6 Best Kitchen Knife Sets: Our Top Picks

What’s your most used tool or gadget in the kitchen? Whether you are a renowned chef or a novice in the kitchen, the most likely answer will be: a knife! In fact, a chef or culinary expert will have a whole set of knives which they rely on, daily. From cutting and chopping veggies to skinning meat, a good knife is irreplaceable in your kitchen arsenal.

This is exactly why it is so important to know what set of knives is reigning supreme in the culinary world. Investing in a good quality and durable knife set will make your journey in the kitchen much easier.

When you set out to shop for your set of knives, whether it’s online or in-store, you will face an array of knives, all varying in sizes, features, versatility, and price. How do you know which set is the one for you?

When you find the perfect set of knives for your kitchen, it can change your cooking experience. Read on to find out which set of knives is the best for you, according to your requirements.

Best Overall Knife Set: HENCKELS Premium Quality 15-Piece Knife Set

Best Self-Sharpening Knife Set: Calphalon Kitchen Knife Set with Self-Sharpening Block

Best Asian Knife Set: Japanese Kitchen Knife Set of 5 (Wooden Box Case) Mr. Takaaki Nakamura

Best Value Knife Set: McCook® Knife Sets

Best Basic Knife Set: imarku Kitchen Knife Set 15 Piece

Best Budget Knife Set: Cuisinart 12 Piece Block Knife Set

How To Choose the Perfect Knife Set?

If you are on the hunt for the perfect knife set, you may get overwhelmed at the number of knife sets available in the market. There is just so much variety to choose from! With so many factors to review before investing in a knife set, what are some of the make-or-break factors you MUST consider before purchasing the perfect knife set for yourself?

Here are some factors we found helpful while deciding on the right knife set:

Type and Number of Knives

You already know that a knife set consists of multiple types, shapes, and sizes of knives. Are they all equally useful? Do you REALLY need that many knives?

Any home cook or chef will tell you that you can easily chop, peel, and dice with just three essential knives: a large chef’s knife, a paring knife, and a serrated knife. Some cost-effective sets on the market may contain 6-8 different types of knives, which, honestly, is too many! You won’t really need most of them.

It can be budget-friendly and more useful to buy a set that contains 3 to 4 different knives. If you are an avid home cook, this is the right number of knives for you.

Material and Care

The variety of knives on the market is mind-boggling. There are a number of materials used for knives; stainless steel is the most common one, and carbon steel and even ceramic knives are readily available. The handles are made of metal, plastic, or wood.

Before deciding on the material, you have to understand your cooking style. Opt for a blade material that is resistant to dulling and easy to sharpen. The handle should feel comfortable in your hand and have a non-slip grip, making it safe to use.

It is important to take proper care of knives. Stainless steel blades require the least maintenance because they can be left to air dry after washing. They can also be sharpened easily. Carbon steel blades rust easily, so they need to be dried thoroughly after washing. Ceramic blades can chip and become quite useless.

Avoid putting your knives in the dishwasher because they can get knocked around, and the hot water can cause dullness.

Storage Style

the most popular way to store knives is the knife block. Knife blocks can be bought from your knife manufacturer, made especially for the knife set you are purchasing, or you can buy a universal knife block in a different shape, style or color, according to your preferences.

Knife blocks come in wall-mounted styles, as well as countertops.

If you want to keep your knives out of sight, then you can choose an in-drawer storage option. In-drawer knife organizers allow for the storage of several knives. Individual sheaths are available in the market to cover your knife blade for safety.

Budget

Budget is always important when you go shopping. There are so many options available that provide you with a wide budget choice. You can buy knife sets as cheap as $50 or as expensive as $2000!

But keep in mind that this is not a one-size-fits-all type of situation. Depending upon your type and frequency of cooking, the knife set that suits you may not suit someone else. The same formula applies to the budget.

When you are ready to invest in a good knife set, you may be willing to splurge a little, considering it will last you a long time. On the other hand, it is very easy to find a good quality and budget-friendly knife set, too!

So, before you invest in a set, browse the market for one that fits all your needs, including your budget!

HENCKEL’S Premium Quality 15-Piece Knife Set

Includes: 3-inch paring knife, 5-inch serrated utility knife, 7-inch santoku knife hollow edge, 8-inch chef’s knife, 8-inch bread knife, 4.5-inch steak knife set of 6, professional honing steel, kitchen shears, and hardwood knife block.

Material: Stainless steel & wooden block

Color Options: Natural, Brown, Dark brown

Dishwasher Safe: Yes

HENCKEL’s German-engineered knives are built to last. They start out sharp, and they remain sharp with the least amount of maintenance and care needed. The stainless steel, satin-finished blades are honed to perfection, allowing you to cut easily, precisely, and effortlessly. The chef’s knife in this set will take your breath away! It will glide right through a roast, any cuts of raw meat, and any type of hard root vegetables. Its uses are endless!

You won’t feel a thing in your hand when you hold these lightweight and easy-to-maneuver knives. The blades are rust-proof, so you can wash them by hand or toss them in the dishwasher.

Calphalon Kitchen Knife Set with Self-Sharpening Block

Includes: 8-in. Chef’s knife, 8-in. bread knife, 6-in. utility knife, 7-in. Santoku knife, 3.5-in. paring knife, 8 steak knives, kitchen shears, knife-sharpening wooden block.

Material: Stainless steel

Color Options: Silver

Dishwasher Safe: No

The Ohio-made Calphalon 15-piece knife set consists of fully stainless steel constructed knives. The steak knives are high-quality carbon made with no stain steal. The razor-sharp knife edges are made with ease of cutting and precision in mind. You can use this set effortlessly in your kitchen.

The handles are labeled to make identification easier in the block. The knife block has built-in ceramic knife sharpeners to maintain the sharp edges every time you remove or replace a knife in the block. You will be very comfortable holding these knives with their beautifully contoured handles.

The set comes with a lifetime warranty, making it an excellent, durable, everyday-use set for your kitchen.

Japanese Kitchen Knife Set of 5 (Wooden Box Case) Mr. Takaaki Nakamura

Includes: Sushi sashimi knife, Vegetable nakiri knife, Chef’s knife, Petty knife, and Small deba knife

Material: Stainless steel with wooden handle

Color Options: Silver

Dishwasher Safe: No

This Japanese set of 5 kitchen knives is made of stainless steel with wooden handles. You will receive this beautiful set of knives in a wooden box. The knives are easy to clean and rust-proof. The edges will remain sharp for a long time, making them easy to use and durable. The wooden bamboo handle is designed for comfort and a strong grip but cannot be placed in the dishwasher. Always wash this set by hand and dry it immediately.

McCook® 15-Piece Knife Set

Includes: 8″ chef knife, 8″ slicing knife, 5″ santoku knife, 5.5″ serrated utility knife, 5″ fine edge utility knife, 3.5″ paring knife, 6pcs 4.5″ serrated steak knife, 2 pairs of kitchen shears, and hardwood knife block with built-in sharpener.

Material: Stainless steel and wooden block

Color Options: Silver & black, Black & black, Silver & walnut, Golden & white, Golden & black, Silver & natural

Dishwasher Safe: No

This tarnish and rust-resistant, premium-quality knife set from McCook is made using high-carbon stainless steel. This makes your knife set durable and long-lasting. The exclusive taper grind edge technology used to make these blades provides optimal sharpness for precise cutting and is easy to sharpen. The santoku knife included in this set provides an excellent alternative to the pairing knife, allowing you to slice and dice meat or vegetables very finely.

The handle design and shape make these knives easy to handle and use. The knife block has an in-built sharpener to keep the blades sharp. Avoid washing these knives in the dishwasher. Wash and dry immediately.

imarku Kitchen 15-Piece Knife Set 

Includes: chef knife, santoku knife, bread knife, slicing knife, utility knife, paring knife, multi-purpose shears, serrated steak knife set of 6, knife sharpener and block

Material: Carbonated stainless steel with wooden block

Color Options: Silver and black

Dishwasher safe: Yes, but handwashing recommended

This exclusive, 15-piece Japanese stainless steel knife set has a long-lasting, razor-sharp edge that will let you cut, slice, chop, and dice easily and accurately. The outstanding quality of the carbon steel used for the blade makes it resistant to rust and tarnish. The set includes both a paring knife and a utility knife, which gives you the option of choosing between the handy pairing knife for peeling or the slightly longer utility knife, which is an all-rounder in the kitchen.

The handle, made of a single piece of stainless steel, is designed to provide comfort, a strong grip and easy movement. This set is dishwasher safe, but the manufacturers recommend handwashing. The knife block is made of high-quality and durable wood.

Cuisinart 12-Piece Knife Block Set

Includes: Chef’s knife, slicing knife, Santoku knife, utility knife, paring knife, steak knives (4), sharpening steel, household shears, and black block

Material: High carbon stainless steel and wooden block

Color Options: White & silver, black & silver, grey & white, navy, red & silver

Dishwasher safe: No

This budget-friendly, sleek 12-piece knife set from Cuisinart will become eye candy for your kitchen. The high-quality carbon steel blades of the knife are designed to remain sharp even after several uses. The razor-sharp edges, which are tapered near the ends, will provide you with ease of cutting and precision.  You can slice right through a big turkey roast using the chef’s knife!

The design of the handle makes it lightweight and easy to grip. The knife block provided with these knives is black in color, making it elegant and appealing to look at. This knife set offers a lifetime warranty, so you can purchase it without any reservations.

If you are looking for some amazing and delicious recipes to try using your new knives, visit our recipe page for an array of different dishes!

Conclusion

A good knife set is the center of the culinary world. It provides you with all the essential tools you will need to cook most dishes. A good knife set should always include a good quality chef’s knife, a pairing knife, and a serrated knife. As most cooks will tell you, the chef’s knife is the kitchen’s workhorse. It can cut through anything and everything. It will be the first knife you will reach out for. A pairing knife is good for slicing small pieces of edibles.

The comfort of the knife is also a very important factor to consider before purchasing a set. A good knife will feel like an extension of your own hand. It won’t feel burdensome, heavy, or difficult to maneuver.

We hope that our comprehensive list of some of the top knife sets available on the market will help you decide which set is best for you!