The best knife sets you can buy

Why you'll love it: If searching for the right knife in a wooden block drives you nuts, consider the transparent Mercer Culinary Genesis 6-Piece Forged Knife Block Set.

The Mercer Culinary Genesis Knife Block Set comes with 3.5-inch paring, 5-inch utility, 6-inch boning, 8-inch bread, and 8-inch chef knives. You can choose between a tempered glass block and wood block with tempered glass. Both blocks allow you to readily see where each knife is located.

The blades are made of high-carbon, no-stain X50 Cr Mo V15 German cutlery steel, which is resistant to discoloration, corrosion, and rust. The full-tang blade extends into the Santoprene handle that has a non-slip grip and excellent comfort. Additionally, each knife has a bolster which offers extra balance and strength. Mercer Culinary backs this set with a lifetime limited warranty.

Knife Planet called the Mercer Culinary Genesis a “great knife block set” because the reviewer has used it for years now in the kitchen and found that the quality has not flagged. The Kitchen Guy likes that the knives are precision-forged for durability and strength. However, the reviewer found that the glass block needs to be cleaned regularly or any grime will become readily apparent.

The Mercer Culinary Genesis knife set has received five-star ratings from 85% of the people who reviewed it on Amazon. Buyers report that these knives are incredibly durable. Some commented that they have had this set for years, and the knives have maintained their sharpness.

Though knives should always be hand washed, there are users who have put their knives in the dishwasher with no noticeable negative effects. The biggest complaint is how the knives are positioned on the block. Since the block is not angled, it is hard to pull the knives out of the block when it is situated under a cupboard.

Pros: Attractive glass block, maintains sharpness, lifetime warranty

Cons: Glass attracts smudges, awkward to use when positioned under a cupboard

Buy the Mercer Culinary Genesis 6-Piece Forged Knife Block Set on Amazon for $139

Why you'll love it: If you are looking for an affordable knife set that is easy to sharpen, the Victorinox 4-Piece Knife Set with Fibrox Handles is an excellent option.

The four pieces in the Victorinox knife set are a 4-inch paring, 6-inch utility/chef, 10.25-inch bread, and an 8-inch chef’s knife. Each knife is made of high-carbon, stainless steel and hand finished in Switzerland at Victorinox’s headquarters. The company uses a special ice-tempering process that aims to keep the knife’s original sharpness after each sharpening throughout its lifetime. The handles are made of a slip-resistant textured polymer material known as “Fibrox.”

Wirecutter named this Victorinox set as its top budget pick. The testers found that it was ideal for beginner cooks who want sharp knives but don’t want to spend a lot. They also recommend it for chefs in high-traffic kitchens. Mariano’s Kitchen reviewed all of the sets available from Victorinox and the 4-Piece Knife Set with Fibrox Handles was its top choice.

Around 95% of the reviewers on Amazon gave this Victorinox knife set four- or five-star ratings. Several buyers commented that they chose this set after reading Cook’s Illustrated’s review of the Victorinox chef’s knife (included in this set.)

Even in smaller hands, users remark that the knives feel sturdy, balanced, and have a nice grip on them. Buyers note that the knives keep their sharpness and approach the level of quality found in more expensive models.

Pros: Well-balanced, comfortable grip, relatively inexpensive, proven longevity

Cons: Poorly-shaped paring knife curves dramatically near the tip

Buy the Victorinox 4-Piece Knife Set with Fibrox Handles on Amazon for $109.98 (originally $143) Buy the Victorinox Cutlery 3-Piece Chef's Set (Fibrox Handles) on Amazon for $124.95 Buy the Victorinox 3-Piece Chef's Set (Rosewood Handles) on Amazon for $102.99

Why you'll love it: If you have a little extra to spend on quality, the Wüsthof Classic 7-piece Slim Knife Block Set is made in Germany to last a lifetime.

The Wüsthof Classic 7-Piece Slim Knife Block Set comes with shears and five knives: an 8-inch chef’s, 8-inch bread, 6-inch Kiritsuke prep, 5-inch serrated utility, and a 3.5-inch paring knife. There are six different block styles to pick from, including Acacia, Walnut, Black, and Bamboo.

Each blade is made of high-carbon stainless steel with a 14-degree cutting edge on each side and completely buffed and polished by hand. The more-tapered cutting edge is designed to reduce drag when cutting through food and decrease the effort you must exert. Wüsthof uses “Precision Edge Technology,” which the company claims enhances the sharpness of the blade by 20% and ensures it will last twice as long. Wüsthof backs its craftsmanship with a lifetime warranty.

In its deep-dive look at the best kitchen knife sets, Foodal included this Wusthof set among its eight recommendations. The testers liked that the knives were clearly durable and well-made and found that they were good for daily use. Plus, the block doesn’t take up much counter space.

Sharpen-Up appreciated that the knives were German-manufactured and well-balanced. And, Steak Knives Review also liked that the knives were made in Germany as well as the customer support Wüsthof provides. However, the reviewer found the price to be a bit steep and thought the knives were too heavy.

The Wusthof Classic Knife Block Set has positive reviews from 94% of the Amazon users who rated it. Buyers comment that these knives make it feel like everything you cut through is like butter. They also appreciated that the knife block has a small footprint.

Less-experienced home chefs found that these knives made them feel more comfortable around the kitchen. The only consistent complaint we found was an aesthetic one. The red Wusthof logo is applied to the handle of each knife with a sticker that falls off easily.

Pros: Small countertop footprint, lifetime warranty, German-made

Cons: Expensive

Buy the Wusthof Classic 7-piece Slim Knife Block Set on Amazon for $349.95

Why you'll love it: If you want to add some color to your kitchen with a knife set that won’t break the bank, the Vremi 10 Piece Colorful Knife Set is a suitable solution.

Vremi is playing a little fast-and-loose when they call this a “10-Piece Knife Set.” The truth is half of the “pieces” are sheaths for the five knives: a 3.5-inch orange paring, 5-inch yellow utility, 8-inch purple carving, 8-inch blue serrated bread, and 8-inch red chef’s knife.

The blades are precision forged from stainless steel. They are a partial tang, and there are no visible rivets in the plastic BPA-free handle. The sheaths are similarly BPA-free and match the color of the corresponding knife. This is a useful set if you want to save on counter space by storing your knives in a drawer while safely avoiding cuts when retrieving them.

The Spruce included this Vremi collection in its look at the best knife sets of 2017. The writer notes that it makes a good second set of knives for your vacation home. Plus, the sheaths make them easy to transport.

The Vremi 10-Piece Colorful Knife Set has more than 1,100 five-star ratings on Amazon. The most common comments about these knives are that the colors are beautiful and that they remain sharp. Another benefit is that they are easy to clean with warm water and a mild detergent.

Many buyers liked them so much that they bought extra sets to give as gifts. The main complaint we found revolved around customers thinking these knives are ceramic because of the coloration. They are actually painted stainless steel.

Pros: Colorful, easy to clean, come with individual sheaths, inexpensive

Cons: Not as durable or sharp as more expensive alternatives

Buy the Vremi 10 Piece Colorful Knife Set on Amazon for $22.96

The best knife sharpeners you can buy

Sharp knives make cooking easier and safer. To keep your knives sharp enough to slice through tomatoes like butter, you need a great knife sharpener. The Chef’s Choice Trizor XV stands out as our top pick because of its versatility for various sharpening tasks and its three distinct sharpening stages.

You should also consider the Brod & Taylor Professional Knife Sharpener, the Edge Pro Apex 4, the Smith’s TRI-6 Arkansas TRI-HONE Sharpening System, the Work Sharp Culinary M3 Manual Kitchen Knife Sharpener, the Smith’s Edge Pro Adjustable, the Work Sharp WSKTS Knife & Tool Sharpener, the Linkyo Electric Knife Sharpener, and the Chef’s Choice ProntoPro 4643 sharpener.

The best cutting boards you can buy

The cutting board is perhaps the most essential tool in your kitchen for meal prep. Plastic and wooden cutting boards both have their pros and cons, so we've found the best of both worlds in the plastic OXO Good Grips Cutting and Carving Board and the wooden John Boos Maple Wood Edge Grain Reversible Cutting Board.

You should also consider the John Boos Maple Wood Edge Grain Reversible Cutting Board, the Totally Bamboo Cutting Boards, the Teak Haus Edge Grain Cutting Board, and the Imperial Kitchen Cutting Mat Set.