Cutco Knife Review

About Cutco

Cutco helps you express your love for cooking with its collection of exquisite American-made knives and accessories.

In 1949, the brand began its production of knives in Olean, New York. Backed by Alcoa and Case Cutlery, Cutco knew the benefits of an all-American-made company and what that was worth to the Americans its team walked door-to-door selling to.

The brand puts heavy emphasis on its solid sales and support team and is dedicated to making Americans (and now Canadians, too) happy with the purchase of its lifetime-warranty-backed knives and cooking utensils. Still based in Olean, Cutco is now owned by Vector Marketing.

Is your knife collection due for an overhaul? In this Cutco knife review, I will introduce you to the brand, its bestsellers, pros and cons, customer feedback, FAQs, and more, to help you decide if these American-made products are worth the investment.

Recent Studies About Knives

Before I dig into the brand’s selection of sharp products in this Cutco knife review, let’s look at some recent studies you might find interesting.

1. A study published in the Journal of Food Science and Technology in 2018 found that the sharpness of a knife affects the quality of cut fruits and vegetables. The study concluded that sharper knives resulted in less damage to the cell structure of the produce, leading to better texture and visual appearance.
2. A study published in the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture in 2019 compared the performance of different types of knives in cutting raw beef. The study found that knives with a sharper blade angle and thinner blade performed better in terms of reducing cutting force and producing less surface deformation on the meat.
3. A study published in the Journal of Food Protection in 2020 evaluated the effectiveness of different knife cleaning methods in reducing the bacterial contamination on kitchen knives. The study found that washing knives with soap and water followed by wiping with a clean cloth was the most effective method for reducing bacterial contamination.

Cutco Pros and Cons

Here are some potential advantages and disadvantages to consider when evaluating Cutco as a brand:

Pros

• High-quality materials: Cutco knives are made with high-quality materials, including 440A and 440C stainless steel, and they are designed to be durable and long-lasting.
• Lifetime warranty: Cutco offers a lifetime warranty on their knives and accessories, which means you can be confident in your purchase and have peace of mind knowing that you’re protected in case of any defects or damage.
• Made in the US: Cutco products are made in the USA, which may be important to some consumers who prefer to support American-made products.
• Wide range of products: Cutco offers a wide range of products, including knives, kitchen accessories, and outdoor tools, so you can find everything you need for your kitchen or outdoor adventures in one place.
• Free sharpening and repair service: Cutco offers a free sharpening and repair service for their products, so you can maintain the quality and performance of your knives over time.

Cons

• High price point: Cutco products tend to be more expensive than some other brands of kitchen cutlery and accessories, which may be a barrier for some consumers.
• Limited availability: Cutco products are primarily sold through their independent sales representatives, which may make it more difficult to find and purchase their products if you don’t have a representative in your area.
• One-size-fits-all design: Cutco knives are designed to fit most hands, which may not be ideal for people with larger or smaller hands who may find the knives uncomfortable or difficult to use.
• Limited style options: Cutco products have a more traditional, classic look, which may not be as appealing to consumers who prefer more modern or trendy designs.

Materials

Cutco knives and kitchen tools are made using a variety of high-quality materials. Here are some of the materials commonly used by Cutco:

• 440A and 440C stainless steel: These types of steel are known for their durability and resistance to corrosion. They are commonly used in Cutco’s knife blades.
• High-carbon stainless steel: This type of steel is a combination of high-carbon steel and stainless steel, which results in a blade that is both strong and resistant to rust and stains.
• Thermo-resin: Cutco’s handles are made of a thermo-resin material, which is a type of plastic that is designed to be durable, long-lasting, and resistant to impact and heat.
• Solid brass: Cutco’s table knives and steak knives feature handles made of solid brass, which provides a classic look and feel.
• American hardwoods: Cutco also uses American hardwoods, such as maple and walnut, for some of their knife handles and cutting boards. These materials are known for their durability and natural beauty.

Overall, Cutco is known for using high-quality materials that are designed to last and perform well over time.

Features

Cutco is a high-quality kitchen cutlery brand that offers a range of knives and accessories for home cooks and professional chefs. Here are some of the features of their products:

1. High-quality materials: Cutco knives are made from high-quality materials, including 440A and 440C stainless steel, which are known for their durability and corrosion resistance.
2. Comfortable grip: Cutco knives are designed with ergonomic handles that provide a comfortable grip, reducing hand fatigue and improving control while cutting.
3. Versatile designs: Cutco offers a range of knife designs that are suitable for a variety of tasks, from slicing and dicing to carving and chopping.
4. Sharp blades: Cutco knives are known for their sharp blades, which are designed to maintain their edge for longer periods of time.
5. Lifetime warranty: Cutco products come with a lifetime warranty, which means that if your knife ever breaks or fails to perform, the company will repair or replace it for free.
6. Made in the US: Cutco products are made in the USA, ensuring that they meet high standards of quality and craftsmanship.
7. Customizable options: Cutco offers customizable options for some of their products, including engraving and personalized color choices.
8. Free sharpening and repair service: Cutco offers a free sharpening and repair service for their products, which helps to extend the life of your knives and maintain their performance over time.
9. Safe storage options: Cutco offers a range of storage options, including knife blocks, magnetic holders, and sheaths, to keep your knives safe and organized in your kitchen.

Though best known for its knives, the brand specializes in an array of kitchen gear. After all, its name does stand for the ‘Cooking Utensil Company.’ Among the prep knives, you’ll also find Cutco steak knives, cutting boards, and gadgets.

In the next section of this Cutco knife review, I’ll be focusing on the brand’s selection of sets, hunting knives, scissors, and its signature sharpener. Your new kitchen essentials might be waiting in this lineup.

5 Best-Selling Cutco Knives and Sets

One knife is a great starting place, but if you’re an avid cook, sometimes an entire set is the right choice—especially if you’re underwhelmed with your current dull choppers.

Below in this Cutco knives review, I will feature the brand’s bestsellers that were designed to take your cooking to the next level.

Cutco Homemaker + 8 Set with Block w/ Petite Chef Review

Big family dinners and celebrations call for a feast—one you’ll whip up with ease, thanks to your Homemaker + 8 Set with Block w/ Petite Chef Knife. This set is as beautiful as it is useful. It contains all of the sharp tools any home chef would need, and customers can choose from black, red, and white handles.

Along with an oak Homemaker + 8 Set Block (choose from a cherry or honey finish) to house your new set of pristine blades, your set includes:

• Trimmer
• Spatula Spreader
• 7 ⅝” Petite Chef Knife
• 6 ¾” Petit Carver
• 9” Carver
• 9 ¾” Slicer
• Cutco Butcher Knife
• Tuning Fork
• 8 Table Knives
• Knife Sharpener
• Medium Cutting Board

I will note in this Cutco knife review that you can swap out your Petit Chef Knife for a 9 ¼” French Knife instead.

From a bountiful Thanksgiving dinner to a New Year’s appetizer feast and a Valentine’s Day romantic candlelit dinner, this set will take you through all of the little moments in between. Get this Cutco knives set for $1,600.

Cutco Galley + 6 Set with Block Review 

Consider dinner complete with the Cutco Galley + 6 Set with Block. This 13-piece knife set comes with all the slicing and dicing tools you’ll need to prepare a 5-star feast, cut crudités, or dice up a quick salad.

The oak storage block creates an attractive display on your countertop. The set also includes:

• Trimmer
• Spatula Spreader
• 7 ⅝” Petite Chef Knife
• 6 ¾” Petit Carver
• 9 ¾” Slicer
• Tuning Fork
• 6 Table Knives

Prepare your kitchen for a lifetime of meals, snacks, and easy food prep with the Galley + 6 Set with Block for $1,179. Add some Cutco cutlery to make it complete.

Cutco All Knife Set with Tray Review 

This expansive set completely elevates your prep and cook game. Breeze through cooking for friends or an elegant meal for a solo indulgence. In this Cutco All Knife Set with Tray you’ll get five kitchen essentials:

• Trimmer
• Spatula Spreader
• 7 ⅝” Petite Chef Knife
• 2 ¾” Paring Knife
• 9” Carver

You’ll also get a 5 pc. Knife & Fork Tray to store them all in, a Small Cutting Board, and the Knife Sharpener to keep your tools in tip-top shape. Choose from pearl, black, or red handles.

Get this option from the Cutco knife sets for $629.

Cutco KA-BAR® Explorer Review

Made from 440A high-carbon stainless steel, the KA-BAR Explorer looks like it means business. Combining a Double-D edge (sort of like serrated, but not) with a straight edge, this multifaceted blade can handle slicing, sawing, and chopping—even in wet conditions, thanks to the textured handle.

The blade itself has an epoxy powder coating to help it stand up to the elements, and at its base is a guard and pommel to stop your hand from slipping. Accompanied by a plastic sheet, the KA-BAR Explorer is $260.

Cutco Fisherman’s Solution Review 

Filleting a fish takes skill, but the proper cut has more to do with the knife you use than anything else.

The Fisherman’s Solution features a high-carbon stainless steel blade that effortlessly slices through fish, making the process last a matter of seconds. You can even adjust this blade from 6” to 9” to fillet a range of fish.

What’s more, is that this Cutco fillet knife can handle more than filleting fish. It’s an all-around great tool to have on hand when you head out on the lake or ocean. The built-in line cutter gets you out of tricky situations in a pinch, while the gripper assists in unhooking your catch.

Use the sharpening stone to bring life back into any dull hooks you have lying around. This Swiss Army knife of fishing is $129.

Cutco Reviews: What Do Customers Think?

So far, I love the look of the brand’s knife selection. But, if you’re like us, you may be wondering how these knives perform at home. If so, you’re in luck, because this is the part of the Cutco knife review where I show you real customer testimonials found from a thorough web search as of April 2023.

Turning to the brand’s website first, I was impressed to find that its best-sellers received incredible ratings. I’ll show you what I found below.

• Trimmer: an average of 4.9/5 stars from 1.5k reviews
• Paring Knife: an average of  4.9/5 stars from 512 reviews
• Traditional Cutco Cheese Knife: an average of  4.9/5 stars from 549 reviews
• Super Shears: an average of  4.9/5 stars from 1.5k reviews
• Cutco Hunting Knife: an average of  4.8/5 stars from 147 reviews

I decided to take a deeper look into the Trimmer because it’s one of the brand’s most popular products. This item has an incredible rating breakdown that shows 1.5k perfect reviews and just 9 1-star scores.

The Trimmer also scored 5/5 Reliability and 5/5 Sharpness. But I’ll now get into the actual customer comments.

Buyers rave about the cutting ability of this product. One customer reports that it has lasted more than two decades: “bought this knife about 25 years ago and I absolutely LOVE it!! It is my go to knife for everything and it is still sharp and has no nicks or anything!!”

I love reading about products that last a long time. And, considering the price, I think that makes this product worth it.

So, what could possibly be wrong with this knife? Let’s find out. Among the 9 1-star reviews, customers complain of dull edges, or that the knife cuts on an angle. Some also speak of the awkward handle.

One Cutco knife review reads, “The Trimmer feels flimsy and just doesn’t feel solid in my hand. I’ve tried cutting different vegetables and it feels like the blade isn’t cutting straight through.” From what I’ve read, this certainly doesn’t sound typical of the brand.

It’s always a good idea to venture off of the company’s website to find reviews with a little more depth than single comments. So, I turned to The Spruce Eats for a detailed review of the Petit Chef Knife, which the site rated 4.6/5 stars.

I chose this review because it goes into depth with information on the handle’s fit. The handle is, perhaps, the most controversial feature of the brand’s knives, so I was happy to find some more information on it.

The Cutco knife review said that “when we started to use the knife, it fit like a glove, almost like magic…our fingers gripped it properly because of where they fit in the valleys, which resulted in a relaxed and comfortable grasp.” This was very helpful to read because some don’t appreciate this feature.

Though the review loved many things about the Petite Chef Knife, it did list some downsides as well. The three cons it pointed out were the knife’s cost, that it needs to be hand-washed, and that it is “slightly shorter than typical chef knives.” All three of these things aren’t deal-breakers to the reviewer, and they certainly aren’t to us either.

Let’s take a left turn here to check out a Cutco product that isn’t a knife, the Super Shears. They have a 4.8/5 star rating on Amazon, awarded to them by 437 customers. 

So what did customers have to say about them? Well, one happy 20-year Super Shears user wrote, “These are the best and I hope to use them for the next 20 or 30 years. They stay sharp, clean easily; useful for cutting up veggies or chicken; cut flowers, cut up boxes or paper.” It’s good to read that they have many uses and can handle different textures.

So, are Cutco knives good? Across review sites, I was really impressed by the performance and quality of the brand’s products. Many long-time customers trust the brand and have enjoyed using its knives and kitchen accessories. Though there are slight issues here and there, I didn’t find any red flags.

Is Cutco Worth It?

Cutco products are on the higher end of the cost spectrum, but that doesn’t matter if they’re quality pieces that will last a lifetime. And these will—because the brand makes that promise with its Forever Guarantee.

If at any time your knife breaks, becomes dull, or needs repairs, you can send it back to get fixed up. Even if you’re doing something you’re not supposed to with them, like cutting rocks, you can send it in and get a new one for half price.

I love companies like this that bend over backward for customers, which is probably why Cutco has been in business for over 70 years. Though its knives are pricey, they last forever, and many customers report that they stay sharp for 10+ years as well.

With all of that in mind, I stand behind my belief that Cutco is worth the buy.

Alternatives

If Cutco ain’t cuttin’ it for you, here are some similar brands that sell knives and other kitchenware:

• Hocho: Traditional Japanese cooking knives are among a chef’s favorite tools, though they’re hard to come by. Hocho Knives is a distributor that carries many different knives that are carefully crafted with high-quality materials.
• Deejo: Deejo is a manufacturer of ultra-lightweight and customizable pocket knives. Its straight-edge or serrated stainless steel blades are fitted with a selection of dependable wood and carbon fiber handles, with matte and titanium finishes.
• Misen: Misen knives are made from pro-grade AUS-10 Japanese steel. Their blades have 2.5x more carbon than other options out there, and they’re able to handle both hard and soft tasks.

Cutco Promotions & Discounts 

I reviewed the brand’s website to find out if they had any deals going on. Here’s what I found:

• Free gift with a $299 purchase
• Enter your email for a chance to win a $100 gift card
• Exclusive Owner Specials: unlock rewards 
• Free Sharpening

Where To Buy Cutco

You can buy the brand’s products directly through Cutco.com or one of its individual salespeople.

If you’re more of an in-person shopper, you can also find them at the Cutco Knives Costco section at the American or Canadian superstore.

FAQ

Can anyone sharpen Cutco knives?

Any adult can sharpen one of the brand’s knives at home using the brand’s Knife Sharpener I featured earlier in this Cutco knife review.

If you find your knife is too far gone or you aren’t making any headway with your home sharpener, you can take it to a professional sharpening service or send it back to the company for free sharpening.

Are Cutco knives high quality?

Cutco knives are generally considered to be high-quality, but because they are stamped and not forged, their durability may be less than those that are made with fire and a hammer.

Stamping refers to the process in which knives are cut out from a single sheet of steel. If stamping sounds foreign to you, be aware that stamped knives come with their own set of advantages, like being lighter and more flexible.

How much is Cutco shipping?

Cutco Standard Shipping is free. Express shipping costs are outlined below.

• $0-$250: $25
• $250-$500: $40
• $501-$1000: $60
• $1001-$2000: $75
• $2001-$5000 $100
• $5001+ Call for Rates

How long does Cutco take to ship?

Standard Cutco orders take 2-4 weeks to arrive. If you choose Express shipping, you’ll get it in 2-4 business days. If your order is engraved or monogrammed, add an extra 1-2 days. The brand does not ship internationally.

What is Cutco’s Return Policy?

If you try out your Cutco product and find it’s not right for you, you can return it within 15 days of purchase. To request a return or exchange, follow these steps:

1. Head to the Returns Portal on the company’s website
2. Enter the required information
3. Download your return shipping label
4. Follow the instructions on how to package your knives properly
5. Drop off at a local post office

If you live in Canada, simply send your returns or exchanges to: Cutco Customer Service, Returns/Exchanges, 7-2351 Huron Street, London, ON, N5V 0A8.

How to contact Cutco

If you need any other information that wasn’t included in this Cutco knife review, you can get in contact with the brand by any of the methods below:

• Phone: 1-800-361-8800
• Fill out the Contact Form available on its website

Cutco’s customer service hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 12:00 am, or Saturday 9:00 am to 3:00 pm ET.

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