Wüsthof Classic Ikon 2-Piece Prep Set

A galley kitchen or a second home needs only a couple of good knives, and Wüsthof’s Classic Ikon 2-piece prep set supplies a short chef’s knife plus a parer, both with the curved Classic Ikon handle. The pair covers daily chopping and the small jobs in between, and takes up little room in a drawer.

We hear from cooks unsure about blade length. The shorter chef’s knife here is quick and agile, suited to a compact cutting board and to anyone who finds a longer blade unwieldy. For more reach on a melon or a pile of greens, the Classic Ikon 2-piece cook’s set swaps in an 8-inch knife. This set’s Classic Ikon 6-inch chef’s knife and Classic Ikon paring knife are also sold separately.

Classic Ikon knives have a half bolster, which frees the heel of the blade so the whole edge can be sharpened. The handle ends in a second, rear bolster that adds balance. Read our guide to knife shapes to see how the parer and the chef’s knife split the work, and keep the edges aligned with the Classic Ikon honing steel.