Cangshan Oliv Knife Set Review
This beautiful wooden knife set combines form and function
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Cangshan Oliv Series 8-Piece Knife Block Set
Pros
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Reliably sharp
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Comfortable, balanced handles
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Attractive design
Cons
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Kitchen shears don't perform well
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Wooden handles and block require special attention
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If you were to splurge on any one kitchen tool, we think it should be a high-quality knife set. Without sharp, durable knives, cooking tasks become much more cumbersome (and potentially dangerous). Since these are tools you'll likely keep on display for easy access, investing in a set with an attractive design doesn't hurt either. That's why we tested the Cangshan Oliv Series 8-piece Knife Block Set (available at Amazon) , which features solid wood handles and a maple wood knife block to combine form and function.
During testing, we found that this set seriously delivers when it comes to consistent sharpness and comfortable handles. But those attributes floundered slightly when it came to the shears, and wooden handles may mean more intensive upkeep required over time.
For a lower maintenance option, check out the Misen Knife Set, which comes with an ergonomic set of kitchen shears.
About the Cangshan Oliv Knife Set
Cangshan is a cutlery brand renowned by culinary experts like chef Thomas Keller (Cangshan's brand ambassador) for its authentic handmade craftsmanship in China's renowned knife district, use of high-quality materials, and award-winning products.
The 8-piece Oliv Series knife set includes an 8-inch chef's knife, 8-inch serrated bread knife, 7-inch santoku knife, 5-inch serrated utility knife, 3.5-inch paring knife, 9-inch come-apart shears, a 9-inch honing steel, and a maple wood knife block.
Each knife features handles that are crafted from solid olivewood and blades forged from durable Swedish steel. Each knife scores a 59 on the Rockwell Hardness Scale (which measures the hardness of a metal and its resistance to indentation under force. The smaller the indentation, the higher the score). That score is right in the sweet spot of the HRC scale, as anything lower than 55 could be too soft to withstand regular use, and anything over 64 could be too brittle and may break during use.
This set also comes with a lifetime warranty against defective material or craftsmanship.
How we tested the Cangshan Oliv Knife Set
We took these knives through several rounds of testing (in addition to casual kitchen usage) in order to gauge their functionality.
We conducted standard knife set testing when evaluating the Cangshan Oliv set, including common (and often challenging) kitchen tasks suited to each individual knife.
We used both the chef's knife and santoku knife to slice onions, chop fresh herbs, and cut through tough butternut squash; the paring knife for slicing tomatoes and fresh fruit; the serrated knife to cut through varying loaves of bread; and the serrated utility knife for in-between tasks like slicing through meat and thick-skinned citrus fruits. We also evaluated how it felt to use the kitchen shears for cutting through food packages and twine.
Beyond specific testing, we also used the knives in this set casually in day-to-day kitchen tasks, washing them according to manufacturer instructions, and monitoring for any deterioration or warping over time.
What we like about this Cangshan Knife Set
The blades are reliably and consistently sharp
Each blade glided through both delicate and tough ingredients with ease.
Immediately after unboxing this knife set and putting it to use, we were delighted by the sharpness of each knife. None of them required any sharpening before they were effortlessly gliding through food.
The santoku and chef's knives sliced through tough ingredients like squash and sweet potatoes with very little effort, the serrated knife sliced through bread by making clean cuts without tearing, and the paring knife sliced through delicate tomato skin cleanly.
Each blade is hand-forged from a fine-grained Swedish steel that offers stain resistance and longevity that Cangshan claims is five times stronger than German steel. Although we only used this knife set for a few weeks, we can attest to the fact that by the end of testing, these knives still felt as though they were just unboxed for the first time.
Well-designed handles and good balance make for comfortable slicing
The comfortable handles on these knives means it's easy to cut through tough ingredients.
Whether we were using these knives to quickly chop a clove of garlic or take time slicing through several thick cuts of meat, we never found our hands cramping or feeling uncomfortable.
The well-balanced design of each knife and the inherent shape of the handles translated into comfortable slicing and dicing, regardless of the task. Even long-term usage of the knives in the set proved to be a comfortable experience—which says a lot for small hands (like mine) which can struggle with certain knife handle shapes, especially during difficult tasks.
The set offers a complete toolkit for a variety of tasks
From slicing large loaves of bread to delicate cuts of fish, there's an appropriate tool in this set.
This knife set is comprehensive and versatile, with a blade to match virtually any slicing and dicing task you may encounter in the kitchen.
The chef's knife is, of course, the workhorse of the kitchen that can tackle anything from thick cuts of meat to hearty squash and other vegetables. The santoku knife is equally versatile with a slimmer build, better suited for more delicate tasks like slicing fish and herbs. The serrated knife is ideal for slicing through bread and delicate tomatoes, while the paring knife is ideal for more intricate tasks like peeling fruit and deveining shrimp.
The included honing steel is useful for realigning blade edges of the knife after long-term use, and the included shears are helpful to have on hand for cutting through packaging and even foods like pizza and whole chickens.
There's also a serrated utility knife included in this set, which we found to be the least useful, but can still be helpful for tasks that call for a serrated blade at a smaller scale. However, since all the other knives glided through foods with such ease, we didn't find ourselves reaching for this one very often.
What we don’t like
The kitchen shears are uncomfortable to hold
In contrast to the rest of the knives in the set, the shears do not seem ergonomic—especially for small hands.
Although we appreciated that this set comes with kitchen shears (which are always handy to have in a kitchen setting), we were disappointed by their function.
While every knife in this set was comfortable to hold and resisted any unsafe sliding in our hands while in use, the shears did not deliver those same results. The handles do not feature silicone or any otherwise non-slip material, which means they are tough to grip. We also found the holes in the handles to be larger than average, which made maneuvering all the more difficult.
The wooden handles (and block) are susceptible to longevity issues
Although the olivewood design is one of the aesthetic trademarks of this set, we'd be remiss not to mention the inherent risk that comes with wood-handled utensils.
Unlike knives with metal or plastic handles, wood requires more attention to detail and regular upkeep to prevent unwanted side effects like warping, discoloration, and splintering.
Cangshan recommends periodically applying a coat of food-safe mineral oil or butcher block conditioner to the knife block to ensure longevity, and making sure your blades are always dry before storing them.
A similar level of care and attention should be given to the knife handles, as well, to ensure they don't dry out and crack over time. Cangshan warns against keeping the knives in hot water over long periods and recommends thoroughly drying all parts after washing.
Although olive wood is typically more durable than other less expensive options on the market, it's still something to keep in mind for a product you'll likely use daily.
Should you buy the Cangshan Oliv Knife Set?
Absolutely, especially if you're attracted to the wooden design
This attractive and durable knife set is a solid investment for professional chefs and casual home cooks alike.
As long as you don't mind the extra care required for wooden knife handles, this Cangshan knife set could be your new favorite cooking sidekick.
With a variety of knives included to help you tackle every kitchen task—plus the peace of mind from knowing that each piece has been handcrafted and built to last—this knife set is worth the investment. It delivers just as well on aesthetics as it does on performance and comfort.
But if you'd rather invest in a non-wooden option, check out our roundup of the best knife sets. (And for a pair of supplemental kitchen shears that are reliable and won't break the bank, check out our favorite OXO Good Grips Kitchen Scissors).
With handcrafted wooden handles and durable Swedish steel, this high-quality knife set is built to last.