Best Kitchen Knife and Sharpener

Whether you’re a seasoned chopper or a practical chef, there is a kitchen knife to suit any culinary need. We’ve even included some sharpeners on our list so you don’t have to worry about your knife going dull.

Best Butcher Knife

4.7/5
XYJ Forging Serbian Chef Knife Kitchen Knife with Full Tang Handle Leather Sleeves
【XYJ Brand】Started in 1986, XYJ knives feature high quality, exceptional sharpness, simple design, great balance and good practicality. Following ergonomics and mechanical levers principles, we greatly improve customers’ cutting experience. XYJ knives are terrific all-rounders designed for climbing, fishing, outdoors, kitchen cooking, etc. A practical knife designed for various tasks, and get your job done quickly. XYJ amazing go-to knife, explore your journey now!
# of Reviews: 7100+

Best Paring Knife

4.8/5
Victorinox 4-Inch Swiss Classic Paring Knife with Straight Blade, Spear Point, Black
Multipurpose straight edge paring knife designed for garnishing, mincing, peeling, slicing and dicing with razor sharp, laser-tested, tapered knife edge, which is ground to form an exacting angle to hold a sharp edge longer and ensure maximum cutting performance and durability
# of Reviews: 7170+

Best Kitchen Knife Set

4.7/5
Cuisinart C77SS-15PK 15-Piece Stainless Steel Hollow Handle Block Set
Superior high carbon stainless steel blades for precision and accuracy
# of Reviews: 16000+

Best Kitchen Knife Sharpening Steel

4.4/5
Kota Japan 12 in. Diamond Carbon Steel Professional Knife Sharpener Rod
DIAMOND ELECTOPLATING: State-of-the-art manufacturing for precision Kitchen, Home or Hunting blade sharpening. Ensures efficient and sharp sharpening of dull knives and tools.
# of Reviews: 4380+

Best Kitchen Knife Sharpening Stone

4.5/5
Knife Sharpening Stone – Dual Sided 400/1000 Grit Water Stone
DUAL SIDED WHETSTONE – Made from durable silicon carbide, this two-sided sharpening block comes with both a 400-grit side, used for returning edges to their original shape, and a 1000-grit side used for smoothing and polishing cutting edge
# of Reviews: 4680+

Are all kitchen knives the same?

The chef’s knife

If you could only have one knife in your kitchen, this is the one you should choose. It has the most versatile range of uses in the kitchen. The chef’s knife can cut meat, dice vegetables, and slice herbs amongst other uses.

The utility knife

You may hear people refer to this knife as the sandwich knife. It is straight edged and as the name suggests is great for doing things like slicing bagels, meat, and of course, sandwiches. While it’s not great for cutting that requires nitty gritty detail, it’s a good one to have on hand for practical needs.

The paring knife

The paring knife is all about the details. It is a small knife with a short blade that is ideal for precisely peeling and cutting small fruits and herbs.

The carving or slicing knife

The carving knife is for the confident cutters and carvers. That’s because it is typically a longer and larger knife. They have long thin blades that make filleting fish or carving meat easier.

What makes a great kitchen knife?

Blade shape

Different blade shapes have different purposes when it comes to cutting. There are flatter blades or “Japanese blades”  and curved blades or “German blades.” Flat, thin blades make slicing easier. Curved blades are great for using rocking cutting motion.

Blade material

Stainless steel and high-carbon steel are the mostly common materials for a knife’s blade. Stainless steel is durable but will not maintain as sharp an edge over time. High-carbon steel has a very sharp edge but is more prone to wearing and rusting.

Comfort

When you’re cutting, your knuckles or fingers should never interfere with the cutting board. This means that the type of handle should correspond with the size and shape of the blade. Overall, the knife should feel comfortable to hold. Weight is something that you may want to take into consideration when addressing comfort. Lighter knives tend to be easier to wield.

Accessories are key

Cutting board

People say you can’t cook without a cutting board. Cutting boards protect your countertop from a knife’s knicks and scratches. Most people don’t realize it, but the right kind of cutting board prevents a knife from going too dull too soon. The best cutting boards are big, wooden or bamboo, and don’t slide while you cut.

Knife holder

While a knife holder isn’t 100 percent necessary, it does serve a great purpose. Your knives don’t have to be in the mix with your other utensils in a drawer. They keep the kitchen in tidy condition. Knife holders also ensure the sharp utensils are away from the kids. We love blocks and magnetic stands for their appealing aesthetic.

How to sharpen a kitchen knife (Step by Step Guide)

Whether you’re using a stone or other sharpening tool for your knife, there is a simple protocol you should follow:

  1. If you’re using a whetstone that requires soaking, submerge it in water for 10 minutes
  2. Hold the knife at a 20 degree angle and swipe it across the stone on either side
  3. If your stone has two sides, start on the coarse sides if your knife is especially dull
  4. Repeat on the fine side until sharp

Best Butcher Knife

This is the knife that can handle anything from daily cooking needs to heavy duty kitchen tasks. The knife has handle and blade integration for durability. The ergonomic handle of the knife has a non-slip effect for maximum comfort. As an added bonus, the knife comes with a leather sleeve for both beautiful and safe storage.

Am impressive service life

Workers manually sharpen these knives using natural knife grinders from Mount Emei. It outlives most other knives in terms of its sharpness.

RR Rating:
4.7/5
# of Reviews: 7100+
◘ 【Muli-purpose&High Quality Cleaver】This butcher chef knife is forged made of high-manganese steel, it is design with a V-shaped fine processing blade and ergonomic full tang handle, which can prevent the blade comfortable to grip and non-slip effect, it has a great fit in your hand. It is suitable for cutting meat, fish, vegetable, fruits or any other your favourite foods except bones. You can finish your daily kitchen cutting work and be always in your element by using it.
◘ 【XYJ Brand】Started in 1986, XYJ knives feature high quality, exceptional sharpness, simple design, great balance and good practicality. Following ergonomics and mechanical levers principles, we greatly improve customers’ cutting experience. XYJ knives are terrific all-rounders designed for climbing, fishing, outdoors, kitchen cooking, etc. A practical knife designed for various tasks, and get your job done quickly. XYJ amazing go-to knife, explore your journey now!
◘ 【Handmade Forging Technology】The knives are sharpened manually by workers with more than 30 years of experience by using natural knife grinder. Compared with kitchen knives made with mechanical means, this knives has a longer service life. A high-quality forged kitchen knife is made by quenching-hammering-tempering-clamping steel-hammer-quenching-tempering and other continuous cycle operations.

Best Paring Knife

This is the knife you want to go for if you’re looking for accuracy and precision. The straight-edge blade with a tapered edge is great for garnishing, mincing, peeling, slicing, and dicing. The short blade is ideal for precision. The grip is a Swiss Classic Handle for easy use.

Designed with professionals in mind

These knives have been made in Switzerland since 1884. They have a lifetime warranty so it will serve your cutting needs for the long haul.

RR Rating:
4.8/5
# of Reviews: 7170+
◘ Expertly crafted in Switzerland since 1884; designed for professionals who use knives all day, every day; lifetime warranty against defects in material and workmanship
◘ Multipurpose straight edge paring knife designed for garnishing, mincing, peeling, slicing and dicing with razor sharp, laser-tested, tapered knife edge, which is ground to form an exacting angle to hold a sharp edge longer and ensure maximum cutting performance and durability
◘ The ergonomically designed Swiss Classic handle is inspired by our professional Fibrox Pro line and provides a sure grip and easy handling, even when wet
◘ Featuring a short blade for enhanced accuracy and precision, this paring knife is optimally built for jobs where control is essential. Handle material - Polypropylene (PP)

Best Kitchen Knife Set

This ones for those who want all the works. The 15 piece set is complete with lightweight knives for slicing, carving, and chopping. While it’s a heftier investment, it comes with all you need. It even includes six steak knives for your next dinner party.

Comfort and support

The knives have a bolster for control and an ergonomically designed stainless steel handle for comfort.

RR Rating:
4.7/5
# of Reviews: 16000+
◘ Easy to clean and precision-tapered ground blades that narrow gradually to an extremely sharp, fine edge
◘ Superior high carbon stainless steel blades for precision and accuracy
◘ Strong, durable bolster for perfect stability and control. Lightweight knives that slice, carve, and chop
◘ Ergonomically designed stainless steel handle provides comfort

Best Kitchen Knife Sharpening Steel

The state-of- the-art design of this steel sharpening knife ensures expert sharpening for any kind of blade. Koto Japan is one of the trailblazers of diamond sharpening tools. The electroplated diamond tool has a coating of extra strength and durability. Given the price, the sharpener is practically a steal to add on with your next knife purchase. Just place the tip of the rod on a hard surface and stroke downwards with your knife. Repeat on the other side.

And it looks good too

The sleek design of this sharpener is aesthetic and practical. It will make any kitchen look professional.

RR Rating:
4.4/5
# of Reviews: 4380+
◘ ELEGANT DESIGN: A pleasing and attractive addition to any kitchen or work area.
◘ DIAMOND ELECTOPLATING: State-of-the-art manufacturing for precision Kitchen, Home or Hunting blade sharpening. Ensures efficient and sharp sharpening of dull knives and tools.
◘ OVAL SHAPE: This knife sharpener rod is designed to ensure higher sharpening efficiency.
◘ ERGONOMIC HANDLE: Designed for aesthetics and practicality.

Best Kitchen Knife Sharpening Stone

This sharpening stone comes with two sides for different purposes. Submerge the stone in water before use to lubricate the stone and help with the sharpening process. Start with the 400-grit side to return edges to their shape and then use the 1000-grit side to polish the edges. After just one use, the sharpness of your knife restores. This is probably the best knife sharpener for beginners.

Knives and other tools

While this tool is great for sharpening knives, you can also use it to sharpen things like gardening tools, scissors, and hunting knives.

RR Rating:
4.5/5
# of Reviews: 4680+
◘ DUAL SIDED WHETSTONE – Made from durable silicon carbide, this two-sided sharpening block comes with both a 400-grit side, used for returning edges to their original shape, and a 1000-grit side used for smoothing and polishing cutting edge
◘ WATER STONE – This stone is meant to be used with water, not oil. Simply soak stone for 5-10 minutes before use, and lubricate with additional water as needed when sharpening. No expensive honing oil needed
◘ MULTI USE TOOL – This whetstone can be used as a one-stop shop for any item you want sharpened and polished, including kitchen cutlery, scissors, hunting or pocket knives, blades, and razors. Also works for hatchets, axes, carving and gardening tools

Essential information about kitchen knives

When it comes to picking your best kitchen knife, think about things like comfort, material and blade shape. Think about the types of dishes you cook most open. If you’re chopping tomatoes, for example, you might want to opt for a paring knife. If you’re a meat eater, cleavers and larger knives are best. Amaeateur chefs may find it easier to use smaller knives while expert chefs will find it easier to use larger knives.

FAQs about the best kitchen knives

How often should I sharpen my kitchen knives?

If you invest in a good knife, you should only need to sharpen it every few months. You can also have your knives professionally sharpened on a yearly basis for maximum effect.

Are expensive kitchen knives worth it?

Opt for a sharp knife over an expensive knife. While knives on the cheaper side may lose their sharpness faster, some of the best knives fall on the cheaper end of the spectrum.

Are knives dishwasher safe?

Most knives are dishwasher safe but not all. Check the manual or label of your chosen knives before you wash up.

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