Recently I had the opportunity to try a Misen Knife. I’ve never had a “nice” knife before. Most of the knives I’ve owned have been hand me downs, wedding gifts, or found at the local grocery store when I broke one. So it was exciting to have the opportunity to try Misen Knife, especially with the cooking I’ve done recently.
Misen knife did send me a knife to try, but all thoughts and opinions are my own.
About Misen:
Misen Knife is pronounced “Mee-Zen,” which means ode to ‘mise en place.’ I learned that ‘mise en place’ means “to put in place.” Like a chef preparing their work station.
Admittedly, I did not know a lot about Misen so I did some research. They cut out of the retail middleman and sell directly to consumers online. This means that they are cheaper than similar competitors, but the quality remains good. Misen is originally known for their Misen knives, but they make A LOT of different products!
First, they make several different types of knives, including:
- Chefs Knife:
- Short Chefs Knife: For smaller handed people
- Paring Knife: for precision cuts
- Utility Knife: for big jobs
- Santoku Knife: flatter blade edge knife
- Serrated Knife: For bread
- Steak Knives: As the name suggests, for steak
Cookware:
- Nonstick pans
- Carbon steel pans
- Stainless steel skillet, saucier, and 3 QT Saute
- Stainless Steel Stockpot
- Stainless Steel Roasting Pans
Misen also makes several accessories, including spatulas, sharpening stones, a cutting board, and of course, a knife storage block.
About the Misen Chefs Knife:
At just $65, the Chefs knife is a versatile knife that combines the features of both Western and Japanese style blades. It’s designed to cut everything you need. It’s the jack of all trades knife that theoretically you can buy for most situations.
What Makes a Great Knife?
As I mentioned, I’ve never had an excellent knife. I didn’t even know “what makes a knife great.” To me, it can cut well and is durable. After doing some research, I learned the knife world is divided into two different categories:
- Japanese steel is known to be razer sharp.
- German steel: known to tough and durable
Misen combines both types of steel to be both durable and sharp.
Misen Knife Features:
So what makes the Misen Knife different?
- Handcrafted: The Misen knife was developed over the course of 4 years and went through 37 prototypes! That’s a lot of prototypes. It was tested along the way by professional chefs, home cooks, product designers, and your very basic “never held a knife people” (like me).,
- Premium AUS-10 Steel: The premium steel makes the Misen knife more durable.
- 15 Degree Blade Angle: Most knives are known to have a “25-degree blade angle,” but 15 degrees is a sharper cutting face.
- Unique Sloped Bolster: The Misen knife has a sloped grip that helps with comfort and control.
Caring for Your Misen Knife:
The AUS-10 Japanese Steel in Misen Knifes is known for durability, which means far less maintenance. You shouldn’t need to get it sharpened as much.
My Experience with Misen Knife:
Now that you know all of that, it’s important to share my Misen Knife experience. That’s why you’re here right? Since it was my first quality knife, I wasn’t sure what to expect.
It arrived at my house in a nice box. I felt like I was opening a premium electronic.
Using the Misen Knife:
I’ve used Misen Knife for several different things now, including cutting vegetables and cutting meat. It handles everything well. If you’ve ever cut beets with a bad knife, you know you’re risking a trip to the emergency room with every slice. It cut everything with ease and I noticed a difference.
It’s easy to handle. I appreciate it’s heavier and doesn’t slide around in my hands.
Cost:
For $60, the Chefs Knife sure does deliver. I would never guess a knife “this premium” is this inexpensive. It feels like a knife you see in the expensive stores. Until recently I didn’t even know knives could cost $3000! My cooking journey has really opened my eyes to how fancy and expensive some cooking and equipment is.
Misen Knife Conclusion:
If you find yourself cooking more, the Misen Knife is a great option. I’ve had it for about a month now with no issues. It’s durable, inexpensive, and gets what you want to be done. It’s a great multipurpose knife that you aren’t spending a small fortune and can do almost anything you want.
I’m looking forward to continuing to use it, and I haven’t had any issues. I’ve been happy with the chef’s knife, and I think I’m going to get a new set of steak knives. I knew quality made a difference when cooking, but now I really know.
You can try it for yourself here.
Questions for you:
Have you tried Misen Knife?
What is your knife brand of choice?