They usually have a more balanced weight distribution, so they’re a bit easier to grip. Learn more. Hey Everyone, I'm brand new to ChowHound and the world of kitchen knives in general. “Santoku means ‘three uses:’ mince, slice and dice.”. You’ll want to hand wash it after every use with warm or cool water and dish soap. Summary of the Features. MERCER RENAISSANCE KNIVES: The rebirth of a classic with extraordinary fit, form and function-priced for today's cost-conscious chef. This high-performing knife featuring a one-pieced forged construction is designed to bring new life to a kitchen classic. Artfully master any dish with the help of this Mercer Culinary M23510 Renaissance® 8" forged riveted chef's knife! Incidentally, Mercer also played a key role in the campaign for the United Kingdom to leave the European Union by donating data analytics services to Nigel Farage. The Mercer paring knife isn't bad either. A ten-inch Santoku knife can chop plenty of large fruits, veggies and meats, but they’re tougher to manage. Paring knives are much smaller and used peel and cut small fruits and veggies. What are the technical qualities a beginner should look for in knives? Six-inch Santoku knives are agile, but they might not be right for chopping larger foods. The goal would be to create a good foundation and learn through practice. Mercer Culinary Renaissance 7-Inch Forged Santoku Knife. Renaissance rarely sends letters to investors providing extended commentary about its performance and keeps many of its trading viewpoints closely guarded. I really like the balance on it, and quite a few savory students bought it after trying mine... My knives in culinary school were mercer, I still use them 14 years later - currently teaching, my students get mercer knives, very well made, very good pricing. Fine barware for the professional bartender and home enthusiast. You can’t chop your onions or julienne your carrots with any old knife — you’ve got to try out a few different designs and brands to discover the best knife for the job. The hot water can damage the blade, and your knife’s blade will get dull or chip if it knocks into other cutlery. First, figure out if the knives you’re looking at are forged or stamped. However, they don’t have bolsters or heels and they’re not heavy enough to tackle tough vegetables. Through this analysis, we've determined the best Santoku Knife you should buy. I don't like huge blades, so my Santoku works just fine as my multi-purpose knife. Just find something that feels good in your hand. The Renaissance Knife Set is made with a very modern design glass case and makes any kitchen look great. Short on time? I imagine the heat treat isn't as great on the Mercer as someone already said, but for the price difference it's totally acceptable. I also had mercer knives when starting culinary school, I had to buy a shun chef knife though cause the mercer one was like wielding a broadsword in brave heart. “Because of the Granton edge, these are best sharpened by a professional,” Chernoff says. NEVER place your Santoku knife in the dishwasher, even if the manufacturer says it’s okay. I would suggest investing in a good Chef knife though. The initial cost will pay off in the long run. A knife heel is designed to chop hard foods like carrots or nuts. I'm looking to educate myself on knives and learn how to best utilize them to their potentials. I don't have any problems sharpening it, but it does lose its edge a little quicker than the Wusthof. what sort of food you cook)? These knives would be for home use and I have limited cooking experience. Being really new to this, a lot of my questions are specifically brand/price related. We have them at where I work and a guy comes every week to take the old ones and give us new ones. Investing in really good knives is probably one of the best things you can do if you plan to cook alot. A CUT ABOVE THE REST! The Mercer Renaissance collecion of knives is german steel that is one solid piece that has been fully forged. So with that in mind I would recommend going with a cheaper knife. Mercer Genesis vs. Renaissance (Knives) Kangabolic | Aug 16, 2015 09:24 AM 8. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. They’ve got bolsters, which are thick sections of steel that provide a seamless transition from the blade to the handle. As part of the Mercer Renaissance collection, this … The right knife will be an appropriate length for your daily cooking needs. From prep to garnish, Barfly’s full line of barware essentials and accessories are constructed for durability and … Ultimately Mercer stepped down from his post as co-CEO of Renaissance Technologies since most of the scientists who work on the models did not approve of his political activism. They are pretty good knives for a beginner. Its blade is made in just one piece, so what you get is a solid and strong blade. Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Mercer Culinary - M23505 Renaissance Forged Knife Block Set, 6-Piece, Wood Block with Tempered Glass at Amazon.com. Keep your Santoku knife very clean to avoid rust and stains. The Renaissance series are traditional, They’re shorter and have a curved “sheep’s foot” tip that forms a gentle point. The round metal pole that comes with many knife sets isn’t a knife sharpener: it’s actually a honing rod, which is used to keep the blade straight. She holds a BA in English from Yale University and is a graduate of the California Culinary Academy. If you want a knife that can do it all, the Mercer Renaissance 5” Utility Knife is for you. Forged knives are more expensive than stamped knives, which are machine-made. Personally I would agree with your decision to buy Mercer cutlery over dexter or another brand because I like the way that the Melinea series feels in my hand with the grips on it. SCRIPPS CO., ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Yes, different steels have different properties when it comes to maintaining an edge, but in the end you're sharpening them all anyway, and those properties are good or bad depending on what suits your taste. I also have a set of global knives that I break out for competitions or if I have a lot of cutting to do just so i don't get a blister from a bolster of the knife. Dull knives slide around on the surface of the food you’re cutting instead of slicing straight through, and that sliding can cause you to miss your mark and nick your finger. You could see the top 10 Mercer Genesis Vs Renaissance of 2019 above. This is a high-quality chef’s knife that is widely known as a workhorse in professional kitchens. Artfully master any dish with the help of this Mercer Culinary M23600 Renaissance® 5" forged riveted utility knife! /r/AskCulinary provides expert guidance for your specific cooking problems to help people of all skill levels become better cooks, to increase understanding of cooking, and to share valuable culinary knowledge. We looked at the top Santoku Knives and dug through the reviews from some of the most popular review sites. He said … COPYRIGHT © THE E.W. The 8-inch chef’s knife is forged from high-quality German carbon steel, while the handle is made from Delrin. My knives in culinary school were mercer, I still use them 14 years later - currently teaching, my students get mercer knives, very well made, very good pricing. Now that you know the basics about general-purpose Santoku knives, check out our Tips &  Advice for sharp ideas on picking the right one. If you have any specific questions about kitchen setup advice, we'll be more than happy to help. Could you elaborate on that a little? She has spent the last few decades styling, photographing, teaching, developing recipes, editing, thinking and writing about food. Forged knives can still perform well in the kitchen, and they’re great for beginner cooks who need some practice before investing in a pricier forged knife. I would recommend for your kitchen, good enough to get the daily job done, inexpensive enough to replace when something will happen to it. I would suggest if you don't spend alot on anything else, get some good knives! Also, any general kitchen setup advice is always appreciated. Their knives are robust, ergonomic and affordable. Continue reading below to see all the details from my review! I'm a beginner setting up my first kitchen. Don't waste your money. Premier high-carbon, no-stain German steel that is resistant to rust, corrosion and discoloration. It is relatively heavy, and it will provide a great balance when chopping. Hope I was able to help. The Mercer Culinary Renaissance Granton Edge Slicing Knife is a knife that can be used by both home cooks and professionals. Part of the reason I wanted to go cheap is that even though I'm setting up a home kitchen I myself am probably gonna wreck the first couple knives I own. Mercer knives are one of the trusted brands by professional chefs across the world. Most hourly workers tend to dull knives quickly by scraping the blade on the cutting surface. Read honest and unbiased product reviews from our users. And you can generally get them from your broad liner. I'm assuming you're talking about heft/weight right? A Santoku knife in the eight-inch range is ideal for most daily tasks. To maintain a sharp edge, buy a knife sharpener online or take your Santoku knife to a hardware store a few times a year for a professional sharpening. They are so sharp you can cut your arm hair with them. They have impressive, razor-sharp blades that stay sharp longer than steel knives. I'm really sorry. You can use heavy meat cleavers to split chicken or beef from a bone, and create perfect single servings of fish with delicate fillet knives. Read honest and unbiased product reviews from our users. The best knife in the world won’t perform well if it has a bad handle. Functional and tasty will be good enough for me. Stainless steel Santoku knives should be honed every 2-4 uses. The thing is, you need to maintain any knife. Ceramic knives are a newer option. Mercer Culinary M23500 Renaissance 6-Piece Forged Knife Block Set, Tempered Glass Block Triple-riveted, ergonomically designed Delrin handle High carbon, no-stain German X50 Cr Mo V15 cutlery steel resists rust, corrosion, and discoloration This was probably more important 200 years ago when it was possible to find a pewter or tin knife or something, but now even the cheapest one in the dollar store will be steel. Editor's Note December 29, 2020:Checkout The Best Santoku Knife for a detailed review of all the top santoku knives. They’re also lightweight and agile. For over three decades, Mercer has managed to spoil their customers for choices by supplying the market with high-quality cutlery which surpasses the industry standards. You’ll want a handle that’s ergonomic and well-balanced for controlled, even chops. This razor sharp Mercer knife has … Your Santoku knife will only need to be sharpened about once or twice a year if you keep it honed. Would you edit your question to include specific questions, like what sort of kitchen (professional or no? The blade is actually very thin and nice for slicing thinly. I would recommend for your kitchen, good enough to get the daily job done, inexpensive enough to replace when something will happen to it. This utility knife is designed to tackle everything from slicing fruit and veggies to opening packaging to everything in between. Hey this isn't a popular opinion, but I'm so sure that it's right I have to share it. Press J to jump to the feed. Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Mercer Culinary M23500 Renaissance 6-Piece Forged Knife Block Set, Tempered Glass Block at Amazon.com. Why would a knife that needs weekly replacement/sharpening be better? Yeap, that makes sense. The lists of best products are updated regularly, so you can be sure that the information provided is up-to-date. The well known Mercer brand is another great selling point, especially since 90% of all culinary academies use their products. For the usual kitchen tasks that are not putting too much stress on the blade, a Mercer Culinary knife can deliver impressive results. Currently in the process of setting up my first kitchen. “It is similar to the Western chef’s knife in many ways, including the general shape of the blade, which is tapered toward the point from a broad blade, meant for rocking the blade while cutting or chopping so that the knife blade never fully leaves the cutting board.”. Edit: here's some more specific questions that hopefully will make this post more appropriate. c o m Reading the reviews for BenpalUK and Mercer, and having dealt with JLT (acquired by Mercer) in 2018/19 I agree that both organisations are shocking with their service. Buy the knives recommended in the sidebar. For many home cooks, Santoku knives are less intimidating than chef’s knives. Interesting. They work better as a complement to steel knives, not a replacement. Overall Take In our analysis of 29 expert reviews, the Mercer Culinary Mercer Culinary Renaissance Santoku Knife placed 10th when we looked at the top 10 products in the category. Hmmm, that sounds good though because the stuff I'm doing at home won't require precise cutting or beautiful presentation. Mercer Culinary has been supplying cutlery to culinary professionals for over 30 years. I found a great deal on Mercer Forged knives on WEBstrauntstore (here and here) and was wondering what you guys think of the knives. Wood handles look lovely, but they might not stand up to wet conditions as well as plastic knives. They have equal thickness throughout the blade, and they don’t have heels or bolsters. Mercer Culinary: Performance and Maintenance The performance of Mercer Culinary vs Wusthof is quite apparent. This will get the knife very sharp but still get it sharpened by a knife guy. Edit: as in, why is it a waste of money to buy these? We then create one easy-to-understand review. “Don’t play with knives” is common advice for young children, but the rules get a little looser once you’re an adult, especially when you’re cooking. One piece, fully forged construction. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast, More posts from the AskCulinary community. Forged knives are crafted from a single piece of hot steel that’s been cut into shape. A knife’s length is measured from the tip of the blade down to the top of the heel (or the beginning of the handle for stamped knives). The best knife is made by a company called DexteRussell. The Mercer Renaissance is a totally fine knife, especially for $38. Many Santoku knives also have a “Granton edge,” which refer to the dimples on the surface of the blade’s edge that help prevent ingredients from sticking to the blade. The Mercer family patriarch is the 71-year-old hedge fund magnate Robert Mercer, until recently a co-CEO of Renaissance Technologies trade firm. Knives come in many different styles to match different purposes. This high-performing knife featuring a one-pieced forged construction is designed to bring new life to a kitchen classic. Mercer Culinary Renaissance. Along with our in-house experts, our team analyzes thousands of product reviews from the most trusted websites. In my opinion mercer knives are the best for restaurants especially if you are going to have untrained people working for you.