Mercer Culinary Genesis Chef Knife Review

A great buy for anyone who is looking for a high-quality chef knife at a low price.

By Timothy Hales | Updated: February 21, 2021

Materials and Construction

The Mercer Genesis Chef Knife is made from forged X50CrMoV15 steel. This is a no-stain high carbon German steel with a Rockwell score of about 54-55. This particular steel is stainless, contains .50% carbon and 15% chromium. There is also a small amount of molybdenum and vanadium to help improve durability. Although advertised as being high carbon steel, there are definitely higher carbon varieties of knives on the market.

Mercer uses German steel because it is durable and has the ability to hold a sharp edge. This make of steel is excellent for use in your home kitchen where everyone may take the best care of it. This blade can take a little bit of abuse without causing much damage. 

The handle is made from Santoprene which is a thermoplastic elastomer material that provides high performance in kitchen knife handles. It has a soft and comfortable feel that provides a firm grip no matter if the handle or your hands are wet or dry. This handle material does not break down from oils that it may encounter in the kitchen. It also perform well in an area that is hot or cold.

Design

The first thing I noticed when holding the 10” Mercer Genesis Chef Knife is its weight. It weighs a total of 9.3ounces.  You can tell that there is more weight than other chef knives of this size. The full tang and full bolster are big contributors to the weight.

The full tang provides excellent balance. I was able to balance it on a wood triangle which you can see in the image. I was a little surprised by the balance because of its weight, but it is very clear that Mercer was very intentional with its design.

The full bolster is a nice design feature for newer cooks. It helps to protect your hand from slipping onto the back edge of the blade. Like I mentioned earlier, it also helps add weight to the knife if that’s what you are looking for. One issue that I do see with the full bolster is the challenge to sharpen it on a whetstone. It is possible to do but requires a little more patience and skill.

The knife’s edge is taper-ground at a 15 degree angle. This is a pretty standard angle for German chef knives.

The Santoprene handle provides an ergonomic feature to this knife. The rubber-like texture feels comfortable in my hand even after cutting with it for an extended period of time. The handle has practically no slipping when your hands are oily or wet.

The NSF has certified the Mercer Genesis Chef Knife as meeting its standard for safety, quality, and performance.

Kitchen Usability

This Mercer chef knife when through several different usage tests in my own kitchen over a period of several weeks. Testing a knife should not be limited to an isolated test environment because it does not give an accurate representation of a true home kitchen environment. I have cut a variety of meats, vegetables, and fruits with this Mercer Genesis Chef Knife.

After using this chef knife in my kitchen for several weeks, I quickly realized why culinary academies choose the Mercer brand. I don’t hesitate to let others in my house use it. It’s well made and can take a little abuse. The blade has held a decent edge, although I regularly honed it. The weight of the blade adds a little extra force when cutting through food. Also, I noticed that the beveled design of the entire blade forms a wedge to make the cutting process easier.

Cleaning and Maintenance

Mercer recommends that you not wash the Genesis Chef knife in the dishwasher because of the high water temperature and chemicals used in the cleaning agents. This can cause the handle to break down. It would be best if you washed your chef knife by hand using warm water and soap. After you have rinsed the knife, you should dry it with a towel. Following proper care will ensure that your knife’s performance remains intact (see: Kitchen Knife Care).

Although this knife is made of high carbon German steel, which helps prevent rust, corrosion, and discoloration, you should not soak it for long periods. This could cause pitting and discoloration.

The chef knife’s edge does a decent job holding its edge, but I have found that frequently honing the blade improves its performance. Once honing no longer brings the edge back, it is time to use a whetstone to sharpen the knife. When sharpening the knife, the full bolster makes it a little challenging to sharpen all the way to the edge of the heel.

The handle is a single-piece molded over the tang. This always washing to be simple and prevents foods and juices from getting in any cracks.

Once you have the Mercer Chef Knife clean and sharp, you should store it in a sheath or knife block. This will not only prevent injuries, but will also protect the blade from chips and dings.

Company

Mercer Culinary, a division of Mercer Tools has been around for over 30 years. They originally entered the culinary market by providing knives and tools to culinary academies and professional chefs. They have become a trusted supplier and currently provide products to 90% of culinary academies. They have constantly work with educators and professional chefs to improve and expand their products which have allowed them to come into the consumer market.

I was unable to find any lawsuits class action claims, etc. against Mercer Culinary.

Mercer Culinary’s products on Amazon seem to carry a lot of positive reviews. The company is known for providing high-quality products at a fraction of a cost. This allows them to compete with larger brand names that have higher-priced products. 

Return Policy

Mercer knives are sold through 3rd party retailers. You will need to find the return policy of the store you purchase the knife from. If you make your purchase through Amazon, you can follow their standard return policy, allowing you to return any item within 30 days. If you have performance or quality issues with the chef knife, see the warranty information below.

Warranty

The Mercer Genesis series of knives comes with a limited lifetime warranty. If it is determined that the knife has any defects in its material or quality, it will repair or replace the knife. All note that to receive warranty service, it is not required that you activate the coverage. They require that you are the original purchaser and you have proof of your purchase.

Value

The Mercer Genesis Chef’s Knife’s price point is very low compared to many knives of the same quality. This is a great starter knife for the home kitchen or a new culinary student. The quality of the forged X50CrMoV15 steel and Santoprene handle make this a great option. It is durable and forgiving for those that don’t take the best care of their knives.

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Summary

The Mercer Genesis Chef Knife stands out as a great starter knife for your home kitchen. I was impressed with the fact that 90% of culinary academies trust this brand for their students. Using this knife in my own kitchen showed it had balance and comfort. It also holds up well for those that might not take the best care of their knives. I did find that the edge retention was a little lacking and that frequently honing was required. Overall for the value, this is a great option.