12 best knives and knife sets in 2024, tested by top chefs

Length: Various | Blade material: High-carbon stainless steel | Handle material: Polymer

So many great knives, so little time! If you're looking for a quick pick, this set from Zwilling J.A. Henckels meets most (if not all) of the qualifications on our list. It's durable (made of sharp stainless steel blades), versatile (including chef's-, utility- and paring knives, along with six steak knives and additional tools) and a cinch to maintain (the corresponding block serves as storage, plus the knives are dishwasher-safe, so easy to clean). 

This premium yet still competitively priced and frequently discounted assortment also happens to be an Amazon No. 1 bestseller backed by 11,000 five-star reviews, and the brand comes chef-approved: "I cannot recommend Zwilling J.A. Henckels enough. It’s a reliable brand, as the price is reasonable, quality is durable and the shapes and material of the knives are highly versatile," says Michelin star chef Silvio Salmoiraghi of Ambrogio by Acquerello in La Jolla, Calif., and Acquerello in Milan, Italy (discover more Zwilling J.A. Henckels sets further down below).

Length: 8.2 inches | Blade material: High-carbon alloy | Handle material: Buffalo bone

Derick Wade of The Darling Oyster Bar in Charleston, S.C., is another big proponent of Japanese knives, with Korin among his go-to resources for "some of the best handmade custom knives" around.

"Korin offers services for customers (outside of just impeccably made products) such as knife sharpening, chip repair and discoloration cleaning to ensure your blade is always in the best condition possible," he explains. One of his personal staples is the Nenohi Nenox Blue Bone Handle Gyuto, "an all-around great chef's knife that will help with all of your day-to-day cooking tasks. It comes in a number of colorways … I really love the blue!"

Size: 9.4 inches | Blade material: Blue Aogami carbon steel | Handle material: Stabilized maple

This hardworking chef’s knife from the Japanese brand Takeda, which combines the strength of stainless carbon steel with the warmth of a stabilized maple handle, is a favorite of Rick Mace, owner and executive chef of Tropical Smokehouse in West Palm Beach, Fla.: "a worthy investment of heirloom quality."

"Mr. Shosui Takeda is a third-generation Japanese master blacksmith. This particular knife is made by enveloping high-carbon Aogami Super steel inside of a stainless-steel cladding. One of the drawbacks of true carbon steel knives is that they are typically high-maintenance and rust-prone. Problem solved," he explains. "The last part of the name, Sasanoha, is a mix of a traditional chef's blade profile mixed with a carving knife. This means that the knife is lean, mean and not too far in between — the perfect balance for many, many different tasks."

Length: 9.2 inches | Blade material: Carbon | Handle material: Rosewood

Cru Catering sous chef Ross Bock was introduced to this wavy-edged chef's knife from Victorinox 17 years ago when he was just starting out as a young line cook (he now keeps several at home and won't go a shift without).

"I was skeptical of a serrated knife for everyday use, seeing that the only serrated knife in my kit from culinary school was my bread knife. I've since fallen in love with this knife for its versatility, price point, and durability!" he explains. "While the Victorinox Wavy Edge Chef's Knife is a specialty knife sold individually, the Victorinox 8-Piece Knife Block Set is a great starter set for the home chef who's looking to invest in quality cutlery and keep their knives under one brand."

Length: 8 inches | Blade material: Stainless steel | Handle material: Pakkawood

Adam Sobel, chef and partner at Mina Group, which includes restaurants Cal Mare in Los Angeles and Nana Lu in Honolulu, stresses the importance of finding knives — and especially steak knives — that are not only durable but easy to sharpen and maintain.

"HexClad knives are perfect for home cooks for that exact reason. They hold their edge but can easily be sharpened and have a beautiful balance when in hand," he says. The blades on the brand's bestselling Damascus Steak Knife Set undergo an advanced heat treatment for enhanced hardness and feature an ergonomic pakkawood handle for added comfort and a touch of panache (larger set for reference here).

Length: 4.25 inches | Blade material: Sandvik stainless steel | Handle material: Olivewood

It would be impossible to discuss fancy steak knives without mentioning the handcrafted offerings from French brand Laguiole, which Salmoiraghi points out are made of long-lasting metal and shine whether sitting on a table in your dining room or at a high-end steakhouse.

"The shape of the blade is extremely suited for slicing gently but firmly through thicker steaks without tearing the meat, while the elegant handle makes you forget the fact that you're holding a knife," he continues. "Rather, you feel as if you’re holding — or your table is adorned with — a piece of exquisite culinary art." For a more affordable option, we also love this six-piece set of Jean Dubost Laguiole Steak Knives at Williams Sonoma, available in white, olivewood and stainless steel.

Length: 8.3 inches | Blade material: Stainless steel | Handle material: Rosewood

"I have kept a 10-inch serrated Victorinox bread knife in my kit for many, many years; it's helpful for almost every task," says Mace. “It can easily transition from slicing tomatoes to cutting fruit to a loaf of crusty bread. It's also low-maintenance and very affordable."

The brand's serrated knives "have the perfect shapes for the job and require little maintenance due to their perfect design and material," adds Salmoiraghi. "I use them daily at the restaurant, and always for offsite dinners when traveling for events and catering as they are very easy to transport and keep a professional cutting level."

Length: Varying | Blade material: Stainless steel | Handle material: Plastic

Both Mace and Salmoiraghi suggested Victorinox paring knives, a top pick among Amazon customers for slicing and dicing smaller food items while adding a pop of color to their daily routine (and at $22 a set, they're just over $7 each).

Mace says he's been using the three-inch serrated paring knives in particular for as long as he can remember. "The serrated paring knife shines when cutting tomatoes and soft fruits, when a slightly dull knife would struggle to make precise cuts, and the thin blade makes easy work of root vegetables like beets and potatoes."

Length: Varying | Blade material: High-carbon stainless steel | Handle material: Polypropylene, stainless steel

Knife sets offer the best of several (and in some cases, many) worlds while lending a sense of cohesion to your kitchen. As Wade notes, "they're especially helpful for new cooks and at-home cooks looking to up their knife game." He recommends investing in a Wusthof set, such as the Gourmet 3-Piece Knife Set, which comes with two utility knives and a chef's knife.

“Wusthof also offers sets at higher price points,” he continues, “but this set can certainly get your knife collection started and is great quality for the price point — it’s made from German steel, easy to sharpen and work with, and is a little more economic than a specialty knife."

Chris Nirschel, chef and owner of New York Catering Service, a private chef and catering service serving the tri-state area, adds that Wusthof has been around a long time and that the knives don’t dull easily. "When I'm at a client's house and they have these, I will sometimes use theirs over my other chef's knives."

Length: Varying | Blade material: High-carbon steel | Handle material: Not specified

For an equally versatile — and slightly more vibrant — trio, Adler likes this essential knife collection from Hedley & Bennett. "It's incredibly well designed, and the colorful handles add personality to your kitchen."

More specifically, "the knives are strong (made of steel), sharp (if needed, they're a cinch to resharpen) and comfortable, plus they're easy to maintain and clean. The perfect balance minimizes both fatigue and effort required when chopping." Opt for classic White or Black, or go bold with the Miso or Shiso (we also like the bright Capri Blue).

Length: Varying | Blade material: High-carbon stainless steel | Handle material: Polymer

For a bigger knife set, Claude Booker, chef and founder of Soul Food Starters, a soul food starter kit company that delivers nationwide, says he's "all in with Henckels," which he points out has remained a kitchen staple for nearly 300 years.

"German knives are a bit softer than Japanese knives, but this makes them easier to sharpen, and a sharp knife is so important in a kitchen battle. The professional series is made of forged steel, so they are definitely durable," he says. "They're not cheap, so you'll want to take care of them. I always keep a wet towel when using my knives, often wiping my blade, hand-washing them and putting them in the dishwasher for a better clean."

For a more affordable option, Yahoo readers love Henckels' 14-piece (black) and 20-piece (natural) knife sets (their black- and stainless steel-handle steak knife sets, also available in a giftable box, come highly rated too).

Length: Varying | Blade material: Stainless steel | Handle material: Stainless steel

Last, but certainly not least, we have Global knives, which, according to Nikki Martin, a private chef who's made appearances on the Food Network, Bravo and Master Chef, "have the whimsical ergonomics of a lightweight Japanese knife (like Shun), but can also do the heavy lifting like your typical German knives (such as Wusthof and Henckels).” 

She continues, "The Global Chef's Knife happens to be my favorite chef’s knife [it was also a favorite of the legendary Anthony Bourdain]. In his book Kitchen Confidential, Bourdain stressed the importance of keeping things simple, but this set also includes a few other essentials that can be useful depending on what you need."

Cameron Ingle, executive chef of Marisi La Jolla in San Diego, also counts himself among fans. "To enhance your skill level in the kitchen and set yourself apart from the rest of the home-cook world, a good chef's knife and paring knife should suffice," he says. "Global makes an effective, affordable set (last time I checked, it was also on sale), with super-high-quality steel and great edge retention. And they look pretty cool!"