If you’ve been in the culinary world long enough, you’ve certainly heard about Global knives. After all, how could you miss a brand that rivals Wusthof Knives, Shun Knives, and Dalstrong Knives in terms of quality, but competes with budget manufacturers such as Chicago Culinary Knives and Cangshan Knives in prices?
Global knives boast a pretty simple concept, with a unique metal handle and no-frills design, which is why many people underestimate this manufacturer, forgetting that the devil’s in the details, not over-complicated designs. Global knives offer a great balance between unique aesthetics and excellent comfort and usability, making them quite the solution for both aspiring chefs and home cooks.
So, how do Global knives hold up in today’s market? Find out through our Global knives review!
Global Knives Review Center 2021
Image | Global Knives | Rating |
---|---|---|
![]() | #1 - Global 10 Piece Takashi Knife Block Set G 79589 AU | 99% |
![]() | #2 - Global 7-piece Ikasu Knife Block Set | 96% |
![]() | #3 - Global 3-piece Stainless Steel Knife Set | 93% |
![]() | #4 - Global G-2338-3 Piece Starter Knife Set | 89% |
![]() | #5 - Global G-48-7 inch, 18cm Santoku Hollow Ground Knife | 85% |
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Now that you’ve seen our top 5 recommendations, we’ll give you more detail on each of them, including why we liked them. When you’re ready, click the yellow button to get the best price on Amazon!
#1 – Global 10 Piece Takashi Knife Block Set G 79589 AU
Topping our Global cutlery review is the company’s top-selling 10-piece Takashi knife block set, which has the steepest price, but packs the greatest features.
The set includes a chef’s knife, Bread Knife, Utility Knife, Paring Knife, Paring Straight Knife, Vegetable Knife, Flexi Boning Knife, and Kitchen Shears, along with a Ceramic Sharpener using which you can easily hone and maintain your blades whenever you feel the need to do so. The knives are delivered in a bamboo Storage Block that’s pretty decent looking and would look great on your counter.
The knives themselves are handmade by professional artisans using a unique material called CROMOVA 18 steel, which is comparable to the 440A stainless steel. Granted, this material isn’t the most premium out there, nor is it the best at holding an edge, but it’s quite resistant to corrosion and stain, and less likely to chip or break compared to the likes of 440C or VG-10 steel.
What does that mean for you, the consumer? It means that this is a perfect set if you’re simply seeking new cutlery items for your home kitchen. The edge will stay sharp for months before needing any attention or maintenance of a Sharpening Steel or Sharpening Stone.
Furthermore, the blades are ice-tempered and hardened to 56-58 degrees on the Rockwell scale of hardness, and they feature a thin edge capable of cutting through virtually anything. It’s no wonder this set has been endorsed by beginner and professional chefs alike.
As for the handles, they feature Global’s unique texture, and they are ergonomically designed to provide the utmost comfort and balance for you to delve into your cooking sessions with ease.
What we like about it:
Although the Global 10 Piece Takashi Knife Block Set G 79589 AU isn’t as cheap as other sets from this manufacturer, it’s still quite the bargain considering the features you’re getting. The collection includes everything one needs, even for complicated and challenging recipes such as the Vegetable Ramen or Seafood Rice with Carrots. All the blades are handcrafted with sharpness and durability in mind using the company’s proprietary steel, the CROMOVA 18. Finally, the handles are perfectly balanced and offer excellent comfort. Seriously, this knife set has it all, making it a no-brainer for those seeking a complete cutlery set.
#2 – Global 7-piece Ikasu Knife Block Set
Global 7-piece Ikasu Knife Block Set sits in the middle ground, offering additional blades over the Global 3-piece set we’re going to review next and fewer items compared to the Takashi set reviewed above.
The set includes two Chef’s knives (5 and 8 inches), a Utility Knife, Paring Knife, Utility/Prep Knife, Nakiri Knife, and a Bread Knife, all in a stylish Bamboo/Acrylic Knife Block that’s designed to look absolutely astonishing on any kitchen counter, with clear sides that show off the cutting edges of the knives for your bragging sessions.
Each knife in this set is made of Global’s CROMOVA 18 steel, which means that they’re quite forgiving and that you won’t face a hard time maintaining and caring for them. Furthermore, the material is resistant to rust and corrosion, and it can withstand quite the beating before falling apart.
As for the blades, do not let their oddly-textured design fool you into thinking that they’re any less comfortable than wooden ones. Well, to be honest, they are slightly less convenient, but holding them while cutting, slicing, or dicing for hours won’t be a problem in a home kitchen.
What we like about it:
The Global 7-piece Ikasu Knife Block Set is what we’d recommend for anyone looking for an affordable block with low-maintenance knives that can withstand scratches, drops, misuse, corrosion, and rust without cutting too many corners when it comes to performance. It’s simply a forgiving set that covers all the necessities for a healthy cutlery arsenal and offers perfect performance for aspiring chefs or less-serious home cooks looking to save some bucks while shopping for new items.
#3 – Global 3-piece Stainless Steel Knife Set
If you’re just starting out with your culinary journey and trying to try your skills with only the basics, look no further than Global’s three-knife set, which includes a chef’s knife, a Kitchen Utility Knife, and a paring knife, basically everything an aspiring cook or a kitchen hobbyist would need in the beginning. No Kitchen Shear, no Carving Knife, and no fancy Knife Blocks, just a no-frills set that can take care of all your cutting needs around the kitchen.
As far as the knives themselves go, you’re getting the exact same material used in the sets reviewed above, the low-maintenance Cromova 18 steel which offers incredible performance with minimal effort, which is what you’d look for in a home kitchen.
As with most Global knives, these blades don’t feature a bolster, but thanks to the careful metalwork, this hardly impacts the balance at all. You get enough weight to dart nimbly around a good Cutting Board, so it’s all good in this department.
The handles of these knives, just like other products from Global, are made of the same metal used in the blades, and they feature an oddly textured design, which, despite not offering the same comfort as higher-end products, are quite comfy to use even for hours.
What we like about it:
The knives in the Global 3-piece Stainless Steel Knife Set won’t really give you the feel of an authentic Japanese Knife, but they’re surely brilliant for any chef looking for low-maintenance, forgiving knives that don’t cost a fortune. The material used is pretty good for the price, and the oddly textured metal handles, despite their exceptional design, are quite comfortable to grip and use for hours on end. If you’re looking for a small Global knife set to plug some holes in your knife block, you can’t go wrong with the Global 3-piece set.
#4 – Global G-2338-3 Piece Starter Knife Set
The name gives it all, doesn’t it? This is a starter knife set, with three blades; a chef’s knife, a utility knife, and a paring knife, featuring the same unique design and material used in other Global knives.
Boasting a Cromova construction with a thin blade and a unique convex edge, the knives in G-2338 set offer superior performance at a pretty good price.
This model is very convenient to home use. If you are occasionally using these knives, you won’t even bother from the degrading edge longevity. You can use the chef’s knife with honing steel once or twice every month, but also if you don’t, the edge will keep its sharpness for a long time before you have to re-sharpen it. If you keep on maintaining and conveniently store the knives, the few times of extra honing each year won’t drastically damage the steel.
Maybe you find this as a drawback of the original Japanese blade with single acute tilt, but this product isn’t made for people who want a sharply inclined knife or add another highly performing cutlery tool. In fact, this type is manufactured explicitly for any chef who seeks a handy, low-maintenance blade.
Although they feature weirdly-textured handles, we would definitely choose Global’s porous steel over Shun’s classical D-shaped wooden handles. In fact, you won’t face any hardships using this type of knives even for continuous hours, mainly when it comes to comfort.
Again, no bolster here, but the balance is intact, and the knife is perfectly weighed for effortless operation around the kitchen.
What we like about it:
The price of Global’s G-2338-3 Piece Starter Knife Set makes it a real bargain for any beginner looking for essential items for their cutlery arsenal or home cook that needs to expand his or her collection. You get a chef’s knife, a paring knife, and a utility knife, all for the price of a single chef’s from Wusthof or Shun. Despite their low price tag, these knives are well-made, with excellent blade-craft, sharp blades, and comfortable handles. What else could a beginner ask for?
#5 – Global G-48-7 inch, 18cm Santoku Hollow Ground Knife
We get it, you don’t need a whole set, you just want an all-around knife that you can use for different types of cutting tasks. You know what they say, “if you want to be the real kitchen loco, get a hollow ground Santoku.” Okay, I confess, I made that up, but really, when it comes to multi-purpose blades, you have two choices; either a chef’s knife, or a Santoku, and while the first is suitable for heavy-usage around the kitchen, the latter is perfect for delicate cutting and home kitchen tasks, which is why we’re only reviewing the Global Santoku.
The blade of Global’s 7-inch Santoku features the same material used on other Global knives, the high-tech molybdenum/vanadium stainless steel, also known as Cromova, with a face-ground design and long taper for the blade to hold its edge for as long as possible. It’s also razor-sharp out of the box and doesn’t require much maintenance, making it perfect for home use.
The handle, just like other Global knives, is molded for comfort and dimpled for a firm, safe grip. The balance is to the point as well, which makes using this knife for slicing, dicing, or mincing a real breeze.
Although the Santoku comes with a lifetime warranty, make sure to hand wash it after every usage, and don’t forget to use a good Knife Sharpener when honing it to extend its longevity.
What we like about it:
The Global G-48-7-inch Santoku is a reasonably-priced piece of cutlery that’s suitable for a plethora of cutting tasks, making it a perfect choice for both aspiring chefs and kitchen professionals. The blade is razor-sharp out of the box, and the handle is designed with both durability and balance in mind. If you’re looking for a multi-purpose knife that you can use for virtually anything, and that doesn’t cost a fortune, you’ve just found it.
How We Chose the Top Global Knives in Our List
Every knife mentioned above has been thoroughly vetted and checked before making it to our global knife reviews, and the examination process included checking a set of essential features, which are:
Sharpness
Although Global knives don’t offer the best cutting angle in town, they are pretty efficient for the price, and they come razor-sharp right out of the box. The fact that they are easy to maintain makes up for the cutting angle, as honing may seem hard for a beginner in the culinary world.
Cost
Although they offer great performance and excellent craftsmanship, Global knives are quite affordable, which makes them an excellent choice for those just starting out and aspiring chefs who are on a budget.
Comfort
The handles of Glacial knives are metallic, and they are molded for comfort and dimpled to provide a firm and safe grip, making them, despite their oddly-textured surface, perfect for extended use around the kitchen.
Durability and Ease of Maintenance
The Cromova stainless steel, which is the material used in Global knives, is known to offer great durability, with exceptional resistance to corrosion and rust, and an excellent ability to withstand drops, scratches, and stains.
Different Types of Global Knives
There are four different types of Global knives. We’ll discuss them now.
Chef’s Knife Vs. Santoku Knife
A Santoku knife is basically the eastern counterpart of the western chef’s knife, but while the first is more suitable for delicate cutting tasks, the latter is more of heavy duty and efficiency cutlery tool.
Chef’s knives are long with a sharp edge that’s suitable for slicing or chopping any type of meat and for separating chicken parts. They also feature a curved blade that’s perfect for rocking back and forth across the cutting board to chop a lot of veggies. In a nutshell, Chef’s knives are ergonomically designed with speed and efficiency in mind, but in a professional cooking environment.
The Santoku knife, on the other hand, has a straight edge with no pointed tip, making it great for chopping small bunches of veggies and mincing herbs in a quick and easy manner. Having a wide blade, you can also use a Santoku to scoop vegetables into the pan or bowl. Finally, the Santoku blades are designed in a way that prevents ingredients from sticking to the edge.
Cromova Stainless Vs. VG-10 Steel
The Cromova steel used by Global is composed of 0.8% carbon with chrome, molybdenum, and vanadium. The Cromova steel features a delicate grain structure, and it can be easily sharpened for a razor-sharp edge. It also resists rust, corrosion, and it’s less likely to break when dropped or misused.
VG10 stainless steel, on the other hand, has a high carbon percentage, making it harder than most other stainless-steel types, and easier to sharpen as well. VG10 steel is on the high-end compared to Cromova, but it’s also on the expensive side of the spectrum, which is why Global isn’t using it.
Why You Need the Best Global Knives in Your Kitchen
Choosing good cutlery items is imperative if you want to start your journey in the culinary world on the right foot. The problem is; you can’t really shell out hundreds of dollars on a high-end knife set if you’re just starting out in this field, as there are many skills that you must master at first, skills that could end up ruining your knives. What that means is that you need a knife brand that can cover all your needs and provide a balance between performance and affordability for a cost-effective investment. Luckily, that’s exactly what Global knives are offering.
Why do you need Global knives in your kitchen drawer? Simple, because they are practical, sharp, comfortable, and affordable, features that any beginner and professional would dig.
Global knives come extra sharp right of the box, which means that not only will they help you sharpen your cutting skills, but they’ll also keep you safe when you’re using them.
The unique textured design of the handles makes them comfortable, balanced, and well-weighted. In other words, no matter how long you’re going to use the knives for, you won’t feel any fatigue.
Lastly, global knives are made of Cromova steel, which, although not as high end as the likes of VG10 stainless steel, is still pretty solid, and is less likely to break if you drop the blade.
Basically, Global knives are a mixture of performance, low-cost, and durability, making them a necessity rather than a luxury, especially for new chefs.
While you’re here, check out some of our other kitchen accessories and knives! As always, we recommend you keep your knives sharp with an electric knife sharpener, as well as safely kept in either a knife block or on a magnetic knife strip held safely in your kitchen pantry or kitchen island.
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