Table knives
If you've purchased or received a set of silverware, it likely includes table knives. These basic knives, stored alongside matching forks and spoons in the silverware drawer, are essential for a traditional place setting. With their mild cutting ability and slight serration, they serve as everyday tools for transferring food from the table to your mouth. They can easily cut through a tender piece of chicken or a delicious slice of lasagna, but their functionality is somewhat limited.
For a more versatile option, Oneida offers a reliable set of dinner knives on Amazon at a reasonable price. Since introducing its first line of stainless steel flatware in the 1960s, Oneida has been a leader in the industry. If you're seeking quality and a wide variety of styles (the brand boasts over 2,000 options), Oneida is an excellent choice for dinner knives.
You can find the Oneida Flight Everyday Flatware Dinner Knives available for $12.26 on Amazon.
Butter knives
These uniquely designed blades aren't intended for cutting. More akin to a sturdy spatula than a knife, these non-essential yet desirable tools are perfect for spreading various types of butter, jam, cream cheese, and other similar soft spreads. They outperform table knives for these tasks due to their shorter blades, which are ideal for spreading butter without tearing your bread. Additionally, the blade's angle allows it to rest on the table without leaving a mess.
If you're looking for a set that adds a touch of elegance to a formal tea service, consider ErCrysto's budget-friendly butter knife set. Featuring a wide, flat blade and a sleek handle made of stainless steel, these knives combine functionality with style. They boast a solid 4.4-star rating on Amazon, reflecting their good reputation.
You can buy a set of four ErCrysto Stainless Steel Butter Knives for just $8.99 on Amazon.
Cheese knives
Certainly! Some individuals prefer using a cheese knife with a broad, flat blade and dull serrations. However, let's be honest: that's not the right kind of knife for the job. Those are essentially fancy butter knives pretending to be cheese knives. Instead, think about investing in a genuine cheese knife — one that features a slight serration, holes in the blade, and a pronged tip. The best cheese knives have specific gaps in the blade to stop them from sticking to softer cheeses like Brie or Camembert, which also helps avoid squashing these creamy varieties. And why the pronged tip? It’s perfect for spearing cheese cubes.
If you're ready to invest in a quality cheese knife, take a look at the Prodyne Multi-Use Cheese Knife. As highlighted in the product description, this knife has a 5.5-inch blade that is also effective for cutting fruit and vegetables. Additionally, it boasts an impressive 4.7 out of 5 stars from thousands of reviews on Amazon, making it a strong recommendation.
You can find the Prodyne CK-300 Multi-Use Cheese Knife for $12.08 on Amazon.
Steak knives
If you're a steak enthusiast, you know that a standard table knife just won't suffice (pun intended). When you require a more robust tool for your meat-cutting tasks at the table, a steak knife is the answer. Typically serrated, though not always, this type of knife makes slicing through meat easier, preventing any frustration during your meal. The main purpose of this blade is to be sharper than an ordinary table knife, allowing it to tackle tougher cuts, even if it lacks serration. They're ideal for steaks, chops, chicken breasts, and any other dishes that need a bit more cutting strength.
For a stylish and elegant set of steak knives, consider the Caesna Mirror steak knives (9.75 inches long); these utensils are so polished that you can see your reflection in them. The set boasts over 1,700 five-star reviews on Crate & Barrel's website, highlighting the brand's quality.
You can buy the Caesna Mirror Steak Knives in a set of four for $44.95 at Crate & Barrel.
Carving knives
During the holiday season, turkeys, hams, and roasts are extremely popular. To serve generous portions to your guests, you'll need to carve the meat. Achieving even, thin, and long slices requires skill and the right tools. The ideal choice is a slicing or carving knife paired with a carving fork. Their long, non-serrated blades are designed for creating perfect slices of turkey or pork roast, while the fork is essential for stabilizing the roast during the cutting process.
The Hammer Stahl Carving Knife & Fork Set is an excellent option for those seeking a combination of elegant steel and warm wooden handles. This set includes an 8-inch carving knife and a 6-inch carving fork, making it a stylish addition to any kitchen. With an impressive average rating of 4.81 out of 5 stars, it has garnered positive feedback from satisfied customers for its quality.
You can purchase the Hammer Stahl Carving Knife & Fork Set for $89.95 from Heritage Steel.
Bread knives
Few carbohydrates are as satisfying as freshly baked bread, and the quickest way to ruin a slice is by squashing it while cutting. With its hard outer crust and warm, soft interior, you'll need a knife that can tackle various cutting tasks. While bread knives may resemble carving knives in size and shape, they are distinct due to their serrated edges. This serration enables you to slice through the crust effortlessly without compressing the loaf, maintaining the lightness and volume of a perfect slice.
The Mercer Millennia Bread Knife features a 10-inch blade and a non-slip handle, making it ideal for all your bread-slicing requirements. On Amazon, 87% of customers have given this knife a 5-star rating, praising its comfortable grip and robust blade.
You can buy the Mercer 10" M23210WBH Millennia Bread Knife for $18.50 from Action Sales.
Chef's knife
A chef's knife is generally quite large, typically featuring a blade that measures around 8 inches or more. If you spot a knife in your collection that resembles something from a horror movie, it's probably your chef's knife. These blades see a lot of action; they're excellent for chopping and mincing, and they can also slice beautifully in the absence of a carving knife—especially for meats like pork or beef tenderloin.
With its unique Damascus finish, the Shun Classic 8-Inch Chef's Knife is a stunning addition to your kitchen. Crafted in Japan, this blade is resistant to rust and stains, and reviews indicate that it is exceptionally sharp. Earning 50 five-star ratings on Crate & Barrel, it has garnered praise from many satisfied customers. While it may not be the most budget-friendly option, this knife is definitely worth the investment.
You can buy the Shun Classic 8-Inch Chef's Knife for $169.95 at Crate & Barrel.
Utility knife
As the name implies, these knives are all about functionality. This adaptable knife excels at both slicing and chopping. Clearly, it’s the most frequently used tool in a typical home kitchen. While it may not be as large as a chef's knife and lacks the same balance and rocking motion for chopping or dicing, it’s perfect for slicing a small roast, chopping a cucumber, or cutting a giant sub in half.
For a splash of color, check out Misen’s selection of 5.5-inch utility knives, available in vibrant shades of blue and red, along with classic grey and black. Although utility knives often receive criticism for being a lesser version of chef's knives, many positive reviews on Misen's website highlight the quality and sharpness of their blades.
You can buy the 5.5-Inch Utility Knife for $69 from Misen.
Boning knives
If you find yourself needing to prepare meat by separating it from the bone—like deboning a ribeye steak for fajitas—a boning knife is essential. These knives feature shorter, thinner, and curved blades that provide the precision, angles, and cuts that larger knives simply cannot offer. The slim, tapered blade also makes it easy to remove cartilage, tendons, and fat from the meat you’re working with.
Wüsthof, one of our top knife brands, offers a beautifully crafted boning knife with a 5-inch blade and an ergonomic synthetic black handle. Manufactured in Solingen, Germany, renowned as the city of knives, Wüsthof boasts a rich history of over 200 years. On the Williams Sonoma website, this knife has an impressive average rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars, with numerous reviews praising the quality of Wüsthof knives.
You can buy the Wüsthof Classic Boning Knife for $115 at Williams Sonoma.
Paring knives
Another valuable tool for detailed tasks in the kitchen is the paring knife. Resembling a utility knife but with a shorter blade, paring knives excel at precise jobs, such as peeling zucchini, as well as more intricate tasks like deveining shrimp or extracting seeds from cherries, olives, and other fruits. Essentially, this type of kitchen knife is incredibly useful for small slicing or dicing tasks that demand careful control.
All-Clad is a highly regarded brand, and its Forged 3.5-Inch Paring Knife exemplifies its quality craftsmanship. Made from forged German steel treated with liquid nitrogen, this knife boasts exceptional sharpness and is resistant to chipping and rust. On the All-Clad website, the product has garnered over 175 five-star reviews, with numerous customers praising it as the sharpest knife in their kitchen.
You can buy the Forged 3.5-Inch Paring Knife for $49.99 directly from All-Clad.
Oyster knives
If you enjoy savoring fresh oysters straight from the sea, you’ve likely encountered an oyster knife designed to pry open the tightly sealed shell and access the delicate meat inside. Given that oyster harvesting and consumption is a time-honored tradition, it’s no surprise that there are various styles of knives specifically crafted for this purpose. Knives from New Haven, Boston, Danbury, and Providence each feature unique designs. Regardless of their appearance, all these blades serve the same function: to open the oyster shell and neatly detach the muscle from both the top and bottom. Most oyster knives are equipped with a sharp, curved tip intended for wedging into the shell and rocking back and forth until it pops open.
The New Haven-style oyster knife from Dexter-Russell is an excellent choice for those beginning their oyster-shucking adventure. It boasts a highly grippy, bulbous handle and a 2.75-inch blade with a curved tip, earning an impressive average rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars on Amazon—a strong recommendation.
You can find the Dexter-Russell New Haven-Style Oyster Knife available for $19.35 on Amazon.
Tomato knives
Cutting tomatoes can be quite challenging. Their tough skin combined with soft flesh often leads to crushing instead of slicing. The same issue applies to peaches and plums. Using any standard knife can result in mashing the fruit rather than achieving a clean cut. Fortunately, there are specialized tomato knives designed for this purpose. These uniquely shaped blades often feature tips that resemble twin horns, although not all tomato knives have this characteristic. The key to their effectiveness lies in the long, slender blade and serrated edges, which make it easy to slice through tough skin and delicate fruit.
Rada's Tomato Slicer is equipped with a dual-edged, serrated 5-inch blade and a comfortable black resin handle. It has received a 5-star rating from over 1,000 reviews on the Rada website, with one customer noting that this tomato knife is the most frequently used tool in their kitchen.
You can buy the Tomato Slicer for $15.60 from Rada.
Meat cleavers
These large, hefty, somewhat intimidating tools are surprisingly adaptable. If you need to break down substantial, bone-in cuts of meat before cooking, a meat cleaver will become your go-to tool. They excel at cleanly halving ribs or chopping through a bone-in prime rib, for example. Your other knives aren't designed to handle large bones, and using them for this purpose could be unsafe and damaging to their blades. Moreover, due to their weight and various non-cutting edges, meat cleavers can also serve as effective makeshift meat tenderizers.
For a meat cleaver that truly delivers, consider the Original Dry Ager Cleaver, featuring a 9-inch blade and an attractive wooden handle. Dry Ager specializes in all the equipment necessary for dry aging meat, from specialized refrigerators to robust bone saws. Their professional cleaver is just one more appealing tool in their lineup.
You can buy the Original Dry Ager Cleaver for $249 at Wine Cooler Planet.
Kitchen shears or scissors
To be honest, this might be the most overlooked tool in your kitchen. You might be using them like regular scissors, simply opening packages and cutting flour bags. However, if you work with dough—especially thinner varieties for pizzas and pies—kitchen shears can be incredibly useful. They also make quick work of chopping basil or similar herbs. Plus, you can easily dice canned tomatoes right in the can without creating a mess.
Wüsthof, a renowned German brand celebrated for its high-quality knives, also offers exceptional kitchen shears. These scissors feature a serrated keyhole designed for stripping herbs and can be separated into two pieces for easier cleaning. They hold an impressive average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars on the website, with loyal customers stating they've replaced their old Wüsthof shears with the same model.
You can buy the Pull-Apart Kitchen Shears for $25 from Wüsthof.
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