Top 15 Best Sharp Steak Knife Sets

I love eating steak once every two weeks but eating at steakhouse regularly isn’t a wise choice. Therefore, now eating steak at home with a much lower price is the alternative solution. Once in a while, I will reward myself with medium-rare steak in a famous steak house, but not so often.

Then, various problems come up ranging from choosing the right steak, perfectly cooking it on the stove to the kitchenware used to cut steak. While the first two problems need practice overtime, the third one can be solved first.

The best set of steak knivé makes my eating experience more delightful. A good steak knife can slice through steak, bread, burgers, and many more. Also, stylish steak knife is great décor.

Types of Steak Knives

There are three types of steak knife: serrated, straight and hollow blades.

• Serrated steak knife works great with crusty exterior and soft interior in steak. However, it is impossible to sharpen the knife with the serrated edge. The sawing motion helps to deal with the real tough exterior like bread, tomato and bell pepper.
• Straight steak knife has straight blade which can be sharpened. However, it gets dull easily when used on plate.
• Hollow blade is not as popular as the other two types with identical hollows on the blade. Hollow ground blade, which is slightly different from “granton” edge, has concave-like edges. Thin edge slices sticky dense food like cheese, smoked salmon, etc. more easily than the flat grind edge. However, it needs regular sharpening.

This video compares the differences between flat and hollow grind blade.

What Are The Best Steak Knife Set For You?

Choose your style, classic or modern, big set or small set, or the gift box coming along. Look at the top best steak knife sets right below.

• Best Overall: Messermeister Avanta Steak Knife Set
  “Resin-enforced pakkawood handle, high carbon stainless steel, full-tang construction, very sharp, one-piece forged knife, stylish design.”
• Best Budget: Bellemain Premium Steak Knives
  “Serrated ice-tempered stainless-steel blade, full-tang construction, ergonomically designed handle, lifetime warranty, affordable price.”
• Best Design: Victorinox Swiss Army Cutlery Rosewood Steak Knives
  “Sharp ice-tempered steel blade, full-tang construction, well-balanced, bolster-less edge, many options available.”
• Best Straight Edge: Chicago Cutlery Walnut Tradition
  “Full-tang high carbon steel blade, solid walnut handle.”
• Best Serrated Edge: J.A. Henckels International Stainless Steel Steak Knives
  “Stainless steel blade and handle, dishwasher safe, lifetime warranty, evenly balanced.”
• Best Laguiole Style: Laguiole By FlyingColors Steak Knife Set
  “Available in many colors, stylish design with laguiole bee embellished, wooden handle and stainless-steel blade, sharp cutting and well-balanced.”
• Best Modern: isheTao Stainless Steel Steak Knives
  “Sharp 420J2 stainless steel blade, heavy 18/0 stainless steel handle, full-tang construction, affordable price.”
• Best for Small Family: KitchenAid Classic Forged Series Steak Knife Set
  “Extremely sharp blade, stylish with onyx black handle, affordable price, lifetime warranty.”
• Best Set with Gift Box: Wusthof 8-Piece Steak Knife Set
  “High-carbon 18/10 stainless steel blades and handles, full tang construction, comes in a wooden box.”

Steak Knife Set Comparison Chart

The steak knife set varies in different price ranges, the number of pieces included and blade material. While it is highly recommended for handwash only, I have also listed some dishwasher safe knife set.

Top 15 Best Steak Knife Set Reviews

There are so many options out there. These are the most popular and widely used steak knife sets.

1. J.A. Henckels International Stainless Steel Steak Knives 

(Best Serrated Edge)

The Henckels – a German brand has produced many quality cutleries since 1895. This set includes 8 stainless steel steak knives.

The slice cuts are easy with serrated-edged blade. The cutting edge of the blade is 3.5 inches, and the overall length is 8.25 inches. To maintain the sharpness of the blade, you should wash it by hand although it is dishwasher safe.

The construction is one piece full-tang which makes the handle attach well to the tang. These steak knives are well-balanced and fit comfortably.

One side of the blade is serrated and the other is flat, which is suitable for slicing steak, tomato, and bread. Both handles and blades are made from 18/8 stainless steel. However, the handles are non-ergonomic with different bends.

Product Specification

Type of blade	Serrated
Handle	Stainless steel
Blade material	Stainless steel
Construction	Full tang
Length	8.25 inches
Warranty	Lifetime

Watch this video to see the J.A. Henckels 8-Piece Stainless Steel Steak Knife Set:

2. Laguiole By FlyingColors Steak Knife Set

(Best Laguiole Style)

The Laguiole by FlyingColors includes 6 steak knives with wooden handles. I’m rather amazed by the 4-inch blade of the knife. While the edge of the blade is straight, the spine near the bolster is serrated.

I really like the sophisticated design near the bolster with Laguiole bee, which brings a stylish look along with the vintage vibe of the wood handle. The whole length of the knife is 8.5 inches. It is balanced and good to grip.

These knives are manufactured in China but not in France under the license of the French Laguiole company. Because of the wood handle, you can’t put these knives into the dishwasher.

However, there are gaps between the blade and bolster, which food can get wedged in there. Although these come in full-tang construction, there are gaps between horn and tang.

Product Specification

Type of blade	Straight
Handle	Solid wood
Blade material	Stainless steel
Construction	Full tang
Length	8.5 inches
Warranty	No information

3. McCook Forged Laguiole Steak Knife Set

This forge Laguiole-style steak knife set comes in a gift box which is plain cardboard. There are 6 knives in total.

The 4.5-inch blade has micro serrations with gaps between serrations which run until the bolster. One-piece stainless steel blade is attached to the pakkawood handle through three stainless steel rivets.

The handle shows no discoloration or blemishes over time. The wood material shouldn’t be put in the dishwasher.

Product Specification

Type of blade	Serrated
Handle	Pakkawood
Blade material	Stainless steel
Construction	Full tang
Length	10.4 inches
Warranty	No information

4. Bellemain Premium Steak Knives 

(Best Budget)

The 4-piece steak knife set by Bellemain is designed in New York. After being treated with high heat, the stainless steel is cooled in 120 degrees below zero, which explains the ice tempered term.

The benefit of this process is to prevent the blade from getting dull quickly. The serrated 5-inch blade has small hollow ground at the belly to reduce sticking.

The full tang construction combines with black hard plastic handle creates an elegant look. One-piece knife comes with strength and durability when the handles are firmly attached with triple riveted style.

It is comfortable when holding ergonomic handle. While it can be washed by the dishwasher, the steak knife will get rust in the long run.

Product Specification

Type of blade	Serrated
Handle	Plastic
Blade material	Ice-tempered stainless steel
Construction	Full tang
Length	9.5 inches
Warranty	Lifetime

5. Wusthof 8-Piece Steak Knife Set 

(Best Set with Gift Box)

The 8 steak knives come in a beautiful box with black logo which is a wonderful gift to give other people. All the knives are manufactured in China.

The 4.5-inch blade is made from high-carbon 18/10 stainless steel (18% chromium and 10% nickel) which is resistant to stain and corrosion. There is Wusthof logo on the blade of which the micro serration runs over 3/4 of the blade length.

One-piece runs till the end of the highly polished stainless-steel handles. With small width, the handle seems a little bit narrow and shows fingerprints when using.

Product Specification

Type of blade	Micro-serrated
Handle	Polished 18/10 stainless
Blade material	High-carbon 18/10 stainless steel
Construction	Full-tang
Length	11.4 inches
Warranty	Lifetime

6. Dalstrong Gladiator Series Steak Knives

This gladiator series from Dalstrong – a German brand has three options for you: 4-piece set serrated-edge, 4-piece set straight edge and 8-piece straight-edge set with storage block. However, the steak knives are manufactured in Yangjing China.

The high-carbon German steel 5-inch blade is extremely sharp with 14 to 16 degrees per side. The one-piece full-tang is triple riveted to the handle for extra durability. The middle rivet is engraved with Dalstrong design.

The black handles are made from pakkawood finished with ergonomic design. Even more comfortable pinch grip with polished spine.

The bolster is mirror polished and finger protective for a perfect balance. The second bolster at the end adds counter balance.

Product Specification

Type of blade	Serrated
Handle	Laminated pakkawood
Blade material	High-carbon German steel
Construction	Full tang
Length	9.6 inches
Warranty	Lifetime

Watch this video to see the review of Dalstrong Gladiator Series Steak Knives:

7. AmazonBasics Premium Steak Knives

The 8-piece AmazonBasics Premium Steak Knife set features the micro-serrated blade, which is manufactured in China.

The coarse serrated edge tears the meat instead of cleanly cutting it. The serration runs from the point to just pass the belly of the 4.5-inch blade. The knife was forged from a single piece of stainless steel.

The nice full bolster keeps fingers from the blade and provides good balance for the knife. The blade is triple riveted into the plastic handle. While the handle is ergonomically designed, it is wide and handwash only.

Product Specification

Type of blade	Micro-serrated
Handle	Plastic
Blade material	Stainless steel
Construction	Full tang
Length	9 inches
Warranty	1 year

Watch this video to see the review of AmazonBasics Premium Steak Knives:

8. isheTao Stainless Steel Steak Knives

(Best Modern)

IsheTao is a Chinese brand specialized in high quality kitchen knives. While the material for the knife is stainless steel, it varies slightly between the blade and the handle.

4.5-inch blade is made from 420J2 stainless steel whereas the handle is made from 18/0 (no percentage of nickel). The strengths of 420J2 are being corrosion resistant and its durability. However, the edge retention is about average compared to other steels.

Because of its material, the blade is lighter than the handle, which causes imbalance. It is full-tang construction with rosewood handles riveted to the blade. The handle is designed ergonomically from the bolster till the end of the knife.

Product Specification

Type of blade	Micro-serrated
Handle	18/0 stainless steel
Blade material	420J2 stainless steel
Construction	Full tang
Length	8.5 inches
Warranty	1 year

9. Chef Knife Set Stainless Steel Kitchen Set by Home Hero

This set from Home Hero includes 8 black stainless-steel steak knives. The serrated knives are finished with non-stick coating to prevent food from sticking to the blades.

The 8.5-inch blade is pretty solid and sharp even with the spine. Be careful when you place your hands. While the tang is covered completely with black polypropylene handle, the construction is only partial-tang. This might make the handle lose off very easily.

The TPR coating on the handles is resistant to tears and abrasions. The knife is easy to hold and nicely balanced. All the knives are manufactured in China with very affordable price.

Product Specification

Type of blade	Serrated
Handle	Polypropylene with TPR coating
Blade material	Stainless steel
Construction	Partial-tang
Length	11.6 inches
Warranty	2 years

10. Chicago Cutlery Fusion Steak Knife Set

This set from Chicago Cutlery includes 6 black steak knives which are all manufactured in China.

The high carbon stainless steel makes the blade sharp. The straight edge which can be sharpened easily is embellished with Chicago Cutlery logo.

The plastic handle is easy to fall off. This might be because of the partial tang construction.

Product Specification

Type of blade	Straight
Handle	Plastic
Blade material	high carbon stainless steel
Construction	Partial-tang
Length	10 inches
Warranty	2 years

11. Chicago Cutlery Walnut Tradition 

(Best Straight Edge)

This Walnut tradition set from Chicago Cutlery also has the logo on the blade. The traditional style was crafted in Switzerland in 1884.

The high carbon stainless steel features great sharpness, good straight edge retention. However, the high carbon is more likely to get rust when left in water. The straight 4.5-inch blade is easy to sharpen in case of getting dull.

The solid walnut handle can’t be put in the dishwasher. The wood will eventually dry out and fall apart with the detergent. The full tang blade is triple riveted into the handle for extra balance.

Product Specification

Type of blade	Straight
Handle	Solid walnut
Blade material	High carbon stainless steel
Construction	Full-tang
Length	10 inches
Warranty	Lifetime

12. Messermeister Avanta Steak Knife Set 

(Best Overall)

This set is designed by Messermeister – German kitchenware brand and manufactured in China. The design of this set is classic with eye-catching Messermeister Avanta logo on the blade and nice pakkawood handle.

These knives are relatively sharp compared to other steak knives in the same price range with 20 degrees edge. The full exposed tang construction makes the knife well-balanced and nicely weighted to hold.

The one-piece steel is triple riveted into the handle. However, the unfinished rivets and tang expose sharp edge, which is not comfortable for holding. The handle needs more craftmanship.

Product Specification

Type of blade	Straight
Handle	Resin-enforced pakkawood
Blade material	High carbon stainless steel
Construction	Full-tang
Length	10.5 inches
Warranty	No information

13. Victorinox Swiss Army Cutlery Rosewood Steak Knives

(Best Design)

The steak knife set from Victorinox has three options available: serrated round tip, serrated spear tip and straight spear tip.

The lightweight ice-tempered stainless steel blade is similar to the blade of Bellemain Premium Steak Knives. Mirror finished blade is extremely sharp. The 4.75-inch blade is triple riveted into the rosewood handle.

The ergonomic design reduces hand and wrist pain when using the knife. However, the rough rosewood has strong odor, which can be fixed by treating with beeswax.

What set this set from others is no bolster feature. The bolster-less edge is beneficial for using the whole blade without tearing the steak.

Product Specification

Type of blade	Straight or serrated
Handle	Rosewood
Blade material	European steel
Construction	Full-tang
Length	10.5 inches
Warranty	No information

Watch this video to see the review of Victorinox Swiss Army Cutlery Rosewood Steak Knives:

14. Emojoy Steak Knife Set

The 8-piece steak knife set is designed and manufactured by Emojoy, which is suitable for those on budget but in need of quality knives.

The imported high-carbon steel from German is durable and sharp. However, after a period of time using, rusty spots appear. Handwash for long-lasting usage. The micro-serrated edge tears meat.

The well-designed pakkawood handle combines with fully exposed tangs to give the sturdy and balance feeling.

Product Specification

Type of blade	Serrated
Handle	Pakkawood
Blade material	High-carbon German steel
Construction	Full-tang
Length	11 inches
Warranty	24 months

15. KitchenAid Classic Forged Series Steak Knife Set 

(Best for Small Family)

The classic forged series from KitchenAid has 4 steak knives with stylish design. Silver stainless steel is contrasted to onyx black handle.

The high carbon 1.4028 stainless steel blade adds extra sharpness which can slice through tomatoes easily. The serrated edge cut rather than tear like most serrated knives do. The serration starts from the point till the end of 4.5-inch blade.

The bolster is thick and ergonomically engineered. The tang is triple riveted into the handle which is made from composite material. The knife feels heavy enough and well-balanced.

This knife set is dishwasher friendly with stain and rust resistance.

Product Specification

Type of blade	Serrated
Handle	Composite
Blade material	High carbon 1.4028 stainless steel
Construction	Full-tang
Length	No information
Warranty	Lifetime

Buying Guide

First, look at the top features you should consider before buying steak knife. After that, when you have decided on the best steak knife set yourself, read on how to sharpen and maintain the sharpness of the knife.

1. What Are the Desired Features for Best Steak Knife?

Blade Material

Stainless steel is harder to sharpen when comparing with carbon steel material.

The popular materials for blade are carbon steel and stainless steel. If you have trouble with finding the right material, check out this video.

Stainless steel

• Harder to sharpen
• Rust-resistant

Carbon steel

• Reacts to acidic or base foods and gets rusty easier
• Is easier to sharpen
• Is more rigid
• Lasts longer

There are many types of stainless steel like 18/10 or 18/8 stainless steel, and ice-tempered stainless steel.

Size and Weight

The blade size usually is between 3 and 9 inches long. The most common length for blade is 4.5 inches and that for the whole knife is around 11 inches. The longer the blade, the more effort you need to exert for precise cut.

Shorter knives offer more flexibility and convince when using. Longer knives suit large steak and look better on table.

Handle

The partial-tang construction is outperformed by full tang construction. There are many types of handle. The Western style might remind of the boning knives used in the kitchen, while the Japanese knifes are easy to hold.

The wooden or stainless-steel handle brings an elegant look to the knife. The balance between the weight of the handle and that of the blade is crucial for comfortable grip.

While the wooden handles shouldn’t be used in the dishwasher, the stainless steel and plastic handles are dishwasher safe. However, in short, the knives in general shouldn’t be put in dishwasher, which will be explained clearly in the third question.

Construction

Check whether it is partial-tang or full-tang construction. The partial-tang makes the handle lose off more easily and frustrates you.

On the other hand, the full-tang runs till the end of the blade supports better performance with extra durability. However, the full exposed tang might have sharp edge if it is not sand flushed.

Bolster

Bolster is the joined part between the blade and the handle. Just a few knife sets have bolster-less edge, whereas the majority of knife has thick bolster to prevent your finger from the blade.

Performance

The micro-serrated knife might get stuck while tearing the meat. The straight-edged knives slice through very easily. Cutting the steaks usually happens on hard plates which makes the knife become dull easier than the cutting board.

While the razor-sharp knife gets more damage and you will need to sharpen it on a more regular basis, the sharp enough knife can handle the steak.

2. How to Sharpen Your Steak Knife?

Sharpening the serrated steak knife takes more effort and attention.

First, put the newspaper under to clean the metal shavings quickly. Second, find the beveled edge on the blade. Third, place the sharpening rod in the scallop. Fourth, apply light pressure to move the rod in a downward motion.

This video illustrates how to sharpen serrated knife.

Straight edge knife needs more regular sharpening but it is easier to sharpen. First, hold the sharpening rod vertically by one hand. Second, hold the knife in a 20-degree angle to the rod. Third, slide from the heel to the point of the knife.

It’s pretty easy to hone the straight edge knife but if you need some guidance, watch this video from Tasty.

3. How to Maintain the Steak Knife?

Regardless of the blade material, you should wash the steak knives by hand. Even if it is said to be dishwasher, the knife will have rust spots when put in dishwasher.

The detergent, high temperature, humidity, and the water jets causing the knife knock into the rack can lead to rusty spot and damaged edge.

To wash the knife, you can use a paper tissue to wipe down all the greasy oil first. Then put it under hot water, use soap and rinse again. Don’t soak them in water.

FAQ

These are the most frequently asked questions for steak knife.

My Top Pick

Regard all the basic features of a steak knife, I choose Messermeister Avanta Steak Knife Set because of its extra sharpness and sturdy resin-enforced pakkawood. What’s more annoying than tearing the nice steak terribly.

The handle won’t fall off easily, which is extremely dangerous when you are holding. The stylish design is also one of the reasons I choose this steak knife set.

Comment right below what steak knife set you use.