Finding the best kitchen knife sets is truly crucial, and essential to your everyday life in the kitchen. If your knives are currently blunt and you're tired of struggling with your chopping board to get a clean cut on your veggies then sourcing the best set for your home will make that chore much easier and faster.
A kitchen knife set is usually more affordable than buying individual knives. If budget allows, we’d highly recommend investing in something high-quality. Much like your china or stoneware plate sets, your beloved kitchen knives will get used daily and could even last you a lifetime. Just food for thought...
Best Kitchen Knife Set At A Glance
• Premium kitchen knife set: Zwilling Definition 7-Piece Self-Sharpening Knife Block Set - view at Harts of Stur
• Budget-friendly kitchen knife set: Zyliss Comfort 6-Piece Kitchen Knife Set - view at Harts at Stur
• Best kitchen knife set overall: ProCook Gourmet 6-Piece Classic Knife Set - view at ProCook
Your set also needs to feature the right knives. The four main kitchen knives you need for culinary purposes are a chef’s knife, a paring knife, a serrated bread knife and a carving knife. Butter knives are usually found in a cutlery set. Proper knife sets should include the core four. And, more expensive sets will also have extras like a utility knife and a Santoku knife, which we go into below in the buyer's guide.
There are several things to consider when looking for the perfect knife set for your kitchen. It’s a given your knives should be sharp, match the style of your home, include a knife block (or there are options without) and suit your budget. You also should look at the material of the blade, which can be stainless steel, carbon steel, or ceramic, as well as the handle, which can be wood or plastic, the weight and the comfort of the grip. With all of this in mind, sharpen your decisions, and take a look at our favourites.
Best Kitchen Knife Sets For All
Below, are the best kitchen knife sets, A Modern Kitchen approved.
Premium kitchen knife set
Zwilling / Hart of Sturwww.hartsofstur.com
Sitting in an ash wood knife block, which features self-sharpening KIS technology to protect the knives from becoming blunted, this Zwilling Definition 7 Piece Self Sharpening Knife Block Set is a premium pick, made for lifetime use. Plus, the knives feature ergonomic handles providing a comfy grip and safe working practice. Ideal for kitchens lacking in space or that have a sleek, modern streamlined look, Zwilling knives are an investment but come with a lifetime guarantee. And, they're dishwasher safe.
Customer review: "Bought as a gift. We already gave these knives and have been very pleased with them. Cheapest I’ve found them."
Pros
- Block features KIS tech to keep knives sharp
- Ergonomic handles for firm, comfy and safe use
- Made from high-quality 18/10 stainless steel
Cons
- Handwashing is recommended for longevity
| Set | Includes a paring knife, serrated utility knife, non-serrated utility knife, santoku knife, chef's knife and a pair of kitchen shears |
| Block? | Yes - ash wood |
| Material | High-quality 18/10 stainless steel |
| Dishwasher Safe | Yes - but handwash recommended |
Best kitchen knife set for beginners
Kitchen Devils / AmazonA simple set of knives that cover the essentials. There isn’t a large chef knife like in other sets, but the Kitchen Devils Control Knife Block is sleek and compact and won’t take up a lot of space. It’s ideal for beginners who are adjusting to sharper knives thanks to the safety-conscious handle and rounded tips.
Customer review: “Love these knives, very sharp, I clean mine and put them back in the block straight away after using as could cut you if not careful. Look really smart on kitchen counter, top marks.”
Pros
- Budget-friendly and adorable set
- Sleek, smart and lightweight
- With non-slip soft-touch handles
Cons
- Can be damaged in the dishwasher
- The block faces backwards
| Set | Bread knife, carving knife, paring knife, small chef’s knife, vegetable knife |
| Block? | Yes |
| Material | Stone ground stainless steel |
| Dishwasher | Yes |
Budget-friendly kitchen knife set
Zyliss / Harts of Sturwww.hartsofstur.com
If you like bold and bright knifeware, then this Zyliss Comfort 6-Piece Kitchen Knife Set is an ideal starting point for any kitchen - great for new homeowners. The knife set comes without a block but is very affordable considering there are six knives, each with an individual sheath to protect the blade if you choose to store them in your drawer. Though the blade is not part of the handle, they are extremely lightweight but may not be as long-lasting as a more expensive knife set so bear that in mind.
Customer review: "Always good service from Harts of Stur. Zyliss knives arrived in good time, well packaged. The knives all had blade protectors, just as well because they were very sharp. I've used a few of the knives since they arrived and they are good quality, sharp knives. Be careful."
Pros
- With contoured handles for comfort and grip
- Dishwasher safe for ease and convenience
- High-quality Japanese steel with knife guards
Cons
- May not be as long-lasting as other sets
| Set | 18.5cm chef's knife,18cm santoku knife, 13cm utility knife, 10.5cm serrated paring knife, 8.5cm paring knife and 6.5cm peeling knife |
| Block? | No, but individual guards for protection |
| Material | High-quality Japanese stainless steel |
| Dishwasher Safe | Yes |
Best five-piece kitchen knife set
Morphy Richards / AmazonA bestseller on Amazon, the Morphy Richards Accents 5-Piece Knife Block comes in five stylish coloured blocks and is very affordable, under £50. Available in ivory, red, silver, titanium, and black, you can match the knife block to your kitchen décor. Each knife is ergonomically designed so you can comfortably chop and control your blade with efficiency. Morphy Richards is a kitchen brand we trust, too.
Customer review: “I work in a professional kitchen. But I can't afford expensive knives for my home. I went on a limb and bought these. They are lightweight, sturdy and really sharp. For home use they are perfect. Good value for money. If you know how to maintain knives, they can last a really long time.”
Pros
- High-grade blades effortlessly cut, chop and slice
- Stable steel block lets you store the knives safely
- With an ergonomic design for control and comfort
Cons
- Some customers report rusting - make sure to dry properly
| Set | Bread knife, chef knife, slicing knife, utility knife and paring knife |
| Block? | Yes - stainless steel |
| Material | Stainless Steel |
| Dishwasher | No |
Best kitchen knife set overall
ProCookwww.procook.co.uk
With contoured, traditional triple-rivet handles, the ProCook Gourmet 6-Piece Classic Knife Set offers comfortable handling and timeless good looks. Super smart and professional, you can store your Gourmet Classic knives safely in this traditional, rectangular knife block. Crafted from rubber wood the block has a wipe-clean finish and is designed to hold up to six knives. It's a great value set.
Customer review: "The knives are excellent fantastic to hold and very sharp. An excellent quality product."
Pros
- Crafted from stainless steel for a strong, sharp cutting edge
- With contoured triple rivet handles for a comfy and safe hold
- Compact knife block is perfect for smaller kitchen worktops
Cons
- Handwash only
| Set | 9cm paring, 13cm utility, 16cm santoku, 18cm chef knife, 20.5cm bread knife and 20.5cm carving knife. |
| Block? | Yes |
| Material | X30 stainless steel |
| Dishwasher Safe | No |
Best kitchen knife set with scissors
Amazon / YabanoAnother bestseller on Amazon, the Yabano 16 Piece Knife Set with Wooden Block covers all bases when it comes to your knife needs. It features a whopping 16 pieces, including extras like a sharpener and a set of six steak knives ready for any dinner party. At £60, this is one of the most affordable and all-round knife sets on our list with hundreds of 5-star reviews. All the knives are made from forged German high-carbon stainless steel which means they’ll be long-lasting if you take care of them properly.
Customer review: “I have needed a good knife set for a long time and was weary of purchasing this set as the price was relatively low. I was very pleasantly surprised with the quality of the knives - they're very sharp, have a nice weight (not too heavy) and feel good to use. The knives are one piece and don't have any joints or rivets to come loose over time.”
Pros
- Strong and durable, providing accuracy and precision
- The handle is ergonomically designed for a supreme grip
- Easy to clean in the dishwasher and store in the block
Cons
- Some customers were unhappy with the sharpness
| Set | Chef knife, carving knife, santoku knife, bread knife, utility knife, paring knife, peeling knife, knife sharpener, scissors, 6x steak knives |
| Block? | Yes, wood |
| Material | X50Cr15 superior high-carbon stainless steel |
| Dishwasher Safe | Yes |
Best kitchen knife set for convenience
Joseph Joseph / Dunelm
A set of five reliable knives, this Joseph Joseph Elevate 5-Piece Carousel Knife Block Set is a dream. For ultimate convenience, we live for the handy rotating knife block to ensure your kitchen knives are always in hand while cooking. How clever. With a Santoku and more, these knives are made from durable, reliable and precise Japanese stainless steel - complete with comfy, safe handles for chopping.
Customer review: "Smart trendy knife set. Colour-coded for convenience. Comes with a tidy cylindrical rack not taking up much kitchen top space. Easy to clean would definitely buy again."
Pros
- Carousel block to ensure knives are always on hand
- Made from durable, precise Japanese stainless steel
- With ergonomic handles for safe and comfy hold
Cons
- Handwash only
| Set | 3½” Paring Knife, 4½” Serrated Knife, 5½” Santoku Knife, 6½” Chef’S Knife, 8” Bread Knife, Rotating Knife Block |
| Block | Yes - rotating |
| Material | Japanese stainless steel |
| Dishwasher Safe | No |
Verdict: Which Is The Best?
Our favourite is the ProCook Classic Knife Set, for long-lasting and durable use.
Knife Buyers Guide
There are plenty of knives in the culinary world with an array of specialities but don’t worry about those, you only need to know what the core knives in your knife block are best for and that they can be used at any skill level with your wooden chopping boards.
Chef's Knife
This is an all-purpose knife, it features a broad and long tapered blade, straight on one edge and curved on the sharp side that withstands more pressure when slicing through thicker produce.
Best for: Chopping and dicing everything from hard root vegetables to meat.
Serrated Bread Knife
The clue is in the name; this is a long evenly shaped blade with a straight edge and serrated edge designed to saw through soft produce like bread.
Best for: cutting through all types of bread, and it is handy to cut through cakes as it won’t crush them.
Pairing Knife
An essential knife in your set, this is slim and small with a straight edge and curved blade. It makes cutting up fiddly fruit and vegetables easy.
Best for: Peeling, coring, and slicing all fruit and vegetables.
Carving Knife
Similar in length to a chef’s knife, the curved blade is narrower in width which makes it ideal for slicing meat and poultry. Also called a slicing knife, this will be your go-to for serving meat.
Best for: Slicing meat, larger fruit and vegetables, cake.
Utility Knife
This is the same shape as a chef’s knife - but, a smaller version. This nimble knife will make light work of smaller vegetables like onions and is a lot more precise.
Best for: Precision chopping small fruit and vegetables.
Serrated paring knife
This instrument is like a paring knife but with a serrated edge. This will make it easy to chop vegetables and fruit with tougher skin like tomatoes.
Best for: Chopping fruit and vegetables.
Santoku Knife
Although one of the only real specialist knives featured, this knife is ideal for precise cutting, dicing and mincing. Most popular in Japanese kitchens, it features a long slightly tapered edge and will often have dimples along the blade which is much thinner than a chef’s knife.
Best for: Cutting fish, but is a great all-rounder for vegetables, fruit and meat.
FAQs
How much are good kitchen knife sets?
There are plenty of knife sets on offer from as little as £20 but if you want quality, longevity and return on investment a good kitchen knife set will start from £50 up to £500. If you’re really looking to become serious in the kitchen there are handmade, custom knife set options that can cost well into the thousands.
Natalie Corner is the Commercial Content Editor across the Specialist Portfolio for Bauer Media. She specialises in all things coffee and tea related for A Modern Kitchen. When she's not hopped up on caffeine she's testing the latest space-saving hacks to organise her small kitchen.