Before I became a kitchen aficionado, I’d just go with the cheapest option anytime I purchased any sort of cutlery set – whether that was a tableware set or knives for my kitchen. Of course, with time I learned the error of my ways, and now I’m an advocate for quality cutlery sets with an almost militant zeal.
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Whether you’re having guests over for a nice steak dinner, or simply trying to make things as easy as possible for yourself while you’re cooking food at home, a good cutlery set can make all the difference. If you pull out a show-stopping set of steak knives, it sends a certain message to your dinner guests. Not only does it paint you as a good host who values your guests’ dining experience, but it also says you know your stuff.
The problem, however, is that most people don’t know what to even look for when it comes to cutlery sets. This isn’t something they teach at schools. So we’re here to make things as easy as possible for you with this comprehensive guide.
When you’re getting ready to buy a cutlery set, you might be asking yourself “wait a second, what should I be looking for?” A better question to ask yourself, though, is what exactly you need.
Variety
The biggest question you need to answer might be what need this cutlery set is filling in your life. Are you buying a set of steak knives for the next time you have people over for a juicy ribeye? Or are you looking for a well-balanced assortment of kitchen knives to fulfill any culinary task you need executed in the kitchen? Are you looking for dinnerware? Do you need a set that includes kitchen shears?
Presentation
Once you’ve decided on what exactly you need, the next question is how you want it to look. Is this a showpiece you’re going to proudly display in the middle of your kitchen, in full view of anyone who happens to wander in? If so, you want a knife block, which is a fantastic and visually attractive way to lay out all your knives. They look nifty, and they are nifty.
And if counter space is a concern (as it always is in every kitchen I’ve ever had), there are some knife blocks that fold up and are easy to stow away.
Once you’ve determined what your cutlery set of premium knives should look like, now it’s time to go shopping for those knives. And if you’re a knife newbie, you might not know where to start (hint: it’s not the silverware section at your local big-box store).
It’s okay, there’s no need to be embarrassed; we were all there at one point. Below is a list of qualities you should look at when determining whether to buy a piece of cutlery, regardless of the type of knife:
Material
Before I started my kitchen knife journey, if you had asked me what a good knife should be made of, my answer would’ve been something akin to “uh… steel, right? It’s steel?”
Turns out I knew more than I thought!
There is a multitude of materials that can be used to make a quality kitchen knife. For instance, there’s carbon steel, which is a component made from a metal alloy consisting of carbon and steel. The role of carbon is to make the steel much stronger and more durable, helping it hold its sharp edge for much longer. The only downside is that carbon steel knives are prone to rust, making them a little high-maintenance.
Stainless steel flatware sets are another popular option for knives and silverware, and probably the most common one you’ll find in knife and stainless steel silverware sets. It sharpens quite easily and is much lower-maintenance than carbon steel when it comes to rust.
Stainless steel flatware sets do lose their edge a little easier, though, so you might want to learn how to sharpen your knives (which is an important skill to have before you buy a full 20piece flatware set, and something you should be doing regardless of what type of knife you end up buying; a dull knife is something you don’t want.
Damascus steel is a metal alloy that combines the hardness of carbon steel and the flexibility of stainless steel. It has a carbon core with a stainless exterior. Not only that, but they look awesome. Damascus steel tends to be pricier than other types of steel, so you’ll see that reflected in the price of your cutlery set. Not super common in silverware sets, either.
Size
Of course, there’s no single perfect size for a kitchen knife. You’ll find that the different types of knives are sized to suit their intended tasks. For instance, a paring knife – meant to be used for small, precise tasks such as cutting fruits and deveining shrimp – is usually about 3.25 to 4 inches long.
Meanwhile, bread knives have to cover more territory, so you’ll find the serrated bread knives in the 8 to 10 inch range. And a chef’s knife, the multipurpose kitchen powerhouse, is usually around 8 inches long. It works for just about everything.
The main thing to keep in mind here when it comes to sizes is that, if your goal is to have a well-stocked kitchen with a variety of knives, then the cutlery set you’re buying should reflect that with a variety of sizes.
Weight & balance
A quality kitchen knife should feel substantial. That doesn’t mean that it should be hard to carry, of course, simply that when you’re holding it you feel like you’re holding a powerful kitchen implement. When chopping and slicing and taking care of some of the more labor-intensive kitchen tasks, you want to feel like the tool you’re using is powerful. Some of the cheaper knives out there feel like props from a party-themed retailer.
As far as balance, there must be equal weight distribution between the handle and the blade. If you have a knife that feels too heavy on the blade, you’ll find it hard and cumbersome to use; same if the grip itself is the heaviest part, you won’t be using it at its full potential and you’ll find it uncomfortable.
Let’s take a look at some of the best cutlery sets available.
Best Block Set
12 Piece Cutlery Block Set Shadow Black Series
This is a top-of-the-line set of quality kitchen knives, arming you with just about every single type of knife a home cook will need. The set includes a 9” honing rod, a 9” carving knife, a 9” bread knife, an 8” chef knife, a 7” Santoku knife, a 6” fillet knife, a 5.5” utility knife, a 3.75” paring knife, and a set of four 5” steak knives.
Not only that, but with the Shadow Black Series' unique and futuristic look, this knife set is a guaranteed conversational piece.
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18-piece Colossal Cutlery Set with Block White Handles | Gladiator Series
This incredible knife block set has pretty much anything you would ever need, delivered at the absolute top quality. The knives in the Gladiator series are all precision-forged from a single piece of imported premium quality high-carbon German stainless steel – that means that they’re powerful, resilient, and super-sharp. And in this incredible block set, you’re getting eighteen of them!
This set includes a 9” carving/slicing knife, a 9” bread knife, an 8.5” Kiritsuke chef knife, an 8” chef knife, a 7” Santoku knife, a 7” Nakiri knife, a 6” boning knife, a 6.5” utility knife, a 6” serrated utility knife, a set of 6 straight-edge steak knives, a 3.5” paring knife, a 2.75” bird’s beak paring knife, a 10” honing steel, and a handmade acacia wood block for storage.
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5-Piece Cutlery Block Set Quantum 1 Series
If you like the futuristic look of straight lines and forward-motion designs, then you’ll love the knives in Dalstrong’s Quantum 1 series. These knives combine top performance and stylish looks.
This knife block set includes 5 of these high-performance kitchen knives, including an 8.5” chef knife, a 7” Santoku knife, a 7” serrated utility knife, a 6.5” curved boning knife, and a 4” paring knife. Not only that, but the block comes with additional space, allowing you to expand your collection.
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5-Piece Kitchen Knife Set with Modular Block Gladiator Series
This gorgeous 5-piece knife set not only features some of the finest knives from Dalstrong’s Gladiator series, but it also comes with the most beautiful modular block. The oak wood block features an innovative design that converts from an upright position to a space-saving flat position for easy storage. Easy and convenient.
The block set comes with a 9” slicer, a 9” bread knife, an 8” chef’s knife, a 6” utility knife, and a 3.75” paring knife.
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Cutlery Set 8-Piece Crusader Series
The Crusader series is a stunning knife series featuring sleek, cleanly-designed all-stainless steel knives, and this incredible set puts them out on full display. This set comes with an 8” honing rod, an 8” bread knife, an 8” chef’s knife, a 7” Santoku knife, a 6” utility knife, and a 5.5” serrated utility knife.
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Best Steak Knife Set
4-Piece Steak Knife Cutlery Set 5.5" Omega Series
If what you’re looking for is a set of steak knives that will get your dinner guests talking – not to mention maximize your enjoyment of that succulent steak – this beautiful 4-piece set from Dalstrong’s Omega series is exactly what you need. It contains four 5.5” knives featuring the visually stunning “LiquidMetal” pattern on the blade and will make your next steak get-together one to remember.
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4-Piece Steak Knife Cutlery Set Shadow Black Series
The Shadow Black series is all about that futuristic design, so this 4-piece set of steak knives set will make your dinner guests feel like they’re using props from the set of a sci-fi film. Not only because of how they look but because of their incredible performance and the ease with which they sail through the thickest piece of meat you can throw at them.
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4 Piece Steak Knife Cutlery Set Crusader Series
Four incredible steak knives from Dalstrong’s famously elegant Crusader series, featuring a sleek and minimalistic knife design and stunning performance.
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4-Piece Steak Knife Cutlery Set Frost Fire Series
The sleek elegance of the Frost Fire series works perfectly when applied to a steak knife set, featuring an icy-cold look and a comfortable, easy-to-handle feel. This gorgeous collection has a friendly, open disposition, certainly less confrontational than some of the other knives on this list.
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Best Paring Knife Set
3 Piece Paring Kitchen Knife Set Shogun Series
This is an awesome set of three high-performance paring knives that will help you with those extremely precise cuts for fruit or vegetable prep. Features a straight-edge paring knife, a serrated paring knife, and a turning paring knife.
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3-Piece Paring Knife Cutlery Set Gladiator Series
Dalstrong’s Gladiator series features timeless, elegant, no-nonsense knife designs which are perfectly suited for the role of the paring knife. This awesome three-piece paring knife set features the blades you need for peeling, slicing, dicing, coring, scoring, and chopping all manner of produce and small meats.
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Best Carving Knife set
Carving Knife & Fork Cutlery Set 9" Shogun Series
An incredible knife-and-fork set from Dalstrong’s acclaimed Shogun series for all your carving and slicing needs. Features a 9” carving knife and meat fork.
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Carving Knife & Fork Cutlery Set 9" Crusader Series
The clean, minimalistic look of the Crusader series fits this carving knife and meat fork set beautifully. An elegant, all-stainless steel 9” knife and carving fork.
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If you want to learn more, please visit our website Spiral Handle Stainless Steel Cutlery Set.
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Best Budget-Friendly Knife Set
4-Piece Cheese Knife Cutlery Set Shadow Black Series
This excellent 4-piece cheese knife set delivers a great collection of top-of-the-line charcuterie knives at a price that won’t break the bank. And since they’re from the Shadow Black series, they have the added benefit of looking extremely cool; pull these out at your next wine-and-cheese gathering and you’ll get people talking.
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4-Piece Straight-Edge Steak Knife Cutlery Set Gladiator Series
This is what we call a deal. Four excellent 5-inch straight-edge steak knives from Dalstrong’s Gladiator series at a price that seems like someone made a mistake at some point in the entry process.
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What is a good cutlery set?
Well, one way to answer this is just to point you to the list of awesome options we listed above – each one of these brings something special to the table (pun intended). And another way is to simply say that a good cutlery set fulfills the specific need you have for your particular situation. This is why it’s important to consider what your needs are, look through several options, and pick the set that feels right for you.
What is a good steel for a cutlery set?
There are several options available, as we outlined above in the “What to Look For in a Cutlery Set” section. But overall, in terms of the right balance between performance and value, stainless steel is the way to go.
How much does a good cutlery set cost?
You’ll find many price points for a good cutlery set. Some of them will be the kind of extremely cheap stuff you know you’ll find yourself replacing in no time. Always value quality over price, since you want to make sure you buy a set that lasts you for a long time.
18 Piece Cutlery Block Set | Crusader Series | Dalstrong ©
Phantom Series 'Dragon Spire' 6 Piece Cutlery Set
When it comes time to start building out your kitchen knife collection, you have a couple of different ways to go. You could start building it out individually, purchasing each knife one by one; this has the benefit of allowing you to slowly figure out what your preferences are, and exactly what types of knives you need.
However, this can also be pretty expensive, not to mention time-consuming. Some home cooks prefer to make a purchase of several kitchen knives at once, and the best way to do this is by purchasing a kitchen knife set.
A kitchen knife set is a collection of kitchen knives sold together (usually at a lower price than you would pay by purchasing each knife individually). This is a way to kind of “fast-track” a kitchen knife collection.
Kitchen knife sets typically include an assortment of different knife types to cover any need that arises in the kitchen. Depending on the size of the kitchen knife set you purchase, it might come with some extremely specific specialty knives, or it may come with just the essentials. Of course, what constitutes the essentials is also within contention. We’ll get to that a little later.
18-Piece Colossal Knife Set | Gladiator Series | Dalstrong ©
There are a few advantages to purchasing a kitchen knife set rather than building your kitchen knife collection one by one. The main advantage is the cost. Purchasing knives individually tend to be more expensive, while purchasing knives that are bundled together usually results in savings.
Being able to quickly have an assortment of different knife types is also an advantage worth mentioning. You don’t know that you really need a paring knife until the moment you have a task that would be uniquely suited for a paring knife. If you went the one-by-one route, you’d then have to stop everything and purchase a paring knife or simply use a different, less-perfectly-suited knife for the occasion. Either option is imperfect.
This one might seem a little silly, but another advantage of purchasing a kitchen knife set is that the knives all tend to be from the same series, which means they share a clear aesthetic style. That means that your knives match each other, rather than just seeming like a quickly-assembled random collection of knives.
Finally, some kitchen knife sets come with decorative storage blocks that make them beautiful display pieces on your kitchen counter.
***Gladiator Series 5-Piece Knife Set with Modular Block*
It should be mentioned that there are kitchen knife sets dedicated to a single type of knife – for instance, you can purchase a 5-knife steak knife set, which will make every dinner guest at your place happy. Or you can get a kitchen knife set of just paring knives.
But for kitchen knife sets that purport to offer a selection of various types of knives, the most common types of knives included are the chef’s knife, the paring knife, the serrated bread knife, the utility knife, and in some cases the santoku knife.
Ask around, though, and you’ll find those that say that kitchen shears belong in any well-balanced kitchen knife set. There are all kinds of takes on this particular subject.
Block Set 8-Piece | Crusader Series
There’s a lot to look for when it comes to picking out your kitchen knife set. Let’s take a look at some of the main criteria.
This has to do with what we just discussed. Are you buying a set of steak knives for the next time you have company over for a nice steak? Or are you looking for a well-balanced assortment of kitchen knives that’ll allow you to tackle any culinary task that comes up in your kitchen? Do you need a set that includes kitchen shears? Do you need BBQ equipment? Etc.
There’s no right or wrong answer here, of course. These are things you have to figure out for yourself, as it’s all about what your wants and needs are as a chef.
The question here is: do you want a set of knives you can show off in a nice knife block? Or is that not really a big deal at all? Knife blocks are great because they turn your kitchen knives into a decorative piece for your kitchen. They also make your knives very easy to quickly access; simply slide them out of the knife block instead of rummaging through drawers.
Counter space tends to be a concern when it comes to knife blocks, and it makes sense that it would. If you live in an apartment with a small kitchen, you need to make sure you’re making the most out of every inch of counter space. Thankfully, there are some knife blocks that you can fold up and stow away quite easily.
One thing I’ve learned in the time since I’ve become a kitchen knife connoisseur (of sorts) is that there is no single factor more important in the overall quality of a kitchen knife than what it’s made out of. I went from thinking all knives were made of “pretty much the same thing” to scouring the internet looking for information about how different types of steel interact together.
For instance: Carbon steel, a component made from a metal alloy consisting of carbon and steel. Carbon helps to make the steel much stronger and more durable, allowing it to hold its sharp edge for much longer. The only downside is that carbon steel knives are prone to rusting, making them somewhat high-maintenance.
Stainless steel knives are great, and some of the most common ones you’ll find in kitchen knife sets. They sharpen very easily and are a breeze to take care of. But every material has its drawbacks, and stainless steel tends to lose its edge a little easier than others (that’s why it’s important to know how to sharpen your knives).
Damascus steel knives feature a metal alloy that combines the hardness of carbon steel and the flexibility of stainless steel. It has a carbon core with a stainless exterior. Knives that feature Damascus steel tend to be pricier than other materials. So, as you can see, every material has benefits and drawbacks.
Every kitchen knife type will have a different ideal height. Paring knives, for instance, go anywhere from 3 to 4 inches long, since they’re meant to be used for small, precise cuts. It all depends on their intended tasks.
Chef’s knives, which are multipurpose kitchen powerhouses, tend to hover around the 8” range – they’re meant to work on just about everything. And then there are knives that are designed to break down large pieces of meat, such as a breaking knife, than can be upwards of 14” long. It all depends on the knife and what it’s meant for.
The takeaway here is that if you’re looking for variety, your kitchen knife set should reflect that with a variety of sizes.
Kitchen knives that feel like flimsy little nothings are probably towards the lower end of the quality spectrum. A good quality kitchen knife feels substantial without being heavy, uncomfortable, or awkward. Some of the cheaper knives out there are way too light and you just know you’ll be throwing them out within days.
When we talk about balance, we are referring to the weight distribution of the knife. It’s important that there is equal weight distribution between the handle and the blade. If it’s too heavy on the blade, you’ll find it hard and cumbersome to use; if the grip itself is the heaviest part, you won’t be using it at its full potential and you’ll find it uncomfortable.
This is one of those “you’ll know it when you feel it” scenarios, but that’s something you’ll pick up pretty quickly when you start trying kitchen knives.
Now that you know the main things you should be looking for in a kitchen knife set, let’s take a look at some of the best kitchen knife sets available.
1. 18-piece Colossal Knife Set with Block White Handles | Gladiator Series
[](https://dalstrong.com/collections/block-sets/products/gladiator-series-18-piece-colossal-knife-set-with-block-white-handles "Gladiator Series 18-piece Colossal Knife Set with Block - White Handles")
We’ll start off with a gorgeous knife block set that includes pretty much anything you would ever need when it comes to kitchen knives. Not only is the variety of kitchen knives top-notch, but they’re also all absolutely stunningly designed, premium quality knives. This set includes 17 knives and a honing rod from Dalstrong’s Gladiator series, which are all precision-forged from a single piece of imported premium quality high-carbon German stainless steel. That not only ensures optimum performance but also durability. Truly one of the best kitchen knife sets you can buy.
This set includes a 9” carving/slicing knife, a 9” bread knife, an 8.5” kiritsuke chef knife, an 8” chef knife, a 7” santoku knife, a 7” nakiri knife, a 6” boning knife, a 6.5” utility knife, a 6” serrated utility knife, a set of 6 straight-edge steak knives, a 3.5” paring knife, a 2.75” bird’s beak paring knife, and a 10” honing steel. They’re housed in a handmade acacia wood block. A beautiful display piece for your kitchen.
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2. 12 Piece Knife Block Set | Shadow Black Series
[](https://dalstrong.com/products/shadow-black-series-12-piece-knife-block-set-nsf-certified "12 Piece Knife Block Set | Shadow Black Series")
There are a lot of reasons to love this kitchen knife set. I’ll start off with the fact that it includes an assortment of 12 culinary tools from Dalstrong’s Shadow Black series, which are probably the coolest-looking knives you will ever see. Check out their unique and futuristic look, like something out of a sci-fi film. These are knives that are guaranteed to be conversation pieces.
This kitchen knife set also features a pretty wide variety of top-quality kitchen tools, arming you with just about every single type of knife a home cook will need. The set includes a 9” honing rod, a 9” carving knife, a 9” bread knife, an 8” chef knife, a 7” santoku knife, a 6” filet knife, a 5.5” utility knife, a 3.75” paring knife, and a set of four 5” steak knives.
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3. 5-Piece Block Set | Shogun Series ELITE
If you’re looking for a kitchen knife set that is an absolute showstopper, look no further than the Shogun series X 5-piece block set. Not only does it come with the five most essential knives you’ll need in the kitchen, but it also comes with an absolutely gorgeous handcrafted acacia wood block for storage and looks. Five of the best knives in Dalstrong’s entire arsenal and a storage block make this a fantastic deal.
This knife block set comes with an 8" bread knife, an 8" chef knife, a 7" santoku knife, a 6" utility knife, a 3.5" paring knife, and an absolutely beautiful, handcrafted acacia wood block with stainless steel finishes.
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4. 3 Piece Paring Knife Set | Shogun Series
[](https://dalstrong.com/products/shogun-series-3-piece-paring-knife-set-straight-edged-serrated-birds-beak-paring-knives "Shogun Series 3-Piece Paring Knife Set - Straight Edged, Serrated & Bird's Beak Paring Knives")
Paring knives are often the unsung heroes of the kitchen. They help you make all manner of extremely precise cuts on fruits, vegetables, and meats. They may not be the all-terrain all-stars like chef’s knives or santoku knives, but they come in extremely handy and deserve their rightful place in your kitchen arsenal. That’s why this 3-piece set of paring knives is such a fantastic idea.
This 3-piece set comes with a serrated paring knife, a straight edge paring knife, and a turning paring knife.
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5. 5-Piece Knife Block Set | Quantum 1 Series
We’ve established that we’re fans of the more unusual-looking knife designs here, so this knife set (and accompanying wood block) features some of our favorite designs. The knives in Dalstrong’s Quantum 1 series are all about momentum and forward movement, combining truly awe-inspiring kitchen performance as well as stylish looks.
This knife block set comes with an 8.5” chef knife, a 7” santoku knife, a 7” serrated utility knife, a 6.5” curved boning knife, and a 4” paring knife. The block itself also comes with some open slots for you to add more knives to the collection later (if you want).
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What is the best kitchen knife set on the market?
There are many great kitchen knife sets available. As far as variety and bang for your buck, our pick for the best kitchen knife set out there is the 18-piece Colossal Knife Set with Block White Handles | Gladiator Series. It features a great selection of top-quality knives. If you want other options, check out our full list above.
What are the 3 main knives that you need in a kitchen?
There are differing opinions on which knives qualify as the most essential kitchen knives, but the general consensus seems to be that the three main knives you need are the chef’s knife, the paring knife, and the bread knife.
What is the best chef knife for beginners?
There are so many options available that would make great starting chef’s knives for beginners, but we’re going to pick the 7” chef’s knife from Dalstrong’s Gladiator series, which is a fantastic knife that handles beautifully.
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Written by Jorge Farah
Born on the coast of Colombia and based in Buenos Aires, Jorge is a cooking enthusiast and kitchenware obsessive with a tremendous amount of opinions.
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