Best for: People who cook for large families
Probably not the best for: Those who want to keep their knife collection lean
All-Clad is known for cookware and kitchen electrics, but they also make some very good knives (like the All-Clad 12-Piece Knife Set). The fully forged, German stainless-steel blades resist rust and chipping. Plus, the fully tang, triple-riveted POM handles have an angled end bolster, which makes them easier to grip. I found them easy to use, especially when chopping and dicing on cutting boards.
The 12-Piece Set includes:
- 8-Inch Chef’s Knife
- 8-Inch Bread Knife
- 7-Inch Santoku Knife
- 5-Inch Serrated Utility
- 3.5-Inch Paring Knife
- Set of Four 5-inch Steak Knives
- Honing Steel
- Pull-Apart Kitchen Shears
- Acacia Wood Knife Storage Block
Best for: If you’re looking for a simple and good quality knife set with steak knives and scissors
Probably not the best for: People who want a knife sharpener
If you’re a home cook but want all of the tools of a professional chef, check out the Viking Professional 15-Piece Cutlery Block Set. Each knife is made of German steel and has a 15-degree cutting edge. An obvious choice for one of the best knife sets, the knives are designed to be durable and resist corrosion. Since there are no gaps between the blade and handle, the cutlery will remain hygienic, and the sharpening steel shears serve as a knife sharpener to maintain the most precise blades. The elegant block is also made of acacia wood. I liked the idea of having a fully stocked cutlery block, since it gives visitors the impression that I know my way around the kitchen.
The 15-piece cutlery block set includes the following:
- 8-Inch Chef’s Knife
- 8-Inch Carving Knife
- 8-Inch Bread Knife
- 7-Inch Santoku Knife
- 5.5-Inch Utility Knife
- 3-Inch Paring Knife
- 10-Inch Sharpening Steel Shears
- Set of Six 4.5-Inch Steak Knives
- 14-Slot Wood Block
Best for: If you want a lean but fully equipped professional set with a sleek storing block.
Probably not the best for: If you need cutting knives but not steak knives.
As a home cook, are three knives all that you really need? Maybe, if it’s the Trio of Knives by Material, which is undoubtedly one of the best knife sets. (Oprah also listed it as one of her favorite items of 2021). The knives are made of three layers of Japanese steel, and are ice-tempered, which increases the degree of hardness, and also results in really sharp blades. My trio has Almost Black handles, and a black stand on a stainless-steel bottom; however, you can also get the handles in Cool Neutral or Blue Gray. The stand is also available in Walnut or White Ash.
The Trio includes the following:
- 8-Inch Knife
- Almost 4-Inch Knife (that’s the actual name)
- Serrated 6-Inch Knife
- Stand
Best for: If you’re looking to keep your knife-set set simple.
Probably not the best for: You want a more classic paring knife, santoku knife, or kitchen shears.
If you’re the type of person who is never satisfied with your choice of knives, the Victorinox Swiss Classic Cutlery 11-Piece Cutlery Block set is for you because it has pretty much everything you could need. It contains a wavy-edge paring knife, and two different sizes of pointed-tip paring knives. There are also two sizes of carving knifes, and a wavy-edge tomato knife, in addition to the bread knife, Santoku knife, double-edged potato peeler, and sharpening steel. Each Victorinox knife is weighted and balanced, with a textured handle that provides a nonslip grip. The compact knife set comes in an elegant beechwood cutlery block.
