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11 of the best kitchen knife sets starting at under £25
Don’t know your chef’s knife from your santoku knife? Here’s the lowdown...
If you’re still using the kitchen knives your parents dropped you off at uni with, (guilty) it’s time for an upgrade. Having a good set to use in the kitchen is going to make cooking SO much easier.
Whether you’re a budding chef or prefer 15-minute meals, we’ve found the ones that will make you look like a pro and some of our favourites are currently on sale in Amazon's Spring Sale. Here’s a quick lesson on what you’ll be working with...
Types of knives explained
There are so many different types of knives out there and many look pretty similar. So what are they supposed to do, and which ones are the must-haves? Here’s a quick guide:
- Chef’s knife - a must-have. This multi-purpose knife will cope with anything you throw at it, especially hard veg, potatoes and meat.
- Utility knife - a smaller version of the chef’s knife, used on smaller ingredients like chicken breast or mushrooms. Another must-have.
- Paring knife - another essential, this one’s for fiddly tasks such as peeling, coring and finely slicing.
- Carving knife - the roast isn’t going to slice itself!
- Bread knife - tackles everything from crusty loaves to burger buns.
- Peeling knife - the blade curves inwards to make taking the skin off fruit and veg easier.
- Santoku knife - originating in Japan, this is another useful multi-purpose knife.
All of the sets included below have a minimum of three knives and some even come with a block or sheaths for storage. Feel like a pro chef now? Here are our top 11 recommendations for the best knives sets in 2024...
*You must be over 18 to buy kitchen knives*
With over 2,400 reviews and an average rating of 4.6 stars out of five, this 14 piece knife set with an built-in sharpener is bound to upgrade any kitchen set up. Chopping? Slicing? Dicing? Cutting? No problem.
With a non-stick black colour coating and a blade from stainless steel, this 15-piece kitchen knife set has everything you could need for your cooking desires.
nuovva Kitchen Knife Block Set Copper 5 Piece Set
We love a bit of copper in our interiors, so this knife set is the perfect upgrade to any kitchen set up. The five knives come with a clear acrylic block and are made from stainless steel. Lovely.
Zwilling J.A. Henckels 7-Piece Self Sharpening Knife Block
Zwilling J.A. Henckels 7-Piece Self Sharpening Knife Block
Let's face it, sharpening knives isn't something most of us remember to do – not until they're fully blunt and dangerous, anyway. So praise be that this set's smartly designed block sharpens each knife as you remove or insert it!
It's quite bulky, so bear that in mind if your kitchen's a bit cramped, but it feels high-end, impressed on test and comes with a lifetime guarantee. Our testers rated the neat inclusion of scissors, too.
Key specs
Included: Chef's santoku, paring, utility, serrated utility
Blades: Stainless steel
Handles: Plastic
Storage: Block
Trends Home 5-Piece Kitchen Knife Set
For under £40, this knife set is a real bargain, and it comes with a five-year warranty to boot. No, it’s not as good as our pricier picks, but it ain’t half bad either.
Knives chopped well when faced with the most common ingredients, and they didn’t trap any dirt. Our testers found them a bit flimsy, but this is a great starter set.
Key specs
Included: Chef’s, bread, carving, utility, paring
Blades: Stainless steel
Handles: Plastic
Storage: None
Viners Titan Copper 6-Piece Knife Block
Viners Titan Copper 6-Piece Knife Block
Copper’s always cool, and these knives sit pretty on a magnetic block. Our testers found them robust to use and raved about how precisely the paring knife tackled fiddly jobs like peeling and fine slicing.
The soft grips became a bit slippery and the bread knife tore our loaf a tad, but this is another decent good value buy.
Key specs
Included: Chef’s, bread, carving, utility, paring
Blades: Stainless steel coated with copper titanium
Handles: Plastic
Storage: Magnetic block
Zyliss Comfort 6 Piece Knife Set
Containing every knife you’ll ever need (probs), this colourful, affordable set is more serious than it looks. They cut through everything our testers threw at them, the handles are reassuringly grippy and they come with matching individual sheaths for storing safely in a drawer, saving precious countertop space.
Plus, the colours make them quick to identify; you'll always know to grab the yellow one for peeling spuds and the purple one for chopping herbs.
Key specs
Included: Santoku, chef’s, paring, serrated paring, utility, peeling
Blades: Stainless steel
Handles: Plastic
Storage: Sheaths
Circulon 6-Piece Knife Block Set
Circulon 6-Piece Knife Block Set
Ooft, this one’s a looker. So sleek! So stylish! So perfectly formed for ‘bijou’ kitchens! Our testers found the grippy knives safe and comfortable to use, with the bread knife earning particular kudos for its slicing skills.
Everything feels well-made – that’s quality Japanese steel for ya – and comes with a lifetime guarantee. The block marks easily, but it’s a minimalist beauty.
Key specs
Included: Chef’s, bread, slicing, serrated utility, paring
Blades: Japanese stainless steel
Handles: Plastic
Storage: Block
Ballarini 7-Piece Pakka Wood Knife Block
Ballarini 7-Piece Pakka Wood Knife Block
If you’re as partial to an artisan loaf from your local bakery as we are, you’ll need a trusty bread knife. This set delivers just that, helping you make sublime sandwiches for delish return-to-the-office lunches.
The rest of the knives are also decent too. They’ll be rated by beginners and pro chefs alike.
Key specs
Included: Chef’s, bread, carving, utility, peeling, paring
Blades: Stainless steel
Handles: Wood
Storage: Block
Victorinox Swiss Classic Kitchen Set
Victorinox Swiss Classic Kitchen Set
It may be a case of all the gear and no idea with this comprehensive set (or maybe that's just us...). Known for its Swiss army knives, Victorinox has collated all the knives you're most likely to use, plus a bonus carving fork and peeler.
The bread knife is a must for neat sourdough slices and they're so perfect for everyday use. They're not cheap, but worth the extra dollar.
Key specs
Included: Santoku, paring, serrated paring, carving, bread, swivel peeler, carving fork
Blades: Stainless steel
Handles: Plastic
Storage: None
Hast 7P Minimalist Knife Set
Hast 7P Minimalist Knife Set
Minimalists, prepare to swoon. This knife set ships from the States and costs $649 dollars, which is just shy of £500. So this is first pay cheque treat type stuff, but boy is it a good thing to spend your money on.
Each knife is made from one continuous piece of stainless steel, making for easier cleaning, and the hygienic jar-style block can be taken apart. We love the inclusion of a sharpening rod and the little booklet telling you how to use each knife.
Key specs
Included: Chef's, bread, utility, boning, paring
Blades: Titanium-coated stainless steel
Handles: Titanium-coated stainless steel
Storage: Jar
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