Our Pick: Wsthof Classic Ikon 7
Our pick
*At the time of publishing, the price was $380.
The best knife set for home cooks is the Wüsthof Classic Ikon 7-Piece Walnut Block Knife Set. The knives in this set were the sharpest compared with all the others we tested in this price range. Since the Classic Ikon knives are extremely durable, they can take more abuse in your kitchen. The ergonomic knife handles provided a superior grip next to those knives with slick handles, which became slippery when wet. Unlike most sets, the Classic Ikon set comes with the most basic and useful knives without a lot of unnecessary filler. And the handsome walnut block gives this set a classic look that will fit the aesthetic of almost any kitchen.
The Wüsthof Classic Ikon set comes with a 15-slot walnut block , pull-apart kitchen shears, a honing steel, and four knives: a 3½-inch paring knife, a 6-inch utility knife, an 8-inch chefs knife, and an 8-inch serrated bread knife. Though some of the Japanese knives we tested were sharper , the Classic Ikon knives still cut with excellent precision and seemed more durable than the competition. Chef Joseph Simon, a culinary instructor at the International Culinary Center, noted the heft of the Classic Ikon knives and said, Theyre sturdy, they will last forever, theyre going to keep an edge, and they will be easy to sharpen.
The block has extra slots for both kitchen and steak knives, which allows you ample room to grow your collection.
Imarku 16 Piece Premium Kitchen Knife Set
Weight: 8.9lbs |
Steak knives are a lower quality steel than the rest of the set |
Storage block does not include empty slots |
Set Includes: 8chef knife, 8 bread knife, 7 slicing knife, 7 santoku, 6 chef, 8 bread knife, and a 7 santoku knife, 4.7 utility knife, 3.2 paring knife, 5.5 kitchen shears, six 4.7 steak knives, 8 sharpening rod and a wooden storage block..
This 16 piece set from Imarku has been on our radar for a while. We get a lot of questions about the company here at Nothing But Knives, but we were skeptical due to some outdated reviews online and the companys flashy marketing. Once we were actually able to test this set out we discovered why it has become so popular. The knives feature a very functional and versatile design that make the set a welcome addition to the kitchen. The majority of the knives in this set are made with steel from ThyssunKrup steel which is a German steel company. The knives held a decent edge, and were easy to sharpen. The steel definitely held up well enough to be competitive with most other knife sets at this price point.
Another thing that stood out to us about this set is that super beefy kitchen shears that are included. They are some of the most impressive kitchen shears we have ever tested from a toughness and durability standpoint. They are capable of heavy duty tasks that would break most other kitchen shears.
Marco Almond Rainbow Titanium Knife Set
Most Instaworthy
We owe Selena Gomez and her HBOMax Show, Selena + Chef, big time for this tip the singer uses this shimmery set in just about every episode of the cooking show. If youre thinking theyre too pretty to be high quality, think again: One of the guest chefs on the show made Gomez slice through a sheet of paper with it to prove her knife was the real deal. The stainless-steel bladeschefs, slicing, bread, Santoku, utility and paring knives, plus six steak knivesare coated in rust-proof titanium, so theyll stay beautiful forever. If the oil slick/turquoise combo doesnt speak to you, we also love the look of the luxe golden titanium blades with black handles. Theyre just begging to be shown off on your food blog.
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Budget Pick: Victorinox 4
Budget pick
*At the time of publishing, the price was $120.
The inexpensive Victorinox 4-Piece Knife Set with Fibrox Handles makes a great set for both beginners and pros because anyone can use these knives, theyll take a beating, and theyre sharper than most competitors in this price range. These Victorinox knives are comfortable to hold, lightweight, and well balanced. Although this set doesnt include a knife block, kitchen shears, or a honing steel, it remains a great starter set with proven longevity.
Included in the Victorinox Fibrox set are four knives with high-carbon stainless steel blades: a 4-inch paring knife, a 6-inch utility knife, an 8-inch chefs knife, and a 10¼-inch serrated bread knife. At first glance these knives may look and feel cheap, but dont be deceived by their light weight and chunkier handles: These knives were sharper than the ones in the Mercer Culinary Renaissance 6-Piece Forged Knife Block Set, which was about $40 more expensive at the time we checked. Culinary instructors Brendan McDermott and Joseph Simon both told us that the communal knives most pro kitchens use are typically Victorinox Fibrox knives. Simon said, If I was working in a restaurant, this is the set Id want to have, because its easy to sharpen and can take a beating.
If I was working in a restaurant, this is the set Id want to have, because its easy to sharpen and can take a beating.Joseph Simon, chef and ICC instructor
Best Customizable: Berti Italian Cornotech
Courtesy of Food52
Lets say youve already got a knife that you could never part with. Shes perfect, youve named her, and no one else is allowed to touch her. Then, you need a knife set that you can mix and match based on your needs. At Food52 you can choose from a selection of gorgeous Berti knives to make your own set: a curved paring knife, a straight paring knife, a tomato knife, a utility knife, a chefs knife, a bread knife, and a carving knife.
These knives are handcrafted in Italy, and their blades are made of high-carbon, laser-cut steel. Their triple-riveted handles are made of Cornotech, an extra-durable material that looks and feels like ox horn. You can add these beauties to your own block or order them with the individual blocks Berti makes for themeach of which features a black silhouette of the appropriate knife and Italian script identifying the types of food it is meant to slice . Together, these lovely little blocks look like a set of books, and they lend a cozy, homey air to any kitchen.
Also Check: Best Way To Season Steak For Grill
How The Knife Comes Together
Image Source: Amazon.com Wusthof Classic Knife
Consider if you would like a Forged or Stamped Blade: Some persons may see the terms regularly forged blade or stamped blade, but it is not as complicated as it may sound.
A forged blade, which is considered a better edge, is usually made from a single piece of steel, While the stamped blade is cut from a sheet of metal like a cookie-cutter, for example. Then the usual processes are done the blade is tempered, hardened, and finished.
A forged knife is considered better as they tend to be harder, thus holding their edges much longer than a stamped knife.
Case Household Cutlery Knives
Case knives date back all the way to 1889. This is when the four Case brothers began selling handcrafted knives from the back of a wagon in upstate New York. The Case knife factory has been established in Bradford, Pennsylvania in 1905. Case Household Cutlery has made military knives for U.S. servicemen and women from the beginning of World War I. During NASAs Gemini Mission in 1965, astronauts included special Case knives in their survival packs. All subsequent Gemini and Apollo missions included Case Astronaut Knives, making it the only knife to reach the moon. America!
Case Household Cutlery Knives
The Case Cutlery household kitchen block set is one of the best kitchen knife sets made in the USA which happens to be a set I absolutely love and can personally vouch for. Engineered for quality and durability, these knives will last for many decades as long as you maintain them well enough. Constructed with wooden handles and Tru-Sharp steel, the blades dont stick to food while slicing. Case Tru-Sharp Surgical Stainless Steel is high-carbon steel, offering excellent blade strength & corrosion resistance.
The set includes:
- 9-inch Slicing Knife
- 10-inch Sharpening Stick
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Building A Custom Cutlery Knife Set
The time has come to get some steel for your kitchen. Whether that means you are starting from scratch or moving from your prior knives, change is about to happen. Perhaps someone you know is transitioning, graduating, or getting married. Do you buy a set or build a purpose driven collection?
Buying a set gives you the continuity of your chosen brand edge quality, feel, durability and such. If the grips work for you, they likely will work throughout the set. However, as weve seen, some sets bring a lot of clutter in knives you wont use. When you use a different shaped blade, you often hold the knife differently, so variation is a plus as well.
Building your own set gets you variety that is helpful to your kitchen mechanics. Purpose chosen knives will fit their respective bill. It allows for transitions too, over time upgrading what you use most for example, without worrying about everything matching.
premium line upeconomical line up
Look at how you plan to use your knives and consider upgrading your most popular blade of choice. For most of us that is the chefs blade, number two being the paring knife. Over time, you can bring the other choices up to a higher level.
Our DIY collections will be chefs blade, paring knife, bread knife, and boning knife. Due to the increased popularity we will also make a Santoku recommendation in each category.
What To Look For In A Kitchen Knife Set
Theres tons of factors to consider when it comes to deciding on the best kitchen knife set. Even folks who are already knee-deep in the world of knives can find it overwhelming, so for the uninitiated it can be absolutely daunting.
So whats the best knife set? Well its complicated.
First off, the question you should ask yourself is: what kind of knife set am I looking for? Whether youre looking for steak knives, paring knives, slicing knives, or even more specific types like the santoku knife, this should be front and center of your thought process when looking for a knife set.
The quality of the blade is another important factor. You want a sharp, sturdy blade that will last. The price is also involved here, as the quality of the materials will inevitably go hand-in-hand with the cost of the set.
If youre looking for a good variety with a nice presentation you can proudly display in your kitchen, you might want to look into a kitchen knife block set. And even within knife block sets, there are different kinds some of them feature exclusively one type of knife.
Well show you a few different types of kitchen knife sets, and tell you our picks for best knife sets from each one. Note that some of these knife sets may qualify for more than one category at a time. Well make note of it when they do.
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Chicago Cutlery Insignia Steel 13 Piece Set Kitchen Cutlery Set
Specifications
The steak knives do not feel as durable as the rest of the set |
8 utility knife is a little on the big size for some tasks. |
Full Review |
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If you are on an extremely tight budget, and you need a knife set cheaper than anything listed here, check out the Top 5 Critic article on the top knife sets under $50.
If you think you may want to spend a little more in order to get a better quality cutlery set, check out our article on the best kitchen knife sets under $200.
If you want to take a significant step up in quality check out The Best Kitchen Knife Sets Under $300
If you think you want to spend a lot more for a better quality knife set, check out our article, The Best Kitchen Knife Sets Under $300.
Proper Care and Handling of budget kitchen Knives
While it is true that modern manufacturing in 2021 technology has greatly improved the quality of budget kitchen knives it is also true that cheap cutlery generally will not last as long as higher priced kitchen knives. However, with a minimal amount of care and maintenance the kitchen knife sets under $100 listed in this post should last for years. Here are our recommendations for getting years of use from budget cutlery sets.
Best Laguiole Style: Flyingcolors Flying Colors Laguiole Steak Knife Set
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Great price for this special style knife
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Different handle finishes
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Hand-wash only
Laguiole-style knives have a distinctive shape thats easy to recognize. Theyre distinct from other kitchen knives, making them a conversation piece as well as a cutting tool. This set of six knives has wood handles with three rivets for security and a full tang. An interesting feature is a decorative pattern in the metal along with the handle. The same knives are available with other handle materials, so its simple to find the one thats a good match with existing flatware. These should be washed by hand.
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Number Of Pieces In The Set
When it comes to the number of knives in your set, it really depends on your preferences. If youre one who doesnt mind a limited number of knives in your block and wants to avoid confusion with them, you might want to consider something that is more all-purpose, like the Shun Classic 6-piece Slim Knife Block Set. This one comes with only six pieces in this set, including shears, but is a great one to have.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, if youre someone who needs to have it all because you like options or because you cook a lot, then the Cangshan N1 Series 23-Piece Knife Block Set might be ideal for you.
Best Overall: Chicago Cutlery Fusion 17
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Poorly made knife block
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No serrated steak knives
Its hard to find fault with this comprehensive set that includes every knife youll need, along with a sharpening steel. The blades are made from high-carbon stainless steel and have rubber and metal handles that are designed for style, and as our tester revealed, have a “very comfortable grip.” The knife edge is not only super-sharp but its designed to be easy to re-sharpen when necessary, so you never need to worry about a dull blade.
This set includes a 7 3/4-inch chef knife, 7 3/4-inch serrated bread knife, 7- and 5-inch santoku knives, 5-inch utility knife, 3 1/4-inch paring knife, eight 4.5-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 washed to retain their sharpness.
Our tester noted that the steak knives aren’t serrated, but smoothly cut through steak anyway. It’s likely that they will need to be resharpened at some point if used often.
Blade Material: High carbon stainless steel | Number of Knives: 14 | Sharpening: Sharpening steel
“Given its extensive array of super-sharp knives, its definitely worth the cost.” Sage McHugh, Product Tester
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Best Knife Set Without Steak Knives Review 2021
There is no doubt that the knife is one of the most indispensable tools in the kitchen.
Some swear that owning only a razor-sharp chefs style sheet improves your cutting and slicing skills.
Then again, if you have a complete set ready to do, your culinary business will become less tedious.
After all, it is easier to peel fruits and vegetables with a pairing knife, and cutting bread into equal-sized non-pressed pieces requires a sawtooth.
If you are currently looking for one of these, below are seven of the best sets of knives available today.
Please note that these do not include steak knives.
Victorinox Swiss Classic Knife Block Set
Most of you know the iconic Swiss Army Knife from Victorinox but the company makes way more knives. Some of you might know them under the former importers name Forschner but know they called only Victorinox.The knives are designed to handle both small and large kitchen tasks. Crafted with high carbon stainless steel, each knife is conical ground and ice tempered to ensure long-lasting sharpness.The Handle is similar to its Fibrox Pro line. It is textured with a non-slip grip even when wet. The knives are weighted and balanced for easy handling. The Utility Knife and Chef Knive have long, sloping curved blades that rocks for effortless mincing and chopping. That is if you like that kind of working with the knife you do not have to. The handle is dishwasher safe but we highly recommend washing all your knives by hand!Included in the Set:
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Best Overall Cuisinart C77ss
Why youll love this:
This is a simple, well made, no frills knife set with a decent variety and a good price. Overall a perfect choice for our baseline model by which to compare other sets.
What We Liked
- Price: These are excellent knives for the budget. Overall inexpensive while not being so cheap as to make you instantly suspicious of their motives.
- Variety: As a baseline kitchen knife set, this set is superb. It includes a santoku knife , an actual chefs knife , a slicing knife, two paring knives , a serrated utility knife, and 6 serrated steak knives, plus shears and sharpening steel, of course.
- Block: Block is sturdy and unassuming, while complimenting the color of the knives themselves quite well.
- High Carbon: As mentioned, a high carbon content is a desirable quality in knives, making them sharper and retain their edge longer. This doesnt completely remove the need for maintenance, but it does reduce it.
What We Didnt Like