Knife Set

These manufactured high-carbon treated steel blades are sharp, and they're sufficiently overwhelming to handle extreme, sinewy vegetables, for example, butternut squash superior to the opposition. Among every one of the blades we tried, the Wüsthof set's grippy, ergonomically formed handles were the most agreeable to hold. At the cost, execution, and solidness, we think the Wüsthof Classic Ikon is the best set to meet your home-kitchen needs. Then again, in the event that you want to amass your own particular specially crafted cut set, we suggest purchasing blades piecemeal.

Spending pick

Victorinox 4-Piece Knife Set with Fibrox Handles

Victorinox 4-Piece Knife Set with Fibrox Handles

A lightweight blade set for amateurs and masters

This modest yet sharp blade set is a decent alternative in case you're a starting cook and would prefer not to spend a great deal of cash. This set is likewise awesome for masters who require blades that can confront the rigors of a high-movement kitchen.

$127* from Amazon

*At the season of distributing, the cost was $120.

In case you're searching for a modest yet respectable set, we suggest the Victorinox 4-Piece Knife Set with Fibrox Handles. The stamped, high-carbon tempered steel cutting edges stayed more honed and held their edge superior to anything some other set we tried under $200. The Victorinox blades are lightweight and all around adjusted, while the Fibrox handles are agreeable to hold and give a decent grasp notwithstanding when wet. Despite the fact that this set needs shears, a sharpening steel, and a capacity square, it offers the most essential blades you'll require in the kitchen at a deal cost.

Overhaul pick

Messermeister Royale Elité 10-Piece Knife Block Set

Messermeister Royale Elité 10-Piece Knife Block Set

The cream of the yield

This great looking walnut-took care of blade set looks tantamount to it performs. It's expensive, however the blades are flawlessly created, consummately adjusted, and agreeable to hold.

$1,000 from Cutlery and that's only the tip of the iceberg

In case you're searching for a top of the line, genuinely unrivaled set, we prescribe the Messermeister Royale Elité 10-Piece Knife Block Set. The manufactured German cutting edges are greatly very much adjusted and sharp. In spite of the fact that they will require more successive sharpening than a portion of the Japanese blades we tried, they were much more strong than the various sets we attempted in this value run. This Messermeister set was one of the main sets we tried not to be jumbled by superfluous filler. Our analyzers found the smooth, ergonomic American-walnut handles a joy to hold, too. We're sure that this blade set will make a delightful and enduring expansion to any kitchen.

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The examination

Why you should confide in us

Who ought to get this

How we picked and tried

Our pick: Wüsthof Classic Ikon 7-Piece Walnut Block Knife Set

Defects however not dealbreakers

Spending pick: Victorinox 4-Piece Knife Set with Fibrox Handles

Redesign pick: Messermeister Royale Elité 10-Piece Knife Block Set

Care and upkeep

The opposition

Sources

Why you should confide in us

To increase some knowledge into which blades would be best for the normal home cook, we talked with gourmet specialist Brendan McDermott, a teacher at Kendall College in Chicago and the co-proprietor/bladesmith of Ravenswood Hand Forged. We additionally counseled with cook Joseph Simon, a teacher at the International Culinary Center (ICC), who tried the majority of our blade sets face to face. What's more, we requested that some Wirecutter staff members experiment with cut sets in our New York City test kitchen.

Gourmet specialist Joseph Smith, who is wearing a dark shirt, takes a gander at a culinary specialist's blade.

Cook Joseph Simon, an educator at the International Culinary Center, tried the majority of our blade sets in our New York City test kitchen.

Moreover, we analyzed surveys from Cook's Illustrated (membership required), Consumer Reports (membership required), and Cooking For Engineers. We additionally searched for cut sets at kitchen-supply stores, for example, Sur la Table and Williams-Sonoma. We scoured online blade dealers, for example, Cutlery and that's just the beginning, and we hunt down mainstream cut sets sold on Amazon.

Christine Cyr Clisset, who composed our unique blade set guide, has burned through many hours inquiring about and testing blade sets. Michael Sullivan, who added to our 2016 refresh, investigated more than 50 cut sets and tried 11 for this guide.

Who ought to get this

In case you're looking for a present for a wedding or a school graduation, you should seriously think about purchasing a blade set. In case you're setting up another kitchen out of the blue and uncertain of what blades you'll require, purchasing a set will cover the nuts and bolts. On the off chance that you officially possess an arrangement of blades that battle to keep up a sharp edge or have split handles, it's presumably time to redesign.

In case you're not into finding the ideal individual blades and simply need something that is sharp and cuts well, a set makes purchasing simple. In any case, if its all the same to you having blades with crisscrossed handles and lean toward a uniquely crafted gathering that suits your correct cooking needs, we prescribe purchasing blades piecemeal.

How we picked and tried

To decide the most basic blades for home cooks, we swung to gourmet expert Brendan McDermott, a teacher at Kendall College in Chicago. "I would recommend most home cooks have three or four blades," said McDermott. "Most fundamental is a gourmet expert's blade; that is the one you truly need to center around." (See Wirecutter's best decision in cook's blades.)

We accepted McDermott's recommendation and hunt down sets that had the most essential blades. We presumed that a decent set ought to incorporate the accompanying pieces:

A 8-inch gourmet expert's blade

A 3¼-to 3½-inch paring blade

A serrated blade (ideally 10 inches)

Force separated kitchen shears

A sharpening steel

A bit much, but rather helpful:

A littler, second gourmet expert's blade or santoku

A cutting blade

A 6-inch boning blade to separate chickens or different cuts of meat

Discovering sets that included what we considered the most vital blades was no simple errand. Most sets have extra blades as filler to influence them to appear to be more profitable. "90% of individuals don't realize what to do with each one of those blades," said McDermott. "They wind up getting a major square, and a large portion of the blades wind up gathering dust." Any increments, for example, the omnipresent utility blade, are sauce since they are all the more constraining and not as flexible as most different blades (be that as it may, they are unavoidable and quite often incorporated into square sets). We did our best to stay away from sets with loads of filler, including those containing steak blades. In our exploration, we found that most steak blades incorporated into sets are below average. You're in an ideal situation purchasing those independently to get your cash's worth (see our suggestions for the best steak blades).

Draw Quote

Discovering sets that included what we considered the most essential blades was no simple undertaking.

As per America's Test Kitchen (membership required), producers frequently hold back on the blades they incorporate into sets. A great case: Such sets normally offer a 8-inch bread cut, when a 10-inch one would be ideal (a 8-inch cut won't constantly cut over a rural nation portion). Producers do this to keep the general cost of the blade sets moderate. A few sets even incorporate suspiciously short gourmet specialist's blades for a similar reason.

Most vital, maybe, we searched for blades with sharp edges that could keep up their edge after consistent utilize. We likewise searched out blades that were agreeable to hold and felt very much adjusted between the handle and the sharp edge. The handle material, shape, and length likewise assumed a part in our basic leadership. Obviously, comfort is an emotional quality, and it's the motivation behind why specialists prescribe attempting blades face to face to see which ones feel best in your grasp.

A man looks at a blade with a heap of organic products out of sight.

Over every one of the blades we tried, we mulled over the handle material, shape, and length. Presented above is the Messermeister Royale Elité gourmet expert's blade.

Individuals much of the time banter the benefits of a full or half tang—the bit of metal that reaches out from the edge into the blade's handle, which can influence a blade's adjust. A solid handle goes the whole length of the handle yet just piece of the width, while a half (or push) tang has a considerably shorter expansion and is stuck into the handle. As opposed to mainstream thinking, notwithstanding, one isn't really superior to the next. We've examined tangs in detail in our manual for the best cook's blade, at the end of the day settling on blades with a full or half tang boils down to individual inclination. We tried blades with both full and half tangs for this refresh.

To enable winnow to down our choice, we tried just those sets with half-reinforce culinary specialist blades. (The support is the metal sleeve situated between the cutting edge and the handle, which goes about as a stabilizer for heavier blade edges.) In our experience testing gourmet specialist's blades, we've discovered that a half reinforce takes into account less demanding honing, while a full support just keeps you from honing the full length of the blade.

Blades are either fashioned or stamped, yet one technique isn't really superior to the next. (The two techniques can create high-or low-quality blades; for additional, see our manual for cook's blades.) A produced cut, which is beat from a bit of steel, has a tendency to be substantial and typically composed with a support. A stamped cut, which is cut from a sheet of steel, weighs less and as a rule does not have a support. Which compose you lean toward may just come down to whether you need a heavier or lighter blade. We included both manufactured and stamped edges in our most recent gathering.

cut sets-display 3-testing-adjust

We assessed the handles of the considerable number of blades we tried to perceive that they were so agreeable to hold and on the off chance that they were the proper length for a great many people.
cut set-adjust wufthoff-gif

A gif of a man adjusting a blade on their finger.

We tried the gourmet specialist's blades in each set to check whether they were handle-overwhelming, sharp edge substantial, or equitably adjusted. Indicated are the Wüsthof Classic Ikon (top) and the Messermeister Royale Elité (base).

Force Quote

We tried blade sets by assessing the general sharpness of the blade edges.

For sets that included utility blades, we utilized them to cut apples and cut orange fragments. For sets that accompanied a blade square, we verified whether the blades slid effortlessly into and out of their openings without catching.

Our pick: Wüsthof Classic Ikon 7-Piece Walnut Block Knife Set

Wüsthof Classic Ikon 7 cut set in a wooden square.

The Wüsthof Classic Ikon 7-Piece is our pick for the best blade set.

Our pick

Wüsthof Classic Ikon 7-Piece Walnut Block Knife Set

Wüsthof Classic Ikon 7-Piece Walnut Block Knife Set

The best universally handy blade set

This great looking set incorporates the most helpful blades for home-kitchen use, in addition to pull-separated kitchen shears, a sharpening steel, and a capacity square. We're certain that these tough, sharp blades will give long periods of utilization.

$380 from Williams-Sonoma

$400 from Amazon

The best blade set for home cooks is the Wüsthof Classic Ikon 7-Piece Walnut Block Knife Set. The blades in this set were the most keen contrasted and all the others we tried in this value go. Since the Classic Ikon blades are to a great degree sturdy, they can take more manhandle in your kitchen. The ergonomic blade handles gave a better hold next than those blades with smooth handles, which ended up elusive when wet. Not at all like most sets, the Classic Ikon set accompanies the most essential and helpful blades without a great deal of superfluous filler. What's more, the nice looking walnut square gives this set a great look that will fit the stylish of any kitchen.

Six bits of a blade set arranged on a wooden surface.

The Wüsthof Classic Ikon 7-Piece set incorporates (from left to right) a 3½-inch paring blade, a 8-inch culinary specialist's blade, a 8-inch serrated bread cut, a sharpening steel, a 6-inch utility blade, and force separated kitchen shears.

The Wüsthof Classic Ikon set accompanies a 15-opening walnut square (additionally accessible in different completions), pull-separated kitchen shears, a sharpening steel, and four blades: a 3½-inch paring blade, a 6-inch utility blade, a 8-inch gourmet expert's blade, and a 8-inch serrated bread cut. Despite the fact that a portion of the Japanese blades we tried were more honed (and twofold the value), the Classic Ikon cuts still cut with magnificent exactness and appeared to be more sturdy than the opposition. Cook Joseph Simon, a culinary teacher at the International Culinary Center, noticed the weight of the Classic Ikon cuts and stated, "They're solid, they will keep going forever, they will keep an edge, and they will be anything but difficult to hone."

Draw Quote

"They're tough, they will keep going forever, they will keep an edge, and they will be anything but difficult to hone."— Joseph Simon, gourmet specialist and ICC educator

In spite of the fact that the Wüsthof Classic Ikon set is weighted more in the handle than the sharp edge, our analyzers still observed the blades to be an agreeable weight. Among every one of the sets we tried, this present set's grippy POM (polyoxymethylene) handles were likewise the most effortless to hold. The ergonomic state of the handles gave more help than the wide, round handles on the Shun Classic blades, which a portion of our analyzers with littler hands observed to be too long and wide.

A closeup take a gander at a the handle of a Wusthof Classic blade.

The Wüsthof Classic Ikon set's grippy POM (polyoxymethylene) handles were the most straightforward to hold out of the considerable number of sets we tried.

The culinary specialist's blade, a joy to hold, shook easily while cleaving carrots and onions, which wasn't the situation with the straighter midsections on the Shun gourmet expert's blades we tried. We favored the length of the Wüsthof Classic Ikon's 3½-inch paring blade over the Wüsthof Gourmet set's 4-inch paring blade, as it gave our analyzers better command over unpredictable assignments, for example, peeling apples and mincing shallots. In spite of the fact that we by and large don't care for utility blades (their size makes them all the more constraining and not as flexible as most different blades), we were amazed to locate the Classic Ikon utility blade to be a perfect size for errands like fragmenting oranges and cutting cheddar. The force separated kitchen shears felt agreeable to hold and floated through material, dissimilar to the shears in the Global 10-Piece Knife Block Set, which caught over and again while cutting.

A man utilizes a gourmet expert's blade to cut a squash.

Despite the fact that the Wüsthof Classic Ikon culinary specialist's blade is on the heavier side, we like it since it was solid and sufficiently strong to slice through butternut squash in our tests.

The square has additional openings for both kitchen and steak blades, which permits you plentiful space to develop your gathering. The square is just around 4½ inches wide, smaller than most squares we tried, so it consumes up less space on your counter. This littler square is perfect for individuals with small kitchens or restricted counter space.

Force Quote

The square has additional openings for both kitchen and steak blades, which permits you adequate space to develop your accumulation.

We've beforehand prescribed the Wüsthof Classic Ikon gourmet expert's blade, and we utilize it frequently in our test kitchen. A few people on the Wirecutter staff possess blades from this set, and they say that the blades have kept their edge and performed well for quite a long time. The majority of the blades in this set accompany a constrained lifetime guarantee. This implies Wüsthof will supplant the blades in case of an assembling shortcoming, not for consistent wear and tear or ill-advised utilize (thus, you know, no blade tossing). On the off chance that you experience any issues, contact Wüsthof for a substitution.

Imperfections however not dealbreakers

The main frail connection in this set is the 8-inch serrated bread cut. We'd incline toward several additional inches, which would influence slicing through a wide nation to daydream in one smooth stroke simpler. All things considered, the Wüsthof Classic Ikon's 8-inch bread cut is sharp and takes care of business.

Gourmet specialist Joseph Simon said he wished this set incorporated a marginally longer steel. Additionally, a portion of our analyzers noticed that the steel's handle doesn't coordinate whatever is left of the blade handles in the set (however some of them favored that it didn't coordinate, since it emerged and was less demanding to recognize).

Spending pick: Victorinox 4-Piece Knife Set with Fibrox Handles

The four bits of the Victorinox cut set arranged on a wooden surface.

The Victorinox 4-Piece Knife Set with Fibrox Handles is an incredible spending choice that incorporates (from left to right) a 4-inch paring blade, a 10¼-inch serrated bread cut, a 6-inch utility blade, and a 8-inch gourmet expert's blade.

Spending pick

Victorinox 4-Piece Knife Set with Fibrox Handles

Victorinox 4-Piece Knife Set with Fibrox Handles

A lightweight blade set for apprentices and stars

This modest however sharp blade set is a pleasant alternative in case you're a starting cook and would prefer not to spend a great deal of cash. This set is additionally incredible for masters who require blades that can confront the rigors of a high-movement kitchen.

$127* from Amazon

*At the season of distributing, the cost was $120.

The reasonable Victorinox 4-Piece Knife Set with Fibrox Handles makes an awesome set for the two fledglings and stars since anybody can utilize these blades, they'll get destroyed, and they're more honed than most rivals in this value extend. These Victorinox blades are agreeable to hold, lightweight, and very much adjusted. Despite the fact that this set does exclude a blade square, kitchen shears, or a sharpening steel, it remains an awesome starter set with demonstrated life span.

Incorporated into the Victorinox Fibrox set are four blades with high-carbon hardened steel edges: a 4-inch paring blade, a 6-inch utility blade, a 8-inch gourmet specialist's blade, and a 10¼-inch serrated bread cut. At first look these blades may look and feel shabby, yet don't be misled by their light weight and chunkier handles: These blades were more keen than the ones in the Mercer Culinary Renaissance 6-Piece Forged Knife Block Set, which was about $40 more costly at the time we checked. Culinary educators Brendan McDermott and Joseph Simon both disclosed to us that the collective blades most ace kitchens utilize are ordinarily Victorinox Fibrox blades. Simon stated, "On the off chance that I was working in an eatery, this is the set I'd need to have, in light of the fact that it's anything but difficult to hone and can get destroyed."

The gourmet specialist's blade is lightweight and very much adjusted, so our hands didn't tire in the wake of cleaving with it for quite a while. While the culinary specialist's blade cut paper-thin cuts of apple and hacked onions effortlessly, our analyzers experienced some obstruction while cleaving expansive, sinewy carrots. Cook's Illustrated (membership required) incorporates the Victorinox Fibrox gourmet expert's blade in its picks for a financial plan individually cut set.

Force Quote

"On the off chance that I was working in an eatery, this is the set I'd need to have, in light of the fact that it's anything but difficult to hone and can get hammered."— Joseph Simon, gourmet specialist and ICC teacher

This set additionally incorporates our pick for the best serrated blade, which at 10¼ inches is the longest of all the bread blades we tried and therefore equipped for making the most effortless slices through wide nation portions. "I adore the serrated [knife] in light of the fact that it has a pleasant bend and the teeth aren't colossal. I adore this blade. Continuously have, dependably will," said Simon.

Likewise with different sets, the Victorinox Fibrox utility blade was decent for littler undertakings, for example, cutting apples, cheddar cuts, or orange sections.

The principle disadvantage to this set is the state of the paring blade, which has a sensational bend toward the tip of the sharp edge. We found that the bended tip expects you to hold the blade at a somewhat cumbersome upward edge while mincing shallots. Notwithstanding, Simon called attention to that the state of the paring blade could enable it to serve as a little boning blade. He let us know, "This is my most loved blade for boning.
Upgrade pick: Messermeister Royale Elité 10-Piece Knife Block Set
A Messermeister Royale elite knife set in a wooden knife block.
The beautifully crafted Messermeister Royale Elité 10-Piece Knife Block Set is pricey, but the knives are sharp, perfectly balanced, and comfortable to hold.
Upgrade pick
Messermeister Royale Elité 10-Piece Knife Block Set
Messermeister Royale Elité 10-Piece Knife Block Set
The cream of the crop
This handsome walnut-handled knife set looks as good as it performs. It’s pricey, but the knives are beautifully crafted, perfectly balanced, and comfortable to hold.

$1,000 from Cutlery and More
If you’re looking for a truly superior knife set, we recommend the handsome Messermeister Royale Elité 10-Piece Knife Block Set. Made from high-quality German steel, the forged Messermeister knives are very sharp, and they tackled every type of chopping task we attempted with precision and ease. Since these knives are perfectly balanced between the handle and the blade, they had the most comfortable weight among all the sets we tested. The beautifully crafted ergonomic walnut handles provide a firm grip and are a pleasure to hold. Unlike most knife sets, the Messermeister Royale Elité set is one of the few that aren’t plagued by a lot of filler. We’re confident that with this deep, rich walnut block knife set, you’ll have exceptional knives that will last for years to come.

Pull Quote
Messermeister knives are very sharp, and they tackled every type of chopping task we attempted with precision and ease.

The Messermeister Royale Elité set includes a 17-slot knife block, pull-apart kitchen shears, a 10-inch steel, a carving fork, and six knives: a 3½-inch paring knife, a 6-inch utility knife, a 7-inch santoku, an 8-inch chef’s knife, a 9-inch bread knife, and an 8-inch carving knife. This set was the only one we tested that included a proper carving knife and fork. The 7-inch santoku is a great addition to this set, and it’ll come in handy if two cooks want to chop and prepare several ingredients at the same time. Chef Joseph Simon, who tested all of our knife sets in person, said, “The [Messermeister] knives are extremely well-balanced and comfortable. They’re the perfect weight. I think this knife set is more practical for the home cook.”
The Messermeister Royale Elite knife set lined up on a wooden surface.
The Messermeister Royale Elité set includes (from left to right) a 3½-inch paring knife, a 6-inch utility knife, a 7-inch santoku, an 8-inch chef’s knife, a 9-inch bread knife, a 10-inch steel, an 8-inch carving knife, a carving fork, and pull-apart kitchen shears.
The Messermeister knives are extremely sharp, though some of our testers said they were slightly resistant when cutting through large, fibrous carrots in comparison with the Shun and Miyabi knives. However, we’ve read reviews indicating that the Shun knives we tested chip easily if not treated delicately, since they’re made from super-hard steel. The Messermeister blades, in contrast, are thicker and have a softer steel, which makes them more durable. But this means they won’t hold an edge quite as long as most Japanese-style knives and will require more frequent sharpening. That said, if you have kids and they like to help out in the kitchen, you won’t have to worry about whether the Messermeister knives will hold up under some abuse.

Our testers found that the chef’s knife cut through onions easily and had a nice curve to the blade, which was more convenient for chopping than that of the corresponding Shun knife. The Messermeister paring knife is lightweight and the perfect size for small hand tasks such as peeling or mincing shallots.

The Messermeister bread knife was one of the sharpest serrated blades we tested, and at 9 inches it’s longer than most other bread knives typically found in sets. The serrated blade provides excellent precision and cuts paper-thin slices of bread without breaking off too much crust. Chef Simon told us, “The [Messermeister] serrated bread knife is actually sharper than the Shun bread knives. It cuts right through a tomato.”

Because the Messermeister shears are razor-sharp, they glide through parchment paper with ease. While the all-metal shears aren’t as comfy as the plastic-handled shears in the Wüsthof Classic Ikon set, they are more aesthetically pleasing.

A look at a Messermeister Royale Elite walnut knife handle.
To avoid damage, be sure to dry the American-walnut handles on the Messermeister Royale Elité knives after washing.
Since the handles on these knives are American walnut, you’ll need to treat them with care. Simon said, “I think the handles could damage easily, especially if left in water to soak for a long time.” As with all knives, never put these through a dishwasher, which can warp and crack the wood or damage the blade. Dry the knives immediately after washing them.

Among all the sets we tested, the Messermeister knife block was the most narrow. Since the block is smaller, some of our testers thought the knife slots were arranged too closely, causing the knife handles to appear crowded. If you have a small kitchen, however, we think the crowded handles aren’t a dealbreaker since the block occupies less space on a kitchen counter. Our testers also noted that the kitchen shears fit loosely in their designated slot, but this is only a minor issue.

An above view of a Messermeister Royale Elité knife set.
One drawback to the Messermeister Royale Elité set is that the knife slots are positioned close to one another.
We did notice that one of the tines on the carving fork was slightly dull, but we’re willing to assume this was a manufacturing flaw and not a consistent issue with this set. The Messermeister knives have a limited lifetime guarantee; if you encounter problems, contact Messermeister for returns or replacements.

If you don’t want to drop a chunk of change all at once, you can buy many of the pieces in this set individually (or in smaller sets) at stores such as Williams-Sonoma. Messermeister sells four styles of knives within the Elité collection: Royale, Meridian, Oliva, and San Moritz. The steel blades in all of these collections are the same; the only differences are in the handle material and the length of the tang (the Meridian knives have full tangs, while the knives in the other sets have three-quarter tangs). Keep in mind that the kitchen shears, knife blocks, and knives included in each set will vary depending on the style of the collection you choose. We think the 10-piece Royale Elité set is the most handsome and the best of the bunch.

Care and maintenance
Regardless of how much money you spend on a set of knives, practicing good knife maintenance will keep them sharper and help them last longer.

You can find a lot of debate about the best way to store your knives. Some people say a magnetic strip is best, while others swear by a wood block. Both methods can be good for storing knives, as long as you’re using them properly.

According to Kendall College instructor Brendan McDermott, magnetic strips can be great if you have a small kitchen, but you should never place the edge of a knife blade against the strip, or you might bend the edge (always place the dull spine of the knife against the strip). Likewise, a wood block can keep your knives tidy; just don’t ding the knives’ edges against the wood. McDermott also recommends using simple plastic or wood sheaths. Each sleeve goes directly over a blade, and you can then store the knife in a regular cutlery drawer. In-drawer knife blocks, such as this one, are also great for storing knives and don’t take up space on a counter.

McDermott recommends using cutting boards made from softer materials, such as wood, which won’t dull your blades (at least, not so quickly). He says to avoid cutting on boards made of glass, ceramic, or plastic. The exception to this rule is when you’re working with raw meat; you should always use a plastic board for that task, so you can easily disinfect it in the dishwasher or with a bleach solution. (See Wirecutter’s top choices in cutting boards.)

When it comes to washing knives, never put them in the dishwasher. The high heat and detergents in a dishwasher can compromise the blade and cause wooden handles to loosen or crack over time. (Sharp blades may also cut through the plastic coating of your dish rack, potentially causing rust.) Always hand-wash knives and dry them promptly to prevent rust from building up on the blade. Along the same lines, you should never leave a knife in the sink to wash later or submerge it in water—not only do you risk dulling the blade this way, but doing so is a safety hazard.

No matter how nice your knives are, if you don’t sharpen them, they won’t do you much good. Most home cooks can get by with sharpening their knives professionally about once or twice a year. Unless you’re a particularly experienced knife sharpener with a whetstone or grinder, you’ll probably just take the edge off your knife if you try it yourself. If you’re determined to sharpen your knives at home, check out our picks for the best sharpening tool. Remember, the honing steel that comes with a knife set is really meant only to tune up your knives by taking sharp blades and straightening out the little bends in the edges that develop after regular use.

For more information on knife care and honing technique, see our guide to the best chef’s knife.

The competition
If you prefer Japanese-style knives, the Miyabi Artisan SG2 Collection 7-Piece Knife Block Set is the way to go. Chef Joseph Simon praised this set for its well-balanced, razor-sharp knives. Some of our testers with smaller hands, however, complained that the handles were too wide. Also, this set’s thin blades are more delicate than those of the Messermeister Royale Elité or Wüsthof Classic Ikon sets, so you have to treat them with care.

We used to recommend the Wüsthof Classic 8-Piece Knife Set with Block, but we found the full bolster made sharpening difficult. We also preferred the grippy handles on the Wüsthof Classic Ikon set more than the smooth handles on this set.

The Tojiro DP 6-piece Knife Block Set contains sharp knives, but some of our testers hit their knuckles when chopping with the chef’s knife. We also found the sheep’s-foot paring knife to be awkward for most small cutting tasks. The set is now unavailable.

Although the Global 10-Piece Knife Block Set is very sharp, it has a lot of filler knives that we thought weren’t especially useful for the home cook. This set was polarizing for our testers, mostly due to the metal handles, which can become slippery when wet and difficult to hold.

The knives in the Shun Kaji 8-Piece Knife Block Set are finely crafted and razor-sharp, but our testers found the handles to be too heavy and long for home use. The blades are also more delicate and not as durable as the ones in the Messermeister Royale Elité set.

The items in the Shun Classic 9-Piece Knife Block Set have lighter handles than those in the Shun Kaji set, but some of our testers found these knives to be too large and long for cooks with smaller hands. The Shun Classic chef’s knife requires a bit of a learning curve because it requires a back-and-forth sliding motion when you’re slicing, versus the rocking motion most people are familiar with when using German knives.

The Wüsthof Legende 7-Piece Knife Block Set had sharp blades, but the pebbled thermoplastic handles looked and felt cheap. Our testers preferred sets with heavier, more durable handles.

The Mercer Culinary Renaissance 6-Piece Forged Knife Block Set is a decent beginner option, but our testers weren’t fans of the glass knife block, which many of them said resembled an ant farm. Some of our testers own Mercer knives and told us they dull more quickly and require frequent sharpening.

The Wüsthof Gourmet 2-Piece Prep Set includes a paring knife that we thought was a little long, making hand work such as peeling apples more difficult. Our testers preferred the shorter paring knife blade in the Wüsthof Classic Ikon set.