5 Best Mercer Knives: Reviewed & Buyer’s Guide

Mercer is a brand that’s on the rise and gaining popularity for offering high-quality yet affordable knives and knife sets.

As someone who spends most of his time slicing in the kitchen, I’ve had my fair share of Mercer knives, and it’s time to share what I learned throughout the years about the best Mercer knives out there.

In my opinion, the Renaissance 5-Piece set is the way to go for any home-cook or professional chef. This is because it’s budget-friendly and the knives’ construction is unmatched in quality.

So, keep on reading this Mercer knives review to learn more about my top picks, along with a buying guide on how to choose the perfect knife for your needs. Let’s jump in, shall we?

Here Are the Best Mercer Knives Review – Tried & Tested

Without further ado, let’s dive right into my top 5 Mercer knives, with their pros, cons, and everything in between.

1. Mercer Culinary Renaissance 5-Piece

I’m kicking off this list of knife reviews with one of the best knife sets of all time: the Mercer Culinary Renaissance 5-Piece set. When first using these knives, I was left in awe of how smooth they perform and how sharp they are.

The first thing that drew my attention to these knives is how comfortable the handle is. Made from Delrin, this handle provides you with incredible grip and comfort. Besides, the full tang provides the knives with a balanced feel in your hand.

Now, let’s talk about the blade. The one-piece, forged blade is made from high-carbon German steel that resists stains, corrosion, and discoloration over time, so your knives will always look and feel brand new if you take care of them.

As for the board that comes with the set, it’s magnetic. So you can leave the knives out for display, and they’ll add a nice touch to your kitchen counters.

Besides the magnetic board, this 5-piece set comes with a 5-inch utility knife, an 8-inch wavy edge bread knife, an 8-inch chef’s knife, and a 3-1/2-inch paring knife. That ensures that all the set pieces are usable, and nothing will be left unused in the drawers.

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2. Mercer Culinary Genesis 6-Piece

Let me introduce you to another excellent set from Mercer, which is the Culinary Genesis 6-Piece set. This set comes with 5 knives and a block for a reasonable price point. On top of that, considering how high-quality the knives are, this set offers unmatched value for the money!

The blades are made from high-carbon, no-stain German steel, and they’re full tang. These knives are incredibly well-balanced and comfortable to use; you’ll find yourself wanting to cook more and more.

Speaking of comfort, the knives have Santoprene handles that provide the user with a non-slip grip, even if your hands are wet. That’s especially convenient when you consider how sharp these knives are.

In addition to the incredibly stylish board, this set includes a 3-1/2-inch paring knife, a 5-inch utility knife, a 6-inch flexible boning knife, an 8-inch wavy edge bread knife, and an 8-inch chef’s knife.

Now, let’s talk about the knife block; you can choose from three options: a magnetic board, a glass block, and a wood and glass block. Each option offers a different look, and you can choose between them depending on which one will fit the decor of your kitchen best. 

However, I have to mention that if you have low cabinets, the blocks might be too high for the knives to be accessible.

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3. Mercer Culinary Partners in Education 13-Piece

Suppose you’re planning to take culinary classes, or you’re just on the lookout for a full culinary kit with all the tools one could need in the kitchen. In that case, you’ll love the Mercer Culinary Partners in Education 13-Piece set.

Let’s start with the grip of the knives. The knives come with handles that are a combination of Santoprene and Polypropylene. Thanks to the textured finger points, the handles are comfortable to hold, and they won’t slip out of your hands while using them.

As for the blades, they’re constructed with high-carbon Japanese steel, and they’re incredibly sharp; you should be careful while using these knives! Even though the blades offer just 3/4 tang, the knives are still well-balanced.

This 13-piece starter set comes with a high-quality knife roll with 7 pockets, an 8-inch chef’s knife, an 8-inch wavy edge bread knife, a 6-inch boning knife, and a 3-inch paring knife. Moreover, it also comes with a 10-inch sharpening steel, a peeler, a thermometer, and a cut ruler.

If that doesn’t seem like a total of 13-pieces to you, it’s because each knife comes with a guard, and these guards are counted as pieces. So, be careful when getting this set because, without the guards, it’s only a 9-piece set.

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4. Mercer Culinary Züm

If you’re not looking for a set and just want an excellent high-quality knife of your choice, you have to take a look at Mercer’s Culinary Züm knives.

Being made from high-carbon German steel, these knives are made to last. They resist stains, rust, and discoloration if you take good care of them (so, no washing them in the dishwasher!). At this price point, you won’t find any knife that performs better than Mercer’s Züm.

The blade is one-piece forged, providing the knife with durability, strength, and sharpness. Besides, the full tang gives you a well-balanced knife that’s easy to work with.

Moreover, the knives’ edges are sharp like no other; you’ll be able to make precise cuts and slices for a long time without the edge going dull.

Even though these knives come with a Delrin handle that’s incredibly comfortable to hold, I found the handle to be a little too short for my liking. I wish I had more room to grip the knife properly.

Züm knives come in different styles, including chef’s, carving, wavy edge bread, fillet, santoku, wavy-edge utility, paring, and boning options. The knives’ sizes range from 3-1/2 up to 10 inches, so you’re guaranteed to find the perfect knife for your needs.

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5. Mercer Culinary MX3 Premium San Mai VG-10

If you’re on the lookout for a premium knife that can hold out in the kitchen, the Mercer Culinary MX3 Premium San Mai VG-10 knives are exactly what you’re seeking.

When Mercer described these knives as “premium,” they knew what they were talking about because when I first held this knife, I knew I was going to fall in love with it. You can tell from the first use that these knives are made to last.

The knives’ VG-10 super stainless steel construction is laminated with high-carbon stainless steel outer layers, ensuring that your knife will remain as good and as sharp as new for a while.

Whichever knife you go for, you can rest assured that you’ll be getting a sharp edge that can cut through anything.

As for the grip, these knives come with Delrin handles that are incredibly comfortable to hold and provide you with a firm grip over the knife. When combining the grip with the knife’s sharpness, you’ll only end up with precise cuts and slices.

On top of that, the knives are full tang, providing the holder with a balanced feel and good control over the knife.

The MX3 Premium San Mai knives come in different styles: Petty, Nakiri, Santoku, Gyuto, and Sujihiki, with size options ranging from 5 inches to 11.8 inches.

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Buying Guide: What to Expect From Mercer Knives?

If you’re interested in a Mercer knife, but you don’t know where to start, you’re in luck! Here’s a thorough buying guide to help you choose from the many options on the market.

Type of Knife

Are you looking for a full set of knives to get you started on your cooking journey, or are you just looking for a specific knife to fill a gap in your collection? You need to ask yourself that question before you start looking at Mercer knife options.

After you’ve decided whether you want a set or just one knife, start asking yourself what you’ll be using the knives for. Mercer offers a lot of styles, from regular chef’s knives to Japanese-style knives, and it might be challenging to spot the perfect knife for you.

Once you’ve narrowed down what you’re looking for to just a few options, start looking for the perfect knife and see what other users have to say about it before making your final purchase.

Blade

Mercer offers two blade materials: German steel and Japanese steel; here are the key differences between the two.

The German steel blades are the better option for home cooking where you’re looking for a knife that does it all. On the flip side, if you’re looking for a sharp knife for precise slicing, you need to opt for one of the Japanese steel options.

There’s no ultimate winner between the two materials; it just depends on what you’re looking for.

Tang

If you want your knife to be well-balanced, it’s a no-brainer that you need to look for a full tang knife.

The fact that the blade extends all the way down the handle of the knife makes the knife more balanced, and no side is heavier than the other. On top of that, full tang knives tend to last longer because they’re more robust.

Handle

When it comes to the handle, all Mercer knives are incredibly comfortable to hold. Just make sure you see what users say about your knife of choice, but it’s unlikely that you’ll find any complaints when it comes to the handle.

Care and Maintenance

Mercer knives require good care if you want them to stay sharp for as long as possible. Here are some general tips to make your life a little easier:

1. Avoid washing your knives in the dishwasher
2. Wash the knives with warm water and mild soap
3. Don’t soak the knives for too long
4. Dry the knives well before putting them away

Competitors

Even though Mercer is a unique brand that stands out from the competition, there’s still competition. Knives from brands like Maxam, Sabatier, and more are of high quality and might be worth your time. Do your research well before settling on a knife!

FAQs

Final Words

Now that you know how high-quality Mercer knives are, what are you waiting for? Start looking for the perfect knife or knife set for your needs.

As a quick recap, the Mercer Culinary Renaissance 5-Piece set is the way to go if you’re looking for an inclusive kit to get you going. Still, all the knives from Mercer are long-lasting, sharp, and comfortable to hold, so don’t be scared to go out and try different options!