Granitestone Nutriblade Knives: A Straightforward Review
Granitestone Nutriblade knives are an AS SEEN ON TV kitchen product marketed with dramatic claims about their sharpness and non-stick surface coating. If you've seen the commercials or spotted them at a discount retailer, this article gives you a realistic assessment of what they are and whether they're worth buying.
The bottom line upfront: these are budget kitchen knives with a titanium-infused non-stick coating. They work for light kitchen tasks but aren't built for serious daily cooking use. The infomercial demonstrations, while entertaining, aren't representative of long-term performance.
What the Nutriblade Coating Actually Is
Granitestone markets the Nutriblade coating as a titanium-infused, non-stick surface designed to prevent food from sticking to the blade. The granite-speckled appearance is a surface treatment applied over stainless steel.
The coating does reduce sticking in the short term. Sliced avocado and fish don't cling to the blade the way they do on standard stainless steel. This is a real functional benefit for specific prep tasks.
The problem is longevity. The non-stick coating wears down. In a kitchen where knives are washed frequently, used on hard foods, and put through a dishwasher (which most owners do), the coating degrades within weeks to months of regular use. Once the coating wears, you're left with a standard stainless blade without any special properties.
The Steel Quality
This is where honest assessment matters most. Granitestone Nutriblade knives use basic stainless steel in the 420 grade range. That puts the hardness around 50-54 HRC, which is among the softest materials used in kitchen knives sold today.
What 50-54 HRC means practically:
- The edge dulls relatively quickly with regular use
- Sharpening is easy because the steel is soft
- The edge won't hold up to hard foods (butternut squash, sweet potatoes) the way a harder knife would
- You'll be sharpening more frequently than with higher-quality knives
This isn't an unusual problem for knives in this price range. Most knives sold through infomercials and at sub-$50 price points use similar steel. The issue is that the Nutriblade marketing doesn't set accurate expectations about this.
The TV Demo vs. Real Life
The infomercial demonstrates Nutriblade knives cutting through rope, slicing frozen meat, and gliding through tomatoes and bread with no effort. These demonstrations aren't fraudulent exactly, but they test a new knife in optimal conditions.
Any reasonably sharp new knife will slice a ripe tomato cleanly. The relevant question is how it performs after six months of regular cooking. On soft stainless steel, the answer is: noticeably worse without consistent maintenance.
The TV demo for bread cutting and other tasks is particularly misleading because the serrated edge on the bread knife holds its apparent sharpness longer than the straight edge does.
What Nutriblade Knives Are Actually Decent For
Despite the above, there are situations where the Nutriblade set is a reasonable choice:
Occasional home cooks. If you cook two to three times a week and don't do heavy vegetable prep, these knives handle the work.
Second kitchens or travel. For a cabin, vacation home, or temporary setup where replacement cost matters more than performance, they're fine.
Anyone who wants non-stick properties for specific foods. Fish, avocado, and soft cheese really do release more easily from the coated blades, at least initially.
Gift for a non-cook. If someone needs a complete knife set and will use it infrequently, the visual appeal and low price make the Nutriblade set an acceptable choice.
For a comparison against knives that hold up better long term, the best kitchen knives roundup covers what performance actually looks like at different price points.
Maintenance to Maximize Their Life
If you've already purchased Nutriblade knives, the following practices extend their useful life:
Hand wash only. The dishwasher degrades the coating faster than anything else. Wash with warm water and mild soap immediately after use.
Dry immediately. Don't leave wet blades sitting out. Basic stainless steel at this hardness can show surface rust quickly.
Avoid abrasive scrubbers. Steel wool and rough scrub pads scratch the coating. Use a soft cloth or sponge.
Hone and sharpen regularly. A pull-through sharpener works well on soft steel. Run through the sharpener every 2 to 3 weeks if you're cooking regularly, or whenever the edge feels dull. Hone with a ceramic rod before each use.
Use soft cutting surfaces. Wood or polyethylene boards. Glass and bamboo boards accelerate edge degradation on soft steel faster than on harder knives.
How Granitestone Nutriblade Compares to Other Budget Knives
At a comparable price point, Cuisinart and Farberware sets use similar steel quality but don't have the coating. The Victorinox Fibrox at slightly higher cost uses comparable steel with a notably better handle that grips securely in wet conditions.
For about $30 to $40 more than a Nutriblade set, entry-level Henckels or KitchenAid sets use harder German stainless steel that holds an edge significantly longer. If your budget allows for that step up, it's worth it for everyday cooking.
FAQ
Does the Nutriblade coating actually prevent food from sticking?
Yes, initially. Fresh coating on these blades noticeably reduces sticking with soft, sticky foods like avocado, fish, and soft cheese. The coating wears down with regular use, especially in dishwashers or with abrasive scrubbing.
Are Granitestone Nutriblade knives dishwasher safe?
The packaging may say yes, but dishwashers shorten the life of these knives more than hand washing would. The heat and detergent cycles wear the coating faster and can dull the edge and damage the handle.
How sharp are Nutriblade knives out of the box?
Most buyers find them sharp enough to use immediately. The factory edge on these knives is adequate for general kitchen tasks. The edge retention over time is the limitation, not the initial sharpness.
What's the difference between the Nutriblade and regular Granitestone knives?
Granitestone makes multiple kitchen products including cookware. The Nutriblade line refers specifically to the coated knife sets. Regular Granitestone kitchen products typically refer to their non-stick cookware.
The Honest Take
Granitestone Nutriblade knives are fine for what they are: inexpensive, visually distinctive kitchen knives with a temporary non-stick coating. The infomercial sells an image that doesn't match extended use reality. If you buy them with accurate expectations (light duty, short coating lifespan, regular maintenance required), you won't be disappointed.
If you want knives that actually perform as advertised over years of daily cooking, the top kitchen knives guide shows what good edge retention and build quality look like at each price tier.