it is already dull
- cutting possible without pressure
- advantage for tendons and firm fibers
- even sharpening hardly possible
If the steak knife has a smooth blade, you can always use the appropriate accessories to provide more sharpness yourself .
3.2. Choose the number of knives to suit the size of the household
Think in advance whether you really need a set of 12 steak knives . For a couple who like to cook or grill with friends, sets of 4 are sufficient. If your family consists of five people or more, you should choose the larger packaging unit.
If you discover cheap steak knives in packaging units of 4 pieces from a supplier online or steak knives from Lidl on offer, you can of course simply buy several packages.
We expressly advise restaurateurs not to take advantage of offers in the supermarket. If individual knives are lost or become unusable at some point due to cleaning and use, you will hardly be able to provide replacement. Rather, look for manufacturers and wholesalers from whom you can reorder steak knives of the same type in smaller quantities at any time.
In private households, it can make a lot of sense to choose a WMF steak knife or a twin steak knife. You have the advantage here that you can usually buy individual knives well .
3.3. Choose stainless steel blades and pay attention to storage
Under no circumstances should you wash steak knives with a plastic or wooden handle in the dishwasher.
With regard to the blades of steak knives, we advise you to choose only stainless steel blades . Otherwise you can be prepared for the fact that sooner or later you will have to remove small rust spots from the knives. If you fail to do this, you will endanger food hygiene.
With regard to storage, the manufacturers use wooden boxes and fine boxes to ensure that the steak knives do not exceed the capacity of your cutlery drawer. After use and cleaning, you can put the knives back in the box and store them in a cupboard.
Since the knives are usually not used every day in contrast to the table knife, they do not have to be at hand at all times .
4. Steak knife tests: what makes a good steak knife
The various tests have shown that the sharp blades not only make it easier to cut, but also protect the meat on the plate. Because the smooth, precise cut edges allow less juice to escape , so it stays juicy throughout the meal.
In addition, since you have to exert less pressure, it is not squeezed as much, which also lets out juice. A direct comparison presents steak knives and conventional table knives with the following properties:
| property | Steak knife | Table knife |
|---|---|---|
| Handle material | Wood, plastic, stainless steel | Plastic, stainless steel |
| Price per piece | from € 5.80 | from € 0.50 |
| Dishwasher safe | partially | mostly |
In principle, you can't go wrong with high-quality brand products such as a Laguiole steak knife, a Victorinox steak knife or a twin steak knife. If the purchase price is too high for you, simply let it be given to you! After all, friends and family often search for a gift that really benefits you .
Would you like an affordable Makami steak knife set by individual people? On the other hand , if you want a luxury item like a damask knife, you should inform a whole group of donors.
5. Avoid the dishwasher when cleaning the steak knives
A high quality steak knife is a nice gift idea for meat lovers.
Even if many products are declared by the manufacturer as dishwasher-safe steak knives, we advise caution especially with handles made of wood and plastic . In the long term, the blades also seem to dull faster in the dishwasher.
We advise you to clean the knives by hand immediately after eating and not to do the dishes the next day. The components of the leftovers can attack the stainless steel due to the long exposure time.
You shouldn't just throw steak knives with a wooden handle into a full sink with hot water and detergent. The wood could swell, ruining the handle. Simply wipe the blade with a clean rag . From time to time, you can put a few drops of wood care on the handle and ensure proper care.
6. Is there a steak knife test winner from Stiftung Warentest?
Unfortunately, we could n't find a special steak knife test on the Stiftung Warentest website . However, you will find an interesting topic page under the search term "knife". Here you will find tests on kitchen and kitchen knives and at the same time learn more about practical knife sharpeners.
7. Important questions and answers about steak knives
7.1. Which brands and manufacturers offer steak knives?
You will find well-known brands like WMF or Zwilling if you are looking for knives for steaks. But other manufacturers such as Laguiole, Makami, Steakchamp, Napoleon, Victoiniox and Wüstenhof were also able to convince in different price ranges .
7.2. Where can I buy steak knives?
Basically there are various ways to buy steak knives. There are numerous online shops and platforms on the Internet that offer steak knives . Supermarkets and discounters sometimes have departments or offers for cutlery sets, although kitchen accessories are also often sold in furniture stores. Kitchen studios also often offer cookware, porcelain and cutlery.
7.3. What do you need a folding steak knife for?
The answer is simple: if the steak knife is foldable, you can easily use it on the go . Those who travel a lot or like to test new restaurants are sometimes disappointed by the existing cutlery. On the other hand, if you know your foldable steak knife in your pocket, you are always well prepared.
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