If you want the best knife set under $200 then you have a big opportunity to get multiple knives and tools. It is true that expensive knife sets have better quality than some cheaper models.
However, in this article, I have reviewed the best block sets under $200 that offer the best quality and performance.
They are also stylish, sharp, durable, and well-balanced to enhance your comfort when cutting. As a result, they are perfect for home chefs as well as commercial kitchens.
A Quick Summary of the Winner
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Best Premium
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WÜSTHOF |
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Mercer Culinary |
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| Easy sharpening |
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Calphalon |
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| Best Overall |
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HENCKELS |
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Victorinox |
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Imarku |
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Yatoshi |
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01. Wüsthof Gourmet 7-piece Knife Block Set
This kitchen knife set is made in Solingen Germany and it meets the strictest quality standards. The blades are made of high-carbon stainless steel and they are extremely sharp and easy to sharpen.
They are precisely cut using an advanced state-of-the-art technology known as the “Precision Edge Technology” which makes them 20% sharper. This technology also gives them twice as much edge retention than other models.
The set comes with 7 pieces that include a 6-inch cook’s knife, a 7.5-inch utility knife, a 3-inch spear point paring knife, 9-inch steel, a 9-slot block, and come-apart kitchen shears. These knives are tempered to a Rockwell hardness of 58 which means that they are stupendously sharp.
They also come with a full bolster plus a finger guard to enhance safety and control. In terms of comfort, the knives are equipped with triple-riveted synthetic handles which are resistant to fading and discoloration. Apart from that, the set comes with a lifetime limited warranty which makes it more trustworthy.
02. Mercer Culinary 6-piece Forged Block Set
This set is among the best-selling cutlery sets for under $200. The set comes with an 8–inch bread knife, an 8-inch chef’s knife, a 5-inch paring knife, a 5-inch utility knife, and a 6-inch boning knife.
The set is very stylish since it comes in a tempered glass. All the knives are made of high-carbon German X5CRMOV15 Steel which is highly resistant to rust, corrosion, stains, and discoloration.
Again, the blades are forged with precision to enhance strength and durability. The knives also contain taper-ground edges to enhance stability and easier sharpening.
Due to this construction, they are able to maintain their sharp edge for a long time to enhance efficiency when chopping or cutting.
In terms of comfort, the set features a non-slip Santoprene handle which provides excellent grip when cutting. This handle material is very strong meaning that it is resistant to heat and cold temperatures.
03. Calphalon Classic 15-piece Self-Sharpening Knife Set
If you are searching for a budget-friendly and self-sharpening cutlery set that comes with many pieces, the Calphalon Classic 15-Piece will be an amazing choice.
It comes with 15-piece knives including an 8-inch chef’s knife, 6-inch utility knife, 4.5-inch paring knife, 6-inch serrated utility knife, 7-inch santoku knife, 8 steak knives, and a self-sharpening knife block.
All these knives ensure that you have the most important tool for cutting, chopping, slicing, dicing, and mincing.
In terms of construction, these knives are made of high carbon without steel. Due to the high carbon content, they are resistant to rust and corrosion. They have a full-tang construction to give you excellent balance and control.
Besides that, they come with triple-riveted handles that provide an excellent grip. For easier identification, all the knives have labels at the end of the handle which saves you time when picking the right tool. You will also be pleased to note that the set comes with a lifetime warranty.
04. J.A. Henckels 15-piece Kitchen Knife Set
Henckels Statement 15-piece dishwasher-safe knife set comes with an 8-inch bread knife, 7-inch Santoku knife, 5-inch serrated knife, 3-inch paring knife, 8-inch chef’s knife, (6) 4.5-inch steak knives, kitchen shears, sharpening steel, and a hardwood block.
In order to enhance durability, all the knives are made from high-quality stainless steel material which is resistant to rust and corrosion.
The satin-finished blades that come with this set provide precision and accuracy since they are very sharp. These blades also have a one-piece and stamped construction which makes them more lightweight than the forged models.
Apart from that, the set has a full-tang design to give you a fatigue-free cutting experience as well as maximum maneuverability.
In order to enhance comfort and balance, it comes with triple-riveted handles which have a curved design. These handles are equipped with stainless-steel end-caps which gives the set a modern look.
05. Victorinox 8-piece Kitchen Knives Set
Whether you are searching for the best knife set for a commercial kitchen or home use, this model will be a great choice. It is crafted with high-carbon stainless steel to prevent rust and corrosion.
The blades are conical ground and ice-tempered meaning that they are able to maintain their sharpness for a long time. As compared to other cutlery sets under $200, this set has better construction and this is why it is a bit expensive.
The set comes with a 10-inch slicing knife, 8-inch chef’s knife, 4-inch paring knife, 8-inch bread knife, 6-inch boning knife, 10-inch sharpening steel, slant hardwood block, and kitchen shears.
Additionally, it is equipped with comfortable Fibrox Pro handles which provide a non-slip grip even when wet. The set also meets the strict standards of the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) for public health safety.
06. Imarku 10-piece Knife Set with Cutting Board
One of the most outstanding things about this 10-piece set is that the knives are made of premium 3CR13MOV German High-carbon stainless steel. As a result, they are highly resistant to corrosion, rust, and discoloration.
Unlike others, the block of this set is made of high-grade bamboo and it also comes with a quality bamboo cutting board.
You will also find that all the knives are carefully designed to provide unmatched sharpness. Apart from that, the edges are precisely tampered with and hand-polished at 14-16 degrees on each side.
The set includes an 8-inch bread knife, an 8-inch slicing knife, a 7-inch Santoku knife, an 8-inch sharpener, an 8-inch utility knife, an 8-inch chef’s knife, a 3-inch paring knife, 5.5-inch kitchen scissors, a 13-inch knife block, and a Bamboo cutting board.
The block is made of luxurious Bamboo which gives it a more stylish look than other cutlery sets. In terms of design, you will find that the set is very stylish which makes it ideal for modern kitchens.
07. Yatoshi 5-piece Pro Knife Block Set
The Yatoshi block set comes with 5 pieces of high-quality knives including an 8-inch chef’s knife, a 7-inch Santoku knife, paring knife, a 5-inch santoku knife, utility knife, scissors, and a wooden block.
All the knives have a beautiful waved pattern which gives them a stylish look. The blades are made of CR17 stainless steel and they contain 0.6-0.75 carbon to enhance sturdiness. This material also makes them two times harder than other models.
Additionally, they have an ultra-sharp edge with a Rockwell Hardness of 57-58 making them among the toughest knives on the market.
They have a thickness of 2.5mm meaning that you can use them to cut tough ingredients without bending or breaking.
In order to enhance comfort, they come with an ergonomic Pakkawood handle which gives you an incredible grip when cutting.
The set is very safe to use even for beginners since it comes with a sloped bolster to prevent accidental cuts and also to enhance balance. Finally, the set comes with a few pieces, but it will give you great value for your money.
Things to Consider Before Buying
When searching for the best cutlery set under $200, there are some features that you need to consider when comparing different models. Some of these features include;
Number of knives
The first thing you need to check is the number of knives available because some models may lack some important tools.
You should confirm that all the necessary tools you may need every day such as a chef’s knife, bread knife, utility knife, and paring knife are included.
If you want to get the best value for your money, you should consider a model with at least 15 pieces like the Cuisinart C77WTR-15P 15-piece knife set.
The Blade Construction
It is important you check the type of materials used in the construction of the blade. The best kitchen knife sets are those that are made of high-carbon stainless steel or stainless steel. These materials are able to maintain their razor-sharp edge for a long time and are also rust-resistant.
Blades are also available in different construction including stamped and forged. If you are searching for lightweight blades, stamped blades are the best but if you want a sturdy model, you should consider forged knives. They are heavier than the stamped models due to their heavy-duty construction.
The Handle Material
If the handle material is uncomfortable, you will experience problems when cutting. This means that you need to ensure that the materials used in the handle are non-slip and comfortable to hold.
The handle should also fit comfortably in your palm to give you control. Wooden handles are the most preferred due to their stylish and comfortable design. However, they are not as durable as the stainless steel handles.
Full-Tang or Half-Tang
A full tang knife features a blade that runs up to the other end of the handle. As a result, full-tang knives have a balanced weight meaning that they give you better control than the half-tang blades.
Half-tangs are those knives whose blade runs up to where the handle starts or at the center. As compared to the full-tang blades, half-tang models are more lightweight and stylish.
Safety Bolster
A bolster is a small and thick junction that is positioned between the blade and the handle. It is meant to give you good balance as well as stability when cutting.
Apart from that, it protects your fingers from accidental cuts since it prevents direct contact between the blade and the finger. This is a very important feature, especially for new cooks.
Length
The other thing you should not ignore is the length of each knife included in the set. Make sure that each of them has a perfect length for the intended purpose.
For example, bread and chef’s knife should be 8-inches long while pairing knives should be 3-5 inches long. Utility knives should be 5-7 inches while steak knives should be 4.5-inches.
Weight
Heavy knives are not very uncomfortable to use especially if you are using them for long hours. When buying, you need to ensure that the set has a balanced weight for easier use. Those with stamped blades are more lightweight than those with forged construction.
Durability
No one needs a knife that bends or breaks easily when cutting tough ingredients. You need to ensure that the knife set is made of tough materials that don’t break even when cutting hard ingredients.
It should also be resistant to corrosion, rust, and discoloration. In case you are not sure about the durability of the knife, you should read the customer reviews.
Storage Block
A knife set without a storage block can be very difficult to use since you won’t be able to retrieve the knives easily when you need them.
The storage block also enhances the overall appearance of the knife set. Wooden blocks are the most popular due to their exceptional durability.
Warranty
Different companies provide different warranties for their products. However, you should consider a model that provides a reasonable but not less than 3 years.
The best kitchen knife sets under $200 are those that come with a lifetime warranty. Don’t forget to read the warranty terms to see what is covered.
Ease of Cleaning
Not all knives are easy to clean due to stains. Those that are made of stain-resistant materials are the best because they are very easy to clean. Some are safe to clean in a dishwasher but this may degrade their quality.
Final Thoughts
Knife sets are very convenient as compared to when you are purchasing individual pieces. However, most people avoid them because they think that they are very expensive. The good news is that you can find reliable knife sets even under $100.
I understand that identifying a good model when you are on a budget can be very challenging and that’s why I compiled this guide to give you a list of the best knife sets under $200.
All of them come with many pieces and they also have an excellent build quality. I hope now you are clear about which model might be best for your kitchen and budget.
I have built kniveswow.com because as a home chef I know how important kitchen knives are. I use different kitchen knives every day and they always save my time. Here I share my thoughts, experience and knife maintenance tips with you. You can find more info about me.