Cuisinart vs Calphalon Knives (2022): Comparing Knife Sets

Regardless of how experienced you are as a home cook, some things are indispensable. You’ll need a good set of cookware, a proper stove, and a whole bunch of tools and appliances to help you out in the kitchen. One thing that you really can’t cook without is a good set of knives. From bread to fish and meats, almost any kind of preparation requires some kind of knifework.

Some of the biggest names in the cookware industry today are Cuisinart and Calphalon. In this article, we’ll compare just how good the Cuisinart C77SS and Calphalon Classic Self-Sharpening knife sets are in terms of what knives are included and its quality. Whether you’re just starting out in cooking or are already pretty experienced, keep reading to see which set suits your needs best.

Cuisinart vs Calphalon 15-Knife Set Comparison Chart

Different Kinds of Knives

Both sets contain at least 6 kinds of knives.

The appeal of knife sets mainly lies in the fact that it’s a pre-assembled set of products the manufacturer thinks you’ll most likely need in the kitchen. To fully utilize these knives, we have to distinguish them and know for which situations each knife is suited to. First off, both sets contain multiple steak knives, useful for dining situations. All other knives are used for preparation rather than dining. For example, paring knives are short and are suited to trimming or dicing fruits.

Bread knives are used for slicing loaves, while slicing knives are useful for large cuts of meat. Lastly, we have knives that are suited for more than one use. The chef’s knife is for general utility, used for anything ranging from mincing and chopping to slicing. The santoku knife, so called because of its three uses (meat, fish, and vegetables), is its Japanese counterpart. Utility knives occupy the space between the chef’s knife and paring knives, suited for situations that require a mix of flexibility and power.

Cuisinart C77SS

Cuisinart offers a more basic but more affordable set.

The Cuisinart C77SS is a full set of some of Cuisinart’s best knives. These are made out of high carbon stainless steel, ensuring that it’ll stay clean and well-maintained for longer while also looking stylish. The bolsters are durable, ensuring stable control while using these knives. The handles are also easy to hold, thanks to the ergonomic design employed by Cuisinart. Notably, these knives are quite light, thanks to their hollow handles.

Along with different kinds of kitchen knives, the set also comes with six 4.5″ steak knives, a pair of kitchen shears, and an 8″ sharpening steel. One unique inclusion that it has is the bird’s beak paring knife. The blade on this knife differs from the ordinary paring knife due to its curve. It can be used for coring, scoring, and slicing fruits and vegetables. Online reviews note that the set comes razor-sharp straight out of the box, so it’s ready to go right away and doesn’t really need any honing when you first buy it.

Calphalon Classic Self-Sharpening

The Calphalon’s premium shows in its self-sharpening block.

Compared to the Cuisinart exhibited above, the Calphalon Classic Self-Sharpening knife set is expensive. Its quality does justify that price difference, though, with its quality stainless steel. Its contoured handles have a full-tang design that make it easy to grip and control, enabling both strength and balance in your knifework. If you’re new to knives, each piece is clearly labelled near the handle for your easy use. As with the Cuisinart, it also comes with kitchen shears and steak knives (though it does include two more than Cuisinart’s does).

The biggest selling point of the Calphalon set is its self-sharpening ability. The block has Calphalon’s SharpIN technology built in, which is a collection of ceramic sharpeners. Every time a knife is pulled out of the block, it’s automatically sharpened. It’s a huge time saver, and also a great way to ensure that your knives are always at their best. Combined with the lifetime warranty, it makes for a good purchase.

Knife Care & Maintenance

Due to their similar materials, both sets require similar maintenance.

Regardless of which knife set you end up choosing, you’ll have to make sure that you’re taking good care of these for them to last longer. The biggest don’t when it comes to cleaning knives is putting it in the dishwasher. Culinary professionals stand by handwashing, since they’re too abrasive and might end up damaging your knives. At best, your knives will lose their edge. At worst, these knives might end up damaging your plates and the dishwasher itself. Though Cuisinart says their knives are dishwasher-safe, it might be best to avoid the risk altogether.

If you feel that you’ll need any support regarding your knives, it might be best that you go for the Calphalon set. Cuisinart’s website offers no ready information regarding the warranty that applies to their knife set (though their Amazon store says it has a lifetime warranty). Calphalon, on the other hand, explicitly states on the page that their knife set is protected by a lifetime warranty.

Verdict

The Cuisinart is better for those on a budget.

For those who are on a budget but still want the best in the price range, go for the Cuisinart C77SS. It has a fair assortment of useful knives, as well as kitchen shears that are versatile in purpose. If you see yourself dealing with a lot of delicate knifework, this might also be the better choice due to the inclusion of two different types of paring knives.

Meanwhile, the Calphalon Classic Self-Sharpening set does have a huge price difference with its competitor above. Its biggest selling point is its self-sharpening knives, which ensures that your knives are always ready and can last longer. If ever they do get damaged, though, it’s still no problem since it is protected by a lifetime warranty. On a more minor note, it also includes more steak knives. If you have a larger family with a larger budget, you might want to go for the Calphalon instead.

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