Best Knife Sets + DIY Set

Choosing the right knife set for your kitchen is a tough problem. You can save time and money by buying a pre-made knife set. The downside to this is you’ll end up with a cheap set of knives that are better suited as a decoration than for cutting. So along with the results from our testing of various knife sets, we’ll include our DIY Knife Set assembly.

Whether you’re a home cook or a culinary enthusiast understanding the basics of kitchen knives can change your cooking game. From precision cuts to efficient prep the right knife can make all the difference. In this article we’ll cover the knives professional chefs use, the most popular kitchen knife, essential knives for every kitchen, top knife brands and what to look for in a good set.

BEST KNIFE SETS

1. Dalstrong Gladiator Series (18-Piece Knife Set) – BEST OVERALL Knife Set

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As soon as you pick up these knives you will notice the weight and balance. Similar to many European blades the balance point is behind the bolster, which works well with the overall weight of the heavier blades. With a solid bolster, spine, and end cap, they might be too hefty for some people. Add their well-honed blades to the weight and cutting was much easier to push through everything we threw at it. Even fine work, testing the edge of the chef’s blade after chickens and squash, you could peel paper thin slices of onion. Dalstrong advertises around a 16 degree blade edge, which is a good combination of sharpness without getting too steep, which thins out the blade and requires more sharpening.

The set is an excellent selection covering almost all the basics of style, and does have a pretty sharp looking block. This is the most functionally thorough of the sets we reviewed. The Asian style blades are really cool, with the Nakiri blade as a mid-weight cleaver and the extended length on the Kiritsuke knife, you really get usable choices. At 9” the bread knife and slicer are long enough to offer more functionality, and the indents on the slicer make it a dream for cutting roasted meats. As a brand unfamiliar to me when we started testing, I can see adding some of their products to my kitchen.

2. Mercer Culinary Genesis (6-Piece Set) – BEST VALUE

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These are a stalwart knife in the cutlery industry, and you will find their basic models in many kitchens.  Running restaurants makes you very frugal, and the base knives from Mercer are durable enough to survive the lazy cook that throws them in the dishwasher, then hold an edge with endurance, delivering the value of longevity. The ‘Culinary’ line jumps only slightly in price from the base models, and certainly look nicer at this level. The handles are comfortable, in the soft grip style, they do well when wet and in most working conditions. Speaking of look, the glass block is a nice touch for your countertops.

Blade shapes are traditional stain-free steel, nothing fancy, they just get the job done. With a heavy spine and a forged bolster they’re made to be durable. Good flex on the boning knife and an even sided taper to the paring knife offer good functionality. If you wanted to quibble, serrating the utility knife would make it more versatile and a longer bread knife is handy with many loafs. But you almost have to look for the flaws, and you’ll forget all that when you get your hands on these blades.

3. Emojoy Knife Set  (18-Piece) – BUDGET BUY

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I may have chuckled when I saw ‘Professional’ in the name. That stopped when I opened the box. All forged with bolsters, full tangs and end caps, even the six steak knives, at this price point…there must be a problem. Couldn’t find any. Sure, a couple unneeded knives, and we established that I prefer longer slicing and bread blades. But these worked great. The slicer made fine work of a pork loin and the boning knife was downright impressive with shape size and flex.

Looking at many sets, it became apparent there are two approaches to handles. Maintain a similar size throughout the set, or have them reduce in size commensurate to the blade. While we didn’t score this aspect, Emojoy did a good job of matching handle scale to the blade. Okay, the shears were just so-so. That’s searching pretty deep for flaws in a value priced knife set. Obviously we couldn’t speak to how these stainless steel blades will look in five, ten, or twenty years, but they are pretty darn good right out of the gate. For these reasons, this is our selection for an inexpensive set or best knives set to gift.

4. Zwilling J.A. Henckels Professional S Set (7-Piece)

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Early in the business, Henckels were the grail of restaurant cooks, only the most established chefs and best cooks had them in their knife roll and you never touched them without permission. Zwilling, German for twin, has been their trademark for almost 300 years, so they know their business.

For a top end product, these are a workhorse in the kitchen. 15 degree bevels, full tangs and riveted handles deliver functionality with the longevity of high carbon steel.

Blindfolded you wouldn’t be likely to note the difference between these and the best German blades. Frankly though, this assortment is a starter set of 4 blades. They’re all good, but you will need more types to meet most needs, and the block offers slots to put them in. Their 3” paring knife in particular is nimble and fun to work with. It worked to bone some chicken, but is ideal for paring an apple or peeling veggies.

Side Note: American vs Chinese Made Knives
The twins indicate the American made collection, while a single figure indicates a Chinese manufactured knife.

5. Shun Cutlery Classic Starter Knife Set (5-Piece)

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These are probably the best looking knives in the test group, with a continuity of style through the 3 blades included in this kitchen knife set. In addition to beauty, Japanese blades can command some very high prices. The carbon content and metallurgical technology are actually the big expense. The end results are very resilient blades that are lighter and more flexible than their western counterparts. These knives hold their edge, and if needed Shun will sharpen them for you as long as you own them.

In all the cutting tests these knives performed very well. They were our pick for a random test cutting up a pineapple. The knife performed very well, the slender profile and great edge made short work of removing the fibrous skin and slicing the fruit. Grips are about the only negative aspect of these knives. The ‘D’ shaped handles mean they’re not ambidextrous. Combine that with almost no taper, and they do not serve you well for hours of knife work, hand fatigue becomes a factor. They will make the actual work part easier with speed and maneuverability from their lighter weight.

6. Calphalon Contemporary Knife Block Set (20-Piece)

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I’m a big fan of Calphalon cookware, so I was excited to sample their knives. Don’t let the middle of the pack ranking scare you away, it speaks more of the competition than the quality of this set. The block lists self-sharpening, although the ceramic used in the block is typically a honing step in most sharpeners. It ends up being perfect for every time you draw out the knife. These knives have nice heft, balance and style. Especially the stamped label in the end cap, very nice touch. The grip shape also offers a nice bulge to hold on to.

This is a thorough set, with a knife to meet almost all your needs, including a nice set of eight steak knives. The steak knives and shears are the lightest weight part of the set, not quite the high quality of the ‘real’ knives. Two Santoku knives may be unnecessary, and longer slicers would be better. But these are all functional high carbon stainless steel knives that held their edges well, enhanced by the built in sharpener.

7. Chicago Cutlery Fusion Knife Block Set (12-Piece)

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This is a good looking set from an established company that has evolved to cover a spread of price ranges. A stylish block, sideways slots for the kitchen knives, and with eight steak knives that match the design of the set. The steak knives also have a straight edge which means they can be sharpened easily. Like some others, a longer slicer blade would be nice. The bread knife is an average length with decent serration, and the paring knife is very usable. The utility knife is a little pedestrian, but did well in place of a boning knife for the chicken. The tapering grips are going to favor a smaller hand, and they have a nice rubberized texture.

The gray areas for this set are in the structure. The bolster is good, it grips well when needed, and feels solid. Disappearing into the rubberized grip, it is impossible to tell the weight and strength of the tang as it extends through to the end cap. Hopefully it is strong enough to bear up over time.  They are listed as a 26 degree tapered edge, which means they do not have a bevel per se, the tapering starts higher on the blade down to the edge  . You will likely end up with a bevel though, because that’s how home sharpeners generally work. That is not the best kitchen knife set, but it makes this a decent set that should age well, but may change somewhat over the years.

8. Victorinox Rosewood Knife Block Set  (7-Piece)

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I so wanted to love this set, I’ve passed along my decades old blades of this brand, and they’re still being used. It is a perfect assortment of blades in great sizes like a 10” slicer and 3.25” paring knife. Their boning knife is classically designed and sharpened all the way to the tip. Even though the spine is not the heaviest of our group, the chef’s blade performed well and all the knives held a good edge.

The only issue is the handles. Out of the box the Rosewood had a typical aroma of stained wood in an enclosed space, not a long term problem. Compared to the sculpting available in contemporary knives, these handles seemed boxy and bulky, even with fairly big mitts like mine. Granted, using composites and end caps can make balance easier to achieve, so more wood is needed to get the right equivalent balance. From experience the Rosewood will age well and maintain a good look with minimal attention, the blades too, but for heavy daily use the grips become problematic.

9. Cuisinart C77TR-15P Triple Rivet Collection (15-Piece) – Just Alright

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This set scored the same as the Emojoy, but they got the higher ranking due to a better assortment of blades. This set does include a decent slicer and bread knife, both classically shaped, especially the bread knife with a slight curve on its length. Interestingly the six steak knives are not serrated, which your guests may not be used to, but meaning you can sharpen them. They also do not feel as solid as the kitchen knives.

The chef’s blade has decent heft, good grip. The blade shape is a bit chubbier with more curve than many blades. Not bad, but unique. The edge out of the box was good, and stayed sharp throughout the testing. That was true of all the blades we played with. Again, no boning knife, the utility knife was okay, but the sharp little paring knife pulled the chicken breast off the bone pretty well. Not sure if this stainless steel set will last decades, but it makes a good starter or second knife set for your kitchen.

10. Cuisinart C77SS-13P Graphix Collection Block Set (13-Piece) – Just Alright

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Hollow handled knives have always seemed cheap and potentially a problem. Add that to Cuisinart moving in and out of the value sphere, and this is another pleasant surprise in the group. The grips are well textured, look really nice and have been balanced for the blade they are with. When making hard cuts you can keep a good hold on the knife, contrary to smooth hollow handles. The steak knives are interesting, with a handle slightly heftier but still normal flatware, as opposed to a ‘real’ knife handle, they performed well.

With only four kitchen blades this set did not show well on assortment, made less so due to the blades chosen. No slicer, only a 5.5” serrated utility knife, and the mediocre black handled shears looked out of place. Their Santoku kitchen knife showed off great though, tall enough to chop well against your guiding hand, it held a good edge as did the other knives. This ends up being a good looking stainless steel set in a nice block with a little more form over function and some unrealized potential.

11. AmazonBasics Premium Set (18-Piece) – NOT SO GREAT

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AmazonBasics has done a great job of building a brand known for quality and value, so this set had good expectations. They were only partially met. Out of the gate the chef’s blade has a good feel, solid grip and a razor sharp knife edge. The Santoku is also a nice blade size and shape. The slicer came out of the box dull, really dull.  A drag type sharpener could not bring an edge to it. The boning knife, which was nice to see, had a good edge, slightly long blade and was very stiff. It also had a handle almost the same size as the chef’s blade making it a bit awkward to maneuver. The bread knife is scalloped, not serrated, which made it less effective in cutting crusty breads.

Peripherally, the steak knives are pretty nice, good heft, full tang and service for eight. The shears come apart for cleaning, have a shallow notch for catching a bone to cut, and metal grippers. The block is unique too. Generally it is a good idea to store knives on their side instead of the blade on the bottom bearing the weight. All the slots, including steak knives, are on the side; nice touch. This kitchen knife set, with forged bolsters and full tangs throughout, has so much going in the right direction, it just fell a little short on some of the execution. Not the worst buy, but you can do better when searching for the best knife set.

12. Home Hero Kitchen Knives with Stand (7 Piece) –NOT SO GREAT

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This set seemed like an easy target to dislike. It was pleasantly better than expected, especially when you keep in mind the value aspect. Yes, the knives are lightweight, handles are composite, and it is unlikely the tang goes more than a couple inches deep. Because all the blades have a honed section at the bottom, they will not have the staying power of good knives. But all of them had good edges out of the box, and the included sharpener will help keep them that way.  This is also a smart blade assortment with a surprisingly good slicer and bread knife. Even the acrylic stand is cool.

They say they are Teflon coated.  Regardless of whether it may just be paint, it is unlikely to stay on the blade in the long run. Cutting carrots, the chef’s blade made carrot shards because it didn’t have the heft to cut cleanly. But it worked, did well on onions and chicken, and even forced its way through the pumpkin. The utility knife boned the chicken breast and the bread knife didn’t shred the bread. A college kid I know bought the deluxe set with veggie peelers, pizza cutter and more. It should serve well for those years. In that context, this is a pretty good starter set that certainly gives value for the low price point.
 

TESTING

With decades of experience as a kitchen pro and home cook, I’ve had my fair share of slicing, dicing, and dodging onion tears. This hands-on journey has shaped my knife game, allowing me to tap into the wisdom of some brilliant chefs along the way. When testing knives, it’s crucial to consider real-life scenarios – like going to town on a twenty-five-pound sack of onions versus whipping up a dinner for four – because we all know those vibes are different!

How We Tested

We put each knife set through its paces, focusing on the chef’s blade as the real MVP. From aesthetics to the all-important grip and feel, we graded our tools right out of the box. Chopping onions? Check! Breaking down whole chickens? Yup! We even tackled some tough pumpkins for a “hard cut” test. Each set was rated on a five-point scale, factoring in value and performance. Spoiler alert: expensive generally means better, but not always. One thing worth noting, we didn’t test the knives for rust resistance. Forget about rust concerns; just remember to hand wash and dry your knives.

BREAKING DOWN KEY KNIVES

Below are the most used knives in a kitchen and the types most professional chefs consider the best knives to have in a set:

• Chef’s Knife: The go-to knife for chopping, slicing, and dicing. An 8″ blade is standard for home cooks, and the curved blade allows for a rocking motion, making chopping easy. Look for a knife with good weight and balance.
• Paring Knife: Ideal for intricate tasks like peeling and trimming.
• Serrated Knife: Perfect for cutting bread and tomatoes or such.
• Slicing Knife: Used for carving meats and slicing smoked salmon or cakes. Not essential but useful.
• Santoku Knife: Versatile Japanese-style knife, it’s similar to a chef’s knife but with a flatter edge and rounded tip, ideal for those who prefer a smaller, precise option. It’s essential in many commercial kitchens and comes in various sizes, allowing it to replace other knives on the list.

While the chef’s knife may be the king of your kitchen, there are a few others that makeup your ideal knife set. First up is the bread knife, your go to for cutting crusty loaves without turning them into sad, squished sandwiches—serrated teeth for the win. Then there’s the boning knife, a skinny blade that dances around bones like it’s in a waltz, for those who love working with meat. And then there’s the utility knife, the middle child of the knife family—smaller than a chef’s but bigger than a paring knife. Handy, yes, but sometimes feels a bit unnecessary when you have a chef’s knife to do it all.

Knife accessories make your kitchen more efficient and safe. Kitchen shears cut tough stuff, a carving fork holds roasts steady for smoother carving. Your honing steel keeps knives sharp in between sharpenings and a knife block protects the blades and storage.