How To Buy A Knife Set

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The Spruce Eats / Chloe Jeong

A peachy set of knives is essential for your kitchen, whether yous're regularly mincing up a mirepoix or but carving a grocery store rotisserie chicken for serving. Abrupt, easy-to-hold knives make chopping and slicing easier and safer, and can allow you to have greater control when dealing with more intricate cuts.

Knives tin can be quite a personal pick since they vary greatly in material and maintenance requirements. With all those variables—stainless steel to ceramic blades, plastic to hardwood handles, Granton or flat edges—knife care and sharpening is non one-size-fits-all and should exist considered when selecting a set of knives.

Whether you're shopping for a starter set or upgraded replacement for your current cutlery, keep reading for our picks of the all-time knife sets.

What Nosotros Like

Sleek design
Slap-up selection of knives
Super-abrupt edges
Includes sharpening steel

What Nosotros Don't Like

Poorly made knife block
No serrated steak knives

It'southward hard to discover error with this comprehensive set that includes every knife you'll demand, along with a sharpening steel. The blades are made from high-carbon stainless steel and accept rubber and metal handles that are designed for style, and as our tester revealed, have a "very comfortable grip." The pocketknife edge is non only super-sharp just information technology's designed to be easy to re-acuminate when necessary, so y'all never demand to worry near a dull blade.

This set includes a 7 iii/4-inch chef pocketknife, 7 iii/4-inch serrated bread knife, seven- and 5-inch santoku knives, five-inch utility knife, three 1/4-inch dent knife, 8 4.v-inch steak knives, sharpening steel, and chop assist. A knife block to hold all of the components is also included. These knives should be hand done to retain their sharpness.

Our tester noted that the steak knives aren't serrated, but smoothly cut through steak anyway. It's probable that they will need to exist resharpened at some point if used frequently.

The Bandbox Eats / Sage McHugh

Bract Material: High carbon stainless steel |Number of Knives: xiv |Sharpening: Sharpening steel

What Our Testers Say

"Given its extensive array of super-sharp knives, it's definitely worth the cost." — Sage McHugh, Product Tester

What We Like

Lightweight
Affordable
All stainless steel construction
Sharpening steel included

What We Don't Like

Crowded pocketknife block orientation

While most knives have handles fabricated from wood, rubber, or plastic, these knives are all metal for a sleek, modern appearance and piece of cake intendance. They're fabricated from high carbon stainless steel and have a taper-ground blade for a very sharp edge and easy sharpening.

The set includes a 3 1/2-inch dent pocketknife, a 3 1/two-inch bird's beak paring knife, a 5 1/2-inch serrated utility knife, a vii-inch santoku knife, an 8-inch slicing knife, an 8-inch chef'south knife, 6 steak knives, a pair of shears, and eight-inch sharpening steel. Our tester specially loved the paring knife, which she said was "a favorite for small jobs, like slicing nectarines, plums, and berries." The included black knife block holds all the components and adds to the modern expect of the prepare. These should be hand done and dried. While they may wait hefty, our tester notes that the knives are surprisingly lightweight, due to the hollow handles.

The Spruce Eats / Sharon Lehman

Blade Material: Loftier carbon stainless steel |Number of Knives: 12 + scissors |Sharpening: Sharpening steel

What Our Testers Say

"I found the loftier-carbon stainless steel blades ideal for cutting." — Sharon Lehman, Product Tester

What We Like

Fun, colorful design
Cheap
Like shooting fish in a barrel to clean
Nonstick

What We Don't Like

Doesn't include a sharpener
Can't identify bract types with bract guards on

Nonstick blades assistance keep food from sticking and are like shooting fish in a barrel to clean equally well. This colorful, affordable gear up from Cuisinart includes six knives and half-dozen matching sheaths, so yous can tuck the knives into a drawer without worrying about damaging the blades or stabbing yourself when you lot reach into the drawer for a peeler. Our reviewer chopped, sliced, and diced and found this set "offers plenty of utility and sharp cut ability without breaking the depository financial institution." You lot just have to memorize which color knife is which, since it's hard to tell when the sheaths are on.

Since these are so inexpensive, they're also bully for taking along to picnics or potlucks, for a college kid's apartment, or for the vacation cabin or RV. The set includes a 3 1/two-inch dent knife, a 6 1/ii-inch utility knife, a 7-inch santoku, an eight-inch serrated breadstuff knife, an 8-inch slicing knife, and an 8-inch chef's knife. The manufacturer suggests paw washing, but several users said they've been washing them in the dishwasher with no apparent damage. Yet, we'd recommend hand washing for the best care for your knives.

The Spruce Eats / Sharon Lehman

Bract Material: Ceramic |Number of Knives: 6 |Sharpening: None

What Our Testers Say

"Each slice is lightweight, comfortable, and rubber to grip thanks to the thoughtfully designed contouring on the handle." — Sharon Lehman, Production Tester

What Nosotros Similar

Great value
Prissy weight for balanced cutting
Wood block has congenital-in sharpener

What We Don't Like

Decumbent to rust with time

This low-price set saves you coin in two ways. Showtime, it'southward inexpensive to buy, and 2nd, you won't need to purchase a knife sharpener to maintain the knives. The knife block has Edgekeeper sharpeners in each slot, and so your knives will go a sharpening swipe every time you insert and remove them. The blades are forged from high carbon stainless steel and the triple-riveted handles are comfortable to hold.

This prepare includes an 8-inch chef's knife, a 7-inch santoku knife, an eight-inch breadstuff knife, an eight-inch slicing knife, a 6-inch boning knife, a 6-inch cleaver, a 5 1/2-inch serrated utility knife, a 3 1/2-inch paring knife, a etching fork, eight steak knives, and a pair of kitchen shears. The included knife block keeps all of them secure and accessible on your counter. These knives should be hand washed and stale immediately.

Blade Cloth: Loftier carbon stainless steel |Number of Knives: 18 + scissors |Sharpening: Congenital-in

What We Like

Super precipitous
Commercial-class, high-quality materials
Resists rust

What We Don't Like

Storage ringlet a trivial flimsy

For chefs who have mastered their pocketknife skills—this gear up is NSF certified for professional kitchen use and comes in a knife roll for condom and easy transportation and storage. The handles are Santoprene, which tin can stand up to crude kitchen use, farthermost temperatures, and kitchen oils, while still offering a sure, comfortable grip, even with wet or greasy hands.

The bolster adds to the remainder, making these knives easy to work with for long periods of time. The blades are made from loftier carbon German steel that resists stains and rust and the taper-basis edge stays sharp and is easy to re-acuminate, when necessary.

This set up includes a 3 1/ii inch paring knife, a 5-inch utility knife, and a 7-inch santoku, and so it's a perfect starter fix that can exist added to, depending on the chef's needs. These knives should be hand washed and stale.

Blade Cloth: Loftier carbon stainless steel |Number of Knives: 3 |Sharpening: None

Good to Know

At that place are seven master types of kitchen knives: chef'due south (or French), santoku, serrated, paring, boning, utility, and cleaver. Non all knife sets include every single ane of those—although some do and more—and then make sure to evaluate your personal needs before making a buy.

What We Like

Trusted make
Professional quality
Built to last

What Nosotros Don't Like

Expensive

A corking upgrade set, or the first set for a serious cook, this doesn't include a whole kitchen's worth of knives but they are the knives you will utilize nearly. Even amend, the slim knife cake will be easy to discover room for, even in a modest kitchen. If you feel that yous need a specialty knife, you'll take no trouble finding one to match this ready.

The blades are high carbon stainless steel with a forged full tang and a eternalize. The handles are comfy to agree and triple riveted for security. The handle material is a dense synthetic that resists fading, and then these knives will look proficient for years. The set includes a 3 i/2-inch paring knife, a 4 1/ii-inch utility knife, a 5-inch serrated utility pocketknife, a 6-inch prep pocketknife, an eight-inch bread knife, an 8-inch chef'southward knife, and kitchen shears that come apart for thorough cleaning. The set up too includes a honing steel for maintaining your knives' sharpness between heavier-duty sharpening. The knives should be mitt washed.

While our tester establish that the pairing knife and the direct utility knives were essentially the same knives, both performed extremely well. The favorite knife in the set was the 6-inch prep pocketknife, also known every bit a kiritsuke knife, which could handle any task thrown at it and fabricated prepping a broad multifariousness of ingredients a breeze.

The Bandbox / Renu Dhar

Bract Textile: Loftier carbon stainless steel |Number of Knives: half dozen + scissors |Sharpening: Honing Steel

What Our Testers Say

"The assortment of knives in the set got me through most kitchen tasks with ease. Chopping and slicing tomatoes were a breeze, and and then were dicing and slicing onions." - Renu Dhar, Product Tester

What Nosotros Like

Keen starter prepare
Comfy to agree
Sharp

What We Don't Like

No serrated knife

If you already accept a pocketknife block or you prefer other storage, this knife set is the perfect option since it doesn't include a block you won't employ. This three-piece set up is a perfect upgrade or starter set, with 3 essential kitchen knives in pop sizes. It includes a 4-inch dent knife, a seven-inch utility knife, and an 8-inch chef'southward knife. The blades are precision-stamped for lighter weight and ice-hardened for strength and edge retention. The constructed handles are triple-riveted for security and designed for a comfortable grip. These should exist manus washed.

Blade Material: High carbon stainless steel |Number of Knives: iii |Sharpening: None

What We Like

Food doesn't stick
Lightweight
Good selection of knives

What We Don't Like

Not the most durable

Ceramic knives are extremely hard and tin can exist extremely sharp while they resist staining and will never corrode. They also tend to protect foods like apples or lettuce from browning later on cutting. This 4-piece set included the knives you'll use most often and comes with a knife block to proceed them safe when not in utilise.

This prepare includes a three-inch paring knife, a 4 1/2-inch utility knife, a 5 1/2-inch santoku knife, and a six-inch chef'due south knife. The knives in this set up take black handles and white blades, only 2 other color options are as well available. The cake is fabricated from sturdy, attractive bamboo.

Because ceramic blades are brittle, these should not be used for prying effectually basic, for cut frozen or super-hard foods, or for aggressive chopping. They can also break if dropped on a hard surface. For sharpening, these can be sent back to Kyocera, or y'all'll need a sharpener that is specifically made for sharpening ceramic blades. These should be paw washed.

Blade Material: Ceramic |Number of Knives: four |Sharpening: None

What We Like

Super-abrupt
Bonny Damascus layered steel
Lifetime warranty

What We Don't Like

Expensive
No serrated knife included

One of the best-known Japanese knife brands, Shun knives are definitely high quality. They're handmade in Seki, Japan, with layered steel that provides a beautiful bract with a wavy design that'south not just skin-deep. The handles are made from durable PakkaWood with a D-shape that'south comfortable to hold, so they're smashing for long cutting sessions. The set includes a 3 1/2-inch paring knife, a 7-inch santoku pocketknife, an 8-inch chef's pocketknife, 9-inch honing steel, and kitchen shears. It likewise includes an 8-slot pocketknife block, so in that location's room for more knives equally the drove grows.

Blade Cloth: VG-MAX steel |Number of Knives: 3 + scissors |Sharpening: Sharpening Steel

What Nosotros Similar

Includes cleaver
Self-sharpening
Affordable

What Nosotros Don't Like

May exist too many knives for some
Not all knives make it super-abrupt
Block organisation not intuitive

The perfect fix for a new kitchen, and bully for cooks who don't like sharpening their knives, the pocketknife block in this set has sharpeners inset in the slots that hold the directly-edged blades. This is a comprehensive fix, so the cook won't need to add to it unless they're doing very specialized cutting. Besides the block, it includes an eight-inch chef'southward pocketknife, an eight-inch slicer, a half dozen-inch boning knife, a half-dozen-inch cleaver, a 5 ane/two-inch serrated utility pocketknife, a 5-inch santoku knife, a four ane/2-inch utility knife, a 3 1/ii-inch paring knife, a iii-inch paring knife, a 3-inch bird's beak dent pocketknife, eight 4 ane/2-inch steak knives, a carving fork, and kitchen shears. The knives accept a comfortable handle with three rivets for security and a full bolster for safe cutting.

Our tester noticed that while the block itself is conveniently compact, it'due south doing a lot of work belongings all of those knives and can seem a little bit crowded. They too noticed that some of the knives don't come extremely sharp straight out of the box, but a little sharpening on the block and they were set up for action.

The Spruce Eats / Donna Currie

Blade Material: High carbon stainless steel |Number of Knives: eighteen + scissors |Sharpening: Congenital-in

What Our Testers Say

"If you're on a budget, need a lot of knives, or are scared of razor-precipitous blades, the Sabatier 21-Slice EdgeKeeper Pro Forged Cutlery Set is the perfect pick." — Donna Currie, Production Tester

Final Verdict

The Chicago Cutlery Fusion 18-Piece Block Fix is our pinnacle choice considering it has a great selection of abrupt knives and includes sharpening steel. If you want all the essentials at a more affordable toll, nosotros recommend the Cuisinart Stainless Steel Hollow Handle 15-Slice Cutlery Block Ready.

The Spruce Eats / Sharon Lehman

What to Await for When Buying a Knife Gear up

Number and Types of Knives

Pocketknife sets will vary in how many knives and what blazon of knives are included. Know that more isn't necessarily amend if you won't utilise all of the knives. If you already have a set of steak knives, you probably don't need another half-dozen. However, if you lot don't take any decent knives at all, it might be your all-time option to purchase a consummate set and then you go everything you demand at the all-time toll.

Style of Storage

Some knife sets will come up with storage included, which can exist either a vertical or horizontal knife block or a roll-upwards sheath with private slots. Consider where y'all are going to keep the knives and how much infinite you take; knife blocks are a convenient manner to store your knives on your counter, but if you're brusk on counter space, information technology's a skillful idea to make sure that the knives and block will fit into a convenient cabinet for easy retrieval. If you're really brusk on space, you might prefer the sheath storage so you can place the knives in a drawer.

Sharpening Options

No matter which knives you choose, they will need maintenance and eventually need to be sharpened. Some knife sets include steels, so you lot can hone the knives to maintain them regularly, and some knife sets accept self-sharpening knife slots. Base your decision on whether y'all need these options or not.

The Spruce Eats / Sage McHugh

FAQs

What makes a good knife set?

With so many options to consider, it might exist hard to distinguish a practiced knife fix from a poor set. What makes a good knife set is almost entirely up to you. The three major factors you should consider are what do yous demand to set and cook regularly, what'due south the highest quality of those tools you can afford, and how much effort do you lot desire to brand to maintain the gear up. Everything else is really preference and bonus. If yous brand steaks and roasts regularly, consider getting a fix with steak knives. If you're interested in some butchery work, find a set with a boning knife and cleaver. If you stick to mostly fruits, veggies, bread, and pre-butchered meats, a simpler set will serve you just fine.

Once you've established what you demand, look for a gear up that offers those tools made with the best materials you can afford. High carbon stainless steel is the standard for well-nigh knives and tin be found at reasonable prices. Explore handle finishes for both comfort and aesthetics.

Finally, a good knife set is i you lot tin can maintain easily. While we recommend you launder all of your knives past hand to preserve the sharpness and integrity of the bract, you might want to wait for a dishwasher-safe gear up if that realistically suits you better. If y'all're not interested in sharpening your knives, go a set that comes super-precipitous right out of the box. Ultimately, the most expensive fix doesn't mean it'south the best set for y'all if yous're never going to utilise all of it.

Are cocky-sharpening knife sets practiced quality? Or should you opt for a divide knife sharpener?

If this is your first set of knives, chances are this is as well your first experience with sharpening knives. In that case, having a pocketknife set with an selection for simple knife sharpening is a wonderful advantage. Built-in sharpeners are like shooting fish in a barrel to apply with quick results. Sets that include a steel to assist hone your blade are besides great, with a very small learning curve.

On the other paw, if you're more than experienced with sharpening knives and this set is a step upwardly for your drove, consider investing in a separate knife sharpener for more than refined knife edges.

Are pocketknife sets worth it? Or should you lot build a collection by buying each knife separately?

For nigh people, a reliable high-quality pocketknife set is worth it. Similar nosotros mentioned above, it's all about what you plan on using it for. Even a smaller gear up with three knives will give you lot a much wider range when preparing nutrient. If you're enthusiastic well-nigh cooking simply aren't in a position to buy a dozen styles and sizes of high-end knives, a quality larger prepare will have you cooking up a broader range of culinary delights. Once y'all've become acquainted with the sizes and styles of knives that you lot employ most often, y'all tin can start taking a await at individual knives that arrange your tastes and customize your collection further.

The Spruce / Renu Dhar

Why Trust The Spruce Eats?

Donna Currie is a cookbook writer, food writer, and product tester. She loves kitchen gadgets and has personally tested all types of kitchen knives and knife sets for The Spruce Eats, including the Sabatier 21-Slice EdgeKeeper Pro Forged Cutlery Set up featured in this roundup. Her kitchen is currently filled with a mix of brands—ranging from expensive to affordable—merely believes the knives that every kitchen should have are a chef's knife (or santoku), a dent knife, and a serrated knife.