Are you in the market for a quality set of steak knives? Wondering what are the best steak knives?
If so, you’ve come to the right place!
In this TheGrillingDad.com guide, you’ll learn:
- What makes a good steak knife
- Which ones you need to avoid
- Our reviews of the top 7 best steak knives
- And much more!
When you sit down at the dinner table for any meal that includes thick cuts of meat, such as pork chops or steaks, steak knives are essential.
They perform better than your average kitchen knife and are also useful for cleanly slicing through fruits and vegetables or neatly cutting a sandwich in half.
To ensure optimal performance, it is important to choose steak knives that are sharp, balanced, comfortable to grip, and durable.
They should also be well-crafted, attractive, and offer good value when compared with their price tags.
If you’re in the market for a new set of steak knives and are wondering what are the best sets of steak knives, check out my top picks below.
Our Overall No. 1 Rated Pick
Our top pick for best steak knife set is Wusthof because they produce the best quality and design.
Wusthof uses only the highest quality materials. They are laser-cut, high-carbon stainless steel blades.
They’re made with easy-to-grip handles made from rust and heat-resistant materials.
These are durable and well-balanced, so you’ll feel comfortable using them and they’ll last a long time.
Demand is high for Wusthof steak knives right now, so get your hands on yours and have them shipped to your doorstep from Amazon today.
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Top Picks for the Best Steak Knives
In a hurry? Check out our Top 7 steak knives! Keep reading to discover more about our top picks.
- Best Overall: Wusthof Steak Knives
- Best Runner-Up: Shun Steak Knives
- Best on a Budget: Amazon Basics Steak Knives
- Best Looking: Dalstrong Steak Knives
- Best Knives With Wooden Handle: Messermeister Steak Knives
- Best Mid-Range: Chicago Cutlery Steak Knives
- Best Serrated: Victorinox Steak Knives
Comparing the Best Steak Knives
| Steak Knives | Quality Rating (out of 10) | Material | Number of Knives | Price |
| Wusthof | 9.5 | Carbon/Stainless Steel | 4 | $135.00 |
| Shun | 9 | VG Steel | 4 | $260.00 |
| Amazon Basics | 8 | High Carbon Stainless Steel | 8 | $17.00 |
| Dalstrong | 9 | High Carbon German Steel | 4 | $97.00 |
| Messermeister | 9 | Stainless Steel, Pakkawood | 4 | $70.00 |
| Chicago Cutlery | 7.5 | High Carbon Stainless Steel | 3 | $30.00 |
| Victorinox | 7.8 | Tempered Steel | 6 | $28.00 |
Our Reviews Of The Best 7 Steak Knives
Pick No. 1: WÜSTHOF Steak Knives: Best Overall
On the top of this list is this set from Wüsthof, a German brand that has been producing cutlery for more than 200 years.
This set’s laser-cut, hand-stamped, straight-edge blades allow for smooth slices without the need for serration.
They’re razor-sharp right out of the box.
The entire set is built to last, offering excellent value and quality for both professional chefs and home cooks.
The handles are also fitted with three rivets to ensure stability and security.
They are made from synthetic polypropylene — a durable material that can easily resist impact, heat, fading, and stains.
They’re specifically designed for better maneuverability and control.
Pros
- Its blades are lighter for easier use.
- Each knife comes with comfortable, easy-grip handles.
- They are made from high-quality materials.
- This line is a lot less expensive than other sets from the same brand.
- It is backed by a lifetime warranty.
Cons
- They’re intended for hand-washing only. Frequent dishwasher use can quickly dull the blades.
Pick No. 2: Shun Steak Knives: Best Runner Up
Japan has some of the best steak knives in the world.
This is thanks to their centuries of culinary traditions coupled with knife-forging technologies dating back to the era of ninjas and Shoguns.
The Shun Shima steak knife set is expensive, but the quality more than makes up for its hefty price tag.
Each knife is made from VG 10 steel, which is top-of-the-line steel in terms of corrosion resistance.
It’s enhanced with a protective, stain-resistant Damascus cladding layer, making the blades sharp right out of the box.
Its handles are made of Pakkawood, a very sturdy type of wood stabilized with resin, which is usually found in pricier knives.
The handles aren’t perfectly round but are slightly tapered at the bottom.
Pros
- You can definitely see and feel the handmade craftsmanship.
- Each blade is supremely sharp.
- The D-shaped handles offer better grip and comfort.
- The set comes with an attractive presentation box, so you can give them as a gift to anyone in your life who’s in dire need of high-quality steak knives.
- Each knife has an ergonomic handle featuring Pakkawood for better grip, control, and comfort.
Cons
- It’s definitely an investment set because of the high price tag.
Pick No. 3: Amazon Basics Steak Knives: Best on a Budget
Amazon has expanded its offerings into the cookware category, and they are our pick for best budget steak knives, proving you don’t always need expensive knives.
This premium 8-piece steak knife set is a budget-friendly option that can easily compete with some of the sets on this list.
Featuring a full tang design (the metal runs from the tip of the blade to the end of the handle), these knives are strong, durable, and offer superior sharpness.
The blades are partly serrated with the straight edge placed closer to the handle.
This means that the set offers the best of both worlds for users who like the cleaner cuts of straight-edge blades, but also want the durability of serrated blades.
The knives are sturdy, and offer a traditional design that’ll last and won’t cost a fortune.
Pros
- This set offers excellent value despite being considered as a starter, budget-friendly knife set.
- The handles are triple-riveted for better grip.
- Each knife comes with a plastic tip to prevent accidental injuries.
Cons
- The straight-edge part of the blades may require frequent sharpening.
- The knife’s teeth are relatively deep, which can cause tearing.
Pick No. 4: Dalstrong Steak Knives: Best Looking
The DALSTRONG Gladiator set may be the best-looking one on this list.
It’s made of Thyssenkrupp high-carbon steel and features a distinctive design and premium materials.
Like most of the knives on this list, the Gladiator set has a full tang construction.
That means that each knife is made from a single piece of metal, with its full length running from the tip of the blade to the bottom of the grip.
Beauty meets function in this set as the knives look graceful and sleek — even after repeated abuse and constant clashes with hard, ceramic plates.
The Gladiator set is definitely the best option for you if you’re looking for high-quality knives with a mid-range budget.
Pros
- This set has a good price-to-quality ratio.
- Each knife feels solid with enough heft and good balance due to its polished bolster.
- This set includes individual sheaths for each knife.
- It comes with a money-back guarantee if you’re not completely satisfied with your purchase.
Cons
- You will need to sharpen them every few uses to keep their original sharpness.
Pick No. 5: Messermeister Steak Knives: Best Knives With Wooden Handle
The Messermeister Avanta delivers exceptional performance at a reasonable price.
The knives are well-built, attractive, and durable.
The set also features a full tang design and long, sharp blades that can cut almost any type of food on your plate.
The handles are made of a stunning mid-brown Pakkawood.
They’re triple-riveted, sand-blasted, and have a minimalist, utilitarian vibe that looks great in any modern kitchen.
Pros
- It maintains sharp edges longer than the other straight blades in this list.
- The set is mid-priced but offers good value for your money.
- The knives are well-balanced as the blades and handles are almost identical in length.
Cons
- The handles will show wear and tear after years of use.
- Because these are straight-edged knives, you’ll need to sharpen them regularly.
Pick No. 6: Chicago Cutlery Steak Knives: Best Mid-Range
Chicago Cutlery is a brand that has been around for nearly a century.
They’re best known for comfortable, well-balanced, and sturdy blades that allow for precise cutting.
The Walnut Tradition set features high-carbon, stainless steel blades that resemble the ones used in boning knives.
The set is clearly not perfect — the blade’s edges are uneven and coarse, the knives are lighter than what I’m used to, and they look more like commercial-use boning knives.
However, it does offer good value for the money you’re spending as the knives work well.
They’re functional and work much better than other similarly priced steak knives.
Pros
- This set is budget-friendly but performs better than most steak knives in this price point.
- Each knife comes with a 25-degree taper grind edge finish to ensure optimal sharpness.
- The design has a rustic appeal, thanks to the unfinished look of the handles.
Cons
- The handles are made from wood, so they’re not dishwasher-safe.
- The handles are a bit small.
Pick No. 7: Victorinox Steak Knives: Best Serrated Knives
Victorinox is another industry leader, achieving worldwide popularity for its Swiss Army knives.
Manufactured in Switzerland, this knife set has undergone extensive product testing, which means you’re better assured of its quality.
The serrated blades are sharp and made from high-quality tempered steel.
They stand up well against deterioration and rust.
The handles are sturdy and ergonomic, allowing for better grip while you’re cutting through meat.
Pros
- Its round-tip design helps prevent accidental injuries.
- Each blade is mirror-polished.
- The handles are made from proprietary Fibrox material, so they’re easy to maintain and slip-resistant.
Cons
- The blades only come with a lifetime warranty for material or manufacturing defects.
- These aren’t appropriate for formal or fine dining setups, if that’s what you’re looking for.
What Makes a Good Steak Knife?
- Type of Blade
- Comfortable Handle
- Good Balance
- Materials
- Price
Just as you shouldn’t head out into the woods for several days without a camping knife, you shouldn’t sit down for a steak dinner without a steak knife.
Having the right tool for the job is always important.
After all, no one wants to clench their teeth throughout a meal as they saw and shred their meat to no avail.
Besides a smoother dining experience, sharp knives also happen to decrease the chances of user injury as it lessens the struggle of sawing through meat with a dull edge.
A high-quality steak knife allows you to slice through the thickest cuts of meat with very minimal resistance.
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The edge, shape, and material all play crucial roles in how well a steak knife performs.
Here’s what you need to look for when you’re shopping for the best set for your kitchen:
Type of Blade
These are the three common types of steak knife blades:
- Straight Edge: Straight-edge knives have blades that glide through the meat, allowing a smooth, clean cut. However, the blades tend to dull more quickly so they need to be sharpened more often.
- Serrated Edge: Because they have fewer exposed parts, the blades of serrated steak knives tend to stay sharper longer. However, this type of blade tends to tear through meat fibers instead of cleanly cutting them the way a straight-edge blade would.
- Hollow Edge: This type of steak-knife blade features indentations along the edge. It’s perfect for creating finer cuts since the air pockets between the meat and the blade’s edge help prevent fibers from sticking to the blade.
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Comfortable Handle
A good steak knife should rest comfortably in your hand.
Comfort is a matter of personal preference, so make sure to carefully observe which type of handle fits your needs better.
You may find that smooth wood provides you with a better grip or that you actually prefer an ergonomic design with some curves and texture instead.
Good Balance
Most people tend to overlook the importance of balance when choosing a good steak knife.
A well-balanced knife allows for smoother cuts while keeping your hand away from the blade.
Here are some tips to keep in mind:
- The handle should look proportional to the blade. When the handle is disproportionate to the blade, it will take you more time and effort to slice through meat.
- The knife should be comfortable to pick up and handle.
- It shouldn’t be too heavy. The knife should feel like an extension of your hand — not like you’re using a heavy tool.
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Materials
Traditionally, steak knives are made from high-carbon steel as this material is easy to sharpen.
Today, most blades are constructed from stainless steel. That’s because it’s durable, rust-resistant, and it can retain its shiny appearance longer.
Here are some of the other common materials used to create steak knives:
- CERAMIC
Ceramic is also another popular material, especially because it’s harder than steel (and even comparable to diamonds). Ceramic knives are also cheaper and lighter, but they’re difficult to sharpen as these require special sharpening tools that may not be readily available on the market. - PLASTIC
Plastic steak knives are commonly used when wanting to avoid vegetables and other food items from getting discolored due to contact with a metal blade. - TITANIUM
Titanium blades are made from carbides and titanium. They’re expensive, but they’re also more wear-resistant, flexible, and lighter.
Price
Your budget is always an important consideration when purchasing anything for your home.
Although a higher price doesn’t always mean better quality, you get what you pay for most of the time.
If you’re looking for high-quality knives that will last you a long time, you should be prepared to invest more.
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What To Avoid When Buying Good Steak Knives?
Before you place any knife set into your shopping cart, be mindful of the following:
- Avoid low-grade stainless steel knives as they tend to rust and dull quickly.
- Wooden handles often mean that knives need to be hand-washed. If you prefer the convenience of placing all your cutlery in your dishwasher, look for knives with stainless steel handles. Just remember that a smooth handle can lead to a less comfortable grip and reduced maneuverability.
- Never use a steak knife to cut anything other than food. Otherwise, the blades will quickly become blunt and less effective the next time you use them.
- Avoid manufacturers that don’t offer a lifetime warranty on their products, especially when they’re known for low-quality knives. It’s a good idea to check online reviews first.
- Don’t use an ordinary sharpening tool with serrated knives. They require a special handheld sharpener that entails carefully sharpening in between each edge.
- Some of the sets on this list may not come with their own knife block. It’s best to purchase one as soon as possible because you need a safe place to store your steak knives when they’re not in use. You can also opt to install a magnetic strip on your wall to hold your knives.
- Avoid steak knives that aren’t constructed or designed well. One way to check this is by looking for gaps between the handle and the blade. If you see one, it’s almost always a sign of a knife’s poor construction.
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How We Picked the Best Steak Knives
To bring you this list of the best knives, we started by ordering all the knives for ourselves. Once they arrived, we took the time to investigate the make and material of each knife before using it to cut some of our favorite meats.
We also spent some time cutting non-meat items such as potatoes and onions, which gives you a full-rounded idea of how the knife performs. We made notes as we went along, putting them all here so you can truly choose the knife which is best for you!
How Often to Sharpen a Chef’s Knife
After you have picked out the perfect knife, the next thing you need to do is maintain the blade so your investment doesn’t get dull.
Most professionals recommend sharpening your knives twice per year, maybe slightly more if you are eating steak every day. It is also recommended to hone your knives before each use to help maintain the edge. In order to hone your knives, you’ll want to invest in a honing steel or knife sharpener.
How to Make Your Steak Knives Last Longer?
Here are great tips to keep in mind if you want your new set of knives to last longer:
- Remember to wash each knife after use. Dry your knives with a clean cloth after washing to prevent them from rusting. If they’re regularly stored while still wet, they may deteriorate much faster.
- Store them properly to avoid accidents. Avoid storing them with other utensils as they might rub against the other items and get chipped. If there’s no other place to store them, protect each blade with a cover.
- Sharpen your knives regularly. There are several tools you can use for this, like a diamond stone, a sharpening rod, a triangle sharpener, or an electric knife sharpener. Make sure to check your set’s manufacturer’s manual to determine which type of sharpening tool works best for the knives you have.
- Use a suitable cutting board. Never slice or chop things on your countertop. The clash of the blade with hard surfaces like granite can quickly dull and damage your knives.
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Why Do You Need a Good Set of Steak Knives?
Now that you have a grill and/or smoker and are spending time creating some quality meats, the last thing you want to do is give your guests a knife that doesn’t cut through their dinner. Not to mention that half of the experience of enjoying a steak is being able to cut it easily!
Grabbing yourself a good set of steak knives will make enjoying the food you grilled a piece of cake–helping you and your family relax over a nice steak dinner!
Best Steak Knives FAQs
Should Steak Knives Be Serrated or Smooth?
Steak knives can be either serrated or smooth, but generally speaking, smooth steak knives are easier to care for and keep sharp. But if you don’t mind some maintenance here or there, a serrated steak knife is considered to be the better choice.
How Do You Pick a Steak Knife?
Steak knives should be selected based on the quality of the materials and how much time you want to spend taking care of your steak knives. While serrated knives are favored, they are harder to care for, so many novices choose smooth-edge steak knives.
Can You Sharpen Serrated Steak Knives?
It is very difficult to sharpen serrated steak knives, but it can be done with a sharpener. Do note that these knives require less sharpening than their straight-edge counterparts.
Can You Put Steak Knives in the Dishwasher?
It is never recommended to put steak knives in the dishwasher as the water remaining on them after the dry cycle can lead to rust on the blade and cracks in the handle. Rather, you should hand wash your knives and dry them immediately.
What Steak Knife Does Gordon Ramsay Use?
Gordon Ramsay uses Henckels knives, which are known for their quality and ability to slice through most of the ingredients in your kitchen. They aren’t cheap, however, so if you want the same knives as Gordon Ramsay for when you host dinner parties, you’ll need to be prepared to pay a pretty penny to get them.
Final Thoughts On Steak Knives
When you read through this list, the ones that scored lower aren’t bad knife sets.
On the contrary, these are all good sets, especially when compared to the hundreds of sets you could blindly buy.
Whether you want a great overall knife set, a budget option, or you’re looking for a high-end conversation piece, you’ve got a few options to choose from.
When using these knives, keep in mind that a sharp knife is much safer than a dull knife.
But if you do cut your finger, follow these steps from Healthline:
- Clean the area
- Treat with antibiotic ointment
- Cover the wound
- Elevate the finger
- Apply pressure
Don’t let these tips scare you. The choices here are very sharp which means you won’t need to apply a lot of pressure when slicing your steak.
That means less “oops” moments and more “yum” moments.
Let me know which knife set you ended up getting by dropping a comment below!
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