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- The best knife sets are backed by a long-term warranty, feature blades that will stay sharp, are comfortable in your hands, and come with the types of knives you will use most, including a good chef's knife.
- The Chicago Cutlery Insignia2 18-Piece Knife Block Set has all the knives you need and even comes with a built-in knife sharpener.
Ask any chef, and they will tell you that the key to preparing a first-class meal is having the right tools. This includes a full set of sharp knives. In fact, one of the first tasks a professional chef performs upon stepping into their kitchen is sharpening their knives. And, many chefs also hand wash their cutting implements at the end of the day.
Most knife sets feature a chef's knife, a paring knife, a utility knife, and a serrated bread knife. And, you can commonly find sets with deboning knives, steak knives, slicers, Santoku knives, Kiritsuke prep knives, butcher knives, shears, and more.
All of the sets we review are made of stainless steel, though ceramic knives are growing in popularity. We did not include any ceramic knives because they are more prone to chipping or breaking completely. Plus, they are harder to sharpen.
When shopping, be sure you know exactly what you are getting. For example, when you hear "X-piece knife set," you might assume the X stands for the number of knives. However, it turns out this is just a clever marketing ploy. The other "pieces" you need to factor in are shears, the block, and even knife sheaths.
Also, even the best knives will dull over time. Therefore, it is a good idea to purchase a good knife sharpener and use it regularly. For help finding a quality sharpener, check out our guide to the best knife sharpeners.
Before choosing which knife sets to include in this buying guide, we spent hours closely researching the thousands of ratings and reviews from both experts and customers. The sets we picked for the following slides are based on a strong track record of durability, ability to remain sharp for long food prep sessions, and comfortable and effortless use.
Here are the best knife sets you can buy in 2019:
- Best knife set overall: Chicago Cutlery Insignia2 18-Piece Knife Block Set
- Best knife set with a glass block: Mercer Culinary Genesis 6-Piece Forged Knife Block Set
- Best knife set without a block: Victorinox 4-Piece Knife Set with Fibrox Handles
- Best high-end knife set: Wüsthof Classic 7-Piece Slim Knife Block Set
- Best budget knife set: Vremi 10-Piece Colorful Knife Set
Updated on 04/09/2019 by Malarie Gokey: Updated prices and formatting.
Read on in the slides below to check out our top picks.
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Disclosure: This post is brought to you by the Insider Picks team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners. We frequently receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising sales team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at insiderpicks@businessinsider.com.