What should you look for in kitchen knife sets?

A kitchen knife set gives you a coordinated group of knives, usually with a storage block, so when choosing one look above all for good-quality knives, sharp, made of steel that holds an edge and can be resharpened, durable and comfortable, in the types you will actually use, with comfortable handles and good balance, sound construction such as full tangs, a useful selection rather than one padded with knives you do not need, and a sensible storage block or solution. The crucial point is that a set is only worth it if the knives themselves are good, so quality and the right useful knives matter far more than a high knife count or an impressive-looking block. Our Best Kitchen Knife Sets compares five of them.

Knife quality comes first

The most important thing in a knife set is the quality of the knives, because a set is only as good as the knives in it, and a block full of poor knives is poor value however many it has. Look for knives of good steel that take and hold a sharp edge and can be resharpened, since sharpness and edge retention are what make a knife work well and safely, and a knife you can keep sharp lasts for years. Avoid sets of cheap, soft-steel knives that dull quickly and cannot be properly sharpened, which is the main pitfall of bargain sets.

Quality also means durable, well-made knives that are comfortable and sound. The best value is often a set of fewer but genuinely good knives rather than many mediocre ones, since you use a few knives for most tasks and a good knife transforms cutting. So judge a knife set first on whether the knives are sharp, hold their edge, are durable and feel good, not on the number of pieces or the look of the block. Getting good-quality knives is the foundation, because everything else about a set matters little if the knives themselves are not good.

The right types of knife, not just a high count

Look at which knives the set includes and whether they are the types you will actually use, rather than being impressed by a high piece count. The knives most people use for the great majority of cooking are a chef’s knife (the main workhorse), a paring knife (for small, detailed tasks), and a serrated bread knife, with a utility knife and perhaps a santoku or carving knife useful additions. A set that includes good versions of these core knives covers nearly all your needs.

Many sets pad out their numbers with knives and tools you may rarely use, or with a block of steak knives, to look generous, but a high count is not the point if most go unused, and it can mean the budget is spread thin so each knife is cheaper. So favor a set whose selection matches what you cook and that puts quality into the core knives you will use daily, rather than one chosen for a big number. The right useful knives, well made, are worth far more than a large set of pieces that sit in the block, so assess the selection by usefulness, not count.

Handles, balance and construction

Because you grip and use these knives constantly, the handles, balance and construction matter for comfort, safety and durability. Look for handles that are comfortable to hold and secure, including when wet, and knives that feel balanced in the hand rather than awkwardly weighted, since comfort and balance affect control and how tiring the knives are to use, and this applies across the set. Try to hold the knives, or read closely how they are described, since feel is important.

Construction affects durability and quality. A full tang, where the blade steel runs the length of the handle, generally makes a sturdier, better-balanced knife and is a good sign in a set, and a firm, gap-free join between blade and handle avoids weakness and places for bacteria to lodge. Forged and stamped blades can both be good, but overall build quality, solid, well-finished knives with securely attached handles, is what makes a set last and perform. So look for comfortable, well-balanced knives with sound construction throughout the set, since these qualities, alongside the steel, determine how good the knives are to use and how long they last.

The block, storage and overall value

Most knife sets come with a storage block or solution, so consider it, though it is secondary to the knives. A good block stores the knives safely, protecting the edges (and your fingers) and keeping them to hand, and should be stable and well made, with slots that fit the knives; some sets use a universal block, a magnetic strip, or an in-drawer tray instead of a traditional slotted block, which can suit different kitchens. The block is a convenience and a tidy way to store sharp knives, but a nice block does not make up for poor knives.

Finally, weigh the overall value: a set is worth it when it gives you good-quality, useful knives you will use, conveniently and often more cheaply than buying them individually, with sensible storage. Plan to care for the knives, hand washing and drying them rather than using the dishwasher, which dulls and damages knives, and honing and sharpening them, to get the most from the set. So look for good-quality sharp, durable knives of the types you will use, with comfortable handles, good balance and sound construction, a useful rather than padded selection, and a sensible storage block, and the set will serve you well, remembering that the knives, not the count or the block, are what make a knife set worth buying.

The short answer

When choosing a kitchen knife set, look above all at the quality of the knives, since a set is only as good as the knives in it and a block of poor knives is poor value however many it holds. Favor knives of good steel that take and hold a sharp edge and can be resharpened, durable and comfortable, and the core types you will actually use, a chef’s knife, a paring knife and a serrated bread knife cover most cooking, with a utility or santoku knife useful, rather than a set padded with a high count of knives you will not use. Check the handles are comfortable and secure, the knives feel balanced, and the construction is sound, such as full tangs with firm blade-to-handle joins, across the set. Consider the storage block as a convenient, safe way to keep the knives, but do not let a nice block distract from the knives themselves. A set is worth it when it gives good, useful knives conveniently, so judge it by the knives, not the count or the block, and care for them with hand washing and sharpening.