Essentials

The best kitchen knives, plus deals

By Carolin Lehmann

May 26, 2022 / 12:21 PM EDT / Essentials

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Food52 Five Two Essential Knives — Food52

A broken knife can put a real damper on your efforts in the kitchen. Odds are, you won't regret investing in solid new kitchen knives. We found some of the top-rated knives you can buy online -- many at a good discount.

Top products in this article:

Five Two by Food52 essential knives (set of 3), $139

$139 at Food52

Misen Essentials knife set (set of 5), $250 (reduced from $310)

$250 at Misen

Shun Classic boning and fillet knife, $140 (reduced from $175)

$140 at All Things Barbecue

What are the best kitchen knives for you? It all depends on your budget. More affordable kitchen knives may dull faster. But no matter the price of your knives, you'll eventually have to sharpen them. (Good news there, though: Amazon's No. 1 bestselling three-stage knife sharpener is just $11 right now on Amazon.)

These reviewer-loved knives from Walmart, Wayfair, Food52 and more are a cut above the rest. Whether you're seeking a whole new knife set or just a few new types of kitchen knives, these options for all budgets are what you need to become a world-class home cook.

Five Two by Food52 essential knives

This set of three knives from Food52 includes a classic chef's knife, a serrated blade -- which works great as a bread knife -- and a paring knife for fruits, vegetables and more. These knives are made of Japanese steel and have soft-touch handles that not only look great, but also feel great. You're saving $38 by buying this set of three knives rather than purchasing them individually.

Five Two by Food52 essential knives (set of 3), $139

$139 at Food52

Henckels International Solution starter knife set

Just like the previous set, this Henckels starter kit includes a paring knife, a serrated utility knife and a chef's knife, but at a more affordable price point. These knives are made from German stainless steel.

Henckels International Solution starter knife set (set of 3), $35 (reduced from $50)

$30 at Walmart

Misen Essentials knife set

If you're seeking more variety, pick up this chef's knife, serrated knife, paring knife, santoku (medium-size, multipurpose) knife and utility (smallest) knife set from Misen. Choose from blue, black or gray handles in these knives made from high-carbon stainless steel. If a five-knife set is too much of a commitment, you can pick up a set of three knives for $150.

Misen Essentials knife set (set of 5), $250 (reduced from $310)

$250 at Misen

Royal Doulton exclusively for Gordon Ramsay knife block set

If you'd prefer knives that come with a block for storage, pick up Gordon Ramsay's knife set. It comes with a chef's knife, bread knife, carving knife, utility knife and paring knife, plus a gray filament knife block. This stainless steel set has a whopping 4.9-star rating on Wayfair.

Royal Doulton exclusively for Gordon Ramsay knife block set (set of ), $91 (reduced from $128)

$91 at Wayfair

Wüsthof classic cook's knife

If you're looking to invest in just one new knife, try the Wüsthof classic cook's knife. This high-carbon stainless steel knife, made in Germany,has a finger guard. It comes with a lifetime manufacturer's warranty, too.

Available in three sizes, 8 inches being the middle size.

Wüsthof 8" classic cook's knife, $170 (reduced from $187)

$150 at Zola

Shun Classic boning and fillet knife

Shun Classic Boning/Fillet Knife — Bed Bath & Beyond

This is a specialty knife you may want to pick up for boning and filleting fish and meat. This 6-inch fillet and boning knife from Shun is made with 34 layers of high-carbon stainless steel on each side.

Shun Classic boning and fillet knife, $140 (reduced from $175)

$140 at All Things Barbecue