EMILY WAY/TASTE OF HOME
Pros:
- Comes in six stunning shades
- Sharp German stainless steel blades
- Contains all the tools necessary for most meals
- Modular, magnetic storage system included
- Knives boast Rockwell Hardness of 58+
Cons:
- Knife block only available with full Prep Set
When it comes to kitchen prep, I’m a bit of a stickler for an all-in-one solution. Tools that don’t match simply drive me bananas, which is why I love my Caraway Prep Set. Boasting FSC-certified birch wood, German stainless steel blades and BPA-free handles, the set offers a bounty of non-toxic tools that handle most meals. It also comes in six stunning shades that bring me immense joy every time I use the included knives.
Included are a set of birchwood tongs, spatulas, serving spoons, shears, and a magnetic modular organization unit that keeps it all tidy. Inside the magnetic modular storage unit is a birchwood knife block sporting a chef’s knife, prep knife, bread knife and paring knife.
Compared to my pricey Cangshan set, the Caraway Prep Set knives performed surprisingly well. The serrated knife saws through bread without squishing a single piece, and it doubles as a nice slicer for sandwiches. The chef’s knife impresses with its sharp blade and lightweight handle. I love that the premium German stainless steel extends all the way through the handle—it makes the entire set feel so much safer than budget brands.
The paring knife is my favorite of the bunch. Its small size fits perfectly in my hand, and the handy sharp blade works well for peeling apples, chopping cucumbers and removing the fat from cuts of meat. Even after slicing and dicing several meals, the paring knife still easily cuts through most foods. No dull blades here!
While the overall quality isn’t the same as a $500 set, I love that this is an all-in-one purchase that covers the basic needs of most home cooks. Plus, each included aspect is cute to boot!
Blade material: German Stainless Steel blades | Storage: Modular storage unit, wooden knife block | Includes: 8″ Chef’s knife, 6.5″ prep knife, 7″ bread knife, 3.5″ paring knife, knife block, 5 wooden utensils and modular storage unit
EMILY WAY/TASTE OF HOME
Pros:
- Excellent value for the price
- Gorgeous, gift-ready packaging and looks
- Solid German steel construction
- Lifetime warranty
Cons:
- No serrated knives included
- No knife block or sheaths
Those seeking a medium-sized knife set that looks lovely and cuts flawlessly, listen up. Cutluxe works with professional gourmet chefs to craft high-quality tools at the lowest possible price. Their five-piece kitchen knife set delivers solid performance at a low price point, making them an excellent value overall. Each set even comes with a little cleaning cloth to keep your new knives looking sleek!
Apart from the standard chef’s knife and paring knife that come with most sets, this set also includes a Santoku knife, utility knife and carving knife. The Santoku knife, in particular, is worth the price alone. It has a Granton edge blade with little dimples. These divots help the knife slice cleanly through almost anything without sticking. I’ve tried it with tomatoes, potatoes and even meat without having to stop and peel anything off.
One area where this knife set fails a bit is in variety. There’s no serrated knife included, which may be a dealbreaker for bakers. I go through a healthy amount of sourdough throughout the week and find myself missing this essential. I’d love to see the set with at least one serrated option. That said, the other knives work in a pinch.
Cutluxe also boasts one of the best brand warranties on this list. Each set has a lifetime warranty against material or workmanship defects, making this a great pick for those leery of splurging on a defective set. That said, the price is very manageable at under $100. I find the lower price point a great value for a five-piece set!
Blade material: High Carbon German Steel | Storage: No | Includes: 8″ Chef knife, 7″ Santoku knife, 5.5″ kitchen utility knife, 9” carving knife, 3.5” paring knife, cleaning cloth
What to Look for When Buying a Kitchen Knife Set
“A high-quality stainless is best for a home cook unless you’re making lots of sushi and sashimi. Then you may want to explore looking into purchasing a white, or even blue carbon steel,” says Tony. “These have much better edge retention and can get incredibly sharp but keep in mind, carbon steel is not stainless. It will rust so you must take added care of it.”
He notes that if you’re purchasing knives a la carte from a Japanese knife store, the prices can be shockingly expensive. For the average home cook, Tony recommends spending around $150-200 for the chef knife, a similar price for the slicer and $100 each for the bread knife and paring knife. That said, according to our tests, there are also dozens of budget options worth snagging if you’re new to the kitchen.
One thing to keep in mind is that a knife set is only as good as its maintenance. While some manufacturers claim that their sets are dishwasher safe, our team feels that you should never put your knives in the dishwasher. It dulls the blades and can bend the knife. Instead, always hand wash and dry once finished.
Tony recommends learning to sharpen your knives. This will not only make your cooking experience easier but also allow you to be more in tune with your knife. “Eventually, if you cook enough, the knives will become an extension of your arm,” he says.
Self-described knife snob and Deputy Editor Nicole Doster recommends spending a little extra on a good knife sharpener to complement your fancy new knife set.
“I’d highly recommend this knife sharpener,” she says. “It’s a no B.S. sharpener that you have to set up on a workspace (think: metal shavings everywhere), but it works a thousand times better compared to the ones you’d typically find attached to a knife block or in something you’d keep in a kitchen drawer. And it actually keeps your knives razor sharp!”
Why You Should Trust Us
I’m the Taste of Home shopping team’s resident food and beverage expert and a home cook who knows her way around a kitchen. While I’m no expert chef, I do have ample experience using and reviewing everything from kitchen utensils to cookware. I’m also well-versed in shopping for pricey home goods like portable range hoods and fancy Japanese steam ovens.
For this piece, I enlisted the help of the Shopping and Product Testing Teams. Together, we tested 19 different knife sets — that’s over 70 knives in total! We have decades of combined experience testing and reviewing products in the kitchen and beyond. I also spoke to James Beard Award-winning chef Tony Messina about what to look for in a good kitchen knife set.
Tony Messina spent countless hours in his grandparents’ kitchen cooking elaborate Italian feasts as a young boy and has been a fixture on the line in Boston restaurants since he began working as a caterer and cook at fourteen. In 2009, Tony decided to formalize his culinary training and attend the Cambridge Culinary School. Tony was honored by Boston magazine as the city’s “Best Outstanding Chef” in their annual Best of Boston issue in 2017. In May 2019, the James Beard Foundation named him “Best Chef: Northeast” at the annual James Beard Awards ceremony. Tony was a semi-finalist in 2017 and a nominee in 2018 in the same category.
How We Found the Best Kitchen Knife Sets
To find the best kitchen knife sets, the editors on our shopping team tested 19 sets and 70 kitchen knives over nearly two months. We sliced, diced, chopped and peeled our way through everything from tender steak to fibrous potatoes and delicate tomatoes. Each editor tested at least two sets to compare performance. We noted various criteria, including packaging, safety, quality, inclusions, performance, washing and value.
Overall, we collected over 324 data points across all the tested sets. In this list, we included a range of top-performing options that span price points, sizes and aesthetics to find something for each home cook.
Other options we tested that are excellent runner-ups:
- Our Place Knife Trio: Tester Madi Koetting really enjoyed using this knife set, thanks to the inclusion of high-quality sheaths and how sharp the blades remained after using them nearly every day for several months. They also come in several fun colorways, and a knife block is available for purchase separately. That said, we found the price a bit steep for a three-piece set.
- Sur La Table Knife Block Set: Equipped with honing steel, a large bread knife and a sizable knife block that holds it all, the Sur La Table knife block set is a great option for those seeking a high-quality set. However, our tester found that the handles are a tiny bit rough—something we expect will go away with time as they accumulate oils from hands. You can also buff them with butcher block wax. That said, at a higher price than the already expensive HexClad set, we found them a bit too pricey for the average home cook.
- Craving by Chrissy Teigen Essential Knife Set: This would make an excellent starter set for college students or newbie home cooks. While not the sharpest set we tried, at around $50 we can’t complain about the quality of these knives for the price. That said, we found that other options offered a better value.
- The Pioneer Woman Knife Block Set: Tester Madi has used these knives since April 1, 2024, and 45 days later, she started to see the whole “you get what you paid for” mentality come to fruition. All of the knives felt smooth during the first few weeks of testing, but she noticed that they didn’t slice as seamlessly on day 45 as they did on day one. While they’re not as pricey as other sets (and we love the gorgeous farmhouse aesthetic), we identified other sets that don’t require as much sharpening or maintenance.
- Cangshan Sanford Knife Set: The second set we tested from Cangshan, the Sanford knife set performs as well as the block set. We recommend snagging this set instead if you don’t have room for a knife block on your counter. They even come with sheaths!
- Paris Hilton Knife Block Set: Surprisingly, this set offered comparable performance to the pricier options. However, the wooden magnetic display block gave our tester a bit of trouble. While we love the idea of it, the knives did not want to stick to the magnetic block regardless of the arrangement.
Options we tested and suggest skipping:
- Cuisinart Ceramic-Coated Knife Set: While we love the look and ceramic coating of the knives, we didn’t particularly enjoy the handle grip, which thickened and bulged toward the top and bottom of the handle and made them uncomfortable to hold. In addition, they dulled quickly and were a bit too lightweight for our tester.
- Farberware Stainless Steel Chef Knife Set: Unfortunately, these earned low marks across the board. They’re flimsy and dull, and our tester felt unsafe using them.
- KitchenAid Classic Knife Set: While we felt safe using these, they weren’t up to the quality we expect from KitchenAid. Our tester remarks that they remind her of a set she would have in college. They don’t have a nice weight, and the blades are also quite thin. In addition, they began rusting after only a month of use.
FAQ
Are Zwilling and Henckels the same?
The parent brand Zwilling J.A. Henckels owns both Zwilling and Henckels knives. Each has its own lineup of collections, from professional-quality kitchen knives to more budget-friendly sets intended for the home cook. While both brands sell solid-performing knife sets, Zwilling typically offers more premium options than Henckels, which offers greater value for the price.
What knife does Gordon Ramsay use?
According to Gordon Ramsay, “A chef is only as good as their knives.” The well-known celebrity chef publically backs HexClad knives. The Master Series Japanese Damascus knife set is one of his favorite collections.
What is the number one kitchen knife set?
According to our tests, the number one knife set is from Zwilling. The brand offers incredible bang for your buck. In addition, high-quality materials and simple maintenance make it a great fit for home cooks. Sure, you can spend $500 on a set that boasts specific inclusions for various kitchen tasks. But in our testing, we found that you only need three staples: a parer, a serrated utility knife and a chef’s knife. The three-piece Zwilling set performs well across the board, whether you’re deboning chicken, slicing up slivers of spring onions or dicing fragile tomatoes for salsa.
