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When we are talking about tools and appliances used in the kitchen, we often overlook the importance of knives! Of course, everyone has knives in their kitchen regardless of whether they are cutting just basic things or going more professional. But, while we pay a lot of attention to design and the performance of other cooking equipment, knives are somehow taken for granted.
At the same time, not many things are as important in the kitchen as a good knife set. We use them several times each day to prepare different meals. To make a maximum effect in the kitchen, you must have proper blades in your hands.
Now, when you are not very skilled in the kitchen, you might be puzzled when you start looking for the best knife set. There are a plethora of models that come at different prices - they can cost anywhere from 20 – 30 several thousands of dollars. Logically, when you see that you wonder how to choose a set that would do the job for you without breaking a bank!
You are not the only one who has this question! We were in your shoes as well, and we decided to research a bit and discuss this topic with experienced chefs and other experts. We were focused on finding the best affordable knife set. The knife set reviews we present to you today are the result of our quest!
Top 10 Best Knife Sets Under $200: Comparison Chart
Advanced Technology McCook MC29
Extra Functionality Marco Almond KYA28
Best Overall: McCook MC29 Knife Set Review
Sale
McCook MC29
- PREMIUM KITCHEN KNIFE SET - Tarnish-resistant and rust-resistant, this high carbon stainless steel cutlery set is of restaurant and culinary school knife set quality. All our knives have gone through at least 5 checks before shipping out
- WORLD CLASS KNIFE SET - Exclusive taper grind edge technology provides optimum sharpness for precise cutting and is easy to re-sharpen. The ergonomically designed handle provides comfort and confidence in handling
- EASY TO STORAGE - All knives store safely in the hard wood knife block with built-in sharpener for space efficient storage
- VALUE SET - 15 pieces knife set includes: 8" chef knife, 8" slicing knife, 5" santoku knife, 5.5" serrated utility knife, 5" utility knife, 3.5" paring knife, 6pcs 4.5" serrated steak knife, 2 pairs of kitchen shears, and hard wood knife block with built-in sharpener
- EASY CARE - The kitchen knife set with block is easy and fast to clean. To protect the sharpness and glossiness of the knives, please DO NOT wash the knives in dishwasher. Clean and dry them immediately after hand washing to get the most out of them.
Built in Sharpener: Marco Almond KYA28 Knife Set Review
Marco Almond KYA28
- A Value Set for all Cutting Needs – 14 pieces knives set includes: 1pc-8" chef knife, 1pc-8" slicing knife,,1pc-5" santoku knife, 1pc-5.5" serrated utility knife, 1pc-5"utility knife, 1pc-3.5" paring knife, 6pcs 4.5" serrated steak knives, 1pc-all-purpose kitchen shear, 1pc-black wooden knife block.
- Fine Craftsmanship - This high carbon Japanese stainless steel knife set comprises of 8 different types of knives/scissors to satisfy every type of cutting needs at home or in restaurant. Outstanding craftsmanship, single piece forged, cutting-edge technology, stunning design elements, and premium materials make this knives set not only sharp but also good hand feeling when using them.
- Sharp and Premium Knives set – Made of high quality high carbon Japanese steel, this knife set is rust proof and durable. Perfect for both professional and beginner. No rust, stains and pitting here! The knives are sturdy enough to keep it durable for several years.
- Built-in Sharpener– The knives block includes built-in sharpener which is super convenient for daily using. When the knives are dull, you don’t need to buy extra sharpener. All knives store safely in the wood knife block to save storage space.(Please hand clean and don't use dish washer).
- Our Service – We’re dedicated to enhance your cooking experience. If you’re not satisfied with your knife set, just feel free to contact us at any time. We wish our customer good shopping experience. Try now!
Comfortable & Lightweight: Emojoy 15-Pieces Knife Set Review
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Emojoy
- 【ALL-IN-ONE KNIFE SET】Professional knife set for kitchen includes: 8"Chef Knife,8"Bread Knife,8"Slicing Knife,7"Santoku Knife,5"Utility Knife,3.5"Paring Knife,Kitchen Scissors, Knife Sharpener, 6 pieces of 5" Steak Knife and Acacia Wooden Block
- 【PROFESSIONAL QUALITY】All knives’ blade are forged from Superior high-Carbon German stainless steel with exceptional corrosion resistance and oxidation resistance. Strong, durable bolster for perfect stability and control.Each knife edges hand-polished per side, make the knives extra sharp.
- 【ERGONOMIC HANDLE】The ergonomically designed handle provides comfort and confidence in handling, sturdiness and durability,especially during prolonged usage. A perfect mix of design & practicality!
- 【EASY CARE & STORAGE 】All knife set for kitchen are well organized into a beautiful Acacia Wooden Block, which could be a perfect kitchen decor while reducing the risk of rusting. Perfect gift for Thanksgiving, Wedding, Birthday, Housewarming.
- 【QUICK ACTION】We are committed to improving your cooking experience. It's our responsibility to guarantee the quality of products. Just feel free to contact us if you have any problem with the Emojoy knife set for kitchen.
German Stainless Steel: KitchenAid KKFSS14BO Knife Set Review
KitchenAid KKFSS14BO
- German 1.4028 stainless steel
- Built-in diamond 600 grit sharpener
- Durable handle
- Quality bamboo block
Wooden Block: Master Maison 19-Pieces Knife Set Review
Sale
Master Maison
- PREMIUM KITCHEN KNIFE SET - 8-inch chef's knife, 3.5-inch paring knife, 7-inch santoku knife, 8-inch carving knife, 5-inch utility knife, 8-inch serrated bread knife, 4.5-inch serrated steak knives (6), knife sharpener, all-purpose household shears, and a sleek wooden storage block for space efficient storage.
- CULINARY QUALITY AT AN AFFORDABLE PRICE - Master Maison was founded by 2 lifelong cooks who struggled to find professional-quality knives at everyday prices. Our Californian founders partnered with dozens of professional chefs to design stain-resistant and rust-resistant knife sets at an affordable price point.
- SUPERIOR ERGONOMICS AND PRECISION - Each Master Maison knife is forged from a single piece of high-carbon, German stainless steel. Our premium steel and innovative design result in a blade that is razor sharp and a balanced weight that minimizes fatigue while maximizing cutting precision.
- SLEEK DESIGN AND EASY STORAGE - A sleek, modern design fits in seamlessly among your other kitchen tools. The hardwood block with built-in knife sharpener reduces clutter from the counter and protects your knives for years to come.
- EASY CARE AND UNLIMITED 1-YEAR WARRANTY: Our knives carry an unlimited 1-year warranty. We recommend hand washing and promptly drying your knives after usage to protect their sharpness and glossiness. If you ever have an issue, reach out to our customer service team.
Ergonomically Wood Handle: HITECLIFE Knife Set Review
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HITECLIFE
- 【Set includes】The 14 Pieces Knife Sets includes 8" Chef Knife, 8" Slicing Knife, 7" Santoku Knife, 5" Utility Knife, 3.5" Paring Knife, 6pcs 4.5" Steak Knives, All-Purpose Household Shears, Knife Sharpener Rod, Wooden Block. A complete cutlery organizer!
- 【Premium Knives Blade】Knife blade is forged from high quality high-carbon steel with excellent durability. Fine sanding technology provides optimum sharpness for precise cutting.
- 【Ergonomic Grip】The ergonomically designed walnut handle provides a comfort grip, labor-saving and no slipping. Triple rivetes secure the full-tang blades for sturdy and practical while cutting.
- 【Easy to Store】The well-carved knife block help you recycle steak knives effectively, place them safely and save your storage space. The kitchen knife set with block includes Knife Sharpening Rod, maintaining the sharpness and glossiness of the knives.
- 【Customer service】1 year warranty and a 30-day MONEY BACK guarantee: we are committed to higher satisfaction. Please feel free to contact us if there are any questions, and we will respond within 24 hours.
Strong Corrosion Resistance: Cuisinart C77SS-15PK 15-Piece Set Review
Cuisinart
- Superior high carbon stainless steel blades for precision and accuracy
- Strong, durable bolster for perfect stability and control. Lightweight knives that slice, carve, and chop
- Ergonomically designed stainless steel handle provides comfort
- Easy to clean and precision-tapered ground blades that narrow gradually to an extremely sharp, fine edge
- Lifetime Warranty.Dishwasher Safe
With Kitchen Scissors: Wanbasion 16-Pieces Knife Set Review
Wanbasion
- Resistant to Scratch & Paint Drop - Wanbasion kitchen knife set with knife sharpener peeler scissors acrylic block won't scratch and panit drop as the surface of kitchen knife set and knife block is made of blue titanium coating which is resistant to corrosion and scratch. Wanbasion kitchen knife set with block will stay beautiful look. Also, stainless steel kitchen knife set with knife set block is resistant to rust and stains.
- Better Flexible & Durable - Wanbasion kitchen knife set with knife sharpener peeler scissors acrylic block using a special process which can guarantee the high quality of Wanbasion kitchen knife set with block. Wanbasion kitchen knife set with block is more flexible and durable. So the kitchen knife set with blue knife set block is hard to bend and break.
- Excellent Sharp & Long Edge Retention - Wanbasion kitchen knife set with blue knife set block is so thin that the kitchen knife set is sharp enough to cut hard food easily. The new precision edge technology enhances the kitchen knife set with knife set block sharpness and long sharp edge retention.
- Stainlsee Steel & Contemporary acrylic Knife Block - Wanbasion kitchen knife set with knife sharpener peeler scissors acrylic block makes for a durable, easy-care universal knife stand that won’t let you down! Universal storage of Wanbasion kitchen knife set block allows you to insert knives anywhere. All kitchen knives can be well organized on a nice and space saving acrylic knife block, the transparent body of the acrylic knife block allows you to easily inspect the status of all the knives th
Ultra Sharp: TAIMASI 23-Pieces Knife Set Review
TAIMASI
- [Multi-Purpose Kitchen Knife set] - Includes chef's knife, santoku knife, bread knife, slicing knife, utility knife, paring knife, boning knife, boning knife, 8packs steak knives, sharpener rod, kitchen shears, finger guard, and other accessories. This knife set can be used for your daily kitchen tasks and fit all your needs.
- [Durable & Sturdy] - Every blade is precision forged from high-carbon X50CR15 stainless steel for superb rust and corrosion protection, and stain-free performance. The textured handles are ergonomic and durable, making long sessions of food prep virtually effortless and fatigue-free for fingers, hands, wrists and forearms.
- [Ultra-Sharp & Unique pattern] - With carefully hand-polishing and precise tempering technology, each taper-ground edge is hand polished to 14-16°per side for long-lasting sharpness and easy honing. The blade features with unique damascus pattern, which make it has a attractive appearance.
- [Easy Care & Storage] - All knives are well organized into 1 wood block that made of durable natural oak, it helps to keep keen edge on your blades, and make a handsome addition to a countertop.
- [24H After Sales Service] - All of our product are thoroughly tested before we ship them out to you. If it does not suit you for any reason, please contact us, we offer 24hours customer service to ensure you a good shopping experience.
Damascus Style: Wanbasion Titanium Knife Set Review
Wanbasion Titanium
- Damascus style kitchen knife set resistant to corrosion and scratch – The surface titanium coating of kitchen knife set is resistant to corrosion and scratch. So damascus style kitchen knife set will keep their beautiful look and food safety for years to come.
- Damascus style kitchen knife set resistant to rust and stains - Stainless steel damascus style kitchen knife set is resistant to rust and stains. Provides the user with a lot of strength and knife hardness making it a great choice for tougher jobs.
- Better flexible damascus style kitchen knife se - A special process is used to guarantee the quality of Wanbasion damascus style kitchen knife set, which are more flexible so the damascus style kitchen knife set hard to bend and break.
- Damascus style kitchen knife set is excellent sharp and long edge retention - The new precision edge technology enhances the damascus style kitchen knife set sharpness and long sharp edge retention.
- Wanbasion damascus style kitchen knife set promise 100% after-sales service.
What to Look for When Buying the Best Knife Set Under $200?
The research we conducted showed that a myriad of excellent chef knife set options on the market cost less than 200 bucks. Even if most of them are very good knives, things still aren’t as simple that you can just go to the shop and buy them. There are plenty of factors you need to consider when buying a knife block set. In this section, we will go through some of the most common things you have to pay attention to. We hope it will help you choose your best knife set for the money.
Blade Material and Quality
As blades are the most important parts of knives because you use them to cut food, you especially need to pay attention. Most of the manufacturers use razor-sharp materials with extended durability to make knife blades. The most popular materials for the best knife set under $200 are stainless steel, ceramic, and carbon steel.
Stainless Steel
Stainless steel is a popular material because it is powerful and durable as it resists corrosion for a long time. These blades are quite sharp and stay that way for a long time. Of course, they become dull after some time, but it is simple to sharpen them. You can easily find the best knife set under $100 with stainless steel knives. This kind of knife set is excellent for home use.
Carbon Steel
When we are talking about carbon steel blades, it is necessary to understand that carbon is an inseparable part of the steel. The thing is only that some blades have more carbon than others, and that is why we emphasize that they are carbon steel blades. This type of blades is more expensive than regular stainless steel blades, but they offer way better performance, and most professional cooks prefer to work with them. The main reason is that this type of steel is much stronger, and to the extent, it cuts better than stainless steel blades. However, the downside of this type of blades is that they are more brittle than standard stainless steel counterparts.
Ceramic
Ceramic blade knives are becoming a new type. They come in a lot of colors and beautiful designs. Even if they appear to be plastic at first, the blade of these knives is exceptionally strong. The ceramic used for this type of best cheap knife set is not the same as the one used for cups and plates. It is a special type of ceramic, considered to be the strongest, and it is called Zirconium dioxide, aka zirconia. The main downside with this type of knives is that it is not easy to sharpen them.
Forged vs Stamped
It is possible that you heard about forged and stamped knives, but you are unsure about the difference. If knives in the best value knife set are forged, it means that they are made of one piece of steel. The metal is usually heated and then shaped with a hammer. Forged knives are thick and heavy.
When knives are stamped, they are usually cut from a large sheet of steel. To get an idea of how they are made, imagine cutting a cookie with a cutter. After being cut, they tamper, harden and cover with finish. Stamped knives are much thinner than forged knives and are more flexible. They are also less expensive, and you can find a good kitchen knife set for every budget.
Handle Material & Quality
Besides the blades, you also have to look for a chef knife set that comes with high-quality handles. Some sets come with knives that have exceptionally beautiful and comfortable handles. Even if the design is not that important for you, make sure to look for a knife block set that comes with hands that are well coated and protected from damage.
Type and Number of Knives
Sometimes it happens that you come across what appears as an attractive offer – a whole set of 20 knives, for example, for the price of something like 50 bucks. Our advice is that this type of offer shouldn’t fool you. In most cases, these are not good quality knives, and you will have to replace them pretty quickly. Instead, opt for the best budget knife set that doesn’t have as many knives but come with those you need and good quality.
Full Tang/ Balance
Full tang knives are usually more durable than half tang models. The term full tang means that the blade goes all the way through the handle. These are exceptionally strong knives and thus a good option for beginners in the kitchen. But half knives are way more beautiful.
Storage Block
If you are buying knife sets, you also need to have a storage block. This is the easiest and safest way to safely store all for your knives from a fillet knife to other models. Having a storage block also means that you will always know where your tools are.
FAQ
How to Sharpen a Knife at Home?
Regardless of the quality and sharpness of knives, they sometimes become dull. In this case, you have to sharpen them. There are several ways to sharpen a knife at home.
- Sharpening steel
- Whetstone
- Electric/manual sharpener
Useful Tips to Keep Your Knives in Good Condition
If you want to benefit from your chef knife as well as another type of knives in your set, you have to make sure that you take good care of them. The most important thing is that you wash them after each use. Check if they are dishwasher safe, and if they are, feel free to utilize this option. But if the manufacturer does not specify that they are, then it is better to hand wash them. Also, make sure that they dry properly before you put them away.
Verdict and Our Recommendation for 2023
As you can see, even if we generally don’t pay a lot of attention, there are many things to look for when you are choosing your best knife set. We hope that this little review helped you get informed and understand how to select the best knife set under $200 in 2023!