Best knife set: reviews of knife blocks for every kitchen

The best knife set will be used in your kitchen each and every single day. It’s not a purchase to make lightly, as you can only really tell the quality of a knife after prolonged use to see how well the blades last. That’s why I’ve taken up the job of reviewing the best knife sets on the market from the likes of Ninja and HexClad to bring you my thoughts.

I’ve also covered the best chef’s knives in a separate guide, which will be a great all-rounder in your kitchen for chopping veggies or carving meat. These come individually though, and often the best knife sets will come with a chef’s knife included, alongside a bread knife, paring knife, Santoku knife, and much more.

Below, I’ve covered the best knife sets you can buy for your money on the market right now. That includes premium sets that come in stylish blocks, and loose knives that have safety covers to keep them stored safely in your drawers, as well as blocks with sharpeners built-in.

The quick list

Best knife set overall

I’d heard whispers about how good this knife block was but I didn’t really believe it until I tried it for myself. Just a few weeks into having it in my kitchen, and noticed a serious improvement in the ease of cutting, and that new-knife feeling didn’t let up. That’s because this Ninja set features an integrated sharpener (which couldn’t be easier to use), which you simply pop your blades into every two weeks.

It makes following the golden rule of knife ownership according to chef’s very easy, which is to keep your knives sharp at all costs. At least, that’s what they told me when I asked them how much we should be spending on our kitchen knives.

So you have maintenance built-in here. That’s without getting into how fantastic the knives are themselves with a well-balanced feel in your hands and a great variety of different blades. The chef’s knife is my standout favourite.

What’s more, if 5 knives isn’t enough for you, then you can pick up a version of this product but with more choice – there’s even a 14-piece set (£249.99 at Ninja).

The quality combined with the integrated sharpener here means that I reckon this is the best knife set for most people, though I can see why some would be put off by putting this out on their worktop as it’s very bulky.

Best value knife set

If you want to spend less than £100 and still get hold of a quality knife set for your kitchen, the way to do it is to pick Joseph Joseph. The set I tested is the Elevate 5-Piece set, which has an RRP of £70, but if you want a Santoku knife as part of your collection, the 6-Piece is available for less than £100.

I love so many things about this set: the fact that it’s slim enough to fit in a cutlery drawer, the integrated sharpener and the colour coded handles for starters. But don’t think just because this set is more affordable that its lacking in quality. It’s crafted from Japanese steel and the handles (while lightweight in design) still feel pleasant in your hand as you slice.

This set isn’t as weighty as the Ninja at #1 and lacks the same shininess, but it’s an essential that will still tick all of your boxes if you’re on a budget.

Best high-end knife set

If money was no object, I’d buy a set of these HexClad knives for everyone I know. They’re really that impressive, with the stunning jade green handle crafted from pakkawood and 67 layers of Japanese Damascus steel to slice through even the toughest vegetables.

HexClad might be better known for pans, but these knives are a true standout offering. Once I got the Santoku knife from this set in my hand, there was simply nothing else I wanted to use every time I went to cook. It’s my favourite iteration of knives in any set too: the Chef’s knife is perfect for dealing with meat and the paring knife also gets a lot of use for minor jobs.

This set doesn’t feature a block, but you can buy one to go alongside from HexClad – a magnetic walnut slab no less! (£99 from HexClad). If you love the look of these knives as much as I do but the price-tag is way above what you can pay, I’d most recommend the Santoku blade which is just perfect for everyday (£89 at HexClad).

Best knife set with wooden block

The Robert Welch Signature Book Oak Wood Filled Knife Block is a brilliant choice for any kitchen. It’s stylish and expensive, but I think it’s more than worth the money. The unique book block design is eye-catching, and will sit flush against kitchen walls without taking up too much space – perfect for those without the largest kitchen.

As with most high-quality knives, you’ll have to wash this set by hand. It comes with a carving knife (23cm), bread knife (22cm), cook’s knife (18cm), santoku knife (11cm), kitchen knife (14cm), and vegetable/paring knife (10cm). There’s a knife for every task, from carving meat to slicing baguettes, and the handles are ergonomic and make chopping pretty enjoyable.

Best knife set with scissors

I think Zwilling makes some of the best saucepan sets and best non-stick frying pans on the market, but the brand is perhaps best known for its knife blocks. The Zwilling Pro 7 Piece Ash Self Sharpening Knife Block is forged from special stainless steel in Germany. It has five knives: 1 larding / garnishing knife (10 cm/61 g), 1 universal knife (13 cm/66 g), 1 meat knife (16 cm/128 g), 1 chef’s knife (20 cm/214 g), and 1 bread knife (20 cm/135 g). There are also some multi-purpose scissors (21 cm) which have their own slot in the self-sharpening block.

The block itself is hardy without looking harsh. It is quite big, so set aside a bit of space to store it. It’s self-sharpening too, with V-edge sharpeners in each knife slot apart from the serrated knife. The handles are plastic, but they’re very grippy and are perfectly sized for your hands. Again, these are handwash recommended, but they’ll last a lifetime.

Best affordable knife set

I love a good knife block, but if you don’t have the space for one (or you already have one and want a new set to expand your collection) this Zyliss Comfort 6 Piece Knife Set will serve you well. There are six knives in total: an 18.5cm chef’s knife, 18.5cm Santoku knife, 13cm utility knife, 10.5cm serrated paring knife, 8.5cm inch paring knife, and 6.5cm inch peeling knife. Each comes with a cover that slides right on.

Unlike any of the best knife sets we’ve mentioned so far, the Zyliss Comfort 6 Piece Knife Set is dishwasher-safe. It’s also covered for five years by a manufacturer’s guarantee. These knives are made of Japanese steel and thoughtfully designed with a finger guide on the blade to hold the knife with balance, as well as a finger indent on the handle. And how could I include this set and not mention the price? For £50.00 (RRP) it’s a total steal given the quality.

Best knife set for safety features

With a 20cm chef knife, 20cm bread knife, 20cm carving knife, 12.5cm utility knife, and 9cm paring knife, this knife set is pretty unconventional. It has a block with fibre rods that will store your knives safely, no matter where you place them. Another thing that stets it apart is the safety squared tip, which will mean that your knife doesn’t have a point at the end. It will still cut brilliantly, and they’re a little shorter because of this.

I really enjoyed testing these knives thanks to the non-stick coating on the blades, which matches the ergonomic soft-touch handles and black storage block. This block is also pretty compact, and we think it would be great for students, casual cooks, or those on a budget.

How I reviewed the best knife sets

As Ideal Home’s Kitchen Appliances Editor, I had the task of reviewing each and every one of the best knife sets in this guide hands-on. It was no hardship, as I absolutely love cooking and digging into the features of different knives and knife brands. I used every block my own kitchen for months to give every knife set a fair shot.

There’s only one way to review knives, and that’s to use them. I chopped tricky items like butternut squash, mango, pineapple, meat, and more when testing, making sure that each knife block was integrated into everyday life.

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Things I took into account included the experience of holding the knives, the look and layout of the knife block, the style and dimensions, the cleaning process, and the sharpness over a prolonged period of time.

FAQs

What to know when shopping for the best knife set

Is it ok to put knives in the dishwasher?

Nobody knows knives like the pros, which is why we spote to Wilson, Product Specialist at Robert Welch, to ask for top tips on how to shop for and look after knives. There’s no denying that putting things in the dishwasher is a lot easier than hand-washing, but most knives need to be washed by hand. Robert Welch’s Product Specialist told us “I always say good quality knives are like owning a Rolls Royce, you wouldn’t want to put it through a car wash. Kitchen knives can be easily rinsed after use and dried for maintaining the edge. Placing knives in the dishwasher is not terribly detrimental but will have an effect.

Firstly any contact of the blade in loading and unloading the dishwasher can damage the fine edge or at least dull it slightly, the fact that ALL kitchen knives are hardened means they are naturally magnetic meaning any NON stainless steel items in your dishwasher such as cast iron pans, sieves, utensils etc can cause rust migration. That’s when microscopic particles of non stainless steel metals fly around the dishwasher and are attracted to the knives surface which will oxidise in the humid conditions and cause rust marks. These can be polished off but then if you are going to do that you may as well have washed it by hand.”

How can I extend the life of my kitchen knife set?

When shopping for a kitchen knife set, it’s possible that you’ll be spending upwards of £200, so it’s worth knowing how best to care for your knives to help them last. “Store them correctly, minimising all contact with the blade. Our Robert Welch book block” (the one we tried and loved) “saves space and allows your knives to hang without there ever being a chance of contact with the blade edge.”

What knives do I need for everyday cooking?

“If you would have only one knife in the kitchen you would want it to be a Chef’s knife (also known as a Cook’s knife) whichever size is comfortable for you, Chef’s knives have a straight enough blade to satisfy the choppers and the curved front edge works for those of you who are rockers.

If you were having two knives you’d want the second to be some sort of paring knife, the Robert Welch Signature 8cm is my most favoured knife, great for peeling, turning vegetable and for all fruit and salad preparation.

The third knife I feel is a personal choice, if you eat a lot of home-cooked bread then a bread knife is a good shout, but if you cook a roast every week you’d be better off with a carving knife. This is great for large or small roasts, but excellent for slicing cakes and bakes too as well as large fish prep like whole salmons.”

How do I prevent my knives from rusting?

We spoke to the experts at Viners to find out how to prevent kitchen knives from rusting. “It is important to care for your knives properly and the best way to prevent rust spotting is to avoid moisture sitting on the blade for long periods of time. There are several tips to consider:

1. After washing your knife, dry the piece straight away before placing back into storage.
2. Avoid leaving your knives to dry naturally.
3. Avoid cleaning your knives in the dishwasher, as they remain in the water longer then when hand washing, this helps maintain a longer life span.”