Whether you are a cooking enthusiast or not, you surely do need a high-quality knife set during your food prep and other kitchen jobs. When you have the right knives in your kitchen, cutting and slicing ingredients becomes swift with less mess, and you save enough cooking time.
Investing in a high-end kitchen knife set is worthwhile. You get a wide range of all the essential knives you will need to prepare different delicious meals in a single pack. Rather than buying individual knives, you save enough money as well when you buy a set.
Having the right knife set in your kitchen will make you cook like a pro and help you get your job done in time with less effort. Here are our top 12 reviews on the best high-end kitchen knife set to help you make the best choice.
What Makes Up A High-End Kitchen Knife Set
One of the interesting things about having a kitchen knife set is that you have a collection of different types of knives. A typical set comes with frequently used knives such as a chef knife, a utility knife, steak knives, a paring knife, and a carving knife. Other expensive sets contain rarely used knives such as a peeling knife, shears, a santoku knife, and even a knife sharpener and block.
Here are the functions of some of these knives.
- A chef knife is a must-have because of its versatility. It is a workhorse for many kitchens. A chef knife is used for cutting, slicing, dicing, chopping, and mincing. Every knife set comes with at least a piece of a chef knife.
- A serrated steak knife is also referred to as a bread knife. It is used for cutting delicate food like tomatoes, cakes, bread, and steaks. However, there are straight steak knives as well. Not all steak knives have serrated edges.
- A parer is often utilized for paring fruits and vegetables. It is one of the shortest knives in a set with about 3 to 4-inches.
- Although kitchen shears are not designed like a typical knife, it is often included in a kitchen knife set. It is used for snipping herbs and cutting other ingredients.
- A santoku knife is the Japanese form of a chef knife. Although it performs the same function as a typical chef knife, it is thinner and shorter. Not all sets come with this type of knife.
Best High End Kitchen Knife Set Reviews by Consumer Reports 2021
#1. Zwilling J.A. Henckels TWIN Signature Knife Block Set
This high-end kitchen knife is German made, fabricated with patented steel from Zwilling. All the knives except the santoku are inclined to 15degrees. This 19-piece kitchen knife set is precision stamped with three rivets for durability and stability. It is engraved with a Zwilling J.A Henckels logo creates a sleek appearance that makes this set stand out.
A knife stand, kitchen shears, eight 4.5-inch steak knives, a 4.5-inch utility knife, 4-inch paring knife, 8-inch bread knife, 2.5-inch peeling knife, 7-inch santoku knife, 5-inch serrated utility knife, 6-inch sandwich knife, 8-inch chef knife, and a 9-inch sharpening rod.
The laser-controlled edge is extremely sharp. The santoku knife features a hollow edge, which makes the release of food easy.
Ice hardened to 57 Rockwell hardness for exceptional sharpness and superior edge retention. This is an excellent option for those with arthritic hands because of its weight and balance. The eight steak knives have serrated edges that slice through meat easily.
The stainless steel utilized is hand polished and hand sharpened by expert knife makers to offer an excellent cutting experience. This option retains its edge for a long and is resistant to staining, chipping, pitting, and corrosion. Although the knives are dishwasher safe, hand washing is recommended for longevity.
Pros:
Dishwasher safe
Triple-riveted
Excellent edge retention
Easy handling
Hand sharpened
Cons:
Easily rust
#2. J.A. Henckels International Statement Knife Block Set
Made from a single piece of premium quality stainless steel for durability. The blades are triple riveted to the handle for safety and stability. This lightweight knife comes with a stainless steel heel bolster for maximum balance. The finger guard offers a secure grip even with wet hands. The various types of knives cut through different ingredients with ease and precision. They accomplished a wide range of kitchen tasks and speed up your cooking time. An ideal kitchen knife set for both home cooks and professional chefs.
This set comes with a 3-inch paring knife, a 5-inch serrated utility knife, a 7-inch santoku knife, an 8-inch bread knife, an 8-inch chef knife, six 4.5-inch steak knives, kitchen scissors, a sharpening rod, and a natural wood stand.
The beautifully designed hardwood stand allows you to save your knives and prevent the blades from rusting. It suits any kitchen decoration. The blades are precision honed and come super sharp with plastic handles that offers a nonslip grip. This 15-piece set covers all your food prep tasks. It is comfortable to hold for hours without hurting your wrist or causing finger fatigue.
Pros:
Lightweight
Full bolster
Durable
Precision stamped construction
Dishwasher safe
Cons:
Pricey
#3. Home Hero Stainless Steel Knife Set
Are you looking for a nice kitchen knife set with a block that takes little or no space on your counter?
This set of knives from Home Hero is of premium quality with a beautiful design that makes it stand out on your countertop. It comes with a sharpener for easy maintenance of the blades. The acrylic block allows you to store up your knife after use to prevent kitchen accidents and rusting. This affordable knife set comes with its blades extra sharp right from the box.
This 17-piece knife set includes 6 steak knives, 1 chef knife, 1 pizza knife, 1 bread knife, 1 utility knife, 1 paring knife, 1 cheese knife, 1 carving knife, a peeler, kitchen shears, a knife stand, and a sharpener. The 2-stage sharpener allows you to sharpen your blunt blades and also straighten the edge of your knives. Constructed with high-quality stainless steel coated with black nonstick paint.
The handles are made with polypropylene, which is comfortable to grip for longer periods. It arrives neatly packed in a convenient box. This is an ideal gift item for your special friend and loved ones.
Pros:
Budget-friendly
Elegant design
Knife block
Rust resistant
Easy to handle
Cons:
Easily wrap up
#4. Dalstrong Chef Knife
As a professional cook, a Dalstrong Chef knife is a must-have in your kitchen space because of its versatility. This high-end knife is perfect for all food prep tasks. The G-10 handle is shaped for comfort, balance, and durability. Full tang for optimum control and handling. Hand-hammered to 62+ Rockwell hardness for exceptional sharpness. It comes with a lifetime warranty against defects.
Well polished using the traditional 3-step Honbazuke technique and nitrogen cooled for maximum flexibility, rust resistance, and enhanced harness. Built with 66 layers of high-quality carbon stainless steel and a Japanese AUS-10V core for superior strength and corrosion resistance. Along with the triple-riveted is an end bolster that enhances its balance. The nonstick surface offers a free release of ingredients from the blade.
It comes with an embossed protective sheath and pins for safety. The knife is kept in the saya cover to prevent you from accidentally injuring yourself with a sharp edge. The Garolite handle is sanitarily built against moisture and heat. It is comfortable to hold and offers a nonslip grip. Nicely packed in a customized pack and a great gift item. The refined copper mosaic enhances its looks on your counter.
Pros:
Durable
Premium quality
Protective sheath
Non-stick
An ideal gift item
Cons:
Just a single piece
No storage block
#5. Tuo Cutlery Knife Set
The next option in line is one of the best kitchen knives from the Tuo Cutlery collection. Precision-forged from a premium German stainless steel alloy with X50CrMoV15 and engineered to 56-degree hardness. Featuring a high tech pakkawood handle and a money-back guarantee. This kitchen knife set holds its edge for a long time and is easily maintained with its honing rod.
The full bolster protects your fingers from.sliding to the blade and also offers heft. The knife block saves you from accidentally nicking yourself and allows you to keep the knives within your reach. The molded handle is built with durable pakkawood, which has the right texture for a firm, yet comfortable grip.
The heel bolster is embossed with the Tuo logo offering agility and balance. The set features a 7-inch cleaver, an 8-inch chef knife, a 9-inch bread knife, a 4-inch parer, kitchen shears, a kitchen block, and 8-inch sharpening steel.
The knife set includes all the necessary knives for cooking different delicious meals, such as a chef knife used to cut tough and delicate ingredients. A cleaver for carving boneless meat. A Granton Santoku knife prevents ingredients from sticking to the blade, and a bread knife for cutting through artisan’s bread, amongst others.
Pros:
Versatile
Comfortable to grip
A knife stand
Sharpening steel
Premium quality materials
Cons:
Expensive
#6. Calphalon Classic Self-sharpening 6-piece Knife Block Set
Crafted from high carbon stainless steel that resists stain, the Calphalon 6-Piece kitchen knife set is accurate and meticulous when it comes to cutting. The strong bolster brings control and stability, and the black handle is ergonomically designed to fit in hand comfortably.
For better storage, this knife set comes with a block containing all the knives, including the shears. The traditional triple-riveted handle is well labeled and contoured at the heel for easy identification. The blades are tapered from the handle to the tip for enhanced sharpness
This kitchen knife set features a block with built-in sharpeners for easy maintenance of blades. The ceramic sharpener was designed with a Sharpin technology that automatically sharpens the knives before and after each use for optimum sharp edges. It is full tang for durability, strength, balance, and safety.
This 6-piece set contains an 8-inch chef knife, 6-inch utility knife, 5-inch santoku knife, 3.5-inch paring knife, kitchen scissors, and a rubberized wood knife stand. It comes with a full lifetime warranty. The knives come sharp and stay sharp. An ideal option for both home cooks and experts.
Pros:
Lifetime Warranty
Labeled handles
Triple-riveted
Stain-resistant
Built-in sharpener
Cons:
Requires extra care to prevent rust
#7. Mercer Culinary Genesis 6-Piece Forged Knife Block Set
This high-end kitchen knife set is NSF certified. It comes neatly packed with a thin, transparent block that allows you to see your knives’ full design in a glance without pulling it out of the stand. The knife block takes little counter space. Features a Santoprene handle that offers a superior nonslip grip even when your hands are wet or oily. The handles are sanitarily built to withstand heat, moisture, and steam. The full bolster offers heft, balance, strength, and stability. It protects your fingers and provides better handling of the knife to prevent pain to your wrist.
Six-piece set includes 8″ Chef Knife, 8″ Bread Knife, 6″ Boning Knife, 5″ Utility Knife, 3.5″ Paring Knife, and a tempered glass block.
Constructed with high carbon German steel that resists stain, rust, pitting, corrosion, and chipping. It is precision-forged from a single piece of stainless steel with a full tang and a rivet for superior balance. It comes with a limited lifetime warranty. The edge is tapered, grounded for long-lasting sharpness, easy sharpening, and maximum resilience. The blade stays sharp after multiple uses and is ideal for all food prep tasks. It is easy to maintain
Pros:
Transparent block
Elegant design
Stain-resistant
Easy to clean
Cons:
No honing steel
#8. Dalstrong 5-Piece Knife Block Set
Are you tired of having a shiny stainless steel knife set on your counter?
This shadow black series is the best high-end knife set for you that is coated with black nonstick paint. The black Titanium Nitride coating is nontoxic and nonreactive to food. Crafted by experts and inclined using patented 3-step Honbazuke method to 15 degrees for exceptional edge retention and sharpness. It is cooled with nitrogen for durability and enhanced harness.
The G10 handle is comfortable to grip. This premium quality knife is well balanced and easy to use. The handle is ergonomic shaped and perfectly fits into the contour of any hand size. The razor-sharp blade is easy to hone. Comes with a lifetime warranty on manufacturing defects.
The set comprises a 3.75-inch paring knife, 5.5-inch utility knife, 6.5-inch serrated utility knife, 7-inch santoku knife, 8-inch chef knife, and a beautiful storage stand.
The coating enhances its strength and improves the blade nonstick properties. Each full tang knife is hand sharpened for optimum durability.
The military-grade and fiber resin G-10 handle is built to withstand cold, steam, and moisture. This knife set offers an exceptional cutting experience.
Pros:
NSF certified
Unique
Nonstick coating
Versatile
Durable
Cons:
Extra maintenance
#9. Cangshan Z1 Series 17-Piece Knife Block Set
The kitchen knife set includes 14 professional knives, sharpening steel, kitchen shears, and a modern knife block. The wooden walnut block is suitable for any kitchen. It allows for easy storage of knives.
The triple-riveted handles are slightly curved for easy grip, comfort, and control. The full tang offers optimum maneuverability.
With all the different types of knives in this set, food prep becomes as swift as a breeze. The high-quality knife set is ideal for cutting veggies, slicing onions, mincing shallots, chopping fish, and dining. Features six premium quality steak knives for your family steak dinner. The stainless steel endcap enhances stability and adds heft.
Built with X50Cr15MoV German Steel and tempered to 58 Rockwell hardness. It comes with a full-time warranty against manufacturing defects. The wooden block has a magnetic strip that prevents the knife from falling fall even moved. The blades go through a heating process that ensures the edge remains sharp for a long time.
This knife set is an ideal choice for both tough and delicate kitchen jobs. It is hand polished to a fine finish. It is NSF certified.
This 17-piece set is well-balanced and sturdy. The razor-sharp edge offers precise cutting.
Pros:
Superior cutting performance
Extra sharp
Suits all kitchen decor
Premium quality construction
Wooden knife block
Cons:
Costly
#10. DALSTRONG Gladiator Series Colossal Knife Set
Another set of high-carbon German steel from Dalstrong, Gladiator series. This brand is renowned for its quality kitchenware, and this knife set is no exception. Constructed with a combination of modern tech and ancient craftsmanship. The edges are tapered ground for minimal cutting resistance, enhanced hardness, and blade flexibility. It is hand polished and honed to a fine finish that looks great on your countertop.
This 18-piece set contains 10-inch honing rod, 2.75-inch beak paring knife, 3.5-inch paring knife, six 5-inch straight edge steak knives, 6-inch serrated utility knife, 6.5-inch utility knife, 6-inch boning knife, 7-inch nakiri knife, 7-inch santoku knife, 8-inch chef knife, 8.5-inch kiritsuke chef knife, 9-inch bread knife, 9-inch carving knife, and a wooden stand.
The handle is embossed with a Dialstrong logo and three rivets. The stainless steel heel bolster adds counterbalance, weight, and distinction. The full bolster acts as a finger guard and protects you from hurting yourself when using the knife. It is easy to maintain with the honing rod. The walnut stand is durable and holds up the knives when not in use, keeping it within your kitchen’s reach.
It is inclined to an angled edge that ranges between 14 to 16 degrees. Each of the knife’s blades is precision forged to resist wear, corrosion, and stain. An excellent gift for all kinds of occasions.
Pros:
Precision-forged construction
Full tang
Elegant design
Full bolster
Honing steel.
Cons:
Dull quickly
#11. Wusthof Classic Ikon 14-piece Knife Block Set
Utilized a high carbon high-quality stainless steel in manufacturing the classic ikon series. Well sharpened using the patented Ptec, which ensures the blade stays twice as sharper than a regular blade, and the edge retains its edge properly even after multiple uses. This option requires less honing. If it comes with 100% user satisfaction.
The rubberized handles are designed to fit the curvature of any hand size offering maximum comfort and safety even with wet hands. This made in German knife set is triple riveted to the handle for durability. The bolster guides and prevents your fingers from sliding to the blade edge when handling. It also enhances the knife balance and ensures it is well balanced.
The set includes all the necessary cutting tools for a food prep.such as a chef knife, a bread knife, a parer, a santoku knife, a carving knife, a utility knife, and steak knives as well as kitchen shears, a wooden stand, and sharpening steel.
The cleaver cut through the large size of vegetables and meats. The serrated knife slices through the food giving it a smooth, clean cut. The paring knife is suitable for small kitchen jobs and peeling of fruits. The come apart kitchen scissors are perfect for cutting through fish bones and other seafood.
Pros:
Extra sharp
Easy to hold
An ideal gift item
Durable
Precision edge technology
Cons:
Expensive
#12. Shun Classic 10-piece Knife Block Set
Cladded with 68 layers of Damascus stainless steel and a VG-MAX core. It is engineered Rockwell hardness of 61 degrees for superior edge retention. The blades are double bevel and ideal for ambidextrous use. The D-shaped ebony pakkawood handle is sturdy, durable, and highly resistant to heat, moisture, and cold. It is easy to use for hours without causing finger fatigue or straining your arms.
This option offers excellent value for your money with quality sharpness. This option includes specialized knives needed in preparing different meals such as kitchen shears, 3.5-inch paring knife, 4.5-inch Honesuki Knife, 5-inch Hollow Edge Nakiri Knife, 6-inch Utility Knife, 7-inch Santoku Knife, 8-inch Chef’s Knife, 9-inch Hollow Edge Carving Knife, 9-inch Honing Steel, and 13-slot Bamboo Knife Block. This is an ideal gift item for all occasions.
This is a great fit for your kitchen and adds aesthetic value to your counter. It comes with a full-time warranty and guarantees users satisfaction.
Shun classic is not safe for the dishwasher. Handwashing is recommended for durability. The sharpening steel allows you to easily maintain the razor-sharp edge of your blades without visiting a professional honing shop.
Pros:
Durable handle
Lifetime Warranty
Corrosion resistance
High-quality materials
Exceptional edge retention
Cons:
Pricey
Not dishwasher safe
Factors To Consider Before Buying A High-End Kitchen Knife Set
Without knowing what to look out for, you may end up buying a set of knives you don’t need. This guide will help you select the best option to suit your needs, taste, and kitchen.
Construction
The construction of a knife will determine its weight, balance, and durability. They are stamped knives and forged knives. You can find both of them in high quality and low quality. However, whichever one you settle for ensuring it is of high-quality materials. Forged knives are sturdy and retain their edge for longer than a stamped knife.
Forged knives are made from a single piece of stainless steel. They come with full bolster and thicker blades. They are sometimes heavier as well. Stamped knives are made from a sheet of steel. They are lightweight with thinner blades and often don’t feature a bolster.
Based on construction, you would also find full tang knives and partial tang knives. Almost all full tang comes with rivets for longevity. The blade spans into the handle, which makes it robust. Partial tang knives have their blades midway into the handle.
Storage
You need to consider where to store your knives when buying a set. Good storage will enhance durability. It helps you maintain the razor-sharp edge and also prevents you from nicking your fingers.
The most knife set comes with a knife stand made of either wood, glass, or stainless steel. This block adds aesthetic value to your countertop.
Cooking Style
You need to consider the way you cook when getting a knife set to avoid buying knives you won’t use. If you are not a steak lover, there is no need to get a set with multiple steak knives you won’t use. The type of ingredients you cut or the food you cook often should be put into consideration.
Maintenance
How you will maintain your knives is also something to consider. Some brands include either a sharpener or a honing rod alongside the set of knives for easy maintenance. Keeping the razor-sharp edges of your knives will help you cut through ingredients like butter.
Handle
The handle must be built to offer accuracy and comfort even after long use. The handle is made with different materials and is of various quality. The most popular form of handle is the polypropylene and stainless steel handle. Both materials are comfortable to grip. There are other options with wooden handles too.
Material
Every material utilized in making a knife blade has their benefits and disadvantages. The materials used are often pure stainless steel, high carbon stainless steel, high-quality steel, or a mixture of more than one material.
Stainless Steel material requires less maintenance but gets blunt quickly and is difficult to hone. High carbon stainless steel needs extra maintenance, but retains its edge longer than pure steel.
Conclusion
A high-end kitchen knife set will last for years and can even be passed down to generations if appropriately taken care for. A well-maintained knife set performs better and is safer to use. Invest in one of these high-end options rather than buying a cheap quality set.
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