Misen knives review

In September 2015 Misen launched a successful Kickstarter campaign that raised nearly $1M to introduce the Cook's knife at affordable prices. Misen tried something very different –   their knives were $30 and rivaled their competitors at two to two times the price. 

In this article, we're going to take a look at Misen as a brand and its products to see what Misen knives are all about. We'll also review whether or not they are worth the price that they currently sell them at. Previously, we have talked about the best shucking knife.

All about Misen knives. 

Misen 8-inch chef knife 

The Misen 8-inch chef knife only costs $65. Premium knives usually cost around $150-200. Misen manufactures its knives at the Chinese market, traditionally without a significant cost of production. The knives don't have added accessories. Rare handles or specialized bladework such as hand hammering or Granton corners are not found in Misen's collection. This range has been designed for performance and clean styling and offers quality performance. In some ways, the collection can compete with other knives that cost twice as much. However, Misen does not produce a wide range of different products to meet all needs of cooks. Whether or not this is an advantage depends on your budget and preferences.

Misen Paring Knife

Misen's paring knife follows the same design of construction with an affordability of just $30. Both right and left-handed users can use this knife. The pressure point lies on the user’s fingers and moves against the back of the blade. Reviews seem to like the flattened edge at the top of the paring blade but the basic grip of the handle is different from the knuckler's edge. Misen Paring Knife has a sharp edge and it cuts through the soft flesh of fruits without much effort. As for every paring knife, delicate vegetables require more caution than hard produce such as apples and carrots.

Misen Serrated Knife Review

The girdled knife is made of high-performance Japanese steel. The blade features 32 pointed edge points with thick and wide serrations for optimized grip and smoother cuts. This knife costs around $60 and you may soon find that you’ll start using more of it each day. The blade is made of premium steel with enhanced edge retention. Infusing the blade to soft materials, the blade can cut through soft foods such as squash and pineapple, yet it is so easy to cut hard foods as well.

Misen Knife Material

The harder steel used in MIsen knives is more durable, however, it becomes stiffer as well. Harder steel is harder when sharpening and honing and usually takes twice the time. This steel is used for most medium-size Japanese kitchen knives. Moreover, Misen knives don't have a bolster. The blade and handle join together at the front end of the knife. A bolster offers extra control while working with precise but tough ingredients such as ginger root, garlic, or lemongrass.

Downsides

Misen makes knives in China, which can prove problematic for cooks. The steel is good enough for home cooking but professional cooks may prefer something more durable and that holds a better edge.Also, Misen doesn't offer much transparency about the materials they make their knives from. It's also unclear if the knives are made of one chunk of steel or two pieces that are forced together.

However, a Misen Knife offers a lot for the price. The 8-inch chef's knife is good enough to compete with other high-end knives even though it has no bolster and doesn't hold an edge forever.

Is Misen Cookware worth it?

Misen is a solid product to start with when starting to build up your kitchen. In fact, Misen proves you don't have to spend a lot of money to find well-built cooking tools and expertly designed kitchen utensils.

Performance

In general, the Misen Chef knife is sharp and holds the edge well. It handled big foods easily and I liked the way it was cut and diced. It's so durable it needs no sharpening for about 90 days. Overall this knife delivers. It is clear and easily cleaned and sharpened.

Also, Misen offers a lifetime of free sharpening so you can go ahead and use this knife as much as you like.

What should I look for when buying knives?

The steel: Soft steel takes on out more damage but is easier to sharpen while harder steel holds an edge longer, has swiffer sharpening time but cuts down on your arm strength.

The handle: Wood handles are classic in kitchen tools but they get dirty and need care and maintenance. Plastic handles are something you should avoid because they absorb germs and bacteria easily. Rubber doesn't offer as much comfort as wood does and metal is tough on many types of foods.

The bolster: A bolster provides stability and control as you cut. If a knife doesn't have a bolster, it's probably western style or Japanese style which can handle both right and left-handed users easily.

Weight: Weight is also important. Heavy knives are great for crushing but cause tired arms when chopping vegetables all day long. Light knives work well with tough meats and onions but are less strong to slice bread carefully.

Balance: Remember that the blade always needs more weight than the handle so it doesn't waver while cutting through foodstuffs. 

What’s the difference between a German chef's knife and a Japanese knife?

Both knives are designed with a high carbon steel core for durability and a stainless substrate. Japanese knives are much thinner in design, allowing you to slice through food more easily while the German chef's knife has thicker edges so it's able to take on more carrots or potatoes in one chop.

Neither blade style is better than the other. Many professional cooks prefer the lighter weight of Japanese knives but many people like the heavier weight of German blades because they feel as if they're getting more power and control when chopping vegetables or cutting pork loin into medallions.

Another difference is the blade design. The Japanese knife features a flatter edge while the German blade has a curved contour along the length of its edge.

German blades are great because you can cut your food a bit faster but Japanese knives offer more mobility and control when slicing, dicing, or cutting with precision.

What makes an exceptional kitchen knife?

Some factors to consider are how it handles weight, whether it holds an edge easily and how easy it is to sharpen and clean. Also, some cooking tools feature specialties such as hollowed blades for easy chopping of green onions ( scallions) or cleavers for pounding meat down flat.

Remember that these are just guidelines to help you when choosing your knives so you can get rid of all the guesswork. Many manufacturers and retailers offer free sharpening for their products, so you should be able to test drive a knife at your local cooking store before buying it.

Final thoughts on Misen knives

Misen is a good knife brand with sharp blades and a comfortable handle. The knives have enough quality for home cooking as well as the commercial kitchen. However, there are more professional knives on the market that offer better quality steel, durability and are equipped with bolsters. 

With that said, Misen is just perfect in terms of value for money so it’s definitely a company to keep in mind if this is important for you.

Finally, check out this Misen Pans review article if you’d like to know more about various products made by this company.