Wondering which knives every home cook should have in their kitchen? In this post, I’m sharing my top picks and explaining why they’re essential. You’ll learn about the best knives for different tasks, and get tips on how to care for them so they last for decades.
Kitchen knives are truly the absolute most important tools in the kitchen. You can get along without many gadget and appliances, but knives are a must. Using high-quality knives that perform well can make the cooking process much more enjoyable.
I often get asked about the knives I use and recommend and I am so happy to finally do that in this post. We’ll cover the must-have essentials every home cook should own, along with a few nice-to-have extras that can make a world of difference.
Taking care of your knives is key to ensuring they last a lifetime, so I'll share my best tips to keeping them in pristine shape. Investing in quality knives not only elevates your cooking experience but also makes your food look amazing. That investment in quality knives really pays off in the long run. I have a blog post and video to level up your Knife Skills as a Home Cook and learn about Knife Safety.
Best Kitchen Knives Video
How to Build a Collection of the Best Kitchen Knives for Home Cooks
Having the right set of kitchen knives is essential for any home cook. The right knives can make meal prep faster, easier, and more enjoyable. This guide covers the must-have knives every home kitchen needs, as well as some nice-to-have options to round out your collection. These are all knives I've had for many years and highly recommend.
What To Look For When Buying Good Quality Knives
Investing in a set of high-quality knives is essential, especially for home cooks who take their culinary skills seriously. The key is to look for knives that not only perform exceptionally well, but are also built to last for decades with proper care.
When selecting high-quality knives that will withstand the test of time, the most crucial factor is the blade material. Look for knives that are forged from high-carbon stainless steel. They will be an ideal balance of strength, edge retention, and resistance to corrosion. Avoid knives that are merely stamped out of metal, as they tend to dull quickly, lack durability, and are generally flimsy.
Another thing I look for is that the blade has a full tang, meaning the metal extends all the way through the handle. This makes the knife more durable and the perfect strength and balance for the best chopping.
Comfort and control are also really important, so choose knives with ergonomic, non-slip handles that fit your hand nicely and feel comfortable. The knife should have a medium weight, not flimsy and light, but also not too heavy.
With the right set of high-performance, durable kitchen knives, you can tackle any recipe with precision, efficiency, and be confident that your knives will last a lifetime and can be sharpened to be just as razor sharp as the day you bought them.
Essential Kitchen Knives (Must Have Knives For Every Kitchen)
Amazon Page with some of my favorite kitchen knives and tools (affiliate link)
Medium-Sized Chef's Knife
A versatile 6-8-inch chef's knife is a kitchen workhorse. This is the knife that I reach for every day for a majority of kitchen tasks. It can handle a wide range of cutting tasks from chopping vegetables to slicing meat. My chef's knife has a 6 inch blade, if you have larger hands, you might want to get an 8 inch chef's knife.
Large Chef's Knife
A 10-inch or 12-inch chef's knife is great for tackling larger jobs like cutting through thick vegetables or quartering a whole chicken. It's perfect for big jobs that need a hefty, strong knife, like cutting watermelon or butternut squash. (How to Cut Watermelon)
Serrated Knife
A serrated knife, aka bread knife is essential for slicing through crusty breads and delicate items like tomatoes without tearing or squishing them. The blade is like a saw, so it grips the food and cuts through it nice and smoothly.
Paring Knife
A small 3- to 4-inch paring knife is great for peeling, deveining, and other intricate knife work. I use this knife just as much as the chef's knife. Its small size and sharp blade make it super handy for all those little tasks where control is key.
Kitchen Shears/Scissors
A good pair of sharp kitchen shears or scissors is handy for snipping herbs, cutting through bones, and more. Here's a video I did showing the many ways I use kitchen scissors, from cutting pie dough and chives to cutting through chicken bones.
Nice-to-Have Kitchen Knives
Santoku Knife
A Japanese-style santoku knife has a thin, wide blade that's perfect for precision slicing, dicing, and mincing. Even though I put this knife in the "nice to have" category, I use this one every day as well. It's great for slicing things that tend to stick to the blade, like cheese, potatoes and zucchini. The hollow divets in the knife help to keep the food from sticking.
Extra Paring Knife
Having a second paring knife is convenient for tasks that require more precision. I actually have three and use them all the time.
- Wusthof paring knife (you can buy it separately or with my favorite chef's knife)
- Henckel's paring knife
- Victorinox paring knife
Boning Knife
A flexible boning knife is useful for cutting around bones when preparing meat and fish. The thin and flexible blade can get right next to the bone and help to cut precisely and have neater cuts and less waste. I use this when taking apart whole chickens, filleting or butterflying fish, etc. (See this knife in use as I make Roasted Turkey Breast.)
Utility Knife
A 5- to 6-inch utility knife is a versatile middle ground between a chef's knife and a paring knife. It’s perfect for slicing sandwiches, cutting cheese, slicing a shallot, or even chopping some herbs, like green onions. Its mid-sized blade makes it handy for those tasks that don’t quite require a chef’s knife but need more than a paring knife. It’s a great all-rounder to have on hand.
iCook Knives
I have a set of iCook knives that we got as a gift. They are really durable and good quality but only sold as a set. They are also heavier than the Wusthof knives and not as flexible. Overall, they are great knives, but I prefer the Wusthof knives.
Knife Care and Maintenance
Let’s talk about how to properly store and handle your knives! Keeping your knives safe is super important—not just for their longevity, but for your safety, too.
- Hand Wash Knives
- Don't wash your knives in the dishwasher. I’m not here to play the knife police, so feel free to do your thing at home. But I really recommend washing your knives by hand for the best care. Your knives will last longer if they're not running through the dishwashing cycle regularly, banging around against other silverware and plates and especially the high heat and chemicals.
- Sharpen Knives Regularly
- Regular sharpening not only helps them stay in great shape but also makes cooking a lot easier and safer.
- Learn how to sharpen your knives at home. (This video and blog post will walk you through how you can do it yourself. It's really easy, I promise.)
- Electric Knife Sharpener that we've been using for more than a decade.
- Use Knives Properly
- I know this seems like common sense, but using your knives for things they weren’t designed for is not a good idea. It’s so frustrating to use knives that are bent and dull.
- Don’t use metal, glass or stone cutting boards— they quickly dull your blades and ruin them.
- Your knife is not a can opener, so please don’t use it to pry open cans! And unless you’re a butcher, steer clear of hacking through bones; that’s a surefire way to ruin a good blade.
- Store Knives Securely
- I love storing my knives in a drawer in my island and use a knife block to keep them organized and secure.
- One great option is to use a knife block on your counter. It keeps your knives secure and easily accessible. If you prefer to save counter space, you might want to consider a magnetic strip. It’s a stylish way to store your knives and allows you to see them at a glance.
- The key is to avoid having them just rattling around, which can lead to nicks, rust, and even potential accidents.
Final Thoughts
Building a collection of essential kitchen knives will make food prep faster, easier, and more enjoyable. Start with the must-have knives, then add in some nice-to-have options to suit your cooking needs. Investing in quality knives will serve you well for years to come.
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