Quick Summary: The Kai Wasabi Black Paring Knife, the four-inch one, is the best paring knife we have found. It is light but still strong enough to handle a job. It has a sharp blade that stays sharp, and a handle that feels good in your hand. It is just the right size and could be a knife you find yourself going to, again and again, because it is just handy to use.
A paring knife is second only to a chef’s knife, and having the best paring knife as part of your kitchen is a must whether you are a professional or home cook.
Sharp and versatile, paring knives are making your life easier whenever you need to peel a fruit or a vegetable or when you make delicate and intricate decorations (any work that requires speed and precision). They also work wonders for deveining shrimps.
Paring knives are small, with a short blade, which makes them convenient for carrying around. For example, if you want to go on a picnic, or you need to peel and cut your fruits at work, a classic paring knife is just what you need.
These paring knives are so versatile that they should undoubtedly be an irreplaceable part of your knife arsenal.
Since paring knives come in various blade shapes and different lengths, it can be tough to decide which one will be the right fit for you. For that reason, we made a review of the best paring knives you can find on the market right now.
If you want to find out which is the best paring knife that is guaranteed to satisfy all your cutting and slicing needs, just keep reading.
Quick Navigation:
- 10 Best Paring Knives Comparison
- Reviews of Top 10 Paring Knives
- How To Choose A Good Paring Knife
- Our Recommendation
10 Best Paring Knives Comparison
 | 1. Kai Wasabi Black Paring Knife, 4-Inch (Best Overall)Functionality and reliability are the essences of this traditional Japanese-style paring knife. Voted as the overall best, this knife is perfect for coring, peeling and intricate fruit and vegetable arrangements. | Read Our Review |
 | 2. Mercer Culinary Genesis (Best Budget)For those of you who are looking for something low maintenance with high reliability, this paring knife is the one. It is budget-friendly with an optimized handle and German steel. | Read Our Review |
 | 3. Wusthof Classic 3 Piece Paring Knife SetOne paring knife is never enough! So, a paring knife set promises three blade options for various knife work and is crafted carefully to meet handling and blade sharpness standards. | Read Our Review |
 | 4. Zelite Infinity – Alpha-Royal SeriesThis high-quality Japanese paring knife is best for you! It has a sharp curved edge and a balanced weight that helps you maintain more accurate and precise control. | Read Our Review |
 | 5. Zyliss Control Serrated Paring KnifeThis sharp serrated knife is the best partner for your gourmet kitchen! Its sharp blade is made from high-quality German steel that is rust resistant and has an anti-bacterial handle. | Read Our Review |
 | 6. Dalstrong Paring Tourne Knife PeelerThis sharp paring knife features a curved blade that is good for peeling and fluting vegetables. It has an attractive blade that is made from a high-quality carbon German steel. | Read Our Review |
 | 7. Kyocera Advanced Ceramic RevolutionCut your fruits and vegetables effortlessly with this sharp, light and well-balanced Kyocera Advanced Ceramic Revolution paring knife. Unlike the traditional steel knife, it stays sharp and is immune to rust. | Read Our Review |
 | 8. Tojiro DP 3.5-inch Paring KnifeEnjoy spending time in the kitchen with this new Japan-made Tojiro DP 3.5-inch paring knife that is highly rigid, rust and stain resistant and can deliver precise and accurate cuts. | Read Our Review |
 | 9. Farberware 5163375 EdgeKeeper Paring KnifeMinimize your time and effort in the kitchen with this self sharpening, easy care, high quality and durable paring knife from the #1 selling cutlery brand in the United States: Farberware. | Read Our Review |
 | 10. Shun Premier Paring Knife, 4-InchFlame up your inner-Japanese self with this hand crafted paring knife featuring a hand-hammered finish and layered Damascus steel partnered with a Pakkawood handle for a comfortable and secure grip. | Read Our Review |
Reviews of Top 10 Paring Knives
Best Overall
1. Kai Wasabi Black Paring Knife, 4-inch
What you will love: This utility knife seeks the perfect balance to your food preparation needs and does a good job of finding the sweet spot of cutting excellence. It is light enough to feel good and just heavy enough to let you cut what you need to cut with precision control.
Eastern and Western Style paring knives are different, and Wasabi tries to bring you the best of both worlds with this paring knife. This is why culinary professionals, culinary amateurs both like this one.
Single bevel blades are best when precision is wanted, while double-bevel blades offer more versatility.
It is made after the tradition of Japanese knives that are great for deveining shrimp, coring fruit, peeling, and detail works on vegetables. It is made of
This gives it a good edge that will not dull quickly. Blades are bead-blasted, which is attractive as well as making it stronger. The handle is made of polypropylene, so it is sturdy and light. It is sharpened on one side is useful to know when you want to sharpen it again.
The four-inch blade is just the right size, and its shape is perfect for peeling or coring. It will make you feel like a chef regardless of your experience level.
The blades of these paring knives are sharpened on only one side, which reduces the problem of food sticking. For the most home cook, it will not matter, but the single side sharpening is designed for right-handed people, but most left-handed people can use it without a problem.
The handle is made of polypropylene, mixed with bamboo powder and an antibacterial agent, so you get high quality along with clean food preparation. The Kai Wasabi Black Paring Knife itself is traditional looking, and the handle is more modern looking.
This is a high-level paring knife that requires some care. It is stainless steel, but this paring knife can still get spots or even rust if allowed to get wet and stay wet. Wash by hand and then dry immediately with a towel. A light coating of food-grade oil is recommended as well.
Pros:
- Very high-quality paring knife made of great materials
- Holds its sharpness well.
- Great for coring and peeling, and does a good job with detail work as well.
Cons:
- Spear point not as sharp as some might want
- Very high quality but requires some extra care
- Needs to be sharpened out of the box
Best Budget
2. Mercer Culinary Genesis
What you will love: This is a budget utility knife, and that is a great positive. It is also a pretty good knife you can count on, so while it is nice to the budget it is not a “cheap” product.
Kitchen knives like this are ergonomically designed knife that feels good in your hand. It has a nice grip so the paring knife won’t slip out of your hand, and it is durable. Keeping with its budget-friendly tone.
This is a nice low-maintenance paring knife you may use a long time, and it being at a fairly low cost is a bonus. Even though it is stainless
This knife is a 3.5-inch blade that will give you even more control, making it a good one if you want to do intricate carvings and precise cutting.
Even with wet hands, this paring knife will not slip out of your hands. These paring knives do well in both hot and cold environments, and won’t break down when exposed to water or other oils.
Its short blade makes it stronger too, so it will hold up no matter how much you use it. The shorter blade, in balance with the handle, gives you outstanding control and precision whether you are peeling an apple or carving a strawberry.
Mercer Culinary Genesis has a small bolster between the blade and
These paring knives are made of high-carbon German cutlery stainless steel, which is what much more expensive Japanese paring knives are made of. It will not rust even if left wet for a little while.
A tapered edge makes for added stability, This makes it easy to sharpen, and it will hold its edge a long time. This small paring knife is great for peeling, mincing, trimming, hulling and many other jobs.
Pros:
- Made of German stainless steel
- Soft handle easy to hold on to
- Lower cost than many kitchen knives
Cons:
- The warranty has some limits
- Too heavy, not as easy to use as some
- Does not hold sharpness as long as some would like
Best 3 Piece Paring Knife Set
3. Wusthof Classic 3 Piece Paring knife set
What you will love: The paring knife has a lot of uses, and with this set of three there will be no kitchen task you could do that you do not have a classic paring knife to use.
This upgrade pick includes a four-inch extra-wide knife, a 3.5-inch standard point paring knife, and a 3.5-inch one with a serrated edge. The set is not cheap, but it is of good quality and you will always be ready no matter the job.
This is a set of three paring knives, which should cover anything you might need to do in the kitchen.
This could rival a chef’s knife which has a reputation of being a do-it-all tool. Wusthof has a strong reputation in the knife making world, and this combines the top paring knives they make.
Wusthof has been making paring knives for 200 years, so you are getting a product made by people who know it inside and out.
The handle is triple-riveted for a sure grip and has a full tang blade. It is of traditional style composition, so there are generations of expertise involved in creating the Wusthof Classic 3 Piece Paring Knife Set.
It is made in Solingen, Germany, which is where the best knives in the world are made. It has a prestigious name, which will impress your cooking friends, but it also has the functionality you need.
Each paring knife is forged from one piece of steel. It is made of high carbon alloy to give it an edge that will last. TheThese paring knives have a weighted bolster which adds to the balance and that is something unique to this company.
These are paring knives you will use every day. The higher flat-top blade gives you more room for chopping and provides greater leverage. it is ideal for someone who cooks a lot and needs a paring knife often.
The smaller standard knife is great for slicing, peeling, or mincing. The serrated blade allows for ease of deveining shrimp, peeling fruits and vegetables.
Pros:
- Three kinds of blades make options unlimited
- Very high-quality craftsmanship
- Serrated paring knife
- Sturdy, holds sharpness
Cons:
- Expensive for a point paring knife
- These paring knives are very sharp. Must be used carefully
- Handles feel good but do not fit every hand
Best Japanese Paring Knife
4. Zelite Infinity – Alpha-Royal Series
What you will love: This knife is near the top end of paring knives and is part of the Alpha Royal Series. It is made of the best quality Japanese AUS 10 super steel. It is layered high carbon stainless steel.
This paring knife feels like quality in your hand, it feels first class and does a first class job. You may think the extra cost worth it.
This paring knife looks very good with the name embed into the blade and a logo on the black handle. It starts there but continues with outstanding performance.
Paring knives are made to be versatile, and this one is versatile even for a paring knife. It is made of strong steel, and with its sharp edge, you will be able to cut through anything with ease.
It is one piece, meaning it has a full-length tang, which makes it very strong.
The strong Japanese steel makes this paring knife one that can also be used as a skinner. The 67-layer stainless steel is stain resistant and will not stick to whatever you are cutting.
It as a sharp curved edge for precise control and the sharp edges will stay sharp for a long time.
The blade is built to be impressive, but it does not stop there. The handle is made of an ergonomic non-slip material that makes it easy to use even when your hands are wet.
It has a tapered bolster, which is unique, and that adds to the balance giving you even more precise control. It is made for those small jobs in the kitchen that are still important, like coring, chopping, mincing, garnishing, or trimming vegetables.
This sturdy paring knife also has a lifetime warranty from the manufacturer.
The Zelite Infinity weighs eight ounces and is sturdily made. It is a lot heavier than many Japanese knives, so if you like feeling the weight of the knife you will love this one.
You will still feel like you have the precision control you want if you are doing work that requires a lot of precise detail. It is almost eight inches long, including the handle and bolster, so it should fit your hand well regardless of the size of your hand.
Pros:
- Top quality, feels like quality in your hand
- Heavier than many paring knives
- Comes very sharp
Cons:
- If you prefer a light knife, this one may not feel good
- It is not a cheap knife.
- Made in China, which some say is misleading
Best for Serrated Blade
5. Zyliss Control Serrated Paring Knife
What you will love: This is a professional grade kitchen knife made of the best German steel.
It’s 4.5-inch long blade will deftly take care of any job you can throw in its direction. This knife has the quality down, and it is a very user-friendly tool for your kitchen.
The serrated paring knife gives you great control over cutting and slicing tomatoes, vegetables of any kind, and even bread. The serrated edge makes this utility knife even more versatile, while still retaining the things you want in a point paring knife.
Sometimes that serrated paring knife adds to your slicing ability and it is very rare that it will hamper your cutting with a standard type blade.
It has a safety touch point on top of the blade, reducing the chances of getting a cut while peeling.
The safety factor also allows you to use the paring knife while holding what you are cutting if you need to avoid the cutting board. Sometimes people like to hold fruit or vegetable they are trimming, or cutting an image into.
The handle has anti-bacterial protection, and the contoured handle is good for all sizes of hands. Zyliss Control Serrated Paring Knife is made of high-quality German steel, and is rust resistant and tarnish avoiding.
It can be made razor-sharp and the steel will hold its edge. It is a mid-priced knife but with the German materials and technology, it may feel like a more expensive knife in your hand.
The blade is five inches long, and with a bolster and a four-inch handle, is about 10 inches long.
It is just over three ounces, so light enough to be handled with a lot of precision, but with enough weight to make you feel like you have a real knife in your hand. Overall it is a very nice knife, and the serrated edge just adds to the possibilities you have to work with.
Pros:
- Serrated edge gives even more flexibility
- Not the cheapest but still budget-friendly
- Made of high-quality German steel
Cons:
- Can be made very sharp, but does not hold its edge
- Blade is a little tall for some tastes
- The rubber on part of the handle is not comfortable
Best Curved Shape
6. Dalstrong Paring Tourne Knife Peeler
What you will love: With its bird’s beak, or curved blade, you will be able to peel anything with precision and ease. It is great also for fluting mushrooms, deveining shrimp, or cutting decorations into fruits or veggies.
Add some art to your cooking with this paring knife. Still, the curved blade is for peeling. If you have a lot of potatoes to peel, for instance, this paring knife will help you get through the kitchen task with ease and you wont get too tired.
This Dalstrong Paring Tourne Knife Peeler offers a lot of flexibility. It has an impressive attractive design and is made of high-quality materials.
The curved blade makes peeling easy and gives you the precision you want in a fine small knife. This paring knife has a full-tang and made of high-carbon German steel. It has a polished edge, sharpened to 16 degrees on both sides.
The handle is made of Pakkawood and is triple riveted for a sure grip. The handle of the paring knives is also treated with anti-bacterial materials adding to their safety.
The handle is dark like a standard knife, but the different materials give it a unique look and feel. This Dalstrong knife is very functional, but it is also very user-friendly. It is easy to use and comfortable for most hands.
Pros:
- Precision forged from a single piece
- Edge is hand sharpened
- Strong steel holds its sharpness
Cons:
- The curved blade is not for everyone
- Comes with a lot of extras that seem meaningless
- The handle is a little big
Best Ceramic Paring Knife
7. Kyocera Advanced Ceramic Revolution
What you will love: Ceramic knives are a different kind of knife that can be even more flexible than a traditional steel knife. It is immune to rust, staining, acids or about anything else.
It can keep its sharpness longer than a traditional knife and is easier to clean as well.
As the name implies a ceramic knife is made of a ceramic material. It is immune to acids so it is better for cutting citrus fruit. It can also keep its sharp edge longer, and that makes it better for precision cuts to softer materials like vegetables.
The Kyocea version has a 3-inch long ceramic blade, with a distinct resin coated handle. It is ground to precision by using a microscope and computer robot technology. It is sharpened by diamond wheels, so it is very sharp and holds that sharpness.
It will never rust, even if you leave it out wet overnight. It is very light and extremely well-balanced. It is made of one piece, and the handle is ergonomic in design.
Even though it is made of a material that will not rust, hand washing is still recommended.
Kyocera Advanced Ceramic Revolution is available with different colored plastic handles, so you can make it match your decor easily. You will need the Kyocea knife sharpener to keep this blade sharp.
It is made for home use, but capable of professional usage. The light weight helps with repetitive type cutting tasks like slicing and dicing. It has a beveled blade that is sharpened on both sides, which allows you to make very thin slices of fruit or vegetable.
This company has been making ceramic paring knives since 1984. The company says its proprietary formula allows it to make ceramic material that will hold its edge longer than any other ceramic knife.
This paring knife is 7.3-inches long and weighs just under three ounces. It is extremely precise, making it ideal for when you want to carve vegetables or fruit with intricate designs. It has a sharp spear point that is also helpful when precision counts.
Pros:
- Can be very sharp, and stays sharp
- Can be very precise with cutting
- Can cut soft items
Cons:
- Requires a special sharpener you must buy separately
- The tip can break off fairly easily
- Purists may not like a non-steel knife
Best for Flat Blade Edge
8. Tojiro DP 3.5-inch Paring Knife
What you will love: The Tojiro DP paring knife is a paring knife that is made from strong and durable stainless steel that can handle all the kitchen uses you have for it.
The 12-degree blade makes it easier to peel and cut fruits and vegetables among many other slicing and cutting jobs that you might need to do.
Stainless Steel Blade
The blade of this paring knife is made from hard stainless steel that will is resistant to rust and offers strong cutting and slicing abilities that you can use when peeling skin or peels off fruits and vegetables, and also when chopping.
3-Ply Construction
The blade of this high end paring knife is made with 3-ply construction that ensures this blade is tough enough for any job. The core is made from VG-10 and is surrounded by two layers of stainless steel. This makes it one of the toughest options around.
Curved Handle
The handle of the Tojiro DP 3.5-inch Paring Knife is curved to allow for a better grip while cutting and to make it more comfortable to hold for longer periods of time. This will also make the paring knife to put less stress on your hands and wrist while you are working.
Pros:
- 12-degree blade
- Stainless steel blade
- 3-ply construction
- Curved handle for comfort
- Triple riveted handle construction
Cons:
- The handle is on the smaller side
- Does not come pre-sharpened
Best for Self Sharpening
9. Farberware 5163375 EdgeKeeper Paring Knife
What You Will Love: This Farberware EdgeKeeper paring knife is a 3-and-a-half-inch knife that is ideal for any kitchen. This model includes a sheath that you can keep the paring knife in when it is not in use, which has innovative sharpening technology that keeps the blade sharp every time you take it out.
High-Carbon Steel Blade
The Farberware EdgeKeeper’s blade is made from high-carbon steel that is strong and durable enough for whatever small kitchen or cooking tasks you have to do.
This high end blade is also resistant to rust and will be able to stand up against water and juices without damage.
Self-Sharpening Sheath
This paring knife also has an included sheath that will sharpen the knife’s blade each time that it is inserted or removed. This will make it easy to keep the blade sharp whenever you need it without needing to manually sharpen it yourself.
Ergonomic Handle
The Farberware EdgeKeeper Paring Knife has an ergonomic plastic handle that keeps your hand from feeling stressed or strained from constant use in the kitchen even if you have to chop and cook for long hours for a large meal or gathering.
Pros:
- 3.5-inch blade
- High-carbon steel blade
- Included sheath
- Self-sharpening sheath interior
- Ergonomic handle
Cons:
- The sharpener in the sheath comes out fairly easily
- Thick knife needs more power to cut through big pieces of meat
Best for VG Max Cutting Core
10. Shun Premier Paring Knife, 4-Inch
What You Will Love: The Shun Premier paring knife is a 4-inch option that is handcrafted with steel and wood to make a premium choice that looks as sharp as it’s blade. The hammered steel design and dark wooden handle make it look so stunning that you might even feel bad for using it.
Hammered Steel Blade Design
The Shun Premier blade is made from steel and comes with a hammered look that is done by hand to create a textured and stylish look.
This isn’t just for looks as it also helps keep food from sticking to the blade and can help reduce dragging when cutting larger items.
Dark Wooden Handle
The look of the dark wood handle complements that style of the blade and gives the entire knife a premium look. This Pakkawood handle allows gives your hand a better grip when cutting and makes it more comfortable to hold for a long time.
Handcrafted Construction
Every inch of the Shun Premier Paring Knife is handcrafted and designed to be the best option possible. This means that you are getting a customized and a one of a kind knife that is well-built. This also means that the exact length of the blade will vary slightly from one model to another.
Pros:
- 4-inch blade
- Hand hammered design
- Steel blade
- Pakkawood handle
- Handcrafted and custom
Cons:
- Blade is a bit wider than most other paring knives
- The tip is not as strong as the rest of the knife
Features Of A Good Paring Knives
Good Feeling Handle (Key To Comfort)
The paring knife is for detailed work, so you need one that will feel good in your hand. This is true whether you are among culinary professionals, culinary amateurs or anyone in between.
A utility knife that feels good may be the most important considerations as control is what you are after with this kind of knife. What it is made of is a matter of personal taste, but it does need to have a good grip and needs to fit well in your hand.
The Blade
The blade must be small enough for detail, but still strong enough to not break or bend easily. This is a balance that is hard to find, but a high end paring knife has found this balance.
It must handle peeling, mincing, trimming, or hulling with equal ease.
The Edge
Paring knives notoriously get dull fast, but there are some that hold the edge a little longer. Kitchen knives that stay sharp awhile are worth any extra cost. Higher quality metal usually results in a knife that will hold its edge longer.
The Back Side Key Features
The spine or the opposite side of the edge is also important. A thicker backside feels duller because you have to pull more knife through what you are cutting. At the same time, you want enough of a spine to give the blade some strength.
The Tip
The end of the blade needs to be sharp because of the precise cuts you will be making with the paring knife. A rounded end may look cool, but it cannot be as sharp as a pointed edge.
The sharper the tip the better because it gives you more control.
Cleaning up The Sharp Edge
This will be a personal preference, but the more expensive paring knives should be hand washed only. A less expensive one can be put in the dishwasher. If you want a less delicate blade you can go the cheaper route (not dealbreaker), even if it means sacrificing utility to some degree.
How To Choose a Good Paring Knife
Budget
There is a lot of variety, and kitchen knives range from just less than $10 to as much as $50 or more. Usually, you get what you pay for, but the most expensive is not always the best for you in your search for a utility knife.
Some people would rather invest in the best that will last. Other people don’t mind replacing cheaper ones often.
Comfortable Handle Features
This is very subjective, but peeling, mincing, trimming, hulling are all detailed work so you need a handle that feels good in your hand. What feels good to you may not feel good to someone else.
A handle that fits good and is easy to handle is what you need in the best paring knife. And try to avoid plastic handle.
Finding The Balance
Some of it is personal taste and what kind of cooking you will be doing. Look for a knife that fits your style as you look for one that feels good.
A sharp blade with a light handle gives you the most control, but maybe not as much cutting power.
Fits The Job
A smaller blade is best for detailed work like peeling, trimming, or cleaning. Mincing also requires a smaller blade. A larger (relatively speaking) blade is better for marking or segmenting things like fruit.
You may want a couple paring knives for different jobs, or find one that finds the right balance between the two.
Overall Quality Reviewed
You may choose to go the cheaper route, but you still need a knife that has basic quality. You don’t want a knife that will separate from the handle easily. Make sure it is well-made and has a good quality of finish.
Shape
There are slightly different shapes of blades to watch for. One is called a bird’s beak because it is similar to a cycle. This one is best for peeling or trimming.
The classic has more of a straight-forward tip and is the most versatile. Another one is a flatter blade and has a rounded spine at the back, which is best for any light carving you might want to do.
Our Recommendation for The Best Paring Knife
Searching for the high end paring knife could take up a lot of your time if you have to shop around to find an option that you would like to use. But with the list of choices that we have found and reviewed here, you can skip the search and get right down to the best options available.
Whether you are searching for Kai Wasabi Black Paring Knife, which is our top pick, or you want a different option that caught your eye, you can find what you are looking for in our list of paring knives above.
Hopefully, this list of best paring knives will make it a lot less stressful to find an ideal choice for yourself and your kitchen. No matter what type of knife you are looking for, you are likely to find a perfect match on your list.
Related Articles:
