Best Knife Set for All Skill Levels (2023 Reviews and Guide)

There are a number of reasons we believe the Henckels Self-Sharpening Knife Block Set is amazing. For starters, all of the blades in this kit are incredibly sharp, and they will cut through even the toughest meats. And, since it’s self-sharpening, you won’t need a sharpening rod to make sure the blades are properly honed. This is also a great choice for beginners.

In each kit, you get 20 high-quality pieces — a knife block, shears and 18 knives, including a 7-inch santoku, a 5.5-inch prep, and a 5.5-inch boning knife. The set is outstandingly durable, comfortable to hold, and simple to maintain. Every piece is made of robust, top-quality stainless steel, so you don’t have to worry about rust or staining.

Another reason we believe this is a good knife block set is that the knives are light as a feather. In combination with the full tang design, this allows for maximum maneuverability, ensuring fatigue-proof cutting. On the downside, some people note that the block set may be bulky for some countertops. However, since the knives are angled at 45 degrees when stored, the block will easily fit under wall cabinets or other fixtures, making it easier for you to find room for it on your countertop.

Fruits and vegetables require a special blade called the paring knife. This type of knife is perfect for slicing, trimming, and peeling fruit, as well as tackling delicate tasks like deveining prawns. If you’re looking for good knife set brands known for exquisite paring knives, try out the Chicago Cutlery Insignia Steel Knife Block Set.

Each kit contains 18 pieces, including a 3.5-inch paring knife, a 3.25-inch peeling knife, and premium kitchen shears. According to some users, the paring knife is the perfect size to slice and dice even the trickiest fruits and veggies. Moreover, all of the blades are very sharp, and you won’t have trouble cutting through tougher pieces of meat or even bone.

Not only is this a set of knives for professionals, but complete beginners love it as well. Namely, you get everything you need in a single kit. Also, it’s easy to keep the set sharp, as the block features a built-in sharpener. If it didn’t, we might take more notice of a concern expressed in one user’s comment about some of the knives being somewhat dull on delivery. But with the sharpener included, we don’t see the possibility of this happening like a major issue.

In case you’re trying to save money, the Farberware 15-Piece Knife Block is a good cheap knife set that has everything you need. The blades are created from high-carbon stainless steel, the top material you can find for durability. In addition, the ergonomically designed handles are made from rubber for comfort while dicing, slicing, and cutting.

Considering what you’re getting, this is a great value knife set with block. Besides the essentials such as the chef knife and bread knife, you get steak knives, kitchen scissors, a santoku knife, and more. The blades are extremely sharp and immediately ready for use, which means you won’t have to spend time sharpening them out of the box.

If you’re looking for cheap knife sets, Faberware might have just what you need. However, keep in mind that it’s not recommended to wash the blades in the dishwasher, and that you should instead wash them by hand. Of course, since pro chefs recommend doing this with all high-quality knives anyway, this is not that much of an issue.

Amazon is considered the third-largest ecommerce brand worldwide, and many of their satisfied customers agree that turquoise Pioneer Woman Cowboy Rustic is one of the top–rated knife sets on the platform. Each set contains 11 stainless steel blades for chefs of all experience levels, shears, honing rod and a knife block. Since it includes all the essentials, we believe this kit is suitable for beginner cooking enthusiasts.

Besides the must-have chef knife, you get a nakiri knife, paring knife, steak knives, a bread knife, and more. Thanks to the ergonomic design and outstanding durability, the Pioneer Woman is one of our favorite brands. You can get this kit in other fun colors and mix and match them with your favorite dinnerware sets for a coordinated look.

Sadly, the color on the knives’ handles washes away in the dishwasher. However, like most of the other knives, these are only meant to be washed by hand, which would help in preserving not only their color, but also their sharpness.

Pizza and bread lovers will undoubtedly enjoy this Emojoy Kitchen Knife Set. This quality knife set includes one of the highest quality German stainless steel 8” bread knives and 5.5” serrated knives we had the chance to test out. In total, you get a complete set of 15 must-have blades, a sturdy knife block, honing steel, and a pair of durable kitchen scissors.

Although complete beginners can use this top kitchen knife set, it will appeal to advanced culinary artists the most. The reason being is that the set is not self-sharpening, and proper maintenance requires a bit of work. Instead, you get a handy sharpening steel, which is easy to use with a little practice. Overall, if you want a quality knife set for a relatively affordable price, you’ll be satisfied with the Emojoy Knife Set. You also get a quality wooden block to keep your kitchen orderly and clean.

Forged knives are stronger and more durable than other types of blades. So not only is the McCook Premium our leading choice for the top forged blade set, but it can also possibly be the top-rated cheap professional knife set. Considering you’re getting 14 knives made of high-quality full tang German stainless steel, that’s excellent value for your money.

The blades are designed with a premium taper grind edge technology for optimum sharpness. Moreover, the handles are ergonomic, so you’ll feel comfortable during food preparation. Sadly, the set doesn’t include a sharpener. However since the knives come extremely sharp, and most people already have a honing rod in their kitchen drawer, this is hardly a major drawback.

There are numerous reasons to buy a Japanese knife set. For example, some Japanese knives are thinner and lighter than their European counterparts. If you’re just getting started with Japanese knives, we recommend the Kamikoto Kanpeki set of chef’s knives.

This luxurious-looking forged knife set contains three blades, a 7” nakiri vegetable knife, an 8.5” slicing knife, and a 5” utility knife. Each knife is carefully tapered on one side and flat ground on the other. Both the blade and the handle have a subtle satin finish that adds elegance to the look. This means if you need a sophisticated addition to your countertop, the Kamikoto Kanpeki is the perfect wow factor.

Overall, this is the top chef knives set if you are new to Japanese knives, you want to expand your collection, or if you’re considering it as a gift. However, while their single bevel design contributes to increased sharpness, it may take some getting used to if you typically only worked with double bevel knives.

The perfect steak knife set has to be heavy-duty enough to cut through the toughest meat, while at the same time, being light and easy to use. Not only does the Master Maison Premium Kitchen Knife Set perform well in slicing and dicing steak, but many users also consider it to be the greatest knife set with a sharpener. With a bit of practice, the sharpening steel is easy to use.

Now, there are numerous reasons why these stain- and rust-resistant blades work well for steak. For example, the blades are made of premium high-carbon German steel that’s extremely sharp and has outstanding edge retention. The knives are also triple-riveted for durability, so you don’t have to worry about damaging them while cutting.

In fact, the blades are so sharp that you need to be extra cautious when handling them. Because of that, we recommend this set to professionals. There’s one downside to this set though — the knives seem to fit somewhat loosely in the holder. Of course, since most of the larger knives are on their side, there’s no risk of them getting dull because of this.

The Calphalon Classic Set features an innovative SharpIN technology that claims to keep your blades sharp for a lifetime. It also features built-in, ceramic sharpeners that automatically make your knives razor-sharp any time you take them out of the block. Thanks to these fantastic features, we believe this is one of the greatest self–sharpening knife block sets for beginners. Why? Because if you’re a newcomer, you won’t have to spend time learning how sharpening steel works. Also, it saves you time. 

The blades are designed from high-carbon, stain-proof steel for lasting durability. Additionally, the contoured handles add a hefty dose of comfort, as well as strength while preparing meals. If there is one thing that we minded about this set, it’s that the stake knives are only partially serrated. On the other hand, some people like this, and agree that the design is perfectly functional.