Now that you know how to select a wonderful knife block set, let’s get right to the reviews. Here’s the deal: if you’re in a hurry, take a look at the top pick and the budget pick. Both are fantastic products, and they are among the best knife blocks we found. Right below, you’ll find all runner-ups in our kitchen knife block set reviews. If you’re looking for the best knife blocks for your kitchen, they’re on this list.
Ginsu Chikara Knife Set
There are few knives out there that will cut better than Japanese steel knives from Ginsu. That’s why the Ginsu Gourmet Chikara Knife Set is one of the most widely-sought knife sets around. It has been named a Consumer Report “Best Buy” 5 times. The block is a beauty, made from bamboo wood. Despite its creation by a Japanese brand, it is crafted with precision in a little town in Arkansas. It is a rich caramel color that will blend in well in your kitchen. This is a set of 12 pieces, however, and here are the other items you will receive: An 8-inch chef’s knife, a 7-inch Santoku knife, a 5-inch utility knife, a 5-inch serrated utility knife, 4 4.5-inch steak knives, a 3.5-inch paring knife, kitchen shears, and a honing rod. As you can imagine, these knives are extremely sharp. The honing rod allows you to re-sharpen them at home. These top rated knife block sets are magnificent!
Cuisinart Knife Block Set
Our budget pick comes from a brand with longevity in the kitchen tool game. The Cuisinart Knife Block Set hits the top of our list for a lot of reasons. First and foremost is its highly affordable cost. You receive both the excellent knife block and an additional 14 pieces. Here’s what you get: The block itself is made from wood, painted matte black. It is extremely easy to clean and it will match kitchens of any color. Then there are the knives. All are made of stainless steel, so wear and tear will be minimal. You get an 8-inch chef knife, an 8-inch slicing knife, a 7-inch Santoku knife, a 5.5-inch serrated utility knife, a 3.5-inch paring knife, a 3.5-inch bird's beak paring knife, an 8-inch sharpening steel, and a pair of all-purpose household shears. Do you see why this easily wins the “best universal knife block” title for our reviewers? It is the addition your cooking so badly needs.
Chicago Cutlery Fusion Block
A good knife set should be helpful and not intimidating. The fact is, even the worst cooks can become better if they have the right tools at their disposal. The best knife block set can help you to cook, bake, meal prep, and feed your family faster and with greater ease. You also don’t need to shell out a lot of dough for fine cutlery. Knives are available that will stay sharp, and look good doing it, at a decent price. Take, for example, the Chicago Cutlery Fusion Block. Every one of these blades is forged from high-carbon stainless steel. You’re not going to have to worry about these knives getting rusty before their time, especially if they are cared for well. The handles are black comfort-grip poly, and they will stay put even as you work with wet or greasy food. Other plastic handles can slip a little. The block is a fine stained pine wood piece.
Calphalon Knife Block Set
Perhaps you’re looking for a fine knife block, along with a good set of knives. You’re hesitant, however, because it sounds like having to sharpen these knives on a regular basis is going to be a lot of work. What if we told you there was a knife block out there with the ability to sharpen your knives for you? Meet the Calphalon Classic Knife Block Set. It contains built-in ceramic sharpeners! It gets better: As tiny bits of the knife are shaved off by the sharpeners, they are collected automatically within the block. Even clean-up is handled for you. How awesome is that? The Calphalon set is beautiful, too. It is 15 pieces total. The block is blonde rubberwood. Every one of the knives is labeled for easy ID within the block. You don’t have to pull out knife after knife to find the one you seek. There is also a lovely set of shears for cutting.
Home Hero Knife Set
Here is one way to easily identify the knife you need: Acquire a see-through knife block! That’s right: The Home Hero Knife Set with Block is made from acrylic, and you can easily see every single one of the 13 knives you get with purchase. There is a bread knife, a carving knife, a chef's knife, a utility knife, a paring knife, a pizza knife, a cheese knife, and a set of steak knives. Everything that you need is here. This is so much more than a knife set, however. There is also a peeler, scissors, and a sharpener. The sharpener has two modes. The V-grip bottom holds it in place as you work, and precision angle guides your hands. Left-handed people can use the sharpener as easily as right-handed cooks! The acrylic stand contains an inner structure to hold every device without risking damage. These knives are safe for top-level dishwasher use and should be dried immediately after the wash.
J.A. Henckels Knife Set
When you buy the J.A. Henckels Knife Set, you are investing in no-nonsense functionality. These knives work, and they work well, without pretense. This is a 15-piece set, with 14 accessories tucked snugly into a slotted hardwood block. Like the rest of our top knife block sets, the J.A. Henckels set is balanced finely between the blade and handle. The blades are full-tang, which means that the sharpened edge extends to where the handle begins. They are all stainless steel with a satin finish. The handles are triple-rivet with a stainless-steel end cap. When you hold these knives, you will find you have to make very little effort to point the blade in the right direction and apply pressure as needed. Here's the deal: You will get a paring knife, two Santoku knives, a serrated utility knife, a bread knife, a chef's knife, 6 steak knives, kitchen shears, and a sharpening steel. Every item is dishwasher safe. It's time to get cooking!
Aicok Knife Block Set
You want good knives, and their history of excellence in manufacturing and construction matters to you. We totally get that. That’s why our reviewers had to include the Aicok Knife Block Set. Here’s the scoop: These knives are designed and made in Germany, from high-carbon stainless steel. 5 of them are set into a knife block made from Acacia wood. There may be just 5 knives, but they are everything you need to turn into a real kitchen whiz. There is an 8-inch chef’s knife, an 8-inch bread knife, an 8-inch carving knife, a 5-inch utility knife, and a 3.5-inch paring knife. They hold their fine, sharp edge extremely well. They are full tang, so the blade runs from knife tip to knife handle, and they are also rust resistant. A good knife set and the accompanying block are an investment you make in your home. This is a good one. In fact, Aicok offers a lifetime warranty on this kit.
Sabatier Pro Knife Block Set
A sharp knife is a safe knife. That is the philosophy behind the Sabatier company and their Pro Knife Block Set. This is a 12-piece work of art. 11 knives are placed into a wooden block, which is painted matte black. It is easy to wipe down and keep clean when it gets cruddy. Then, the knives begin with high-carbon stainless steel. This metal is resistant to rust and to corrosion. You get an 8-inch chef knife, an 8-inch slicer, a 5-inch chef’s knife, a 4.5-inch fine-edge utility knife, a 3.5-inch paring knife, and 6 steak knives. Every single knife has its own slot on the block, and built into each slot is an automatic sharpener. Integrated ceramic rods reset the edge so that you never deal with dullness. The handles are steady, traditionally triple-riveted in black. Each knife should be hand-washed and dried immediately. The dimensions of the entire product are 7 by 11 by 15 inches.
Artelegno Magnetic Knife Block
It might surprise you to learn that some knife blocks are true works of art. The Artelegno magnetic knife block falls into that category. It is crafted by artisans in Italy and shipped all over the world. Each block is made from solid beech wood. Then, it is inlaid with powerful magnets to hold your knives in place. Artelegno’s designers created blocks in several sizes, but we like the one created for 14-knife sets. There are 5 magnetic partitions. Each one holds knife blades up to 11.6 inches long. The wood is treated to be resistant to stains from food. It is finished with lacquer so that it holds its shine and the color of the material is protected. It is fade and mildew resistant. Only renewable wood resources are used here, so you can rest assured that your Artelegno block is eco-friendly. This makes a fabulous gift for a chef or someone who has just purchased a new home.
Shenzhen Universal Knife Block
Are you a stickler for organization? Do you look at your beautiful knives, stuck in a crowded drawer somewhere, and sigh? Give those beauties a new place to call home with the Shenzen Universal Knife block. This Japanese knife block truly is universal – because it has 20 slots! That’s right: 20 slots, placed into a bamboo and wood-core block. The slots are spread out across 8 levels, and they are all different sizes. Everything from steak knives to cleavers will fit here! The dimensions of the block itself are 5.25 by 11 by 8.25 inches. It is not huge – it will not take up all your counter space. It takes up just enough room for an appealing knife display, saving you cupboard space in the process. The angled edges will ensure your knives don’t get worn out while they wait to be used. There are non-skid rubber feet on the bottom to protect your countertop or your island.
What to Look for in a Knife Block?
Are you searching for information on what to look for in a knife block and what you should not? This article will inform you of several alternatives to knife blocks that are available and will also explain what to look for in a knife block. (By the way, I must mention that if you're looking for information on what to look for in a knife block, you should keep going... because there are several alternative types of knife blocks.) By the time you've finished reading this article, you'll know what to look for in a knife block, what to avoid, and what to include in your own kitchen cutlery.
A few years ago, manufacturers started marketing blocks that included several different sharpening materials. Two of the most popular types of material blocks are those which include ceramic or carbon dioxide and titanium. Other material options include stainless steel and aluminum. One advantage of using multiple block materials is that it makes it possible to sharpen knives quickly. (You also get a lot of extra counter space when you use multiple knife blocks.)
However, not everyone prefers using multiple knife sharpening tools. Some people simply want the ability to quickly and easily sharpen their knives on the spot. The two most popular alternatives to knife blocks (Blocks and Sharpeners) allow people to quickly and easily adjust the sharpening angle of their knives. Also, these kinds of block sharpeners usually come with a removable bolster, allowing them to be used as a table knife as well. (Blocks come in different sizes, from small, single-bladed, single-edged to larger, double-bladed, multi-edged.)
Knife Block Considerations
Another key consideration when it comes to what to look for in a knife block is how much weight the block can handle. You will need to make sure the knife sharpener you decide on is lightweight enough to handle the kind of cutting you'll be doing with your new tool. If you're just going to be using the knife block for cutting fish and other light materials, it might make more sense to choose a less heavy block sharpener. On the other hand, if you're planning on doing some serious knife work like chopping firewood and so on, a heavier block sharpener will give you more leverage and help keep your new tool sharp.
Of course, one of the biggest considerations when it comes to what to look for in a knife block is how well it holds a knife. A good way to test this is to hold your current knife sharpener up against the block you plan to buy. Compare the weight of the block to the weight of your current sharpener. You should be able to feel the knife holder's weight while holding the tool, if it doesn't feel right then you may want to consider buying a different type of knife block. Remember, it's very important that your sharpener feels comfortable as well as being easy to use so always take that into consideration.
Closing Thoughts
One final thing to take into consideration when you're looking for what to look for in a knife block is whether or not it has an adjustable angle. You may find that certain types of knife blocks only allow for a particular angle to be adjusted. This can sometimes be inconvenient, especially if you need to quickly adjust the angle of a knife block. By having an adjustable angle, you can make the block much more versatile by being able to adjust it for a wide variety of tasks. You'll be able to sharpen your knife and then switch it over to a different use if you need to.