If you’re going to splurge on one item in your kitchen, a knife set is a solid choice. Kitchen knives typically get used on a daily basis, and a high-quality blade will make kitchen prep faster and easier—not to mention last significantly longer. So while you can certainly get by with an inexpensive baking sheet or cutting board, the best knife sets are a worthwhile investment for home chefs of all skill levels.
As you compare various kitchen knife sets, you’ll notice that most contain at least a chef’s knife and paring knife—two must-have tools in the kitchen—but many contain other cutting implements, as well, whether it’s a utility knife, bread knife or kitchen shears. To find the best set for your needs, consider what kind of cooking you do and how much space you have for storage. You may also want to look for a set that includes a knife block for easy (and safe) storage.
If you’re ready to start food prepping like a pro, the following are the best knife sets for every budget, as recommended by Mat Schuster, chef and owner of Canela in San Francisco, and several other culinary professionals.
- Best Knife Set Overall: Misen Essential Knife Set
- Best Professional Knife Set: Messermeister Meridian Elite 3-Piece Starter Set
- Best Knife Set For Beginners: Henckels Classic 3-Piece Starter Knife Set
- Best Japanese-Style Knife Block Set: Shun Classic 6-Piece Slim Knife Block Set
- Best Knife Set With Scissors: Zwilling Professional S 7-Piece Knife Block Set
- Best In-Drawer Knife Set: Victorinox Swiss Classic In-Drawer Knife Block
- Most Attractive Knife Block Set: Global 7-Piece Ikasu Knife Block Set
- Best Self-Sharpening Knife Block Set: Calphalon Classic Self-Sharpening Cutlery Knife Block Set
- Most Stylish Knife Set: Made In The Knife Set
Best Knife Set Overall
A High-Quality Option At A Reasonable Price Point
- Material: High-carbon stainless steel
- Knives Included: Chef’s knife, serrated knife, paring knife
- Block Included: No
For a set of high-quality knives at a reasonable price, you can’t go wrong with this popular three-piece set from Misen. “I recommend the Misen Essentials Knife Set as the best knife set for home use,” says Chef Sara Hauman, who’s appeared on Top Chef: Portland. “The set is reasonably priced and made from steel that will stay sharp and can take a beating from everyday use. The set includes three knives that are really all you need to tackle any kitchen task.”
You’ll get a chef’s knife, serrated knife and paring knife, all of which are made from high-carbon stainless steel, and there are three handle colors—blue, black or gray—to choose from. The brand sells a matching knife storage block separately.
Best Professional Knife Set
A Splurge-Worthy Knife Set With All The Essentials
- Material: Stainless carbon alloy
- Knives Included: Chef's knife, utility knife, paring knife
- Block Included: No
If you’re an experienced chef looking to upgrade your knife collection, a set from Messermeister is a worthwhile the splurge, according to Schuster. These professional-grade knives are crafted from a stainless carbon alloy that resists staining and corrosion while holding their edge, and they’re one-piece, hot-drop hammer forged for an unbelievably strong blade. This three-piece set includes a 8-inch chef's knife, 6-inch utility knife and a 3.5-inch paring knife, and the high-end products are backed by a lifetime guarantee.
Best Knife Set For Beginners
A Solid Knife Set That’s Built To Last
- Material: German stainless steel
- Knives Included: Chef’s knife, utility knife, paring knife
- Block Included: No
If you’re shopping for your first-ever knife set, this simple three-piece set is well-built and budget-friendly. “Germany-based brand Zwilling J.A. Henckels has been my knife brand of choice since I was in culinary school more than 30 years ago,” says Chef Michael Blum of I Heart Mac & Cheese. “They are of course sentimental to me but certainly built to last!"
The thee-piece starter set is ideal for beginners, as it includes just the essentials: an 8-inch chef’s knife, 6-inch utility knife and 4-inch paring knife. The blades are made from high-quality German stainless steel, and they have an ergonomic, balanced design that’s easy for novices to wield.
Best Japanese-Style Knife Block
An Attractive, Lightweight Knife Set That’s Easy To Sharpen
- Material: High-performance VG-MAX steel
- Knives Included: Paring knife, santoku knife, chef’s knife, combination honing steel, kitchen shear
- Block Included: Yes
Japanese blades, which have a thin, sharp blade, are a favorite among many professional chefs—though they often have a high price tag to match their high quality. “I only use exclusively Japanese blades,” says Chef Eli Dunn, a private chef in Rhode Island and two-time champion on Food Network’s Chopped. “In my experience, Japanese blades are slightly more lightweight and easier to sharpen.”
Dunn recommends this six-piece set from Shun, which includes a 3.5-inch paring knife, 7-inch santoku knife, 8-inch chef’s knife, 9-inch honing steel and multi-purpose kitchen shears, all in an attractive knife block. The blades are handcrafted in Japan, and in addition to a sharp edge, they have an attractive bead-blasted appearance.
Best Knife Set With Scissors
A Professional-Grade Knife Set With All The Essentials
- Material: High-carbon stainless steel
- Knives Included: Paring knife, utility knife, santoku knife, chef’s knife, kitchen shears, sharpening steel
- Block Included: Yes
Schuster also recommends looking for a knife set that includes a set of kitchen shears: “Don’t underestimate scissors,” says Schuster. “A good pair of kitchen shears is a great tool in the kitchen. We use kitchen shears all the time in the restaurant.”
This seven-piece option from Zwilling, another well-respected cutlery brand, includes all the essentials that Schuster recommends, including a 4-inch parer, 5-inch serrated utility knife, 5-inch santoku knife, 8-inch chef’s knife and kitchen shears, as well as a 9-inch sharpening steel. It also includes a 10-slot birch block where you can store these knives as well as others in your collection.
Best In-Drawer Knife Set
A Compact Set That’s Designed For Easy Storage
- Material: Stainless steel
- Knives Included: Bread knife, santoku knife, carving knife, table knife, paring knife
- Block Included: Yes
If you don’t have space on your countertop for a knife block, an in-drawer set is an ideal solution for safe and compact storage, and this one from Victorinox comes with five essential cutting tools. The set includes a bread knife, santoku knife, carving knife, tomato/table knife with a wavy edge and a paring knife, all of which fit nicely into the Swiss-made beechwood block. The only thing it’s missing is a chef’s knife, which you can purchase separately from the brand, if desired.
Most Attractive Knife Block
An Attractive Set With High-Quality Knives
- Material: Cromova 18 stainless steel
- Knives Included: Paring knife, utility knife, chef's utility/prep knife, nakiri knife, chef’s knife, bread knife
- Block Included: Yes
This knife set will make an attractive addition to your kitchen thanks to its unique block, which is made from bamboo with acrylic sides, allowing you to see the blades inside. Plus, the knives themselves are widely touted by several chefs: “I feel very confident recommending Global Brand knives,” says Taylor Reilly, executive chef and founder of Greenroots Living. “They are easy to sharpen at home, hold a blade very well and are at a great price point for home cooks and professionals alike. The Japanese steel is excellent quality, and I’ve had mine for many, many years and they’ve maintained their integrity over time. My Globals are my most often go-to knives out of dozens of other specialty knives I’ve collected over my career.”
These knives are also known for being exceptionally durable. “Being married to someone [who] puts them in a dishwasher, they just hold up better and maintain an edge longer," says Chef Cole Ellis, owner of Delta Meat Market.
Best Self-Sharpening Knife Block Set
A Self-Sharpening Set With Durable Knives
- Material: High-carbon stainless steel
- Knives Included: Chef’s knife, utility knife, santoku knife, paring knife, kitchen shears
- Block Included: Yes
If you don’t like sharpening your kitchen knives, this six-piece set from Calphalon comes with a self-sharpening knife block—there are ceramic sharpeners built into each slot, so every time you put your knife inside, its blade is honed for its next use.
The set comes with a 8-inch chef’s knife, 6-inch utility knife, 5-inch santoku knife, 3.5-inch parer and kitchen shears, all of which are made from high-carbon, no-stain steel with triple-riveted handles. The included block is made from blonde rubberwood, and the set comes with a full lifetime warranty.
Most Stylish Knife Set
A Sharp-Looking Set With Olivewood Handles
- Material: Stainless steel
- Knives Included: Chef’s knife, santoku knife, paring knife
- Block Included: No
These knives are both sharp and sharp-looking. The three-piece set from Made In features eye-catching olivewood handles that hold fully forged blades. It comes with an 8.5-inch chef’s knife, 7-inch santoku knife and 4-inch paring knife, all of which are crafted at a family-owned factory in France. Plus, the brand backs its knives with a lifetime warranty, so you know these stylish pieces are built to last.
Here’s What To Look For In A Kitchen Knife Set
When shopping for a knife block, you’ll want to first figure out how many pieces you need. “The first and most important step is determining what kinds of knives you use the most and which ones feel comfortable to you,” explains Schuster. “In general, you should have a chef’s knife and/or a santoku as your primary knife. These knives range in length from 6 to 8 inches, and the best way to see which ones feel the best is to hold them.”
“Next, a paring knife is a good part of any knife set for smaller, handheld tasks. After that, a serrated knife, around 8 inches in length, for slicing bread, tomatoes and other foods where you don’t want to ‘squish’ the center.”
“Some sets come with a boning knife, which for most home cooks is not necessary,” he continues. “Some sets come with a ‘utility knife,’ usually about 6 inches in length with a thin blade. Many folks at home like these kinds of knives, and it’s not a terrible idea to have one around, as larger knives may scare some cooks for less intense tasks.”
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