For people who enjoy making their meals and take their cooking seriously, a knife set is incredibly important. But having a knife set is just half the battle. You’ll also need a place to store them. Enter the knife block set. This handy storage device is an excellent way to house your kitchen knives and makes it even more convenient for you to access them.
We’ve examined over 40 different knife block sets to present to you our top 10 choices. Starting off with our Editor’s Choice, the Chicago Cutlery Malden 16 Piece Block Set. Honing your knives regularly is important to keeping them sharp, so we made sure to include sets that come with a honing rod. We understand that everyone’s needs are different, so we’ve included a variety of materials like Damascus steel and German steel, designs, and price points on our list.
More features: built-in sharpener, 8″ stainless sharpening steel
Kicking things off in our review of the best knife block sets is our Editor’s Choice, the Chicago Cutlery Malden 16 Piece Block Set. We really think this knife block set stands out above the rest because of its overall level of quality and elegant design.
It comes with a very versatile 16 different pieces in this set, including sharpening steel, which is most likely more than you’ll really need, but it’s great to have options anyways. The blade is made of high-carbon stainless steel, which makes it feel even sharper than most, and it will easily cut through anything you want.
People remarked how much they love the handles of these knives. Things can get hectic in the kitchen, and your hands will most likely be wet or have some sort of residue from the different products you touch.
As for the block, it features a very elegant-looking stained pine wood that staggers the knives into two separate layers making them easier to. Another great feature of this knife set is that it comes with a lifetime warranty ensuring that it will serve you for years to come.
The overwhelming majority of people really enjoy this knife block set and have no issues with it, but others wished that it came with kitchen shears.
More features: dishwasher safe, includes all-purpose household shears and 8″ sharpening steel
If you’re someone who perhaps isn’t as serious of a chef but want a knife block set anyways, you’re probably more likely to opt for one that works well and comes at an ultra-affordable price. In this case, you can go with our Best Value pick, the Cuisinart C77SS-15PK 15-Piece Block Set.
Unlike some of the top-line knife block sets, this one by Cuisinart will only set you back $50! On top of that, you’re getting 15 pieces with this block set, including an 8-inch sharpening tool and kitchen shears. So, you’re really getting fantastic value with this knife block set.
The knives’ blades are made of high-carbon stainless steel that is sturdy and durable. Their handles are also made of stainless steel and also come with ergonomic support, ensuring that it fits very snug into your hand. The block comes with a sleek-looking all-black matte design that will fit all kitchen countertops. As for its dimensions, it measures out to roughly 7 inches wide and about 15 inches tall.
What’s great about these knives is that they are dishwasher safe! Because they don’t utilize a different material on their handles that could easily rip and become distorted, these knives can withstand almost anything. The product also comes with a lifetime warranty, but you’ll have to carefully inspect the details of the warranty to see exactly what it covers.
However, a few people found these blades a bit smaller and thinner than regular knives. They said that due to the strange curve, they were not very comfortable to use. Luckily, this was not a common complaint, and others really liked these blades.
More features: ULTRA-6 heat treatment process, HRC 58 +/- 2, hand polished and hand sharpened, comes with 8″ honing steel, forged 9″ shears
On the opposite end of the spectrum from our Best Value pick is our Premium Pick, and for this, we’ve selected the Cangshan N1 Series 23-Piece Knife Block Set. This knife block set is by far the most expensive one on our list. The product presents supreme quality, and it really focuses immensely on the details.
Starting with the number of pieces in this set, you’re getting 23 different items with this knife block set. By far, this number beats any other model on this list, and needless to say that you’re not going to have a shortage of knives if you purchase this one! Here, you will get kitchen shears as well as 8-inch honing steel to help maintain the exceptional sharpness of these knives.
Speaking of the knives, they are made of exquisite German steel, which has higher quality than typical stainless steel blades. This high alloy steel is notably different because it is much softer and is easier to sharpen. The knives also have an all-metal design that stretches down into the handles as well.
As for the block, you can get a sense of the craftsmanship that has gone into it thanks to its pure walnut wood design. The block has a smooth finish and is sturdy enough to hold all your knives. People that have this knife block set really have no complaints other than they wish it was much more affordable.
More features: exceptional durability, comes with 9” Firey Series honing steel, shears
When it comes to buying the best knife block set, you’re clearly going to want something that will last you a long time. Enter the TUO Kitchen Knife Set with Wooden Block. This TUO product is our choice for Best Durable Knife Block Set for plenty of good reasons.
Starting with its blade quality, this set uses fantastic German stainless steel. This steel features the best cutting performance of any steel knife around, which is great if you plan on doing plenty of cooking with these knives. However, the quality doesn’t stop there, as the handles are also great. This full tang construction is covered with Pakkawood, which is a very sleek and stylish choice that adds tremendous flair and character to the knives. As for the block, it is made of wood of a lighter shade in color, which contrasts well with the dark handles.
With this knife block set, you only get eight pieces. Still, each of them is ready to go through a lot of work. A unique feature of this block set is its shape. With the dimensions of 14 by 4 inches, it looks like a rectangular and also has curved shapes, which makes it look modern. It’s hard to find any drawbacks with this product except the high price since the quality of it is quite high. Customers wished that it had more knives included.
More features: hand-sharpened, 60-61 Rockwell hardness level, comes with 9” honing steel, and Shun multi-purpose kitchen shears
If you’re looking for knives that are of the highest quality and can cut easily and sharply through anything you give them, look no further than our Knife Block Set with the Best Knife Blades choice, the Sun Classic 6-piece Slim Knife Block Set.
The blades of these knives are made of stainless-steel Damascus cladding and have a beautiful flowy pattern. These knives are extra sharp, as evidenced by the 16 degrees these knives are angled at. This set only comes with 6 pieces, including kitchen shears and 9-inch honing steel, but it’s really about the supreme quality of each tool.
The handles are made of high-quality ebony Pakkawood, which has a terrific feel in hand and provides more than enough leverage to cut through anything. Despite only having six pieces, the dark wood-made block set is rather big as it measures out to roughly 18 inches tall and 10 inches wide. Unfortunately, these knives are not dishwasher friendly, so you will need to wash them with warm water and soap and then dry off immediately after that.
Like most of the best knife block sets in this article, this Shun set also comes with a lifetime warranty. Everyone who purchased this knife block set was tremendously happy with it, although, for something that is $300+, they wish it did contain a few more pieces.
More features: Precision Edge Technology, handles resist fading, comes with kitchen shears
Another knife block set that contains superb quality tools is the Wusthof Classic 7-piece Slim Knife Block Set. The knives in this set are incredible, so we’re labeling them the sharpest on this list.
The knives in this set have made of high-carbon, stain-resistant stainless steel. Wusthof uses what they call Precision Edge Technology, and they claim that their blades are 20% sharper than competitors’ products. With a cutting angle of 14 degrees with a tapered cutting edge, it’s not hard to believe that statement.
This set of seven pieces in this block set features black polyoxymethylene handles that are comfortable to the touch and easy to guide as you slice through your food. The block is made of the standard wood and has a very soft and genuine feel to it. The dimensions of the block are fairly standard, measuring out to roughly 17 inches tall and 12.5 inches wide, with a depth of 4 inches. The pieces are neatly ordered in this block and are not too close to each other, making it easier for you to grab the piece you’re looking for.
The overwhelming majority of Wusthof owners are very happy with this knife block set, but some said they received a damaged block, and many people thought the red logo on the handles was a bit of an eyesore and tacky. Fortunately, these can be easily removed.
More features: laser-controlled edges, includes 9” sharpening steel, kitchen shears
Zwilling is another reputable company that makes high-end cookware, and they really think long and hard about the craftsmanship they put into their products. That’s why we’re so impressed with the handles on these knives.
It’s not common that the handles are the star of the knives, but these ones are fantastic for their amazing comfort in your hand and excellent durability. The handles are made of black polymer, and each piece comes with three rivets on them that help to bind the blade with the handle. This makes it virtually impossible for the handle to ever become loose or come off completely.
This Zwilling set comes with 11 pieces and includes kitchen shears and a 9-inch sharpening steel piece to keep your knives in the best conditions. The knives are made with Zwilling’s own proprietary special formula, high-carbon stainless steel. More attention to detail is paid to the knives as the cutting angle has been refined by laser to give it the finest sharpness. The block material is also very elegant in design and is made of hardwood. This knife block set, along with many others on this list, also comes with a lifetime warranty.
The vast majority of people who own this set are incredibly happy, although there is a handful of people who have noted that the block had more holes than needed. They wished that manufacturer included more knives in that case.
More features: ideal for busy kitchen, remain sharp quite long, comes with 8” kitchen shears, 8” sharpener
If you’re someone who is looking for the best knife block set but doesn’t have any time to research the various brands, it might be easier for you to just settle on what Amazon recommends. That is pretty easy to do with what we’re calling the Best Introductory Knife Block Set.
The AmazonBasics Premium 18-Piece Kitchen Knife Block Set is great if you want to have all the knives that are commonly found in a regular knife block set and even more. It comes with an amazing 18 pieces, including kitchen shears and an 8-inch sharpener tool, so that should be more than enough for your kitchen needs. This no-frills knife block set comes with knives that are made of stainless steel and have a three-riveted polymer handle system. Next, the rubberwood block does a great job of holding all of your knives in place securely. Unlike all of the other knife block sets in our list, this one unfortunately only comes with a one-year warranty.
For the incredibly low price you pay for this knife block set (less than $50!), there’s really not much to complain about. However, one area that could use a bit of improvement according to users is that the knives could be a bit sharper and that the blades can get dull rather quickly.
More features: perfectly balanced, comfortable grip, comes with a pair of all-purpose kitchen scissors and a sharpening rod
Perhaps it is a bit more uncommon to find the knife sets that have an all-metal construction. Well, this is our choice for Best All-Metal Knife Block Set, the Faberware Stamped 15-Piece Knife Block Set. If you’re one who prefers to have the all uniform look of metal on your knives, then this is definitely the knife block set for you.
This 15-piece knife block set is also one of the most affordable products on our list! What’s great about these knives is that they are well-balanced, thanks to the same material for both parts. The blades are made of high-carbon stainless steel, while the handles present the silky steel feeling that is comfortable to grip and easy to use. The block is made of wood that is painted black and measures out to 9 inches wide and 13 inches tall. Like most knife block sets, this one comes with a sharpening rod to go along with a pair of all-purpose kitchen shears.
As much as people love the all steel-look of this knife block set, a few people did say that because of their arthritis and hand/wrist pain, they were unable to have enough leverage to cut through particularly tough foods, such as a pineapple. Therefore, it is not recommended for people with those issues.
More features: serration patterns, dishwasher safe, comes with kitchen shears
Let’s face it, after you’re done preparing your meal, cooking, and then eating your meal, the last thing you probably want to do is wash your knives. Why not let your dishwasher do the work for you? Well, with our selection for Best Dishwasher-Friendly Knife Block Set, the Ginsu KIS-KB-DS-014-4 Kiso Dishwasher Safe 14-Piece Set will let you do just that! There might be no greater convenience than tossing your dirty dishes and utensils in the dishwasher, and with this knife block set, you can safely and assuredly toss them in there without having to worry about the handles coming out all deformed.
With this 14-piece knife block set that comes with kitchen shears, you get stainless steel blades with triple-riveted composite handles. This means that they can withstand the abuse of the heat and soapy water in your dishwasher and come out looking the same. The black wood block for this knife set is a bit different because it holds your pieces upright, which is quite rare. If you have any problems with this knife set, it also comes with a lifetime warranty that you can take advantage of.
As handy as this knife block set is to have in terms of washing it, the downside of the blades is that they are not the sharpest out there. Also, some people were not satisfied with the quality of the knives, but it is to be expected with this price tag.
Now that you’ve been introduced to the best knife block sets on the market today, it’s time to focus on the buying guide section of this article. Here, we’ll help try and inform you on the many different aspects and features of a knife block set and how they all work together to become a great, functional unit. It is our hope that you learn as much as you can before purchasing your next knife block set so that you have a good idea of what you’re looking for. After we’ll then answer some of the most commonly asked questions about these products and then we’ll wrap things up with our top three picks in our final verdict.
There are many different reasons why people specifically buy a knife block set. If you’re a serious chef and enjoy cooking and preparing your meals every day, you’re much more likely to use an assortment of different knives in your preparation process. Having a knife block set is a convenient way of being able to grab the knife you’re looking for with ease instead of rummaging around in your drawers. A knife block set is a great place to store your knives to avoid kitchen mess. If you’ve ever purchased separate knives, you’ve probably left them in random places in your kitchen, and it can be hard to keep track of where you last put it. With a knife block, you won’t have those concerns. Also, blocks prevent the knives from getting dull quickly, so you won’t need to sharpen each blade over and over again before cooking.
In order to help you find the best knife block set for your needs, we’ll take a closer look at all of the things that make these sets great in more detail so that you have a good understanding of what the key features are when buying the product. Some of the things we’ll cover include the number of pieces in the set, blade material, handles, block material, dimensions, warranty, ease of cleaning, brands, and prices.
When it comes to the number of knives in your set, it really depends on your preferences. If you’re one who doesn’t mind a limited number of knives in your block and wants to avoid confusion with them, you might want to consider something that is more all-purpose, like the Shun Classic 6-piece Slim Knife Block Set. This one comes with only six pieces in this set, including shears, but is a great one to have.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, if you’re someone who needs to have it all because you like options or because you cook a lot, then the Cangshan N1 Series 23-Piece Knife Block Set might be ideal for you.
In terms of the knives you should be looking for if you’re a serious or casual chef, you’ll definitely want a set that includes a chef’s knife, a paring knife, and a serrated knife. Utility and steak knives are also nice to have but not entirely necessary.
The best knives of these block sets all have excellent blade material. The majority of the knives are made using some variation of stainless steel (i.e.б high-carbon, German steel). The only exception is the Shun Classic 6-piece Slim Knife Block Set, which is made of a VG-MAX core and stainless Damascus cladding. The best knives also need to be sharp, and all of these knives in the best knife block set are very sharp!
Apart from durability, the material of the blade determines its sharpness. The knives can also range between 15 and 20 degrees in terms of their angle. Blades are able to maintain optimal usage if it is at 17 degrees, however, if it dulls out to 20 degrees, it is still quite sharp.
While there is a general consensus in terms of the materials used to construct the blades, for handles, there are no real similarities. In fact, just about most of the knives from our review are made with different handles. Some offer some ergonomic functions that ease the tension on your hand and wrist, such as our Best Value choice, the Cuisinart C77SS-15PK 15-Piece Block Set.
If you’re looking more knives with a better handle grip, our Editor’s Choice, the Chicago Cutlery Malden 16 Piece Block Set, has just that. For the most part, the handles of these knives either incorporate a similar type of stainless steel material as the knife so that the entire knife looks completely uniform, or the knife handle can be of different material and color than the knife.
The material of the best knife block sets is some form of wood. Some of the most common types of wood for them are black wood, hardwood, and walnut, to name a few. There are a few reasons why wood is the preferred material of choice when storing kitchen knives.
One, wood helps to keep knives dry, which is an essential part of keeping them sharp and durable. Knives that are wet are more prone to rusting, and this can severely hinder its sharpness and usability.
Second, when stored at a proper angle, wood is the best material for your knives because it prevents it from dulling out. When knives are stored on their spine, rather than on their cutting edge, this can help increase their sharpness too.
The dimensions of the best knife block sets tend to vary, and it depends on a number of things, including the position that the block is in and the size of the knives. Longer knives will naturally require longer slots to hold the knives in, which will increase its dimensions. You can find all sorts of different sizes, too, from square blocks to ones that are more rectangular and thin (width-wise) in shape. As for its height, it can range anywhere between 6 inches and 18 inches tall, and for length, it can stretch anywhere from 7 to 14 inches.
If you’re wondering if you’ll have enough space on your kitchen countertop, it also depends on what else you have on your countertop right now. If the answer is not much of anything else, having the knife block set on it won’t take up too much space at all, just make sure to make the measurements.
With the exception of one block knife set, the AmazonBasics Premium 18-Piece Kitchen Knife Block Set, which only has a 1-year warranty, the remaining nine knife block sets all come with a lifetime warranty. When it says lifetime warranty, however, you’ll still have to inspect what that entails.
Because each of the best knife block sets is made by different companies, their definition of ‘lifetime warranty’ can vary. For some, they may not replace the knife set due to natural wear and tear, whereas others might send you a completely new set. It’s important to find out exactly what the warranty covers before you go ahead and purchase the block knife set you have your eyes on.
Generally, the knife block sets are fairly easy to clean. Provided that you don’t put knives that still have residue or crumbs on them back into its slot of the block and that you always dry them off before putting them in, you should have no worries about stuff getting stuck inside the slots.
As for the knives, a good rule of thumb is to never put these knives into the dishwasher as you can easily damage both the knife (sharpness) and handle if the manufacturer doesn’t allow you that.
Washing your knife with extra care under warm soapy water is the best way to clean your knife effectively. But, before putting it back into the block, it’s very important to dry it off first to prevent it from rusting.
When it comes to the brands and prices of the best knife block sets, needless to say, it can range dramatically as well. Whether you’re a budget shopper or one who enjoys splurging on the best quality knives, there really is something for everyone.
For those who are more price-conscious and are want to spend as little as possible on a knife set, you can find the Farberware Stamped 15-Piece Knife Block Set at an amazingly low price of $35! Not to be outdone, our Best Value selection, the Cuisinart C77SS-15PK 15-Piece Block Set, goes for just $45.
However, if you’re looking for something more extravagant and luxurious, you’ll definitely be interested in the Cangshan N1 Series 23-Piece Knife Block Set, which costs $550, or the Wusthof Classic 7-piece Slim Knife Block Set, which you can get for $400.
As you can see, there are knife block set options for everyone and their budgets.
In our final verdict, we present to you our top three choices for the best knife block sets.
Leading things off is our Editor’s Choice, the Chicago Cutlery Malden 16 Piece Block Set. We love the features that this knife block set offers, including reasonable price and excellent quality. With 16 different pieces and a lovely and elegant finish to the block, it’s hard to beat this one.
Next up is our Best Value pick, the Cuisinart C77SS-15PK 15-Piece Block Set, and this is the product you should buy if you don’t want to fork out a ton of cash for a knife block set. Despite the low price tag, it’s great for the variety of pieces you get with this set, and we love how comfortable these ergonomic handles feel when you slice your food.
On the opposite end is our Premium Pick, the Cangshan N1 Series 23-Piece Knife Block Set, and if you’re looking for the cream of the crop in terms of sheer and ultimate quality, it’s hard to find a better one than this. It’s made of exclusive German steel, and all of the pieces look fantastic.
We hope that this article helped you find the best knife block set for your kitchen, and now, you are ready to prepare your favorite meals with ease!
