In order to help you choose the best knife set for your needs we have provided an in-depth article on the best knife block set. Make sure you also check out the best chef knife set and the best knife set under $100, to get a complete view of all that’s out there.
What is a Kitchen Knife Block Set?
A knife block set is simply a set of kitchen knives that are usually bought together with a knife storage block, for proper knife storage and organization. The knife storage block is specifically designed for the shape of the blades contained in the set.
What knives should a set have?
A knife block set may contain as many knives as the manufacturer wants. However, it is advisable that you choose a set that contains at least the three basic knives: A chef’s knife, a bread knife and a paring. Other important knives that can be contained in a block set include utility knives, Santoku knives, steak knives, carving knives, a pair of kitchen shears and much more.
3 Valuable Tips on How to Choose the Best Set
- Consider the Size of the Set
When deciding the size of the knife set you need, consider your cooking habits and practices, and take into account the different knives provided in the set. More importantly, take time to check the tools provided in the set and determine if you really need them in your kitchen. A basic knife set block should contain a chef’s knife, a bread, a paring and a utility knife. - Do You Need a Knife Storage Block With Extra Slots?
When choosing your best knife block set, ensure you check the number of slots provided in the storage block. If you’re planning to add some specialty knives in the future, then you will require a storage block with extra slots for proper storage and organization of all your kitchen knives. - Your Budget Matters Too!
As a home chef, avoid going for pricey knives that are usually made with the thickest and hardest steel as they can be challenging to keep sharp. Instead consider factors such, the material, heft, grip, shape and size of the knives before making your purchase.
A Review of the Top 7 Best Knife Blocks on the Market Today
Best Studio Knife Block Set – Wusthof Classic Ikon 7-Piece Set
Wusthof is one of the most renowned kitchen knife manufacturers with more than 200 years of production. The knives are manufactured in Solingen, Germany since 1814. In the market, Wusthof knives are known for their high durability and quality. This has made this brand to be one of the most trusted on the market today. The Wusthof Classic Ikon 7-Piece Block Set is not an exception, it comes with:
Wusthof Classic Ikon 3.5 Inch Paring Knife
The Wusthof Classic Ikon 3.5 Inch Paring knife features a straight edge blade and a spear tip that makes it perfect for small kitchen chores, including coring fruits and cutting vegetables. The knife comes with a short blade length that makes it easy to control and maneuver. The full bolster and finger guard are important safety features that ensure that you do not cut yourself while cutting vegetables or peeling fruits.
Wusthof Classic Ikon 6-Inch Utility knife
The Wusthof Classic Ikon 6-Inch Utility knife has a blade that is forged from X50CrMoV15 stainless steel, with Precision Edge Technology. The knife is sharpened to a14 degrees angle to produce a sharper, finer edge that allows for more precise cuts. The knife is then sharpened using the Wusthof’s PEtec technology, making it 20 percent sharper with twice the edge retention than previous models. The blade is then hardened to a Rockwell hardness of 58. This midsized knife can be used for cutting sandwich meats and larger vegetables that are not large for the Classic Ikon chef’s knife.
Wusthof Classic Ikon 8-inch Bread knife
The Wusthof Classic Ikon 8-inch Bread knife is forged from a high quality X50CrMoV15 stainless steel, with Precision Edge Technology (PEtec). The PEtec helps to produce a blade that is up to 20 times sharper with twice the edge retention than previous models. The Wusthof Ikon 8-Inch Bread Knife is one of the many kitchens used by chefs. It has a serrated blade that is able to cut soft food items without damaging the interior.
Wusthof Classic Ikon 8-Inch Chef Knife
The Wusthof Classic Ikon 8-Inch Chef Knife provides you precise cutting versatility via its sharp blade. Its blade is precision forged from a single piece of X50CrMoV15 stainless steel. Due to its high quality chemical and physical properties, the material makes the chef very strong and long-lasting. It is able to withstand intense cutting actions, making it perfect for general cutting properties. The knife is designed with double bolsters that provide it with both heft and balance. It is ideal for a wide range of kitchen cutting tasks such as slicing, dicing and chopping. You can also use for chopping and cutting fruits and vegetables.
Wusthof Classic Ikon 9-Inch Come Apart Kitchen Shears
The Wusthof Classic Ikon 9-Inch Come Apart Kitchen Shears is an important piece in this knife block set. You can use the shears for cutting everything from herbs and vegetables, to poultry bones, to pesky plastic packing. The D-shaped handles are specially designed with comfort and style in mind. The blades move smoothly via whatever you are cutting and easy to clean.
Wusthof 15-Slot Walnut Block
The knife also features a 15-slot storage block. The extra slots can be used for holding your already existing knives or you can add other specialty knives not provided in the knife set.
Pros and Cons of the Wusthof Classic Ikon 7-Piece Block Set
Pros
- All knives are made of high quality materials and are guaranteed to last a lifetime
- The set comes with a 15- slot walnut block, extra slots available to store your already existing kitchen knives
- Come-apart shears included
- The knife contains the basic knives required by a home cook
- Ultra-sharp knives for more precise cuts
Cons
- Does not come with a honing rod
- Steaks knives are not included in the set
Best Knife Block Set for Large Households – Wusthof Classic 36-Piece Cherry Set
If you are looking for a reliable set of knives, you should consider the Wusthof Classic Large Knife Block Set. The knife set is considered one of the most versatile and comprehensive knife sets on the market today. It is highly rated by both cooking enthusiasts and professional chefs. The set comes with:
4 Wusthof Classic Paring Knives
The Wusthof Classic Paring Knives feature a straight-edge blade that is specifically made for multi-purpose use. The blade is precision-forged from a single piece of high quality German steel. It is then hand honed and forged to a scalpel-like edge using the Wusthof’s Precision Edge Technology (PEtec). The PEtec yields a blade that is up to 20 times sharper than standard blades and twice the edge retention than previous models. You can use the Wusthof Classic Paring knives for slicing cheese, filleting small fish, trimming meat fat, de-veining shrimp, de-seeding peppers and chilies, peeling and crushing garlic, mincing shallots as well as paring or peeling vegetables and fruits.
8 Wusthof Classic Steak Knives
Steak knives are commonly used as table knives. They are specifically designed for cutting steak and meat, though they can also be used for slicing and chopping vegetables and fruits with skins. The Wusthof Classic Steak Knives come with a razor-sharp blade and ergonomic black plastic handles. The handles of these knives are triple-riveted for maximum durability. The blade protrudes to the handle to form what is called a full tang. The finger and full bolster help to enhance the safety of the knife by ensuring you don’t cut your hands while using the knife. The knives are made with double bolsters for perfect balance and heft. This enhances effortless and fast cutting actions. The knives enable you to enjoy your filet mignon, ribs and steaks.
2 Wusthof Classic Santoku Knives
Santoku knives are commonly used for chopping and slicing. Santoku knives originated from Japan and first appeared in the mid-20th century. The Wusthof Classic Santoku knives come with more balanced weight distribution. They are lightweight, making it easy to control the blade while in use. The cutting edge of these knives is flat, while the tip of the blade along with spine taper sharply downwards. You can use the Wusthof Classic Santoku knives for slicing fish, cutting meat and chopping vegetables.
2 Wusthof Classic Utility Knives
Utility knives are also known as Sandwich knives. They are commonly used by culinary students, cooking hobbyists and home cooking enthusiasts. When compared to paring knives, utility knives are much bigger and are a good investment for mid-sized prep works. The Wusthof Classic Utility Knives come with a straight edge blade that is perfect for all kinds of cutting tasks in the kitchen.
4 Wusthof Classic Cook’s Knives
The Wusthof Classic Cook’s Knives are perhaps the most essential knives in this block set. They come with a long, wide, slightly curved blades with an ultra-sharp edge that is specifically designed for mincing, dicing and slicing all kinds of food. The long, wide and curved blade is ideal for cutting tasks in the kitchen.
2 Wusthof Classic Bread Knives
The Wusthof Classic bread knife is one of the bestselling bread knives on the market. The blade is forged from a single piece of high carbon stainless for maximum strength, rust resistance and long-lasting sharpness. The Wusthof PEtec ensures that the blade is exquisitely sharp so you can get a clean, smooth cut with each stroke. The blade is then hardened to a Rockwell hardness rating of 58 degrees for maximum durability.
1 Wusthof Classic Carving Knife
The Wusthof Classic Carving Knife is specifically designed for carving ham or a leg of a lamb or poultry. The blade is forged for a single piece of high carbon German steel. The handle is made out of high quality polypropylene to resist discoloration, fading and impact. Like other Wusthof Classic, the blade is hardened to a 58HRC for enhanced durability and strong edge holding capabilities.
1 Wusthof Classic Super Slicer
The Wusthof Classic Super Slicer is ideal for slicing or chopping fruits and vegetables. The blade is forged from a single piece of high carbon stainless steel for maximum durability and strength. It is easy to clean and easy to store.
1 Wusthof Classic Straight Meat Fork
The Wusthof Classic Straight Meat Fork is also forged from a high quality chromium-vanadium-steel (X50CrMoV15) is delivered razor-sharp. The handle is made of a black plastic, which is extremely durable and can stand the wear and tear of a kitchen environment. The Wusthof Classic Straight Meat Fork is very strong and can be used for lifting and turning meats.
1 Wusthof Classic Clever
The Wusthof Classic Clever is precision-forged from a single piece of high carbon steel (X50CrMoV15) that resists corrosion and stains. The full tang handle is triple-riveted for maximum durability. The Wusthof Classic Clever is ideal for breaking down larger cuts of meat. This heavy German Clever is designed to cut via bones. It can also be used for chopping and mincing tough vegetables.
1 Wusthof Classic Boning Knife
The Wusthof Classic Boning Knife comes with a thin ultra-sharp blade that makes it perfect for removing fat and skin from meats without carving away the flesh. The blade is curved at the tip to enable you to peel the skin and fat away from meats. Several cuts of meat, such as a rack of lamb and pork cuts have a layer of fat that should be removed before cooking.
1 Wusthof Classic Fillet Knife
The Wusthof Classic Fillet Knife is so sharp and thin, to deftly cut where larger, heavier knives might be cumbersome. Its flexibility allows for precision cutting. You can use the knife to remove bones from fish.
2 Wusthof Classic Cheese Knives
The Wusthof Classic Cheese Knives are commonly used for cutting off slices of aged cheeses. To make precise cuts, you only need to hold the blade vertically over the cheese and push downwards. You can also use the knife shaving, chipping or cubing firm cheese.
1 Wusthof Classic Tomato Knife
The Wusthof Classic Tomato Knife features a sharp serrated edge that allows the knife to penetrate the tomatoes’ skin quickly with minimal effort and without crushing the flesh. The knife also features forked tips that allow you to lift and move the tomato slices after they have been cut.
1 Wusthof Classic Peeling knife
The Wusthof Classic Peeling knife can be used for many different tasks in the kitchen. However, its common use is peeling fruits and vegetables. In fact, this is the job that gave the knife its name. Other uses of a peeling knife include de-veining shellfish, removing seeds and slicing up ingredients.
1 Wusthof Classic Trimming Knife
The Wusthof Trimming knife is ideal for cutting small pockets of meat for stuffing. Its blade is forged for high carbon X50CrMoV15 No Stain steel. It is then hardened to 58 HRC for maximum strength and durability. It boasts a black plastic handle that is riveted to the full tang of the blade.
1 Wusthof Sharpening Steeling
The Wusthof Sharpening Steel is excellent for honing your knives and straightening the edges of your knives.
A Pair of Wusthof Classic Kitchen Shears
A pair of kitchen shears is an important piece in this set. You can use the shears for cutting everything from herbs and vegetables, to poultry bones, to pesky plastic packing. The D-shaped handles are specially designed with comfort and style in mind.
A Walnut Knife Block
Included in the set is a Walnut knife block to ensure proper storage and organization of the knives in the kitchen. The wooden block boasts a Wusthof logo to showcase the quality of the knives in the set.
Pros and Cons of the Wusthof Classic 36-Piece Cherry Wood Set
Pros
- The set contains all the knives you would possibly think of
- The knives are forged from a single piece of high carbon steel for maximum strength, durability and long-lasting sharpness
- Comes with a wooden storage block
- A sharpening steel is included to keep your knives sharp
- 8 steak knives are included for use on your dining table
Cons
- There are no extra slots on the block to store any additional kitchen knives
- Comes with a considerably high retail price, but this is due to the many knives provided in the set.
Best Budget / Large Set – Victorinox Swiss Army Cutlery 22-piece Knife Block Set
The Victorinox Swiss Army Cutlery 22-piece Set is another top-rated knife block set on the market. If you are looking for a ridiculously affordable knife block set with all the basic knives, then this may be what you need. The set contains:
Victorinox 2.5-Inch Swiss Classic Shaping knife
The Victorinox 2.5-Inch Swiss Classic Shaping knife is ideal of garnishing and decoration fruits and vegetables. This Swiss Classic knife comes with a Bird’s Beak blade with an ultra-sharp edge and an ergonomically designed handle.
Victorinox Swiss Classic 3.25 Inch Paring knife
The Victorinox Swiss Classic 3.25 Paring knife is an important tool in your kitchen. It comes with an extremely sharp edge and an ergonomic handle. You can use the knife for simple, slicing to intricate cuts to inspired garnishing.
Victorinox Swiss Classic 4.5 Inch Utility Knife
The Victorinox Swiss Classic 4.5 Inch Utility Knife is ideal for cutting sandwich meats and larger vegetables. It comes with an ergonomic handle that is comfortable to hold for long.
Victorinox Swiss Classic 4.5 Inch Steak Knife
The Victorinox Swiss Classic 4.5 Inch Steak Knife is ideal for cutting steaks, roasts and chops. You can as well use them for chopping vegetables and fruits with thin skins. The knife is made of high quality materials to provide exceptional hardness and long-lasting characteristics. This assures you that the knives will serve you for long.
Victorinox Swiss Classic 5-Inch Chef’s Utility Knife
The Victorinox Swiss Classic 5-Inch Chef’s Utility Knife comes with a longer blade, making it ideal for professional chefs and experienced home cooks. You can use it for slicing bread, meats and other types of food with a hard crust or an outer skin. You can also use it for cutting soft or juicy vegetables, such as tomatoes.
Victorinox Swiss Classic 6-Inch Chef’s Utility Knife
The Victorinox Swiss Classic 6-Inch Chef’s Utility Knife is a perfect option for serious cooking hobbyists, home cooking enthusiasts and culinary students. The knife is bigger a paring knife and is a good investment for mid-sized prep work.
Victorinox Swiss Classic 6-Inch Boning Knife
The Victorinox Swiss Classic 6-Inch Boning Knife features a thin, sharp and flexible blade for removing the bones and skin from meat and fish. The blade is curved at the tip to enable you to peel the skin and fat away from meats.
Victorinox Swiss Classic 7-Inch Santoku Knife
The Victorinox Swiss Classic 7-Inch Santoku Knife is ideal for slicing and chopping. It is specially made to provide a well-balanced comfortable grip. The handle design and weight distribution make it ideal for people who have small hands.
Victorinox Swiss Classic 8-Inch Carving Knife
The Victorinox Swiss Classic 8-Inch Carving Knife is excellent for cutting thin cuts of meat, including hams, roasts, poultry and other large cooked meats. The carving knife is much thinner than the cook’s knife, allowing you to carve thinner, more precise slices.
Victorinox Swiss Classic 8-Inch Chef’s Knife
The Victorinox Swiss Classic 8-Inch Chef’s Knife can be used for nearly all kitchen tasks. You can use it for dicing, chopping, slicing and deboning smaller cuts of meat. The 8-inch blade makes it ideal for use by both beginner and professional chefs.
Victorinox Swiss Classic 8-Inch Bread Knife
The Victorinox Swiss Classic 8-Inch Bread Knife comes with a serrated blade made from high quality materials for maximum strength and durability. The 8-inch serrated blade can smoothly saw via hearty bread crusts and bagels or make paper-thin tomato and strawberry slices.
Victorinox Swiss Classic 10.25-Inch Slicing Knives
The Victorinox Swiss Classic 10.25-Inch Slicing Knives comes with a long, narrow, razor-sharp blade designed for slicing everything from meats to cakes, to sandwiches. The Granton blade creates air spaces that prevent food from sticking on the blade.
Victorinox Swiss Classic Kitchen Shears
The Victorinox Swiss Classic Kitchen Shears can be used for cutting everything from vegetables and herbs to pesky plastic packing to poultry bones.
A Hardwood Block
Also included is a hardwood block to ensure proper storage and organization of your knives.
Pros and Cons of the Victorinox Swiss Army Cutlery 22-piece Set
Pros
- Lowest retail price, yet the set contains quality knives
- The storage block has extra slots to allow you to store your already existing or add other specialty knives
- Beautifully designed knives
- Ultra-sharp cutting edges
- The set contains all the essential knives you need in your kitchen
Cons
- Sharpening rod not included in the set
- Doesn’t contain most of the specialty knives
Best Affordable / High Quality Set – J.A. Henckels International Classic 16-Piece Forged Knife Block Set
J.A Henckels is one of the most popular knife brands on the market. The manufacturer makes a wide variety of knives, including the International Collection. The knives in the international collection are specifically made outside Japan and Germany and usually come with a lower price. The J.A Henckels International Classic 16-Piece Forged Knife Block Set is specially made for people looking for forged knives but at a lower price. The set includes:
- 3.5 Inch Paring knife
- 6-inch Utility knife
- 8-Inch Chef’s Knife
- 5-inch Classic Santoku knife
- A Set of 4.5 Inch Steak knives
- 8-Inch Bread Knife
- A pair of kitchen pairs
- A Sharpening rod
- A hardwood knife block
Pros and Cons of the J. A. Henckels International Classic 16-Piece Forged Set
- Made up of quality kitchen knives
- Comes with an extra set of steak knives for use on your dining table
- Honing steel for keeping your knives sharp
- Contains all the basic knives for a home chef
Cons
- Does not contain all the specialty knives
- Some Amazon sellers complained that the knives required frequent sharpening
Best High quality / japanese set – Miyabi Birchwood SG2 7-Piece Knife Block Set
If you are looking for a Miyabi Knife Block Set, you should certainly try the Miyabi Birchwood GS2 7-Piece Set. Unlike other knives, Miyabi knives are unique in that they combine the artistry and craftsmanship with German Engineering to produce some of the best knives on the market. The knives come with a beautifully polished blade with a sturdy MC63 micro carbide powder steel core. Each side of the blade has 50 layers of steel for increased hardness. The blade is hardened using the CRYODUR technique at 63 HRC. The handle is made out of Karelian Masur Birchwood for an eye-catching appearance and enhanced durability. The Miyabi knives have very distinct features that make them pro-quality and worth the price.
Miyabi Birchwood SG2 7-Piece Knife Block Set Unboxing
Miyabi Birchwood GS2 3.5 Inch Paring Knife
The Miyabi paring knife features a shorter blade that makes it ideal for peeling fruits and vegetables. It has the same features as the chef knife only that it is a smaller knife.
Miyabi Birchwood GS2 7-Inch Santoku Knife
The Miyabi Birchwood GS2 7-Inch Santoku Knife can be used for chopping, slicing and dicing needs when you are prepping your dinner. In fact, you can use a Santoku knife in place of your utility knife and chef knife.
Miyabi Birchwood GS2 8-Inch Chef Knife
The Miyabi Birchwood GS2 8-Inch Chef Knife comes with a very beautiful eye-catching design. It is one of the most important knives in any kitchen as it can be used for nearly all kitchen tasks.
Miyabi Birchwood GS2 9-Inch Bread Knife
The Miyabi Birchwood GS2 9-Inch Bread Knife has all the features as the other knives that make up this set. However, it has a serrated blade which makes it ideal for slicing bread and sawing saw through hearty vegetables, like butternut squash, or create perfectly thin slices of juicy tomatoes.
Miyabi Stainless Shears
The Miyabi stainless shears can be used for cutting everything from vegetables and herbs to pesky plastic packing to poultry bone.
Miyabi Birchwood 9-inch Honing Stick
The Miyabi 9-inch honing rod is ideal for keeping your knives sharp. It is made from tungsten carbide which works better on GS2 steel.
12-Slot Miyabi Bamboo Storage Block
The 12-slot storage block provides ample space for storing and organizing your knives. There are extra slots that can be used for holding your already existing knives or you can add other specialty knives not provided in the knife set.
Pros and Cons of the Miyabi Birchwood GS2 7-pc Set
Pros
- The set contains beautifully designed and ultra-sharp knives
- A honing rod is included so you can keep your knives sharp
- The knives are guaranteed to last a lifetime
- The natural texture of Birchwood has ripples and streaks that give it a golden appearance.
Cons
- The block set comes with a considerably higher retail price due to its amazing features
- No specialty knives are included in the set
Best All You Need, Japanese, High Quality Set – Shun Premier 8-Piece Knife Block Set
Shun is a Japanese company that manufactures a wide variety of knives. Their knives are handcrafted using the traditional Japanese methods of making samurai swords, which is a legendary and renowned weapon. The Shun premier knives have a unique that is made from a VG-MAX steel core material for maximum hardness and durability. The blade also features a striking Damascus pattern that links the knife to its maker. The pattern is complemented by a hammered Tsuchime finish, that helps reduce dragging as you use the knife. This ensures that the cuts are easy and clean.
Shun Premier 8-Piece Knife Block Set Unboxing
Shun Premier 8-Inch Chef’s Knife
The Shun Premier 8-Inch Chef’s Knife is perfect for a wide range of kitchen tasks such as dicing, slicing and chopping due to the length of its blade. Its blade is wide to help keep your finger knuckles off the cutting surface.
Shun Premier 6.5-Inch Utility Knife
The Shun Premier 6.5-Inch Utility Knife is ideal for cutting fruits and vegetables with thin skins. Its wide blade is curved at the belly to allow for rock motion.
Shun Premier 4-Inch Paring Knife
The Shun Premier 4-Inch Paring Knife can be used for trimming, coring, decorating, and peeling among other kitchen tasks.
Shun Premier 9-Inch Bread Knife
The Shun Premier 9-Inch Bread Knife comes with a razor-sharp blade with broad serrations. This makes it perfect for cutting and slicing all types of bread.
Shun Premier 5.5 Inch Shantou Knife
The Shun Premier 5.5 Inch Shantou Knife for slicing fish, cutting meat and chopping vegetables
Sharpening Rod
The set also comes with a sharpening rod so you can keep your knives sharp.
Knife Block
The set comes with a wooden block so you can properly store and organize your knives.
Pros and Cons of the Shun Premier 8-Piece Set
Pros
- Forged from a strong Damascus steel material for durability
- Full tang construction ensures knife balance and strength
- A sharpening rod helps to keep your knives sharp
- The wooden storage block has extra slots so you can add essential knives that matter to you
- Quality knives guaranteed to last long
Con
- The edge of the knives can chip off if used for the wrong purpose
Best Steel Handle Knife Block Set – Global 7-piece Ikasu
Global is another trusted knife manufacturer today. The knives are made from a single piece of CROMOV stainless steel material. This material makes the knives unique from other standard knives on the market. The steel provides knives with outstanding strength and edge retention properties. The Global 7-piece Ikasu Set contains:
- 3-inch paring
- 4.5-Inch utility knife
- 5-inch nakiri knife
- 8-inch chef’s knife
- 8-inch bread knife
- A bamboo knife block
Pros and Cons of the Global 7-piece Ikasu Set
Pros
- Contains all the basic knives needed by a home chef
- The knives are made of high quality German steel for maximum strength and durability
- The knives come with a limited lifetime warranty
- Ultra-sharp cutting edges
- Wooden storage block for proper knife storage and organization
Cons
- A sharpening rod is not included in the knife set
- No specialty knives in the set
