Quick Summary: After going through multiple reviews and product descriptions, we’ve deemed the MAC MIGHTY Mac Professional Hollow Edge Chef’s Knife as the best kitchen knife on the market. It is an efficient knife that can be used both at home and for professional kitchen purposes. It has a unique design on the cutting edge, in the form of carved dimples which helps with a smoother and deeper slice. The handle is made of Pakka wood, which prevents the handle from falling apart and makes your experience while cutting much more stress-free. The knife is made in Japan and is worth the price.
A blunt knife is one of the most annoying things to have in a kitchen. The frustration of a blunt knife is unmatched, and you don’t want to be in a bad mood with a knife in your hand.
That’s why we’ve gone through the trouble to make your search easier, by listing down the best knives on the market, and why you should buy them.
When on the search for a good knife, always remember that when it comes to knives, it’s always quality over quantity, and a well-known brand doesn’t always mean quality.
A chef or anyone who spends all day in a kitchen – would tell you that he would rather have a few quality knives than a dozen no good knives.
In this article, we provide you with the best choices and the factors that determine a good knife. Some of these factors include a knife that will last you a long time and one that can be gripped well.
Remember to purchase individual knives rather than a bundle, since you will end up having knives you don’t need. Another thing to keep in mind is to not fall for the brand names but to make your own independent decision.
10 Best Kitchen Knives Comparison
1. MAC MIGHTY Hollow Edge Chef’s Knife (Best overall)This 8-inch knife, with a 2.5mm thick blade, will glide through your sticky foods with easy, thanks to the dimples that have been carved into the edges of the blade. | Read Our Review |
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2. Zwilling J.A. Henckels Knife Block Set (Best Budget)A Friodur blade with an ice-hardened blade, this knife is made of special formula steel and precision-stamped blades. | Read Our Review |
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3. Cuisinart15-Piece Stainless Steel Hollow Handle Block SetDesigned for comfort and durability, this blade is the one if you’re looking for precision and accuracy for slicing, chopping, and carving. | Read Our Review |
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4. Chicago Cutlery Fusion 18pc Knife Block SetThe blades on this knife are made of high carbon stainless steel, and the pole handles make for a comfortable grip. | Read Our Review |
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5. Oster Baldwyn High-Carbon Cutlery Knife Block SetA 22 piece set, the knives included are all precision-stamped high carbon stainless steel, both durable and sharp. | Read Our Review |
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6. Chicago Cutlery Essentials Stainless Steel Knife Block SetEnsured optimum sharpness is guaranteed due to the exclusive 25 degree Taper Grind and this technology makes cutting easier and precise. | Read Our Review |
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7. Cuisinart Advantage Kitchen Knife SetAn efficient blade made of stainless steel with a comfortable handle, this knife is color coated to provide additional smoothness while slicing. | Read Our Review |
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8. J.A. Henckels International Statement Knife Block SetLightweight, with maximum durability, these knives are dishwasher safe and give you precise cutting, slicing, and carving. | Read Our Review |
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9. Stone boomer 14 Piece Knife Block SetThese knives come with tapered handles which make it easier to grip and make maneuverability easier. Each piece comes with a lifetime warranty. | Read Our Review |
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10. Utopia Kitchen Knife Set with Block | Read Our Review |
Reviews Of Top 10 Kitchen Knives
Here we’ve rounded up the top 10 Kitchen Knives for any budget and included reviews on these best knives below.
1. MAC MIGHTY Mac Professional Hollow Edge Chef’s Knife
Chef’s knives are between 6 and 14 inches long and are between 1.5 and 2 inches high. They come in a variety of designs, metals, weights, and textures giving you lots of options to start your knife collection.
The Japanese made MAC knife is one of the best chef’s knives on the market.
A favorite amongst seasoned cooks and amateurs alike, the 8-inch blade is made from lightweight steel and is the perfect maneuverable size to chop every ingredient in a beef stir fry, from the meat to the vegetables and spices, with ease.
The high-quality Pakka wood handle is durable and gives you a good grip with lots of control whether you have large or small hands.
The dimpled blade prevents food from sticking while you’re chopping. MAC MIGHTY Knife is maybe the best investment you can make to start your collection.
Pros:
- Perfect for both home and professional kitchen use.
- Added dimples in the design of the blade provide smooth slicing through sticky foods
- The Pakka wood handle prevents the blade from falling apart from the handle
Cons:
- Not dishwasher safe
Read Our full Review Here
2. Zwilling J.A. Henckels TWIN Signature Knife Set, 19 Piece
This German-made set by Zwilling J A Henckels is some of the best value chef’s knives for someone who needs a lot of variety in their collection.
Blades manufactured by Zwilling J A Henckels, and their upscale partner Henckels International, are some of the best made by the company. They use a Friodur ice-hardening process to cure the blade to 57 Rockwell Hardness.
Comprised of high-carbon steel that’s resistant to staining, every blade is hand forged, laser sharpened, and includes a fully visible tang through the handle.
The 19- piece set includes a variety of knives and tools that will help you get any job done in the kitchen.
The block includes the multi-use 8-inch chef’s knife, 4.5-inch utility and 6-inch utility knives you commonly find in most sets.
In addition, there is a 2.5-inch peeler giving you precise accuracy when peeling potatoes, fruits, and vegetables, a 4-inch parer, and a 5-inch serrated knife.
The 7-inch Santoku knife is a nice addition to the set and comes complete with a hollow cutting edge and 10-inch degree angle, setting it apart from the rest of the knives in his collection. Also included are an 8-inch bread knife, and 8 steak knives.
Extra accessories that complete the set are kitchen shears, a 9-inch sharpening tool to keep your knives’ edge razor-sharp, and a bamboo storage block to keep your collection organized.
Zwilling J A Henckels is one of the best chef’s kitchen knife sets for someone looking for a variety of tools at an affordable price point.
Pros:
- Ice hardened Froideur blade is hand sharpened and polished
- The 15-degree angle on the knife helps with a smooth slice
- One-piece stamped blade make it lighter in weight
Cons:
- Thinner models might bend and crack due to lightweight
Related: Zwilling J.A. Henckels Four Star 8-Piece Knife Block Set Review
3. Cuisinart C77SS-15PK 15-Piece Stainless Steel Hollow Handle Block Set
A good quality chef’s knife set doesn’t need to cost hundreds of dollars, and the 15-piece option from Cuisinart is a good example of high-quality design.
The stainless-steel blades are rust-resistant and include a high carbon content giving them a hard, lasting edge.
This design incorporates a bolster, which helps to balance each of the blades better and provides stability and control when chopping, slicing, or paring.
This is a nice feature if you’re new in the kitchen and need a little extra space between your fingers and the cutting edge of the blade for safety.
Each of the blades features an ergonomic handle, which looks elegant and fits nicely in small to medium sized hands.
Users with large hands may find that they need to grip the knives tightly to stay in complete control of the blade. Thankfully, the handles are hollow, so while they look elegant in their design, they aren’t heavy or bulky like a solid metal handle would be.
Cuisinart Knife set is the best knife set for a chef with lots of needs. It includes an 8-inch chef’s knife and a second 8-inch slicing (or carving) knife.
If you’re someone who wants to host Thanksgiving dinner or the thought of serving up a perfectly portioned slab of prime rib appeals to you, the carving knife is a must for your collection.
You’ll also get a versatile 7-inch Santoku knife, a 5.5-inch serrated utility knife, a 3.5-inch paring knife, and a 3.5-inch birds beak paring knife.
The bird’s beak design, with its curved blade and sharp point at the end, is the perfect addition if you’re completing the best professional set of knives.
It allows you to carve intricate designs into fruits and vegetables for beautiful garnishes to your meals and is also a handy tool when it’s time to carve pumpkins for Halloween.
Finally, Cuisinart completes the set with an 8-inch sharpening tool, a set of all-purpose household shears, and the block to keep everything organized.
Pros:
- The blades are made of superior high carbon steel which improves precision and accuracy
- Lifetime warranty
- Strong and durable, with stable control
- Easy to clean, and safe for dishwashers
Cons:
- Some pieces might be susceptible to rust
Related: Cuisinart C77SS-15PK Classic Knife Set Review
4. Chicago Cutlery Cutlery Fusion 18pc Block Set
A home cook who is looking to expand his/her knife collection to include some additional essentials should consider the 18-piece set from Chicago Cutlery.
This set uses high-carbon steel in its construction, which is resistant to both rust and pitting. Chicago Cutlery utilizes taper grind edge technology to give the blades an extremely sharp edge that holds up with use and is easy to recreate with sharpening.
The black handles are made from polyurethane and have a soft grip design. These are a friendly choice for small to medium sized hands, and give you a lot of control over the blade, even if your hands are damp.
While some knife enthusiasts prefer a wood handle with the full tang visible, this type of handle is common in sets at this price point, and this material gives you good maneuverability of the blades.
Chicago Cutlery Fusion a 7.75-inch chef’s knife, which is a bit shorter than some of the others we’ve reviewed but still a functional length.
There’s also an 8-inch slicer (or Carver), a 3.25-inch parer, 3-inch peeler, and 5-inch utility in the mix. You’ll get eight 4.25-inch steak knives that you can use at dinner time when you have steak, chicken or pork based dishes that require a sharper blade.
Also included are a 5-inch partoku, the smaller counterpart to the Santoku that gives you versatility with slicing and chopping small items, and is the perfect cheese knife.
A 7-inch santoku and 8-inch sharpening steel round out the set, which fits perfectly in the pine block.
Pros:
- The use of high-carbon steel prevents rust, stains and sharpens cuts
- Exclusive taper grind technology sharpens blade for cutting and slicing
- Black comfort grip handles ease maneuverability
Cons:
- Some customers complained about some of the blades arriving without tip protectors
5. Oster Baldwyn High-Carbon Cutlery Knife Set
This 22-piece Baldwyn set of knives from Oster gets you a lot of bang for your buck.
While you won’t find some of the high-end extras, like high-density steel or visible full tangs in wooden handles with this set, you will have lots of knives to choose from in this versatile set.
The blades are crafted from stainless steel and feature a polyoxymethylene handle that looks like metal but provides you with the safe grip and stability that you find with a rubber design.
The polished mirror blades are both attractive and rust resistant and will stand up to repeated use with proper care. The set comes with eight basic 4.5-inch steak knives that are perfect for everyday use at the dinner table.
The Oster Baldwyn knife set also includes 11 specialty knives, giving you a little bit of everything essential for a chef’s kitchen. There’s both an 8-inch chef’s knife and an 8-inch carving knife, as well as a more compact 6-inch chef and a 6-inch cleaver in the set.
The heavy cleaver is especially handy if you like preparing dishes that feature meat with bones, like ribs or homemade bone broths, and can also be used for crushing a clove of garlic perfectly.
There’s also a 6-inch fork for serving meat dishes, a 6-inch utility knife, and a 6-inch boning knife. While some cooks may argue that the utility knife could do the job of both, the boning knife gives you extra control when removing skin or navigating around a joint in a cut of meat.
If Cornish hens, whole chickens, or other small game are on the menu, having a good quality boning knife makes meal preparation much easier.
Finally, you’ll also get an 8-inch bread knife and a 3.5-inch paring knife to round out the specialty blades in this set. Everything fits into the swiveling hardwood counter block, which also houses the included sharpening steel and kitchen shears.
Pros:
- Polished mirror blades are strong and durable
- 22-piece cutlery provide you with all kinds of knives
- Lifetime warranty
- Blades are made with Precision Stamped High-Carbon Steel
Cons:
- The handle and blade are not well connected
Related: Best Wusthof Knives
6. Chicago Cutlery Essentials 15-Piece Kitchen Knives Set
Chicago offers this polymer handle, high carbon steel 15 piece set at a giveaway price. Its sleek design is similar to its 18 piece counterpart, with an exclusive taper grind edge technology impressively known for its precision in cutting.
Its handles are perfectly comfortable and safe for use, with triple compression stainless rivets acting as a securing base.
This one-piece design has a full tang forming part of the handle for added strength and balance.
Its blades made from stainless steel are perfect for protecting it from rust, plus the Chicago Cutlery Kitchen Knives Set comes with a wooden block to protect said blades from wearing out easily.
Pros:
- High carbon steel increases the life-span and sharpness of the blade
- All knives in the set have a full metal tang for added strength
- Triple stainless rivets increase safety
Cons:
- Liable to rust
7. Cuisinart C55-01-12PCKS Advantage Color Collection 12-Piece
Cuisinart offers a 12-piece set, consisting of six knives and six knives covers. It consists of an 8” slicing knife, 8” serrated bread knife, 7” Santoku Knife, 6.5” utility knife, 3.5” Paring Knife, and an 8” chef’s knife.
This colorful stainless steel set is perfect for preventing cross food contamination during slicing.
Cuisinart Knife Set classy handles are designed to provide maximum comfort in the kitchen, plus it comes with blade guards for each of its knives.
These stylish knives with their color-coded hues, also come with a non-stick coating which makes slicing food a lot easier.
Pros:
- Each knife is covered in coating for a smoother slice
- Matching blade guards are provided, alongside comfortable handles
- Blades are coated in non-stick color coating
Cons:
- Paint might start deteriorating with time
8. J.A. Henckels International Statement Knife Set
J.A. Henckels offers this sleek looking 15 piece set, complete with a wooden block for an incredible price.
The set includes an 8” chef’s knife, an 8” inch paring knife, a 5 inch serrated utility knife, sharpening steel, a 3” paring knife, a 5” santoku knife, an 8” bread knife, shears, and six 4.5” steak knives.
These knives come with polypropylene handles that have been designed ergonomically to give the best kind of comfort in the kitchen.
The J.A. Henckels set is built with blades that are rust and stain resistant with a full tang for durability.
Pros:
- Satin-finished blades help you cut through hard food with ease
- High-quality products are used on the set, but the knives remain lightweight
- End Caps are provided with each knife
Cons:
- Quite pricey, compared to other brands
9. Super Sharp 14 Pc Stainless Steel Kitchen Cutlery Knife Set
Stone Boomer presents this premium stainless steel 14 piece kitchen set, together with an acrylic block. This set includes an 8” chef’s knife, an 8” bread knife, six 4.5” steak knives, 8” kitchen scissors, 5” utility knives and a 3.5” paring knife.
Super Sharp Set tapered handles and weightless feel, provide the perfect balance and comfort when cutting food items.
Made from heavy-duty resistant grades steel, the blades are protected from corrosion and rust.
In addition, the stone boomer throws in a sharpener as a bonus, for an easier time at protecting your knives.
Pros:
- Premium stainless steel keeps the knives rust, tarnish, and corrosion-proof
- Tapered handles will fit perfectly in your hand
- One-piece design, removes your worries of the handle falling off
Cons:
- You can’t buy individual knives. The whole set has to be purchased.
10. Utopia Kitchen Stainless Steel 6 Piece Knives Set
This utopia kitchen 6 piece knife set is similar to its 12 piece counterpart in that it comes with an acrylic stand for storing the knives.
It’s designed, while different still holds the basics of ergonomics with its once piece stylishly designed handle for balance, chopping precision, easy usage, and durability.
It is made from 420-grade stainless steel which protects the blades from rusting and pitting.
The Utopia Knives Set includes an 8-inch bread knife, an 8-inch carving knife, an 8-inch chef’s knife, a 3.5-inch paring knife and a 5-inch utility knife.
Pros:
- Made from rust and tarnish proof steel
- Designed as a single piece, which prevents the handle from falling off
- Unique design and the thickness of the blade make it easy for handheld use
Cons:
- You have to sharpen them quite often
How to Choose A Good Kitchen Knife?
Some die-hard knife enthusiasts scoff at the idea of purchasing a knife set and recommend buying pieces individually, but with research and understanding, you can also get a good deal on a quality set.
If the idea of a knife set appeals to you, it’s important to note that a well-known brand name doesn’t necessarily equate to quality.
Sometimes companies will sell lower end products as part of a high-priced set hoping that the name recognition will be enough to cause to buy.
Another trick that marketers use when packing different types of knives is to include several variations of the same style of knife, in different sizes, for example, making it seem like you’re getting a lot of value for your money. Unfortunately, all this gets you are several blades that you don’t need and won’t use.
While investing in the leading kitchen knives can be pricey, the right set will last for years with proper care and maintenance.
Final Verdict: Best Kitchen Knives
This wraps up our reviews on the best knives for the home cooks or professionals. Whether you’re searching for a specific piece, like a chef’s knife, paring knife, or bread knife, or you want to get a high-quality knife set, we hope that these kitchen knife reviews help you to find the biggest bang for your buck.
Whether you have a large budget, and you’re looking for a high-end Japanese hand-forged design like what you’ll find in the elegant Shun models, or you’re building your collection on a budget, there is something here for everyone.
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