Chefs and even kitchen enthusiasts all agree that a knife is a make-or-break situation in the kitchen. It either becomes a useful tool or a source of stress. If you are a newbie in the kitchen, you wouldn’t probably notice it when you use a basic set of knives. But once you get your hands on the knives on a professional knife block set, you will see the difference; and a great one.
Several factors set a great from a good knife set. One, the former should be made of premium, durable, and corrosion-resistant materials. And different materials can fit into these criteria like stainless steel and ceramic. Next, handles are also important as they should allow you to properly grip your knife and use it to slice as thin/thick or to cut through soft to hard food. In the same way, various materials make good handles like wood, silicone, rubber, and plastic.
Purchasing a knife set is also more economical than buying piece by piece. Some already come with a knife block to hold your knives securely while protecting them against rusting and corroding. There are also some knife block set models that come with a self-sharpening knife block. This lessens the hassle and guarantees a sharp knife every time you need it.
There are tons of knife blocks set in the market and shopping for one could be an intimidating experience. Thus, we asked chefs and kitchen professionals for their recommended reliable and best kitchen knife set you can use for everyday and special cooking.
Best Knife Block Set for Kitchen Professionals – (Comparison)
| Name | Key Feature | |
| Wusthof Classic IKON Seven Walnut Block 7-Piece Knife Set – (Editor’s Choice) | Made in Solingen, Germany, known to be the “City of Blades” because of its reputation for making fine cutlery | Check Price |
| ZWILLING Professional S 7-pc Knife Set with Block | Ice-hardened FRIODOUR blades | Check Price |
| Shun Classic 6-piece Slim Knife Block Set | Made of VG-MAX cutting core steel | Check Price |
Wusthof Classic IKON Seven Walnut Block 7-Piece Knife Set – Editor’s Choice
If you are looking to invest in basic pieces which are made of premium-grade materials and bearing the famous German knife technology, this knife block set is worth the look.
Each item on this knife block set is precision-forged from a single tempered carbon stainless-steel material. Forging steel makes it more durable and remains sharp longer. This is because it enables the material to be less flexible in the process. With reduced flexibility, the knife will not twist, allowing for consistent cuts. Forged knives are also faster and easy to sharpen.
The Wusthof classic knife set contains 4 pieces of knives and kitchen shears. You get:
- 8-inch Cook’s Knife
- 8-inch Bread Knife
- 6-inch Utility Knife
- 3.5-inch paring knife
- Steel kitchen shears
This knife block set also comes with a Honing Steel and a beautiful walnut knife block that has 15 slots in total, allowing you to grow your Wusthof collection.
This forged in fire knife set has each knife piece equipped with black handles made of synthetic polypropylene. It is full tang triple-riveted for a secure fit. A double bolster ensures that the user can hold it with balance for a smoother cutting experience. The PP material is resistant to heat, impact, discoloration, fading, and weathering. The handle is also ergonomically designed to be comfortable to hold and use.
All knives are designed to be slim and in half bolster for a lightweight feel and easy re-sharpening of the entire blade. Overall, each knife is beautiful to look at and use as well.
Aside from being forged, this knife block set utilizes PEtec, or Precision Edge Technology, which allows the blades to be 20 percent sharper, have a long service period, and two times retain its edge than older Wusthof knife models.
The Wusthof Classic IKON Seven Walnut Block 7-Piece Knife Set also includes steel kitchen shears that allow you to easily cut herbs, twigs, and other materials you will be needing like parchment paper, foil, twine, etc.
Pros
- Made in Solingen, Germany, known to be the “City of Blades” because of its reputation for making fine cutlery
- Comes in a basic set of 4 knives, kitchen shears, and a walnut knife block
- Includes an elegant walnut knife block
- Made of forged stainless steel
- Each blade is made of a tempered carbon stainless steel and full tang triple-riveted on to the PP handle
- Half bolster slim design
- Utilizes PEtec, which allows the blades to be 20 percent sharper, have a long service period, and two times to retain their edge
- Premium-looking and lightweight
Cons
- Expensive
Conclusion
The Wusthof Classic IKON Seven Walnut Block 7-Piece Knife Set is a nice starter knife block set you can use daily in your kitchen. It also makes a great impressive gift for newlyweds, budding chefs, or kitchen professionals.
ZWILLING Professional S 7-pc Knife Set with Block
This knife block set boasts of its precision-forged stainless-steel material that is carefully formulated to be non-staining and rated 57 Rockwell hardness. Overall, the technology made the knives superior in terms of durability, reliability, and performance.
Each knife included in this knife block set is made of single solid steel. The material is ice-hardened to a form super sharp FRIODOUR blade. The blade is also made to retain its sharpness longer for hassle-free food preparation.
This professional knife set also boasts of durability being chip and corrosion-resistant. The blades are also engineered to have the optimum cutting angle. The Santoku knife has a 10-degree angle edge while the rest of the knives are at 15 degrees. Since it is forged, it has a bolster that provides the user with a finger guard and to help aid in balance. The blades are laser-cut for precision, smoothness, and edge.
The Zwilling knife set includes:
- 8-inch Chef’s knife
- 5-inch Serrated Utility knife
- 5-inch Hollow-edge Santoku knife
- 3-inch Paring knife
- Kitchen shears
This chef knife set has each of the knife’s handles triple-riveted with an ergonomic, comfortable, and non-slip Polymer material, that is bonded on to the blades in full twang. This allows for easy handling and uses for your daily kitchen cutting activities. The knives and shears are all dishwasher safe, but I do recommend having this knife block set washed by hand instead to help preserve its quality.
This stainless steel knife set also comes with a 16-slot knife block and a sharpening tool. It provides a limited lifetime warranty, too.
Pros
- Made of precision-forged, non-staining, stainless steel; At 57 Rockwell hardness scale
- Ice-hardened FRIODOUR blades
- Chip and corrosion resistant blades
- Optimum cutting angle at 15 degrees with 10 degrees on the Santoku knife
- Triple-riveted Polymer handle bonded in full twang
- Dishwasher-safe
- Comes in a natural hardwood block
Cons
- Knife block could be better
Conclusion
The ZWILLING Professional S 7-pc Knife Set with Block is a nice starter knife block set if you are looking to invest in high-quality knives.
Shun Classic 6-piece Slim Knife Block Set
Intially, I was drawn to this knife block set because of two things – it is a Japanese knife set and Shun offers free sharpening services. The latter works by you shipping the knives to them and they send them back sharpened as new free of charge. The warranty includes this service.
Eventually, I realized the real beauty of this knife block set. Each of the knives on the Shun knife set is made of VG-MAX cutting core steel. VG-MAX is a homegrown technology that ensures the sharpness and enduring ability of the blades with multiple uses. Each blade side is clad with 34 layers of Damascus stainless steel for extra edge retention.
Meanwhile, each knife in this knife block set is bevel cut at an angle of 16 degrees on each side. Each is hand-sharpened for cut precision. The blades are rated 60-61 in the Rockwell hardness test.
The forged-steel blade handles are shaped D and made with Pakkawood. It adheres strongly, is ergonomic, and is moisture-resistant. But then, it is still best to dry the knives before putting them back to the knife block.
Aesthetically, the blades are made more beautiful with their bead-blasted flowing pattern that is unique in Shun knives and is stamped on this knife block set.
The Shun Classic 6-piece Slim Knife Block Set does not eat up too much space in your countertop and has extra two slots on the knife block to hold more knives in your collection.
As one of the best Japanese knife set models in the market, it commits to providing long-lasting products that are backed up by a limited yet lifetime warranty.
Pros
- Made of VG-MAX cutting core steel
- Blades are beveled cut at an angle of 16 degrees on each side. Blades are rated 60-61 in the Rockwell hardness test
- Free sharpening service
- Bead-blasted aesthetic blades with a stamped flowing pattern
- D shaped Pakkawood handles
Cons
- Knife block could improve
Conclusion
The Shun Classic 6-piece Slim Knife Block Set is a beautiful knife block set that can stand decades of use with proper care.
Final Verdict
You might be wondering if purchasing the best professional knife set is worth the investment. But chefs and kitchen professionals are united that it does make a difference. If you have the budget, it is worth splurging on for your kitchen.
All of the products on this list are some of the best ones in the market. But, the best knife set is the Wusthof Classic IKON Seven Walnut Block 7-Piece Knife Set.
The Wusthof Classic IKON Seven Walnut Block 7-Piece Knife Set is a beautiful, excellent performing, and long-lasting knife block set that is definitely worth the investment. It is manufactured in the City of Blades, which can attest to its value and craftsmanship as well.