7 reasons to love Dexter-Russell Knives

While most chefs think of cooking as an art, it begins as a trade for most. The knife is the most important tool in learning this trade, and the culinary journey begins with a good blade. When trained to keep it sharp, clean and protected, a good knife can last the full span of a chef’s career.

Your essential knives should be an investment in your love of food and cooking. Using the right tools for the right jobs are essential for developing skills for any chef or cook.

Here are 7 reasons why you should buy Dexter-Russell.

1. Dexter-Russel is a highly rated, all American brand.

Dexter-Russell is one of the largest manufacturers of professional cutlery in the United States. They make a range of high-quality, heavy-duty knives suitable for every task imaginable in the kitchen: butchering, trimming meat, boning, chopping, slicing and dicing. It is also the cutlery manufacturer that is copied the most in the industry by import manufacturers.

2. Dexter makes both stamped and forged knives.

We know the difference between the two is what affects the cost. Stamped knives are made from a sheet of steel that runs through a press and multiple blades are punched into a specific shape.

Forged knives are made by heating and melting metal until it’s soft enough to be reshaped into a blade, requiring highly specialized machinery or expert craftsmanship.

Forged knives are often heavier than stamped knives, which makes them better at performing and easier to use. Forged knives are heirlooms for many because, if they are cared for, they can outlast the chef!

3.Dexter uses a 400 and above quality steel grade.

Most cutlery steel is a 400 series steel grade. This means that it has a lower amount of nickel content, and usually a high amount of iron and chromium that makes it more durable but less corrosion resistant than pots, pans and flatware (which uses a 300 series grade of stainless steel).

Dexter uses a proprietary steel that is based on a 420, high-carbon grade. Also referred to as “surgical steel” for their kitchen knives.

Pro tip: When you purchase high-quality steel knives, do not put them in any dishwasher. They can become damaged over time with constant washing in high heat with other steel items that are 300 grade steel quality, as they trade elements in the washing and heating process. You can end up with pitting and rusting on your knives

The best way to clean quality knives is to wash them in a sink after use and dry immediately.

4. Dexter uses heat-treating to forge steel blades that last.

The purpose of treating steel with heat is to bring it to its appropriate hardened state. Knives need to be hard enough through continuous abrasion but should still be soft enough to withstand forceful use without breaking. The steel must be heat treated at the proper temperature for the proper amount of time. A properly treated knife will hold a blade edge for much longer than a poorly heat-treated blade.

With heat, Dexter achieves the following with their top-of-the-line cutlery, including the iCut Pro and Connoisseur series:

• Strength
• Flexibility
• Resistance to Wear
• Resistance to Wear
• Corrosion Resistance

5. Dexter gives you an edge on the competition.

Dexter makes sure their knives are sharpest when you buy them. They believe that how the edge of the knife is shaped, sharpened and assembled with the handle are a direct reflection of how long a knife will last and how durable it is.

The company uses precision grinding to remove the thicker bulk of the blade (like what would be seen on a regular knife). According to the company, a thinner blade is the most ideal for professional use, because it makes for better slicing and overall handling with ease. The company also sharpens and bevels their knives in the same place where they are assembled to provide consistent quality to their customers.

Dexter Russell makes over 200 blade shapes and can make customized knife products for their customers.

6. Dexter provides tools for keeping that edge sharp.

Dexter knows that any quality knife will still dull with continued use. All knives arrive to customers at their sharpest, with a feathered edge. As it is used, that feathered edge eventually folds over. The company recommends using the butcher steel to straighten out that edge and restore to like-new condition.

After further use over time, the feathered edge may break off. In this case, the Sani-safe Diamond Sharpener is a great tool to create a new edge.

Even after creating that new edge, a well-used blade can still become dull, because each time it is sharpened the blade gets worn back, becoming thicker each time. It can get so thick that although it is sharp, any kitchen operator will have a hard time cutting soft-skinned food like tomatoes.

When this happens, it is best to use Dexter’s knife sharpening service, where you can send your knives to the company to be professionally sharpened for that factory-finished edge. They provide all the tools to help you maintain your quality product. See all of Dexter’s knife sharpening tools here.

7. Dexter provides quality knives for all budgets.

ACityDiscount knows that executive chefs, cooks, and culinary students alike are looking for the best deal on kitchen tools. That’s why we carry products from Dexter’s top-tiered chef knife lines, ranked in terms of good, better and best.

Good

Sani-Safe: This line of cutlery and kitchen tools are made and fully assembled in America. Built to be tough and sanitary, Sani-safe knives have a textured, slip resistant polypropylene handle that is sealed around the blade, and can withstand both extremely high and low temperatures. It is a staple in the industry, is NSF approved and is available in HACCP colors.

Better

iCut Pro: This line is for chefs who prefer a high-quality forged knife at an affordable price. The company outsources some of their steel from Japan for this line, in order to provide a superior product at the prices you see. The edges of this knife are individually ground and sharpened all the way to the end. The handles are made of a sturdy Santoprene® (a type of thermoplastic that feels like soft rubber) that gives chefs a good grip.

Best

Connoisseur line:Dexter oversees every process of making their connoisseur line, as they are a true manufacturer. They also handle all the sharpening, polishing and packaging of their knives. Having full quality control of their product ensures that any chef can bet on a long-lasting piece of equipment.

Most imported knives from other manufacturers are assembled in a different place than they are sharpened and even cut, which leaves room for error and a product of lesser quality.

Designed for executive chefs and front-of-the-house use in fine, upscale dining at restaurants, hotels and other institutions, this line uses a heavier, German steel that is brought to the factory in small batches. The blade is accompanied by a sanitary engineered, rosewood handle, the only one in the industry that is NSF approved because it is made to be non-porous. The blade is also ground and sharpened to the ultimate edge and has a great weight to it, which helps make precise cuts of surgeon quality.

Dexter also makes a competition knife in this line, which has the five main cuts and their sizes etched onto one side of the blade, and a ruler etched onto the other side—great for culinary school adepts.

Need help finding the right knife or kitchen tool? Call ACityDiscount’s sales team at 404-752-6715 or stop by our Norcross showroom at 6286 Dawson Blvd. NE in Norcross, GA 30093.