Cangshan knives are highly celebrated by both master chefs and at-home foodies alike. While more unknown to the market, they have already won 28 culinary awards including several of the highly coveted Red Dot Design Awards.
Founder Henry Liu started the company in Southern China before moving to the US. The professional chef knives are a perfect blend of beauty and functionality.
No matter if you are a novice in the kitchen or an expert chef, a good-quality knife can make your life a lot easier. Cangshan Cutlery line of products will help you slice and dice your way to a delicious meal, but which knives should you choose from their list of designs and sets?
In this article, we’ll discuss the various Cangshan Knives that will fit your price point along with some of Cangshan other products to compliment your kitchen.
An Overview of Cangshan Knives
When some companies are trying to hide their Chinese manufacturing partners in the shadows, Cangshan proudly boasts of their proud Asian heritage both in name and in branding. Chinese artisan manufacturing is part of what makes these knives so elegant.
These knives are made from German and Swedish steel that give it their signature sharp edge and come with various handles that make them easy for anyone to pick up and use comfortably.
Cangshan Knives Product Line
- Thomas Keller Series: “Michelin-Starred Chef Thomas Keller Premium Knife Line”
- TS Series: “Sleek and Slim”
- TC Series: “Modern Design”
- J Series: “Handcrafted Asian Style Knives”
- R Series: “Singularly Designed with Magnetic Sheath”
- Z Series: “Sharp and Strikingly Designed”
- TG Series: “G10 Fiberglass Handle”
- N1 Series: “Red Dot Design Award Winner”
- S Series: “Dynamic Balance and Sharp Focus”
- S1 Series: “Sleek and Modern with Elemental Beauty”
- A Series: “Rare Luscious African Blackwood Handle”
- W Series: “Red Dot Design Award Winner”
- X Series: “Geometric Design Strikes Perfect Balance”
- H1 Series: “Smooth Contour with Warm Wood Tones”
- K Series: “Unique Stunning Titanium Coated Blade”
- N Series: “Expertly Crafted, Ergonomic Handle”
- Y2 Series: “Bold Design with Nimble Precision”
- D Series: “Elegantly Modern”
- V2 Series: “Simple Classic”
- S+ Series: “Vibrant Colored Handles, Titanium Coated Blade”
- TV2 Series: “Premium Swedish Steel”
- TN1 Series: “Matte Handle, Swedish Steel”
- P2 Series: “Commercial Cutlery”
Best Overall Cangshan Knife Sets
Chances are, you are looking for a complete set of knives to upgrade your kitchen or to give as a gift. Here are 3 of the best Cangshan Knife sets we like the best.
Cangshan Thomas Keller Signature Collection
This extremely high-end 17-piece knife set was designed in partnership with master chef Thomas Keller. The knives are made from Swedish Powder Steel with black handles and are presented in a walnut block.
17-piece set includes:
- 2 3/4″ peeling knife
- 3 1/2″ paring knife
- 5″ serrated utility knife
- 5″ tomato/cheese knife
- Six 5″ fine-edge steak knives
- 6″ boning knife
- 7″ santoku
- 8″ bread knife
- 8″ chef’s knife
- 8″ honing steel
- All-metal kitchen shears
- 16-slot walnut knife block
Pros: Designed for chefs by chefs, this highly functional knife set is highly coveted by trained and hobby cooks alike.
Cons: It has a steep price tag at a little over $1,000.
Cangshan S1 Series 23-Piece Knife Block Set
One of the most beautifully designed knife sets by Cangshan to date, with bold angles and smooth curves, made of German steel, and decorated with white and silver handles.
23-piece set includes:
- 9″ carving knife
- 8″ chef’s knife
- 8″ bread knife
- 7″ santoku knife
- 7″ Nakiri knife
- 6″ boning knife
- 6″ carving fork
- 5″ serrated utility knife
- 5″ straight edge utility knife
- 5″ tomato knife
- 3.5″ paring knife
- 2.75″ peeling knife
- 8 x 5″ fine edge steak knives
- 8″ honing steel
- 9″ 2-piece Shears
- Solid walnut woodblock
Pros: These knives have an outstanding balance, and the set has enough pieces to fully stock your kitchenware with useful knives.
Cons: Wash by hand and dry completely as they can rust if not cared for properly. This knife block could be too large for small kitchens.
Cangshan TN1 Swedish Sandvik Steel 17-Piece Knife Block Set
These hollow-handle knives are just as much a work of art as they a high-quality knife set. This block would make a stunning gift set for a wedding gift. These hand-crafted knives are forged from fine-grain Swedish steel and come in a walnut block.
This set contains:
- 8″ chef’s knife
- 8″ bread knife
- 7″ santoku knife
- 6″ boning knife
- 5″ serrated utility knife
- 5″ tomato knife
- 3.5″ paring knife
- 2.75″ peeling knife
- 6 x 5″ straight edge steak knives
- 8″ honing steel
- 9″ 2-piece Shears
- Solid walnut woodblock
Pros: Beautiful on display and a dream to work within the kitchen; these knives are pretty impressive and are a top seller.
Cons: Some might feel the unique handle is difficult to get used to.
Best Cangshan Knife Set On A Budget
Cangshan V2 Series 5-Piece Starter Set
5-piece set includes:
- 8″ chef’s knife
- 5″ serrated utility knife
- 3.5″ paring knife
- 9″ all-metal detachable shears
- Solid acacia woodblock
Pros: A perfectly priced starter set. If you aren’t ready to buy into a complete set just yet, this gives you the basics you need to cook up a nice meal.
Cons: This set doesn’t include steak knives and has less variety than other sets.
Best Cangshan Steak Knife Set
Cangshan N1 Series 8-Piece Steak Knife Set
The N1 series also comes in a luxurious set of steak knives with a polished acacia wooden block. A steak knife set makes a wonderful gift for anyone that loves to cook. The collection includes 8 steak knives with 5-inch blades. They are made from German steel and boast incredible strength and outstanding balance.
Pros: These are beautiful knives that make a stunning gift at an affordable price.
Cons: High qualify knives aren’t meant for the dishwasher. To get the most from your knives, hand wash them and dry them immediately to avoid rust.
Other Cangshan Products We Love
In addition to knives, Cangshan makes several useful cooking accessories. Here are some of our favorite products besides their quality knives.
Cutting Board
Knife Block
If you bought one or two single knives, Cangshan offer this minimalist knife block to display and protect them. Made from walnut, This sleek looking block is ideal for a small kitchen and maintains a strong fashion sense. Available in one or two slots, this block makes grabbing a knife very easy while protecting them from dulling unnecessarily.
Magnetic Knife Bar
Are Cangshan Knives Good?
Cangshan knives made such a splash upon their launch that they drew the attention of master chef Thomas Keller who partnered with them on his line of Cangshan knives. These functional knives include ergonomic handles that make this chef knife a favorite with celebrity chefs and everyday aspiring celebrity chefs!
Where Are Cangshan Knives Made?
While Mr. Liu eventually moved himself and his company to the United States, the knives themselves are still made in China, where the knives’ original conception first came to life.
Why We Love Cangshan Knives
Although Cangshan knives are expertly made from the highest quality materials, they’re designed to cover various budgets and uses. Offering both top shelf and middle-grade sets allows them to be useful for everyone.
The knives are both stylish and dependable. The attractive handle design coupled with a comfortable grip, make any specific task easy to accomplish.
Cangshan Knives – FAQ
Are Cangshan Knives Good For BBQ Lovers?
Constantly cutting into large chunks of meat can be hard on a knife, so many avid BBQ fans will want to know if Cangshan knives are meant for the grilling life. You’ll be happy to hear that not only are these knives up to the task, but there is also a specific BBQ set called the Cangshan S Series 7-piece BBQ Knife Set.
What are Cangshan Knives Made Of?
Cangshan knives are made of German or Swedish steel, depending on which set you purchase. Most of the mood is walnut or acacia.
Does Cangshan Provide A Warranty?
Cangshan provides shoppers with a hassle-free limited lifetime warranty. They will repair or replace knives according to their warranty guidelines.
Are Cangshan Knives Dishwasher Safe?
While some of the Cangshan knives are certainly dishwasher safe the best thing to do is to hand wash these knives and dry them properly before storing them to prevent rust. This will increase the lifespan of your knives and keep them looking beautiful.
Things to Consider when Purchasing a Knife Set
- How many knives do you need? While everyone’s needs are different, the foundation should be a Chef’s knife, a Serrated Knife, and a Pairing knife. From there, you can build around these knives to create the ideal set. Cangshan’s knife collection offers various sets to accommodate a beginner in the kitchen to the most experienced chef.
- How do you choose among different sizes? It comes down to the size of your hands. Cangshan offers a variety of different sizes to accommodate just about anyone. Before making a purchase, review the specs to ensure it’s not too small or too big.
- How will you sharpen the knife? There’s no shortage of various products to help keep your knives sharp. The classic sharpening stone is our favorite, but you can opt for sharpening steel along with electric versions as well. Whichever way you sharpen your knives, it’s essential to keep them sharp to maintain their cutting integrity. Cangshan makes quality knives, and you shouldn’t have to worry about sharpening them very often. However, with a lifetime warranty, you’ll need to sharpen them from time to time.
- Where will you store your knives? If you purchase a set of knives with a block, you’re all set. However, if you buy individual knives, consider purchasing a universal block or a knife holder that fits in a drawer. Knives get dull if you leave them loose in your cutlery drawer. We recommend the magnetic knife bar we reviewed. Its clean, minimalist look will add some style to your kitchen.
- How will you maintain your knives? Most of the knives reviewed require them to be hand washed to ensure high quality throughout the years. If you have members of your household that can’t do that, It’s best to purchase a set that is dishwasher safe. However, there are trade-offs and should choose accordingly.
Wrapping it Up
Cangshan is a rising star in the culinary world who has set out to provide professional-level knives to everyday users. The breadth of their product offerings makes this brand worth the purchase.
Depending on how much you cook and your style preference, With a wide series of knives available, Cangshan’s high-quality knives offers the best products to meet your budget. Their accessories make cooking easy with attention to detail on the aesthetics. If you’re in the market for a new set of knives or just need some steak knives, consider adding Cangshan knives as a great cooking partner.
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