Brighten up your kitchen now with this cuisinart knife set for just $15. However, Cuisinart knives are some of the cheapest I’ve ever seen, especially the collections with stamped blades. If this assumption is true, Henckels knives are significantly sharper than Cuisinart knives. And due to the softness of Cuisinart’s steel, the edge will dull and require resharpening more often. I found retailers advertising their blades at a rating of 56, but 3CR13 stainless steel is rated between 52 and 55.
Please, whatever you do, don’t just throw your knives in a drawer unless they have a plastic cover. They could bang against each other and chip, dulling the blade prematurely, or—worse—you could hurt yourself when reaching for one. It’s impossible for us to know your personal preferences, and we tried to keep that in mind as we ranked and rated. At the same time, there are a few steadfast rules to follow when looking for a top set. Before buying, ask yourself what kind of knives you like and how many you need. You may not know the exact answer yet, but it’s worth considering how you’ll use the knives before spending money on a set.
By the end, you’ll know whether Cuisinart knives are right for you — and which ones might make the best fit for your kitchen. Sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter for useful advice on new products and noteworthy deals. A blade that is too hard is prone to chipping and can break if it’s dropped since it lacks flex. If you’re not familiar, the bolster is the part of the knife where the blade and handle meet, and the steel thickens. It provides a smooth transition between the blade and handle and serves as a finger guard, protecting your hand from slipping onto the blade.
You either have to memorize which color is which blade, keep the package handy, or take a photo to identify the different knife edges. Ceramic blades tend to stay sharp longer — which is good because they’re difficult to sharpen. Most household knives are made from stainless steel, which is rust-resistant and durable. Their edges are not as sharp as carbon steel, though, and they are harder to sharpen. Many purists prefer knives made from carbon steel, which makes for very strong blades and edges that stay sharper longer. However, these need to be seasoned to prevent rust and to make them more resistant to acidic compounds like those found in lemons.
As a bonus, the kitchen shears are a highly-ranked pair that we already loved. This Wüsthof set is relatively lightweight for German-steel knives. These precision-forged knives are made from a single piece of continuous high-carbon stainless steel, so they’re super sharp and won’t rust easily. The full-tang blade is seamlessly attached to a comfortable polypropylene handle that didn’t slip in our hands, even when wet. We would have liked to see a smaller serrated knife included with this set. It ended up being our least favorite knife in the set because it’s large and we weren’t sure what to use it for.
Henckels offers more collections and uses high-grade steel blades. Cuisinart offers fewer options, and everything about their knives is designed to save you money. Cuisinart offers a surprising amount of forged blades, cuisinart knife considering the price of its products. The Marble Style, Nitrogen, Triple Rivet collections feature forged blades, while blades in the Artisan, Graphix, Non-Stick Edge, and Advantage Colored collections are stamped.
The Wüsthof Classic Ikon 7-Piece Knife Set almost rivals our top pick, but it only comes with four knives plus shears. The utility knife’s long, semi-flexible blade makes it stand out in a set we already love. If you don’t need any of the extra knives, you really can’t go wrong with this one.