Besides the standardized tests above, we used the other knives included in the sets for general everyday cooking, noting any with especially good or bad design elements, and whether extra items added extra value over smaller sets. We looked at the knife blocks themselves as well, rating their quality of materials and efficient use of space.

The simple wall-mounted magnetic strip is unexpectedly fantastic. It holds all the knives securely but not so much so that you can't pull one off with one hand when you need it. And it can go anywhere you can screw in a screw: a wall, under a cabinet, inside a cabinet door — there are lots of ways to free up counter space.

Most knife blades are made of steel, in one of two types: Stainless steel is rust-resistant but softer and less able to hold a perfect edge, while carbon steel makes a harder and sharper but more brittle and delicate knife. Carbon steel is more difficult to work with and tends to cost a little more.

Though not the absolute least expensive out there, All-Clad's set is priced at a great level for beginners. It includes everything you need, like an especially powerful pair of shears that can chop right through chicken bones and a razor-sharp paring knife. The chef's and bread knives, unfortunately, weren't as sharp as we would have liked.

It doesn't include a carving knife or meat slicer, and the shape of the block can make it difficult to comfortably fit on some countertops.

Blade Material: Damascus steel | Handle Material: Pakkawood | Block Dimensions: 9.88 x 8.81 x 3.94 inches | Includes: Paring knife, utility knife, santoku, bread knife, chef's knife, honing steel, magnetic knife block

When it comes to knife handles, there are a lot more material options, from plain wood to rubber to various kinds of plastic and resin. The shape and texture of the handle affect how comfortable the knife is to hold, as well as how slippery it will be when wet. One thing to take a close look at is how smooth and tight the joints are between the handle and the blade; any gaps can catch bits of food and will likely get wider over time. And don't forget looks! Your knives will be on display on your counter all the time, so they should be aesthetically appealing.

A full set of knives is going to be an investment under any circumstance, but it's also something that will fully equip your kitchen for years. If you're looking for a more affordable knife block set, these are a few of the top performers in our tests that also won't break the bank:

We had a great test performance with the Misen chef's and bread knives, but the paring knife was disappointing. It was near the bottom of the list in our mechanical measurements of sharpness, and it had trouble getting through the skin to peel a kiwi. This set is comprehensive for all kitchen needs, though its knives are a bit shorter and heavier than others. We do love the color choices; you can get the identical set in bold red or blue, or more traditional black.

The Shuns slid through all of our test ingredients like butter. The smooth, oval-ish handles of the Classic design felt a little unusual at first, but as we got used to them, we realized that the shape helps guide your hand into a comfortable position sort of automatically. This wards off fatigue when you're doing a lot of chopping.

In the overall world of knife block sets, the Cangshan is a bit expensive, but it's not overpriced for a set of Japanese knives. It includes 12 pieces, but four of those are standard steak knives — you don't get any specialty tools other sets don't have. We're also a bit disappointed at the lack of a long brisket slicer; an 8-inch chef's knife and a 9-inch bread knife are the biggest here.

It's a terrible idea to store knives in a drawer where they can scrape against each other, dulling and chipping their blades. The knife block is a perfect solution, offering a slot to hold each knife safely, securely, and in easy reach. Blocks come in different sizes and orientations that fit better in different kitchen locations. Keep in mind that if you have a tight fit, you need several extra inches above most blocks to leave room for the knives to lift in and out. If you're adding a block set to an existing knife collection, you should also check how much space the block offers — some can fit only the included tools, while others have extra slots.

Blade Material: Damascus steel | Handle Material: Pakkawood | Block Dimensions: 11 x 5 x 9 inches | Includes: Paring knife, santoku, boning knife, chef's knife, slicing knife, bread knife, chef's knife, honing steel, shears, 11-slot block

This set's narrow, angled walnut block holds its knives efficiently but also stands out in a sea of near-identical square blocks. The lustrous knife handles, made of durable African blackwood, match the block nicely, and their octagonal shape fits securely in the hand. The blades are all super-sharp and well-balanced, making quick work of all our tests. We especially liked that the shears have one serrated blade to get a good grip on and chop through cartilage and bone, and one flat blade to slice cleanly through delicate chives and other herbs.

The two-piece kitchen shears are very easy to clean, but they didn't have the strength to chop through chicken wings in testing. That's our main quibble with the set, along with the fact that the block has a bigger footprint than competitors. The Classic line is Wüsthof's best-selling and most affordable, though it's still slightly above average for our tested knives. We say the price is well worth it for the quality from one of our favorite German kitchen brands.

Global's knives are unique because they're made from a single piece of steel, with no separate handles that can come apart or collect bits of food. That makes them simple to clean and take care of, but they can also get slippery when your hands are wet or greasy. If that's your preference, this is an excellent set at a just-above-average price.

This set is a more affordable way to get Wüsthof knives than the Classic or Classic Ikon lines, though it's distinctively lower quality. The handles aren't particularly comfortable to hold and the sharpness is mediocre, but it does include everything you'll need.

At a bare minimum, each of the 42 knife sets we tested included a chef's knife, paring knife, and serrated bread knife, and we focused our ratings mainly on those three blades to create an equal comparison.

This set's block incorporates a knife sharpener, which works by simply moving a lever back and forth. That's a great feature, but you don't get a good assortment of blades here. The 12 pieces include six steak knives and no bread slicer at all.

GreenPan is better known for its nonstick cookware than its knives, but this set is nice and sharp and looks far more expensive than it is. Its performance in testing was mediocre, with a chef's knife that did well with tomatoes but needed a lot of force to get through sweet potatoes and a serrated knife that crushed soft bread.

Our biggest problem in testing the Zwilling set was its chef's knife, which is unfortunately the most-used knife in just about any kitchen. It sliced easily through a tomato but lacked the power and balance to cut an onion evenly or slice through a sweet potato without serious effort. Its handle is also awkward to hold.

Blade Material: Stainless steel | Handle Material: Plastic | Block Dimensions: 14.17 x 6.3 x 6.1 inches | Includes: Peeling knife, vegetable knife, paring knife, serrated knife, slicing knife, bread knife, chef's knife, honing steel, shears, 13-slot block

HexClad's Japanese-style knives look a lot like the Shun Classic models above, except they're about half as expensive and aren't made in Japan. Nonetheless, most of them performed nicely in our tests — especially the chef's knife, which was sharp enough to slice off a translucent sliver of tomato with practically no effort. We also like the compact magnetic knife block; it holds all the knives securely on one side, and you can use the other for spatulas, tongs, and any other steel tools.

Sign up for inside scoop on promotions, discounts, special events, training opportunities, and company news! Learn more about Email Subscription by visiting our FAQs page.

Knife sets vary a lot in quality, material, features, contents, and price, and we tested more than 40 different sets for a fair snapshot of the whole market. We included top performers in previous knife testing, as well as our and various knife experts' favorite brands, including Wüsthof, Zwilling, Shun, Global, and more. (And we often compared two brands against each other, as with Wüsthof vs. Zwilling). We looked at the full assortment of knives included and tested everything from extra-large sets with classic wooden blocks to space-savers with compact magnetic blocks.

"I live in a city apartment, so I don't have the space for a full countertop block set, as much as I'd like to," says Food & Wine associate editorial director Dana Fouchia. "I attached the magnetic knife strip to the side of my cabinet, and this set has been a game-changer ever since. The knives are sturdy and slice with ease, and I appreciate the inclusion of all three larger blades (the chef's, santoku, and serrated knife) for larger meals or when hosting. Plus, the cool blue color brings a pop of modernity into my kitchen, which can be unique for a quality set like this one."

The knife sets we chose not to feature had different shortcomings, whether not sharp enough, not including the right blades, or simply too expensive considering their poor performance. Brands whose individual knives have been among our favorites fell short when it comes to complete sets, including familiar names like Miyabi, Victorinox, Messermeister, Henckels, and Beautiful by Drew Barrymore.

A good kitchen knife should never, ever go in the dishwasher, even if the manufacturer says it's allowed. Hand-washing with soap and a sponge is all you need to keep a knife clean. It's a good idea to dry knives off with a soft cloth right after washing, as well, since standing water droplets can lead to rust.

Blade Material: Forged steel | Handle Material: Plastic | Block Dimensions: 12.5 x 4.4 x 12 inches | Includes: Peeling knife, paring knife, serrated utility knife, double serrated bread knife, chef's knife, carving knife, meat fork, honing steel, shears, 9-slot block

Misen makes top-quality knives at a mid-level price, and this set is a perfect demonstration of that. The blades are made from hard high-carbon steel like that used in many Japanese knives, which can hold a super-sharp edge. The grip shape is quite comfortable to hold, and the unique sloped bolster lets you access and chop ingredients from the very heel of the blade without getting your fingers in the way.

Any pro chef will tell you that you only really need a large chef's knife, a small paring knife, and a serrated knife to do just about anything you want. And almost any block set will include at least one of those three knives. Beyond that, different kinds of specialized knives have more specialized uses: santokus for rapid chopping, shears for butchering poultry, long slicers for carving meats, and more. These make a set more versatile, but might also not be worth the increased cost. Sets with a lot of pieces often include multiple steak knives, which aren't necessarily very useful — especially if you already own a set of steak knives as part of your flatware set.

The best knife block sets can get very expensive; it makes sense when you're buying several top-quality blades all at once. But this Zwilling one impressed us with its comparatively low price. The paring knife was probably the best performer of our entire test process, a practically weightless tool that was able to slice the skin of a kiwi with only gentle pressure. We also liked the extra-sharp serrated bread knife, and the shears — they don't come apart for cleaning, but they chopped through chicken bones with no problem.

The best knife sets get you all your essential knives at once, along with a sleek, safe, and functional place to store them. Perfect for a beginner cook, newlyweds, or anyone who needs an easy kitchen refresh, a good knife set includes several basic blades, often at a significant discount over buying the knives one by one. In our never-ending quest to find the best kitchen tools, we put 42 of the best knife sets to the test, evaluating each one's sharpness, design, and overall value.

To keep the edge sharp as long as possible, run your knife across a honing steel every time you use it. But no blade will stay sharp forever: You'll need to sharpen your knives at least once or twice a year, or whenever you notice them getting dull. You can do this at home with an electric knife sharpener or whetstone, or have them professionally sharpened for a small fee. (Check your local farmer's market; many have on-site booths that will sharpen your knives while you shop.)

Editor's note: We paired these knives with the now-discontinued Misen Magnetic Knife Strip to create a full storage set for testing. We recommend one of these magnetic knife holders as a replacement.

The bread knife is where this set came up short in testing. Its serrations were able to get through the crust, but the blade wasn't sharp enough and tore the interior of the loaf. The set's seven pieces also include just five knives and no shears, something you need to take into account when you consider its below-average price.

Shun is among the top names in Japanese knives, and its knives have both performance and prices to match. If you're looking to equip a truly luxury kitchen, this is our very favorite high-end knife set. The Shun set covers every kitchen function, from slim boning knife to hefty santoku, and the pieces are all razor-sharp — well, except for the honing steel and block itself, of course.

The single cheapest set we tested, these knives beat out competitors that cost several times as much. We also like the space-saving block design, which lets you tilt the knives forward to remove them rather than pulling them out of the top. The blades are...okay, not super-sharp but still functional. For a serious cook, it might be worth investing a little more money.

Shun knives also look gorgeous, with a distinctive wavy pattern in the steel made by folding together steel layers of different compositions. They're heirloom-level tools that will last for years if hand-washed and honed properly, and they come at an heirloom-level price to match.

Blade Material: Damascus steel | Handle Material: African blackwood | Block Dimensions: 9.75 x 6.67 x 9.5 inches | Includes: Paring knife, serrated utility knife, santoku, bread knife, chef's knife, 4 steak knives, honing steel, shears, 11-slot block

Wüsthof knives are reliably high-quality across the board, so the brand's a great choice for a full set. The Wüsthof Classic chef's knife was the second-sharpest out of the box in our testing, and the paring knife needed almost no effort to hull strawberries. We like that this block includes two serrated knives: a long one that glides through crusty bread, and a shorter utility blade that will work for raw meat prep or as a post-cooking steak knife. There's also a tiny curved peeler knife great for cutting precise garnishes.

Of all the tools you need for cooking, the kitchen knife is perhaps the most important. There's hardly a dish out there that doesn't require slicing or dicing of some kind. Every kitchen should have several essential knives specialized for different tasks, from a versatile chef's knife for everyday chopping to paring knives for small-scale mincing, peeling, and trimming.

After completing all our other tests, we revealed the retail prices of the sets and considered value for money. At the time of testing, the knife block sets ranged from just over $100 to well over $1,000, with an average of $569.

Compared to the standard Wüsthof Classic set we named our best overall, the brand's Classic Ikon knives are slightly more expensive and have a slightly different look, with a sleek rounded handle. Both are great choices, but we found the Classic knives more comfortable to hold than the Classic Ikon.

At the bare minimum, every kitchen should have a large, straight chef's knife for chopping and a serrated knife for slicing. Add a shorter paring knife for peeling and you've got the assortment that you'll find in almost every knife block set.

The German-made Wüsthof Classic 10-Piece Knife Block Set came out on top in our extensive testing, impressing us with its design, performance, and variety. The Wüsthof Classic chef's knife was the second-sharpest out of the box in our testing, and the paring knife needed almost no effort to hull strawberries and deftly peel kiwis.

Depending on your tastes and what kind of cutting you do, you might also want to add some specialty knives to a basic set. Fans of barbecue (and meat in general) could use a butcher knife, boning knife, or brisket slicer, while a seafood lover might want to invest in a fish fillet knife. For entertaining, there are all kinds of cheese knives made for different styles, and a carving knife is always impressive at a holiday feast.

"The Cangshan Maya knife block is a staple on our kitchen island; the block is elegant-looking but also slim and unobtrusive in tighter kitchen spaces," says Food & Wine editorial director Megan Passaro. "The handles still look great after months of constant use and hand-washing (perhaps a downside is that they’re not dishwasher-friendly, but great knives usually aren’t). The edges have held their sharpness, and every knife has proved excellent, from paring kiwis to slicing huge cuts of steak."According to Passaro, one drawback is the height of the block, which can be too tall to fit under cabinets while leaving room to pull out the knives. It's better suited for kitchens with open space above the counters.

An especially space-saving option is a magnetic knife block. Knives (or any tools made of steel) will stick in any orientation and don't need a specially sized slot. The block itself is also more narrow and takes up less counter space. There are also wall-mounted magnetic blocks that don't need any counter space at all. The downside with magnetic storage is that items made of ceramic or aluminum won't stick.

Blade Material: Carbon steel | Handle Material: Plastic | Strip Dimensions: 2.5 x 15.75 x 0.75 inches | Includes: Paring knife, serrated knife, utility knife, santoku, chef's knife, shears, ceramic honing rod