If you are wanting to cook great food then you really should be investing in the very best kitchen knives. Having and using the very best kitchen knives are essential to making a good cook great
Best Kitchen Knives 2020
When it comes to selecting the best kitchen knives it is easy to get confused as to which will be best for you. This is especially true for those who are new to cooking or have little experience. After all there are specialist knives for nearly every type of cooking and every type of food. Hopefully our pick of the best kitchen knives will help you select the best kitchen knives to suit your specific needs.
1 - Zwilling J.A. Henckels 30782-000 - Best Kitchen Knives Overall
If you are wanting to buy the very best kitchen knives the Zwilling J.A. Henckels 30782-000 should be at the very top of any list of the best kitchen knives.
Starting with the handles the Zwilling J.A. Henckels 30782-000 feature the traditional three rivets. They are styled with a slight curve so they feel good in your hand while looking somewhat contemporary.
The blades on the Zwilling J.A. Henckels 30782-000 are Friodur ice-hardened to 57 Rockwell Hardness, manufactured from high-carbon with no stainless steel. The blades are finished by being laser sharpened which makes the edge of the blades extremely durable. The blades are also stamped rather than forged. They also do not feature bolsters. These two features combined make the knives lighter than your average kitchen knife and easier to handle.
The Zwilling J.A. Henckels 30782-000 Twin Signature Knife Block Set features 19 different knives with a knife for every occasion. The knives included are a set of eight super sharp steak knives, a 4 inch parer, a 7 inch Santoku hollow edge, an 8 inch chef knife, a 4.5 inch utility knife, a 5 inch serrated utility knife, a 6 inch utility knife, an 8 inch bread knife, a 2.5 inch peeler, a pair of kitchen shears, and a 9 inch sharpening steel. They all fit beautifully into a stylish bamboo storage block.
The Zwilling J.A. Henckels 30782-000 set is dishwasher safe although it is recommended that you hand-wash these knives to keep them in perfect condition.
If you are looking for the very best kitchen knives set that money can buy with a knife for every job then you really should look no further than the Zwilling J.A. Henckels 30782-000 Twin Signature Knife Block Set.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Laser Sharpened | Expensive |
| High Quality Materials | |
| Lightweight | |
| Hard Wearing | |
| Dishwasher Safe |
2 - Chicago Cutlery Fusion - Best Value Kitchen Knives
If you are wanting to buy the very best kitchen knives but happen to be on a budget and want the very best value kitchen knives, look no further than the Chicago Cutlery Fusion 18pc Block Set.
Comprising of 18 different pieces the Chicago Cutlery Fusion 18pc Block Set is the perfect blend of precision performance and sleek style with a knife for every job. The blades are forged from a durable high-carbon stainless steel which means they are incredibly sharp. The sharp edges of the Chicago Cutlery Fusion knives also feature Taper Grind Edge Technology which means each blade remains sharp for longer. The handles are designed to feel comfortable in your hand and when combined with the sharp blades these knives offer incredible control and balance.
Since the Chicago Cutlery Fusion Set contains 18 different pieces there is a knife for every job. The knives in the set include 8 different 4.25 inch steak knives, a 3 inch peeling knife, a 7.75 inch chef knife, a 5 inch utility knife, an 8 inch slicer, a 7.75 inch bread knife, a 5 inch partoku knife, a 7 inch santoku knife, and an inch sharpening steel so you can keep your kitchen knives super sharp at all times.
If you are looking for the best kitchen knives, but the best value kitchen knives, and quality is a concern it is good to know that the Chicago Cutlery Fusion 18pc Block Set comes with a lifetime warranty. It is worth noting that the Chicago Cutlery Fusion knives should always be dried after use and should only be hand-washed and never put in the dishwasher. This will ensure you get the very best out of these kitchen knives.
The Chicago Cutlery Fusion 18pc Block Set comes with a stylish and high quality stained pine wood block for storage.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Excellent Value | Not Dishwasher Safe |
| Sharp Blades | |
| Comfortable Handle | |
| Hard Wearing |
3 - Damascus Knife Set - Best Japanese Kitchen Knives
Even people who are not familiar with the art of cooking knows that Japanese knives are among the very best kitchen knives. It is therefore hardly any surprise that a Japanese knife is among our top picks of best kitchen knives. After all Japanese knives are well known to be razor sharp and capable of creating some amazing things in the correct and skilled hands.
The Damascus Knife Set lives up to the reputation that you would expect from Japanese knives and are among the best Japanese knives available.
The blades are manufactured from the very highest quality Japanese damask high-carbon VG-10 steel. This means the all of the Damaskus knives in the set cut effortlessly thought everything it touches including meats, vegetables, and fruits. The VG-10 steel also means that the blades will not rust so they are ridiculously easy to keep sharp and clean.
The handles are made from beautiful real wood which gives the knives a traditional look of quality while allowing you to comfortably grip the no-slip ergonomically shape. Everything combined makes working with the Damascus Knife Set easy and pain free.
The collection of four knives are all different lengths ranging from a long butcher knife which is used for cutting roasts to a small paring knife which is excellent for use on the likes of vegetables and fruits.
You can also rest assured that the manufacturer of these knives stand behind their product. They do this by offering a no-risk purchase in the form of a 100% money back guarantee.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Super Sharp Japanese Blade | Expensive |
| Beautiful Quality Handle | Sharpness An Issue For Beginners |
| Durable Blade | |
| Will Not Rust |
4 - MAC MTH-80 Professional Series
The MAC MTH-80 Professional Series 8-Inch Chef Knife is not only one of the best kitchen knives it is also one of the most popular kitchen knives. This is most likely due to the fact it is ideal for everyday use. It is very near to perfectly balanced so it is at home being used to slice carrots as it is to cut meat. It does all this while providing clean cuts and keeping a remarkably sharp edge.
The blade of the MAC MTH-80 features a granton edge which means it is dimpled. This helps prevent food sticking to the blade as you chop and cut. The 2.0mm blade is perfectly sharpened and combined with the bolster means this knife easily cuts, slices, and dices practically any type of food.
Weighing a mere 7.1 ounces the MAC MTH-80 is an average weight among the best kitchen knives. Because of the design combined with the cleverly distributed weight, the MAC MTH-80 is near to perfectly balanced. This makes nearly every task that you throw at this knife an absolute delight.
The MAC MTH-80 is certainly not the cheapest knife from our picks of the best kitchen knives but it certainly is not as expensive as some. The bottom line is that the MAC MTH-80 Professional Series 8-Inch Chef Knife is perfect in the hands of both beginners and professional chefs alike.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Excellent All Rounder | Price |
| Dimples To Stop Food Sticking | |
| Excellently Balanced | |
| Comfortable Handle |
5 - Victorinox Fibrox Pro Chef’s Knife - Best For Beginners
If you are in the market for one of the best kitchen knives that is also among the best all round kitchen knives then the Victorinox Fibrox Pro should most certainly be at the top of you list of considerations.
The blade of the Victorinox Fibrox Pro is 8 inches in length and is made from high-carbon stainless steel. This means the Victorinox Fibrox Pro is super sharp and ideal for the likes of mincing, chopping, dicing, and slicing.
The one main issue with the Victorinox Fibrox Pro is that the handle looks like it is cheaply manufactured. Of course, just because something looks cheap does not mean it is not fit for purpose. The handle itself is made from thermoplastic elastomers (TPE), is 2 inches in length, has a textured finish which makes it easy to grip even when wet, and features an ergonomically designed shape which means it feels comfortable in your hand.
You can indeed wash the Victorinox Fibrox Pro in your dishwasher althoguh it is recommended that you hand wash the knife to keep it sharp.
It is nice to see that one of the best kitchen knives for beginners, which is made in Switzerland, also comes with a lifetime warranty. A sure sign that the manufacturer has faith in their product.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Great All Round Knife | Handle Feels Cheap |
| Excellent for Beginners | |
| Sharp | |
| Dishwasher Safe |
6 - Mercer Culinary Renaissance
The Mercer Culinary Renaissance knife set has a well deserved place among our picks of best kitchen knives. It is sold with four different options for storing the knives which include a variety of magnetic boards, as well as several different tempered glass block storage options.
The blades of the Mercer Culinary Renaissance knives are precision forged from high quality German steel which is high-carbon with no stainless steel so you do not have to worry about the knives rusting or corroding. Due to the fact that the blades are manufactured from such a high quality material with a rounded spine means they have excellent durability and strength. The overall design, shape, and materials means they are extremely stable in your hand and remain sharp for a very long time.
The handles are ergonomically designed to feel both comfortable and secure in your hand and secure the blades in place with triple rivets.
The set features 6 knives which include a 3.5 inch paring knife, a 5 inch utility knife, an 8 inch chef knife, a 8 inch bread knife, and a 6 inch boning knife. Pretty much everything you will need to get started.
Like many of the knives and knife sets among our picks of best kitchen knives, the Mercer Culinary Renaissance set comes with a lifetime warranty for added peace of mind.
The only negative side we can point out with the Mercer Culinary Renaissance knife set is that they are not dishwasher safe. This is more down to the fact your dishwasher may be damaged than the knives themselves.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Several Storage Options | Not Dishwasher Safe |
| Top Quality Carbon Steel | Expensive |
| Well Balanced | |
| Comfortable Handles |
7 - Cangshan S Series 59656
The Cangshan S Series 59656 are superb knives and certainly among the very best kitchen knives available. The Cangshan S Series 59656 is sold in a wide range of sets which include a collection of 17 knives, a collection of 12 knives, all the way to purchasing each knife individually. This means you can buy all the knives as a set or purchase each knife individually depending on your budget.
The blades of the Cangshan S Series 59656 are manufactured and forged form the highest quality X50Cr15MoV German steel with contrasting, boldly angled lines and curves. This makes for superbly balanced and sharp knives which cut with precision every time. The German steel used in the manufacture of the Cangshan S Series 59656 is of such a high standard it even reaches HRC 58 on the Rockwell Hardness Scale which means these knives are extremely durable and remain sharp for a very long time.
The handles feel like they have a certain high quality in your hand combined with the ergonomically designed shape makes them comfortable to grip even for long periods.
Again, like most of our picks of best kitchen knives, the Cangshan S Series 59656 knives come with a lifetime warranty against manufacturer defects.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| High Quality German Steel Blades | Expensive For The Entire Set |
| Durable | |
| Comfortable Handle | |
| Very Well Balanced | |
| Individual or Set Buying Options |
8 - Calphalon Classic Knives
Even for the very best kitchen knives available the claim that a knife will have a lifetime of sharpness is indeed a bold claim. Amazingly this is exactly what the manufacturers of the Calphalon Classic knife set claim. This is possible thanks to what they have called the SharpIN Technology. Basically the knives are stored in a special storage block which automatically sharpens the knives each time they are inserted or removed from the storage block. This is achieved because there is a special ceramic knife sharpener built into the storage block.
The blades of the Calphalon Classic knives are forged from high-carbon steel with no stainless steel included. This, as you know, means they are long lasting, durable, and will not rust.
The handles are ergonomically designed to feel comfortable in your hand while offering superb control. Each handle is made from metal and also labeled so you can be sure you will always be able to lay your hands on the correct knife for the job.
Once again, like most of the best kitchen knives, the Calphalon Classic set comes with a lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Self Sharpening | Metal Handle Can Feel Cold |
| Feels Comfortable in the Hand | Expensive |
| Durable Metal Handles | |
| Easy to Control |
9 - Cangshan N1 Series 60010
The Cangshan N1 Series 60010, for the complete set of 22 knives, are certainly one of the more expensive of our picks of best kitchen knives. It is therefore an excellent idea that Cangshan offers these knives, not only as a set of 22 knives, but also a set of either 17 knives, 8 knives, 6 knives, 5 knives, 4 knives, or even 3 knives. This makes the Cangshan N1 Series 60010 in reach of everyone. Even those on a tight budget.
The N1 Series are designed with an ergonomically designed metal handle that extends to the blade. This makes the N1 Series knives well balanced and aesthetically pleasing. On the whole the N1 Series knives are a pleasure to hold and work well in pretty much every situation and while effortlessly slicing through all types of food.
The blades are manufactured from high quality high-alloy German steel. Such steel offers a perfect mix of durability and hardness with a rating of 58 on the Rockwell Hardness Rating Scale. Thanks to the high quality German steel the blades are all exceptionally sharp and feature a phenomenally superior edge retention. This means the knives stay sharper for longer regardless of what you throw at them.
Each knife is heat treated which means they have a very stable internal structure so they will not warp or bend easily. Each blade also goes through an ultra-precise six stage heat treatment. This makes sure that the very best qualities are present in the steel.
On the whole the Cangshan N1 Series 60010 knives are the among the best of the best kitchen knives. They are all super sharp and will remain sharp for a very long time.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Superior Sharpness | Expensive |
| Superbly Balanced | |
| Excellent Quality | |
| Beautifully Designed |
10 - Chicago Cutlery Insignia
The Chicago Cutlery Insignia knife set is a collection of 19 different knives which include 8 different 4.5 inch steak knives, a 3 inch peeler, a 3.25 inch parer, a 6 inch boning, a 5 inch utility knife, an inch serrated bread knife, a 7 inch Santoku, an 8 inch slicer an 8 inch chef knife, all stored in a beautiful wood block which also has a built in sharpener and includes a bamboo cutting board. At the price the Chicago Cutlery Insignia knife set is sold, and with the inclusion of the built in knife sharpeners, they are certainly one of the best value sets among our picks of best kitchen knives.
The blades in these knives are made from high-carbon stainless steel which is strong and has a hard edge for precise cutting, easy re-sharpening and long lasting durability. The high-carbon stainless steel does an excellent job of resisting rust, stains, and pitting.
The edge of the blades feature an exclusive 25 Degree Taper Grind which ensures optimum sharpness. This offers precise cutting every time and makes these blades so easy to re-sharpen.
The specially designed and forged shape offers increased balance and weight which gives the perfect balance of strength, balance and control in the correct hands.
As with the majority of our picks of best kitchen knives the Chicago Cutlery Insignia knife set comes complete with a lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Built In Sharpener | Stainless Steel |
| High-Carbon Steel | |
| Excellent Balance and Weight | |
| Exceptionally Sharp |
See more Utensil stuff here.