Get the latest reviews, deals, giveaways, and exclusive content. Join our free newsletter and get the latest reviews, deals, giveaways, and exclusive content. Both brands are relatively affordable, but Cuisinart knives are exceptionally cheap. Henckels knives are sharper with a 30-degree cutting angle, while Cuisinart’s are sharpened to 44 degrees. Henckels blades are hardened to 57 on the Rockwell scale, while Cuisinart’s steel is softer, scoring 55.
Brighten up your kitchen now with this gotham steel cookware sets 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.
Ergonomic and sharp, Enso is great for cooks that need quality knives to stand up to daily use. If you don’t cook a lot, or your meal prep isn’t very complicated, you can absolutely get away with a three-piece set. We also tested a similar set, the Cuisinart C77SS-15PK Stainless Steel Hollow Handle 15-Piece Cutlery Block Set , expecting it to be similar. Unfortunately, their performance fell far short of this set, unbalanced and not as sharp.
The chef’s knife is the most versatile tool in our knife block sets, with its broad and sharp blade. It’s perfect for everything from chopping vegetables to slicing herbs. Our utility knives, known as the “sandwich knife,” also make light work out of cutting baguettes. Paring knives, steak knives, and kitchen shears round out the set, allowing you to choose the right tool for the task. Each knife handle is ergonomically designed for firm gripping and accuracy. The Cuisinart Stainless Steel Hollow Handle Set is made entirely of high-carbon stainless steel for a sleeker and more contemporary design.
The consequence of its sales model is that its knives aren’t available on retail shelves and are only sold through third-party retailers online, which raises concerns of fair prices and seller legitimacy. If you need to replace a knife in your Cutco collection, you may be scouring the depths of eBay and Craigslist to do so — likely at a markup. Most sets come with a storage wood block, but you may not want to use it if your kitchen is short on counter-space like mine. I prefer Japanese-style knives , which are sharp but quite fragile. Many other chefs prefer hard German steel (like Wüsthof and Zwilling, and J.A. Henckels), because they don’t chip as easily and are easy to sharpen.
Each knife has a sloped bolster, which means it’s easier to learn how to properly grip the knife on the blade instead of by the handle. Still, it’s hard to complain considering you’ll receive five impressively sharp knives that performed as well as sets three times the price. In addition to the sharp blades, each knife has a great balance and we love the grip of the handles.
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.
This brand is unique in that you can purchase cutlery directly from its site, but one of our chief complaints is its lack of option for knife sets or discounts on essential duos. We appreciate how customizable Yoshirio has made its brand. You can get handles in three different shapes — D, octagonal, or round — and made of magnolia, rosewood, enju, hiba, yew, or ebony.
This set also lacks a sharpener, but that’s not a deal-breaker since you can have your knives professionally sharpened or purchase an inexpensive sharpening tool separately. While the long paring knife wasn’t our favorite for off-the-cutting-board tasks like peeling apples, the set comes with two shorter knives that accomplished the task just fine. Our major complaint cuisinart knife was the weird, wavy edge on the serrated utility knife. It wasn’t as functional as most of the utility knives we tested, and had trouble cutting dense items like hard cheese. If the knife set had included a regular utility knife, we might have ranked this set higher. Each knife in Cuisinart’s repertoire is part of a long history of Western culinary tools.
Though not for the professional chef, Cuisinart’s knives are easily the best you can get for under $20 a piece. It’s impressive how well they work given their price, making them a good choice for first-time knife buyers. Once you’re well practiced with your knife skills, consider upgrading to a higher end brand. The best Cookware Sets set is the Cuisinart C77WTR-15P Classic Forged Triple Rivet 15-Piece Knife Set in White. This Cuisinart knife set contains everything you could possibly need for almost any dish, as well as a few valuable extras like a knife sharpener to properly maintain your knives’ edges. “I often reach for these over my “expensive” knives!” says one of 29,000 five-star reviewers.