Chicago Cutlery Reviews: Which Knife Sets Are The Best?
By Bobby B. | Brands
Chicago Cutlery makes several different kitchen knife sets in their many collections, mainly marketed to home chefs at very affordable prices. The company was originally founded back in 1930 and offered just knife sharpening services. With demand being high, they started making professional knives for the meat and poultry industry. It wasn’t until 1969 that Chicago Cutlery knives were available to the public.
In the beginning, Chicago Cutlery knives were made in Chicago. My first experience with these knives (and likely yours too) was the sturdy old, wooden-handled butcher knives that every household seemed to have back in the 70s and 80s. My parents still own one that was handed down from my grandparents, and they love it. However, in the late 80s the company was bought out and manufacturing was moved to China. So, unfortunately, the recent knives made by the Chicago Cutlery company aren’t quite the same as those from decades ago. Today, Chicago Cutlery is part of Corelle Brands and is just one of the variety of kitchen and houseware brands they own.
Though the company has gone through some changes, Chicago Cutlery is still known for making great-looking, truly affordable kitchen knife sets for value-minded home chefs. The blades are made from high-carbon stainless steel. The exact type of steel is not disclosed but after reading hundreds of reviews and knife forum discussions it seems the steel is or comparable to 420 steel. The knives come out of the box very sharp but tend to dull quickly and need frequent sharpening which fits with this softer steel. It’s also lower-priced steel which helps keep the Chicago Cutlery sets in a budget-friendly category.
Chicago Cutlery offers both forged and stamped knife collections many of which are full-tang and have bolsters. They have an assortment of handle designs and materials including wood, polymer, and stainless steel. One of the things that make Chicago Cutlery so appealing to home chefs is that they offer a large variety of knife block sets at affordable prices. You can find a stylish set to match your decor that includes all the essential kitchen knives plus steak knives and it won’t break the bank.
Chicago Cutlery Knife Series/Lines
As we mentioned, Chicago Cutlery provides a wide gamut of knife collections. Their knife lines tend to follow the Good, Better, Best model. The “best” Chicago Cutlery knives are heavy-duty forged knives. Their “better” level includes nice knives, many are still forged, but these focus more on providing the consumer with value for their money. Finally, their “good” knives are the least expensive, mostly stamped collections that are still good-looking sets but aren’t necessarily as durable as those in other categories.
In an effort to cover the variety of collections Chicago Cutlery offers, we’ve provided the names, a brief description, and a link to several of their knife series below. This is NOT an exhaustive list but does include their most popular options.
Best
- Fusion: Chicago Cutlery’s Flagship Line – High Carbon Stainless Steel Forged Blades w/ Comfortable Poly Handles
- Insignia: High Carbon Stainless Steel, Full Tang Blades with Stainless Handles Designed to Encourages the Professional “Pinch Grip”
- Insignia2 or Insignia II: Full-Tang, Forged, Heavy-Duty Bolster Knife (Knife Set Includes In-Block Sharpener)
- Belden: Forged, Full Tang Blades, Stainless-Steel handles with polymer insets and a Unique 25-Degree Sharpening Angle
Better
- Elston: Forged, All Stainless Steel Knife Set w/ a Modern Look & Feel
- Burling: Forged, Full-Tang Stainless Steel Knife w/ Black Handles (Knife Set Includes In-Block Sharpener)
- Malden: Modern-Looking All Stainless Knife (Set Includes In-Block Knife Sharpener)
- Avondale: Forged Knife w/ Dual Material Handle w/ Great Balance
Good (Some of these are VERY POPULAR knife sets)
- Essentials: One of Chicago Cutlery’s Most Popular Knives (Stamped Blade, Full Tang, Plastic, Riveted Handles)
- Walnut Tradition: This is the Old-School Wood Handle Knives Discussed Above (Stamped Blade, Wood, Riveted Handles)
- Damen: Forged, Full Tang Knife with Polymer, Riveted Handles. Good Price But No Block Set Offered.
- ProHold: All-Black Design and 2-Tone Wood Block. Stamped Blade with Black Non-Stick Coating Paired With Plastic, Textured Handles.
Yes, Chicago Cutlery makes lots of different knives and knife sets. In addition to the small snippet on each of them above, here are detailed reviews on our top 5 favorite Chicago Cutlery knife sets!
Knives Included:
3.25″ Paring Knife, 5″ Utility Knife, (8) 4.5′ Steak Knives, 7.75″ Chef Knife, 7.75″ Bread Knife, 5″ Santoku, 7″ Santoku Knife, and 8″ Sharpening Steel
Blade Material:
High Carbon Stainless Steel
Block Material:
Wood
Pros:
- Heavy-Duty, Forged Blades w/ Full-Tang
- Feels Great in Your Hands
- Brings a Modern Look to Your Kitchen
- Great Value! Lots of Knives for this Price Point and Quality
- Lifetime Warranty
Cons:
- Steak Knives Not Exactly the Same Design as other Knives in Block
- No Kitchen Shears Included in Set
Chicago Cutlery Fusion Review:
The Fusion Series by Chicago Cutlery is our favorite in their line-up. They are forged from a single piece of high-carbon stainless steel with a full tang that increases the weight and balance of the knife. They have black polymer, cushion-grip handles that give them a great, modern design. If you look at other brands outside of Chicago Cutlery, you’ll be hard pressed to find a larger set of decent knives at this price point. Yes, you can find less-expensive knives, but this is a great knife set for consumers looking for a well-made, forged knife set at a good price.
Knives Included:
3″ Paring Knife, 3.5″ Paring Knife, 5″ Boning Knife, 5.5″ Utility Knife, 7″ Serrated Bread Knife, 7″ Santoku Knife, 8″ Chef’s Knife, 8″ Slicer, (8) 4.5″ Forged Steak Knives, Kitchen Shears
Blade Material:
High Carbon Stainless Steel
Block Material:
Maple Wood
Pros:
- Forged Knife w/ Heavy-Duty Bolster
- All Necessary Knives & Includes Kitchen Shears
- Classic Styling
- Affordable Price for Quality
- 8 Matching Steak Knives
- In-Block Knife Sharpener Included
- Lifetime Warranty
Cons:
- Block is Large and Takes Up a Lot of Counter Space
Chicago Cutlery Insignia2 Review:
We love the classic look of the Chicago Cutlery Insignia2 Knives. They have the classic German style that is similar to popular brands such as J.A. Henckels or Wusthof knives. Though the Insignia2 knives don’t use the same high-end steels as those brands, they are still a decent set for the novice chef. The forged knives have a full bolster which adds strength and protects your fingers while cutting; and, the in-block sharpener is convenient for keeping your blades sharp over time. All-in-all if you’re looking for a good set of knives at an affordable price, the Insignia2 collection is worth considering.
Knives Included:
3.25″ Peeler, 3.5″ Paring Knife, 5.5″ Serrated Utility Knife, 8″ Serrated Bread Knife, 7″ Santoku Knife, 8″ Slicer, 8″ Chef Knife, (8) 4.5″ Steak Knives, Kitchen Shears
Blade Material:
Satin Finished High-Carbon Stainless Steel
Block Material:
Natural Acacia Wood Block
Pros:
- Large Set of Knives, Great Price
- Dishwasher Safe
- In-Block Knife Sharpener
- Lifetime Warranty
Cons:
- Light-Weight Design (Can Feel Insuffiecient In Your Hands)
Chicago Cutlery Insignia Review:
The Insignia series has an ultra-modern feel and an all-stainless steel design. Since they’re all stainless, many promote them as dishwasher safe; however, we always recommend hand washing knives to ensure they do not rust. This particular set comes not only with the in-block knife sharpener, but also some nice kitchen shears for odds & ends cutting in your kitchen. Another great priced set that’s worth taking a look at.
Knives Included:
7.75″ Chef Knife, 8″ Serrated Bread Knife, 5″ Utility Knife, 3.5″ Paring Knife, Kitchen Shears, (8) 4.5″ Steak Knives
Blade Material:
High Carbon Stainless Steel
Block Material:
Expresso Wood
Pros:
- Unique and Attractive Knife Set
- Forged, Full Tang Design
- Built-in Sharpener in Block
- Lifetime Warranty
Cons:
- Not As Many Larger Knives
Chicago Cutlery Burling Review:
The Burling Series by Chicago Cutlery is a “middle of the road” set. The knives have forged, full tang blades with integrated-steel handles, and they come in a nice wooden block with a built-in sharpener. The drawback to this set is you don’t get as many larger knives. You would need to purchase a slicing and boning/fillet knife separately if you’re interested in having all the essentials. However, the good news is if you like the Burling set you can pick it up at a great price. This may leave you enough room in your budget to add to the collection if needed.
Knives Included:
3″ Peeler, 3.5″ Paring Knife, 4.5″ Serrated Fruit Knife, 4.75″ Serrated Utility Knife, 5″ Santoku Knife, 7″ Santoku Knife, 8″ Scallopped Bread Knife, (6) Serrated Steak Knives, and Kitchen Shears
Blade Material:
High Carbon Stainless Steel
Block Material:
Wood
Pros:
- Cheapest Price for a Large Set of Chicago Cutlery Kitchen Knives
- Great, Classic Look
- Lifetime Warranty
Cons:
- Low Quality Knives
- Stamped Blades
- Not Heavy Duty
Chicago Cutlery Essentials Review:
The “Essentials” knives from Chicago Cutlery are the best option for those just looking for an inexpensive set of “name-brand” kitchen knives. With this set, you get so many knives for such a low price. But don’t be fooled, these are NOT high-quality knives even if they do look like some of the higher-end knives. If you don’t plan on using your knives on a daily basis and just need a nice looking set that can get the job done, the Essentials collections may fit your needs.
Chicago Cutlery Steak Knives
Many of the sames series listed above offer extra steak knives in 4, 6, or 8 piece sets that can be purchased separately. It’s always a great idea to have extra steak knives on hand for dinner parties and other larger events where you’ll need more than just the few that came with your set. Again, here are some of our favorites, but you can find a larger list of those available here… Chicago Cutlery Steak Knives at Amazon
Chicago Cutlery Review Summary
Chicago Cutlery knives are built around the credo of bringing great-looking kitchen knives to home chefs for an affordable price. We don’t disagree that they hit the mark here. Their knives have appealing designs and are comfortable to use. Unfortunately, the materials Chicago Cutlery uses aren’t quite up to the standard they used to be. Their biggest criticism is that although their knives are extremely sharp to start, they don’t hold an edge well and have to be sharpened frequently. One plus is that many of the knife blocks include a built-in sharpener that can be used at home. Here is a breakdown of other pros and cons to consider when it comes to Chicago Cutlery:
- Multiple Stamped and Forged Sets Available
- Comfortable Grip Handles
- Unique and Classic Designs
- Large Sets with Steak Knives Available
- Good Price Points
- Lifetime Warranty
- Knives Require Frequent Sharpening
- Not as Durable As Higher-End Brands
- Mass Produced in China
If you are on a budget and looking for a nice knife set, Chicago Cutlery would be a good choice. As you can see, they offer some great knife sets (with MANY knives) at a great price point. They also offer a lifetime warranty which helps protect against factory defects. These knives probably won’t last a lifetime, but you won’t have a lot invested in them either. If you have the budget for a higher quality set, we recommend checking out some other brands such as J.A. Henckels or Wushtof. Both of these brands offer a budget-friendly series along with their higher-end collections.
If you came to Chicago Cutlery because you thought it was a brand made in America, we’re sorry to disappoint you. However, if this is important to you, there are other American made knife brands worth checking out. Lamson makes great quality forged knives, though they do cost more. Rada and Case offer less expensive, stamped options that also have great quality.
Chicago Cutlery FAQs
Where Are Chicago Cutlery Knives Made?
Chicago Cutlery knives, like most other knives at this price point are made in China. The cheaper labor rates in this country are a big reason why they are able to price these knife sets so favorably.
Are Chicago Cutlery Knives Dishwasher Safe?
Chicago Cutlery recommends that you hand wash their knives “with a soapy cloth and dry immediately.” Washing them in the dishwasher can cause premature damage and nicks to the blades as well as unsightly stains/corrosion due to the carbon content in the “stainless” steel blades.
Does Chicago Cutlery Make Good Knives?
This of course depends on your relative meaning of good. There are certainly both better and worse kitchen knives available to consumers. In the grand scheme of things, Chicago Cutlery’s knives are closer to the budget-friendly end of the spectrum than high-quality, but that doesn’t make them bad. They are good knives if you want a nice, large set of knives for your home kitchen that doesn’t break the bank.