In a hurry, here are our top pick, editor’s choice, and best value.
Top pick
Basics Premium Kitchen Knife
The Amazon Basics Premium Kitchen Knife Block Set is just what you need on your countertop.
Editor’s choice
HENCKELS International Block Set Knives
Block Set is a knife kit that we recommend for all home cooks. It’s a great starter kit for absolute beginners
Best value
Wüsthof Classic Knife Block Set
A Germany-made knife kit that meets all the cutting, chopping, and slicing needs of a beginner
Have you recently developed an interest in cooking and baking? Your kitchen work can become more fun and exciting if you have the best knife sets for beginners at your disposal. But for a kitchen newbie, the thought of owning and using multiple knives may be confusing!
A beginner’s knife set contains multiple knives, starting from just three basic ones required by newbies and experts alike. The number can go up if the set has other upgraded cutting tools. Sets may also have a storage block – and sometimes, a knife-sharpening tool.
What is the best knife set for beginners? Which factors should you consider at the time of purchasing a starter knife set? Find out everything you need to know before investing in a knife set!
Table of Contents
Types of Knives in a Starter Kit: Detailed Guide
Did you know that there are different types of knives that handle various cutting needs in a kitchen? Some are essential knives you’ll need, whether you’re a newbie or a pro. But there are other knives that you’ll learn to use over time.
You may go for an elementary set of 3-4 knives or a larger set that will come in handy as you sharpen your knife skills. But what are the different types of knives? In a set curated for beginners and home cooks, you can expect to find the following knives –
Essential Kitchen Knives
Whether in your home, hotel management class, or Gordon Ramsay’s restaurant: every kitchen needs three basic knives. Even an elementary knife set will have the following –
Bread Knife
This cutting tool with a serrated edge has a long and even blade.
It cuts crusty bread types and soft cakes without bending them. It’s also great for waxy vegetable surfaces.
Paring Knife
It is a short and slim knife with a pointed tip. It’s light and easy to maneuver.
Its primary use is for cutting vegetables, fruits, and cheese. It’s used for peeling, coning, and slicing small pieces.
Chef’s Knife
This multi-purpose knife is wide and long, tapering from the heel to the tip.
It performs most of the cutting tasks and is the handiest tool for amateurs and professionals!
Additional Nice-to-Have Kitchen Knives
In addition to the above, a knife kit for a beginner usually has some or all of the following knives:
Utility Knife
This tool looks like a smaller version of a chef’s knife, making it perfect for achieving more accuracy. It handles intricate cutting works on smaller food items, including cheese.
Boning Knife
A tool with a rather thin blade that tapers upward into a pointed tip, this knife is short, light, and rigid for more control. It is used to cut soft meat, meat bones, cartilage, etc.,
Carving Knife
This long and slim cutter tapering to a sharp point is a slicing knife. The narrow blade produces less drag for slicing tougher meat types and provides thin, neatly cut pieces.
Steak Knife
Short, sharply pointed, and serrated, these lightweight tools are usually used as dining knives for tough cooked meat.
They are also great for large burgers and club sandwiches.
Butcher Knife
These are rectangular knives with large, broad blades.
These “cleavers” are usually quite heavy, with flat edges – to enable easy cutting and chopping of raw meat and bones.
Fileting Knife
This tool is long and narrow with a fine point. The blade is also flexible.
It can cut and pierce the delicate fish meat and skin and remove bones easily without damaging them.
Santoku Knife
This knife has a slightly tapering blade with a somewhat flat edge. Its spine curves at the top for a drop-point tip. The santoku bocho is used for cutting, mincing, and dicing.
These essential and additional knives are commonly seen in kits curated for beginners. The kits usually have a few other tools like a pair of scissors.
However, this is not an exhaustive list of all the types of knives you can use. There are many other specialized knives!
Nakiri knives, salmon knives, peeling knives, tourney knives, sashimi knives, oyster knives – the list can go on. Of course, there’s the butter knife sitting on every dining table.
Do you want to know what different types of knives such as German knives look like? Check out the video below which offers a quick glance.
Best Knife Sets for Beginners: Our Top 7 Recommendations
Now you know our secret formula for choosing the best knife set. After considering the above, we have finally come up with the following list for beginners. Take a look:
| Rank | Product | Key Features |
| 1 | Amazon Basics Premium Kitchen Knife Block Set | Best Budget Buy |
| 2 | Victorinox Swiss Army Cutlery Fibrox Pro Knife Set | Best Simple Set W/o Block |
| 3 | ZWILLING Now S Knife Block Set | Best Block Set for New Users |
| 4 | Cuisinart C55-12PCKSAM Color-Coded Jewel Knives | Best Appearance |
| 5 | Laguiole Professional Chef’s Knife Set | Best for Convenient Storage |
| 6 | Wüsthof Ikon Starter Knife Block Set | Best Quality Knives |
| 7 | HENCKELS J.A. International Definition Block Set | Best Overall |
1. Amazon Basics Premium Kitchen Knife Block Set
Specifications:
- High carbon stainless steel blade
- Full tang, triple-riveted handle
As a beginner, you may be hesitant to spend a lot on knives. In that case, the Amazon Basics Premium Kitchen Knife Block Set is just what you need on your countertop. You can pick from the three sets – with 9, 14, and 18 knives. And all of them are low-cost!
Even the 18-knife set does not burn a hole in your pockets. It comes with all the basic knives, chef’s knife, serrated bread knife, and paring knife.
It also has a Santoku knife, slicing knife, boning knife, and utility knife. You’ll even get steak knives and a pair of scissors.
The knives are made of high-quality steel, offering incredible sharpness. And you can maintain their sharpness with the knife sharpener in the set. The pine wood block for storing the tools provides a sharp and clean look. All of this comes at less than $75!
2. Victorinox Swiss Army Cutlery Fibrox Pro Knife Set
Specifications:
- High carbon stainless steel blade
- Bolsterless, thick-spined design
Are you looking for a simple knife set as a starter? The Victorinox Swiss Army Cutlery Fibrox Pro Knife Set might be just what you’re looking for. This 4-piece collection caters to your cutting, spicing, dicing, mincing, chopping, and shredding needs in the kitchen.
The set contains a chef’s knife, a serrated knife, a paring, and a utility knife for that. What gives it a “pro” edge is the quality and razor-sharp edge of each tool.
That’s what can make each knife the ideal companion for home cooks with developing skill levels. These Swiss knives are designed with high-quality materials to last for a lifetime.
The set doesn’t come with a block – but that’s not a bad thing in terms of storage. The set with no block is easier to fit into your kitchen drawer – or the portable kitchen toolbox.
3. ZWILLING Now S Knife Block Set
Specifications:
- No stain steel blades
- Polypropylene handle
For a simple cutting tool kit, we recommend the ZWILLING Now S Knife Block Set. Though it is available in sets of 6 and 8 knives, we suggest the 6-piece kit with a chef’s knife, a paring knife, and a serrating knife – along with shears, a sharpener, and a block.
The kit is designed to handle all your basic kitchen needs with ease. The handles provide a comfortable grip – and we love their look!
They are decorated with the stylish ZWILLING logo and come in three colors, all inspired by natural ingredients in a kitchen. The storage block, too, brings a pop of matching colors to your countertop.
The no-stain steel blades can last for a long time, thanks to the technology that protects the knives from corrosion and chipping. You can enjoy prolonged usage without tiring your arms.
4. Cuisinart C55-12PCKSAM Color-Coded Jewel Knives
Specifications:
- Steel blades with ceramic coating
- Stainless steel handles
If you like a blast of colors to amp up your cooking time, we suggest you invest in the Cuisinart C55-12PCKSAM Color-Coded Jewel Knives.
This kit contains knives in bright colors – and matching knife guards. They can lure youngsters into the kitchen, too.
The knives are made of stainless steel – with a ceramic coating on top. This material does not just add color to the knives.
It also gives them ever-lasting and incredible sharpness. Plus, the color-coded knives help establish a system to avoid cross-contamination.
The 12-piece set contains 6 knives. These include the essentials, i.e., chef knife, serrated bread knife, and paring knife, along with a santorum knife, utility knife, and slicing knife. With no storage block, you can take them to picnics, cooking classes, etc.
5. Laguiole Professional Chef’s Knife Set
Specifications:
- Alloy steel blade material
- One-piece blade-and-handle design
Do you hate it when your knives remain stashed away in a drawer – or take up too much vertical space? The Laguiole Professional Chef’s Knife Set can make your life easier. It comes with a knife holder in the form of a magnetic wood board for less counter space.
If you have a small kitchen, this magnetic board can make knife storage convenient. Plus, you can access the knives quite easily.
There’s no need to open and close your drawer repeatedly – or dedicate a lot of space for a knife block and drawing knives. The kit includes a chef knife, paring knife, bread knife, utility knife, and slicing knife.
They have a seamless design, which not only makes them stylish but also gives strength and durability to the tools. Plus, the board is made of sustainably-sourced acacia wood.
6. Wüsthof Ikon Starter Knife Block Set
Specifications:
- High carbon stainless steel blades
- Double bolster with full tang, triple riveted handles
A Germany-made knife kit that meets all the cutting, chopping, and slicing needs of a beginner – the Wüsthof Ikon Starter Knife Block Set promises great quality. This product comes in four sets of 6, 7, 8, and 11 pieces. But we suggest going for the 6-piece set.
The chef’s knife, paring knife, and bread knife are built with high-quality materials, which is why the set is on the higher end of the price scale.
The set contains honing steel and a pair of scissors. The storage block has 15 slots for future additions to your knife set! We love how each knife is precision-forged from one metal block for strength and durability.
Plus, the Precision Edge Technology assures great sharpness that lasts long! The knives are crafted to resist corrosion and quick dulling- with WÜSTHOF’s quality assurance.
7. HENCKELS J.A. International Definition Block Set
Specifications:
- One-piece, precision-stamped, stainless steel blade
- Full tang, triple riveted handle
The HENCKELS J.A. International Definition Block Set is a knife kit that we recommend for all home cooks. It’s a great starter kit for absolute beginners – and will continue to serve your growing needs as your skills and needs increase. And it does not break the bank!
There are sets of 7, 14, and 20 pieces – but we recommend the largest kit. It has two paring knives, a serrated utility knife, and a chef’s knife for starters.
Eventually, you’ll learn to use the prep, boning, santoku, carving, and bread knives for advanced needs. Don’t forget the 8 serrated steak knives and the pair of kitchen scissors.
Plus, it has a storage block where the slots are equipped to sharpen the knives – except the steak slots. The knives are sturdy, durable, and stylish – and handle everything from cutting to carving.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a knife set as a beginner?
As a beginner, you may consider getting single knives for your collection. But if you buy a knife set instead, you won’t have to spend your money or thoughts on knives individually. You’ll get multiple types of knives that will come in handy as your skills improve.
What are the basic knives you should have?
If you take cooking seriously, the first is the chef’s knife, used for most kitchen tasks. You’ll also need a paring knife for detailed cutting and mincing – and a serrated knife for bread and foods with slippery surfaces. High-end knife sets include other tools for finer jobs.
How much should you spend on starter knives?
Individual knives are available at any price between $10 and $1000. But as a home cook, you will find high-quality knives at $50-$100.
However, you can save some money by choosing a knife set. They cost between $70 and $600 and can last a lifetime.
What does a knife set contain?
The main components of a knife set are a chef’s knife, a paring knife, and a serrated knife. It can have other knives of European and Asian styles.
Some sets have honing steel to sharpen the knives – and a block for storage. In some sets, the block has a knife sharpener!
What are the best knife sets for advanced home cooks?
The Ballarini 7 Piece Pakka Wood Knife Block is a pocket-friendly choice for home cooks with developing skill levels.
Another great option for home chefs with advanced skills is the Aiko Damascus Steel Knife Set with Japanese- and European-style knives.
Final Words
You may have started cooking as a passion or for survival. Your job can be easy and fun with good knives. You must start by developing basic knife skills and keep experimenting for expertise. So pick the best knife sets for beginners as a friend along this journey!
