Kyocera is best known for its phones, cameras, printers and other consumer electronics. But around here, we tend to ignore that stuff and focus instead on their knives. Their knives are a pretty interesting proposition, so read on to find out more.
Kyocera is a global behemoth of a company that makes a ton of different products. Their product lineup is quite diverse, though most of it falls in the area of consumer electronics and electronics components. What many people do not know about Kyocera, though, is that they originally specialized in the design and development of products using high-end ceramics. In fact, the name Kyocera derives from the city where they were founded — Kyoto, Japan — and from the word “Ceramics”. That expertise led them to develop knives that are quite distinct from what most other manufacturers are making.
Ceramic knives are nothing short of revolutionary. Ceramic blades can be given an edge that is sharper than many commercial steels and will hold that edge for a very long time. For many cooks used to a well-worn and infrequently-sharpened steel knife, a ceramic blade can feel like a pleasant surprise.
Ceramic blades are also naturally pathogen-resistant and do not rust. This means that ceramic edges do not need to be cleaned immediately after use as do high-end steel knives.
Finally, ceramic blades do not impart any metal taste upon food being prepared. All this adds up to an attractive proposition in kitchen knives.
The caveats? Well, there are really three. First off, Ceramic is fragile. Drop a ceramic knife and it may chip or break. Steel knives will never do that. Second knock on ceramic knives is that they are impossible to sharpen by a home user. So, while ceramic knives will hold their edge for a long time, when it comes time to resharpen they will need be sent to a professional. And finally, since ceramic knives are brittle, they can not be made as thin or as sharp as a harder high-end steel knives.
These downsides, taken together, mean that professional chefs do not generally opt for ceramic knives. But many a home cook is comfortable with these tradeoffs and swears by their ceramic blades.
Kyocera’s high-end line is called the ‘Kyotop’ series. These blades have a damascus steel patterned blade and pakkawood handles. The Revolution series is the more mainstream line - it’s intended to bring the benefits of ceramic blades to the avid home chef.
Kyocera also offers a full line of shears, peelers, sharpening tools and a mandolin.
Posted on: Apr 7
The slotted blade vegetable peeler is one of the nicest kitchen gadgets you'll find--nearly every kitchen has a couple laying around and the last time they were sharp was the day they left the factory. In fact, unless you've lost yours and had to replace it you may not ...
Posted on: Apr 5
With many distinct advantages over steel knives, the Kyocera ceramic blade line represented by this fine black Utility Knife will still require some special care and caution. This 4 1/4" knife is razor sharp and will stay that way as much as ten times longer than the best steel knives, ...
Posted on: Mar 28
The modern alternative to steel blades, Kyocera's Revolution 5 inch slicing knife has definite advantages over the usual stainless steel knife, but at a cost. You will need steel backup blades even if this zirconium oxide ceramic knife becomes your favorite. And it could. Even with its ...
Posted on: Mar 26
This 7" Chef's knife from Kyocera's Revolution series adds both length and depth to the zirconium oxide ceramic blade. Closer to the usual dimensions of a good santoku or chef's knife, this version offers users better knuckle clearance and enough cutting edge for larger work.
The cutting ability of ceramic blades is ...
Posted on: Mar 2
The Kyocera Revolution Series, including this black zirconium oxide Chef's knife, is for those who insist on working only with the best tools. Kyocera claims the edge holding ability of these blades is ten times the best their competition can offer. Even so, this is a great knife ...
Posted on: Feb 4
I've seen a lot of knives. If on my first glance at a new knife I say Wow!--that usually isn't good. This time it's good, but if you buy the Revolution Series two-knife set from Kyocera be prepared to change the way you think.
These knives, a 5.5" Santoku and ...
Posted on: Nov 6
Despite my predisposition to frown on ceramic knives due to their brittleness and the need to be sent back to the factory for sharpening, I really wanted to like this little knife. Unfortunately, it just didn't bring me around.
By virtue of their hardness and structure, ceramic materials can make for ...
Posted on: Oct 4
At first glance, it's difficult to see any reason to criticize this short ceramic bladed slicer from Kyocera. The blade features a beautiful damascus pattern. It is a nice length for small cutting jobs and has more depth to the blade than other utility slicers of comparable size.
That extra ...
Posted on: Jul 7
Kyocera and ceramic. They go together like peanut butter and jelly. Like milk and warm chocolate chip cookies. Like cinnamon and sugar.
Okay, whatever. Let's talk about these shears.
These blades are made from ceramic and they're made by Kyocera. Ceramic will never rust or corrode, is lightweight and keeps its edge ...
Posted on: Jun 9
We recently wrote about the Kyocera Revolution Ceramic Chef's Knife and spent a fair amount of that space discussing the pros and cons of ceramic. You should check out that post for the details.
For those who want a quick recap, though, ceramic knives are a good alternative to stainless steel ...
Posted on: May 22
Ceramic knives present a unique set of tradeoffs. On the one hand, they are sharp, lightweight and stainless. On the other, they are brittle and difficult to resharpen.
Let's take a closer look....
The hardness of ceramic means it can be made very sharp. This Kyocera, for example, will almost certainly be sharper than ...
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Kyocera Ceramic Knife FKR 160WH 63 blade US $56.88   Auction Ends: 18d 13h 22m Make it yours... |
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Kyocera 55 inch Santoku Ceramic Knife Pink NEW US $45.99 1 Bid Auction Ends: 1d 13h 45m Make it yours... |
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KYOCERA CHEFS KNIFE FK 160WH CERAMIC KNIFE 6 1 4 LONG US $33.00 3 Bids Auction Ends: 1d 7h 45m Make it yours... |
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