When considering which knife set to buy, you’ll have to ask yourself how true to your recipe and quality cut you want to be.  If you’ve ever used a poor quality steak knife, you know the outcome. The craftsmanship of fine kitchen knife manufacturers such as Shun from Japanese craftsmanship to Wusthof with their German know-how show that one knife just isn’t enough.  The way the knife cuts, the tang, handle, and bolster are all pivotal parts of forging quality cutlery.  Shape, length, and weight also hold a vital role in producing excellent knives. 

At Williams Food Equipment, we emphasize quality in our curated range of professional-grade knives. Here, we will explain the differences between a few of our knives, and why bundling them into a beautiful set is the best way to go.  

Why Do You Need a Knife Set?

Why would you need a knife set?  Well, just one knife can’t perform all the tasks needed for a kitchen.  A knife set gives you the versatility and professional quality you need for your home-cooked meals.  There are over ten knives that are commonly used in restaurant kitchens. The reasons are vast. Meats, seafood, veggies, fruits, pastries and breads all have specific knives that have been utilized exclusively for their own culinary purpose. 

Best Unique Knife Set - Shun

Let’s start with the fine artistry of the Shun.  Shun keeps the mastery of the ancient Japanese samurai swords’ hamon by creating a hammered tsuchime finish.  This rippling line produces less friction. Shun’s attention to detail makes these Asian styled knives some of the best in the world!

Japanese knives such as the Shun line differ from their German counterparts in weight and agility.  Both are great knives! The Shun line of knives are excellent for delicate work.  Fine dicing, chopping, and slicing are easily performed with Shun’s proprietary VG-MAX cutting core.  34 layers of stainless steel adorn each side of the blade with these knives. 

One of Shun’s most unique knife sets is the Shun 3 Piece Premiere Asian Knife Set.  This set includes:

• 7” Santoku
• 8” Kirisuke
• 5.5” Nakiri 

Shun - 3 Pc Premier Asian Knife Set - TDMS0310

 7” Santoku

The 7” Santoku is a great all-around knife.  Compared to a traditional chef’s knife in western culture, the Santoku is just an inch shorter, but performs just as well as its European equivalent. Its shorter length gives the chef more manual control. Chopping chicken bones can be accomplished with this Santoku in one smooth cut.  Fruits, veggies, and seafood are sliced to thin perfection. Chopping nuts is made easy with the Santoku. As you can see, the Santoku does it all!

8” Kiritsuke

The 8” Kiritsuke is ideal for pushing through vegetables.  Pushing through the vegetables is the correct way to cut for stir fry dishes.  The Kiritsuke is the best for soups. The 8” Kiritsuke is great for Brunoise-cut vegetables for soups and stews.  Pushing through cooked vegetables and creating small chunks is easier and quicker with this Kiritsuke than any other knife! 

5.5” Nakiri

The 5.5” Nakiri is a chopper!  Use this for chopping through any vegetable.  The squared tip and straight blade make this a great knife for carrots, French fries, and all things that require a straight chop all the way to the cutting board surface.  And, as mentioned before, the hammered tsuchime finish allows food to slide right off these blades! 

Best German Knife Set - Wusthof 

Next, here come the German knives!  Wusthof has been an industry leader in cutlery beginning in 1814.  Super sharp and sturdy in the hand makes the Wusthof brand one of the preferred knives of many, many famous chefs.  In 2010, Wusthof invented the Precision Edge Technology (PEtec).  Lasers sharpen the blade to an unreal 28°!  Thinner equals sharper!

The Wusthof 6 Piece Classic Cook’s Starter Set has everything included to start your own restaurant (almost..).  This set includes:

• A Boning Knife
• A Paring Knife
• A Cook’s Knife
• A Kitchen Fork
• A Sharpening Steel

Wusthof - 6 Piece Classic Cook's Starter Set - 9780

All these knives are forged from one piece of high carbon, special alloyed steel.  This creates one of the strongest knives known to man. The triple riveted handle also adds to the beauty and strength of these Western styled knives. Wusthof themselves write that these extremely sharp knives are suitable for the professional as well as the home cook. And, best of all, they come in a knife roll for easy protection and travel. 

Japanese - Shun Kanso

Shun has another great set!  The Shun Kanso 6 Piece Block Set includes:

• An 8” Chef’s Knife
• A 6” Utility Knife
• A 3.5” paring Knife
• A 5.5” Santoku Knife
• A Combo Honing Steel
• An 8 Slot Wood Block

Shun - Kanso 6 Piece Block Set - SWTS0600

Kanso means “simplicity” in Zen philosophy.  Simple, yet pure perfect sharp lines equal high performance cutting and chopping.  This set is gorgeous, simple, and true to your kitchen needs. Additional slots are included in the wood box for more added Shun cutlery.  Holding these magnificent handles, and feeling the ideal balance is a Zen-like feeling!

Best High End Kitchen Knife Set - Global

Japan has another great knife manufacturer: Global.  Global was created by Komin Yamada in 1985. Like Shun, the ancient Japanese techniques of the samurai sword is evident in the design of Global knives.  The best supplies and production allows Global to bring fine cutlery to the professional and home cook at a great value for the quality. 

Global - Synergy 7 Piece Knife & Block Set - 71G79575

Global’s first series of knives contained over 140 knives!  This company is dedicated to manufacturing the best cutlery available!  Global has implemented a 3-ply design with CHROMOVA18 steel, which provides you a quicker cut down.  Global is a hybrid of German and Japanese workmanship with their Ni series with a thicker blade, a longer handle, and a pinch grip.  These knives boast true excellence through and through that will last you decades. 

Best for Durability - Victorinox Executive Culinary Set

Ever heard of Victorinox?  Or maybe the Swiss Army Knife is a name you are familiar hearing?  Victorinox has been in business since 1884. Knives were Victorinox's first passion.  Their attention to detail is second to none!

The Victorinox 12 Piece Executive Culinary Set with Slip-Resistant Fibrox Handles is a great set to start your cooking career.  This set includes:

• A 3.25” Paring Knife
• A 6” Curved Boning Knife
• An 8” Bread Knife
• A 10” Chef’s knife
• A 12” Slicing knife
• A 4” Offset Spatula
• An 11” Carving Fork
• A Vegetable Peeler
• A Melon Baller
• A 12” Honing Steel
• A Polyester Roll

Victorinox - 12 Piece Executive Culinary Set with Slip-Resistant Fibrox Handles - 46035

This set rolls up to only 19” long!  Great for travelling to the cabin. Mastering culinary techniques will be a joy with all this fine assortment.  Best off all, this set is so affordable that it makes a great gift. Those who need new knives, or for those who wish to grow in their culinary world will truly love this knife set. 

Best Paring Knife Set

In addition to having a great chef’s knife and other large knives, paring knives are also important. Zwilling J.A. Henckels has an affordable new line called Henckels International.  They have produced a very inexpensive, yet highly rated(4.8/5) 3 Piece Yellow Handled Paring Knife Set.  This set includes:

• A 2” Paring knife
• A 3” vegetable Knife
• A 3.5” Paring Knife

Henckels International - 3 Piece Yellow Handled Paring Knife Set - 11214-001

These knives will not stain when carefully cutting your favorite berries.  They come with fully closed polypropylene handles that are dishwasher safe.  And believe it or not, a lifetime manufacturer’s warranty on three knives that are less than a $20! If you enjoy fruits and vegetables, invest in this knife set! 

Caring For Your Knife Set

Always maintain your knives with proper care.  Higher end knives do not stay wet or go in the dishwasher.  Other knives are dishwasher safe. Read the manufacturers owners guide upon purchase to maintain an extra sharp and safe knife.  Feel free to ask us for knife handling safety tips or go on-line to research how the culinary masters sharpen their knife skills in their own kitchens. Many of our Williams Food Equipment knife sets include a sharpening steel and knife block.  This keeps your knives sharp as well as displayed to adorn your beautiful kitchen.  The honing steel is paramount to keeping all your knife edges sharp and true! 

Final Note

Depending on your skill set and needs, Williams Food Equipment has 39 knife sets under 8 different manufacturers listed on our website currently.  We try very hard to research and find the finest knives with the greatest value to our customers. Now that you know about some of our favorites, it’s time to think about your kitchen needs and which one is the perfect one for you.