A chef knife set bundles the knives most home cooks reach for, usually an 8 inch chef knife, a bread knife, a santoku, a paring knife and a block to hold them. Bigger sets add steak knives, shears and a sharpener, while smaller sets focus on fewer, larger blades.
The six sets below run from 7 to 18 pieces and cover Japanese-style, German-style and classic stainless designs. Piece counts, sizes and materials come from each product’s listing page. We have not used these sets ourselves. Steel types and hardness figures are the makers’ own claims, not our measurements.
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What to Look For
| Feature | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Piece count | Steak knives and shears pad the count; check the core knives |
| Steel | Named steels and HRC figures are maker claims |
| Block | Wood, magnetic and built-in sharpener blocks store differently |
| Handle | Pakkawood, steel and riveted handles feel different |
| Care | Check whether the listing allows the dishwasher |
Specs at a Glance
| Set | Pieces | Steel claim | Block |
|---|---|---|---|
| HOSHANHO | 7; six knives plus holder | 10Cr15CoMoV; up to 60 HRC; 15 degree angle | Double-sided acacia magnetic holder |
| Astercook | 15 | German steel; high carbon stainless | Wood block with built-in sharpener |
| PAUDIN | 18 | 5Cr15MoV; 56 HRC; 13 degrees per side | Wood block with built-in sharpener |
| Farberware | 15 | High-carbon stainless | Black pinewood block |
| KitchenAid | 15 | Imported Japanese steel (maker) | Wood block with built-in sharpener |
| Martha Stewart | 16 | High carbon stainless; forged, full tang | Acacia wood block |
The 6 Best Chef Knife Sets
1. HOSHANHO 7-Piece Japanese Knife Set With Magnetic Block
Seven pieces: an 8 inch chef knife, 7 inch santoku, 7 inch nakiri, 7 inch fillet knife, 6 inch utility knife, 3.75 inch paring knife and a double-sided acacia magnetic holder. The maker cites 10Cr15CoMoV steel at up to 60 HRC with Pakkawood handles.
Suits: a small set of larger Japanese-style blades. Strengths: a nakiri and a magnetic holder. Weaknesses: no bread knife or steak knives. Skip it if you need a full table set.
View HOSHANHO 7-Piece Japanese Knife Set with Magnetic Block on Amazon
2. Astercook 15-Piece German Steel Knife Block Set
A 15 piece set with an 8 inch chef, bread and slicing knife, 7 inch santoku, 5 inch utility, 3.5 inch paring, six steak knives, shears and a wood block with a built-in sharpener. The knives have a one-piece stainless steel body.
Suits: a full starter kitchen. Strengths: a wide mix and a block sharpener. Weaknesses: the German steel wording is the maker’s. Skip it if you want only a few knives.
View Astercook 15-Piece German Steel Knife Block Set on Amazon
3. PAUDIN 18-Piece Knife Block Set
The largest set here: chef, carving, bread, santoku, fillet, utility, cheese and paring knives, six 4.5 inch steak knives, scissors, a honing rod and a wood block with a built-in sharpener. The maker lists 5Cr15MoV steel at 56 HRC.
Suits: a big all-in-one set. Strengths: a honing rod and a cheese knife. Weaknesses: the biggest footprint. Skip it if counter space is tight.
View PAUDIN 18-Piece Knife Block Set with Sharpener on Amazon
4. Farberware 15-Piece Knife Set With Wood Block
A 15 piece high-carbon stainless set with an 8 inch chef knife, bread knife, santoku, six steak knives, shears and a sharpening tool in a black pinewood block, with satin stainless handles.
Suits: a first apartment or gift set. Strengths: a familiar mix of pieces. Weaknesses: the listing gives little steel detail. Skip it if you want a named steel.
View Farberware 15-Piece Knife Set with Wood Block on Amazon
5. KitchenAid Gourmet 15-Piece Block Set
Includes an 8 inch chef and slicing knife, a utility knife with a saw-style edge, a fine-edge utility knife, a 5 inch santoku, two paring knives, six steak knives, shears and a block with a built-in sharpener. The maker says the forged steel is imported Japanese steel and notes top-rack dishwasher use.
Suits: a branded set with two paring knives. Strengths: a block sharpener and a dishwasher note. Weaknesses: a smaller 5 inch santoku. Skip it if you hand wash everything.
View KitchenAid Gourmet 15-Piece Knife Block Set on Amazon
6. Martha Stewart 16-Piece Lockton Knife Block Set
A 16 piece set with an 8 inch chef and bread knife, 7 inch santoku, 5 inch utility, 3.5 inch paring, eight 4.75 inch steak knives, a sharpening rod, shears and an acacia block. The maker describes forged, full-tang, triple-riveted construction.
Suits: a table set for eight. Strengths: full tang and eight steak knives. Weaknesses: only one paring knife. Skip it if you rarely use steak knives.
View Martha Stewart 16-Piece Lockton Knife Block Set on Amazon
Care and Setup
- Wash by hand and dry right away, unless the listing says otherwise.
- Store blades in the block rather than loose in a drawer.
- Use a cutting board, not stone or glass.
- Hone often and sharpen when the edge dulls.
Mistakes to Avoid
- Counting steak knives and shears as core tools.
- Treating HRC figures as proof of quality.
- Putting knives in the dishwasher without checking the listing.
- Buying more pieces than your counter can hold.
Chef Knife Set FAQ
Which pieces matter most?
For most cooks it is the chef knife, a paring knife and a bread knife. The rest is extra.
Does a higher HRC number mean a better knife?
Not by itself. A higher figure can mean a harder edge, but it is the maker’s claim and is only one factor.
The Short Version
For a small Japanese-style set, the HOSHANHO. For a full starter kitchen, the Astercook. For the most pieces, the PAUDIN. For a simple gift set, the Farberware. For a branded set with a dishwasher note, the KitchenAid. For eight steak knives and an acacia block, the Martha Stewart.
