If you’re in a hurry and just want to know what the best steak knives are, I recommend the Victorinox Swiss Army Set as the top pick.
Once you’ve cooked your steak to perfection it’s important that you get the right cutlery to savor it with. A great steak knife not only cuts cleanly through the steak, it also ensures that every drop of flavor ends up in your mouth, not on the plate.
In this article I’m going to review five of the best steak knives on the market. They’re all perfect for getting more out of your next big treat.
- Kitchen steak knife for effortlessly cutting meat into smaller pieces at the table
- Includes 8 steak knives forged from a single piece of stainless steel
- Micro-serrated edge
- Full tang blade with triple-riveted handle for reliable strength and a pleasant weight and balance
- Full bolster helps keep fingers away from the blade
- Dependable, sturdy, easy to carry
- Great for everyday use
- Swiss made precision
- ULTRA-SHARP BLADES: Superior professional-level sharpness that ensures precision cutting.
- THE LAST KNIFE YOU’LL EVER NEED TO BUY: German Engineered Knife Informed by over 100 Years of Masterful Knife Making. HENCKELS...
- EFFORTLESS CUTTING: Enjoy cutting through steak and meats with little effort.
- SET INCLUDES: 8 steak knives.
- QUICK CLEAN UP: No-fuss cleanup, in the dishwasher or by hand. Stain and rust-free blades.
- SET INCLUDES: Set of eight
- SHARP BLADE: Large serrations containing smaller serrations ensure sharpness
- QUALITY MANUFACTURING: 4.5 inches steel blades will stay sharp for years
- BALANCED KNIFE: Triple riveted handles provide strength and longevity
- EASY CLEAN UP: Dishwasher safe; hand washing recommended
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Why Buy Dedicated Steak Knives?
Chances are a prime cut of steak isn’t an everyday buy for you, and it’s certainly not for me.
Having treated myself to something special, the last thing I want to do is hack away at it with a general purpose knife that struggles to cut cleanly.
It takes a delicious, mouth-watering experience – one where you savor every last succulent bite – and turns it into a bit of a chore.
I want to indulge myself on the rare occasions I tuck into a plump, juicy steak. The process of doing so is just as important as the preparation as far as I’m concerned!
How Many Do You Need?
If you’re dining for two then you won’t need to worry about buying a big set. It might be worth at least doubling up though, so that when you entertain you don’t have mismatching cutlery.
I’m not the biggest snob in the world – and thankfully my friends aren’t either – but I’d much rather have at least a small set in my collection. It’s just nicer than having a pile of random cutlery on the table.
Serrated Or Smooth Blades?
Steak knives have either a serrated or a smooth blade. The former are quite common in restaurants and they can tear the meat and be frustrating to use. That becomes more of a problem if they’re not cared for and sharpened often.
With a smooth blade, your knife will cut much more cleanly through your steak, which makes for a much more enjoyable experience. Be delicate with them though, as a very sharp and smooth blade can make quite a screech against your plate!
Another advantage of buying steak knives with a smooth blade is that you can sharpen them more easily. That means they’ll last longer and stay in pristine condition.
That does require extra time investment on your part though, so you might find a serrated blade more convenient. Many of the serrated knives featured in this article are designed to provide many years of service without re-sharpening.
Here’s a surprisingly safe-for-work Gordon Ramsey explaining how to keep your knives in great condition. If you prefer the advice in text form, take a look at the guide featured on Cook’s Illustrated.
What Material Should The Handle Be?
Check the material used for the handle before committing to a spurchase. This affects how comfortable the knife is to hold, and how securely you can do so. No one wants a sharp blade slipping in their hand, after all.
Steak knives with wooden handles are – in general – both lighter and easier to grip, which makes for a more enjoyable dining experience. They also look the part too, which is a nice bonus when you’re entertaining friends.
Alternatively, you can find steak knives on the market that have a metal or a plastic handle. It’s a question of personal preference, but keep in mind that these handles tend to feel quite heavy in your hand. They also slip more easily than knives with wooden handles.
What’s the best shape and size?
You should consider the balance between the length of the blade and the length of the handle when choosing the best steak knife for you.
The closer both of these aspects are to being the same length, the more comfortable you’ll find the knife to use. You’ll also be able to control the cutting motion more easily as well.
You should also consider the shape of the handle. The majority of people prefer a light contour effect, but this again is your choice.
If this isn’t something you’ve thought about before, go and have a rummage through your existing knife collection and see what feels comfortable to you.
These might seem like small considerations, but they matter when you’re treating yourself to a really nice – and potentially expensive – cut of beef.
Does presentation matter to you?
A final thought on presentation, as many steak knives are available as a set. If you’re looking to buy them as a gift (a classic newly-wed present) then give some consideration to the appearance.
For a little extra money you can pick up a set of high quality steak knives that also look fantastic. You don’t need to break the bank here, but be aware that some presentation boxes are much nicer in the flesh than others.
Amazon Basics 8-Piece Steak Knife Set
For those of you operating on a strict budget, the Amazon Basics kitchen knife set comes with a generous eight knives. That should be more than enough for anyone entertaining at this level.
Amazon claims you’ll never need to sharpen the micro-serrated edges. You may still face problems tearing at your steak though, rather than enjoying a smooth and pleasant eating experience.
- Kitchen steak knife for effortlessly cutting meat into smaller pieces at the table
- Includes 8 steak knives forged from a single piece of stainless steel
- Micro-serrated edge
- Full tang blade with triple-riveted handle for reliable strength and a pleasant weight and balance
- Full bolster helps keep fingers away from the blade
The good news is that the knives have what’s called “full tang”. This means the blade itself extends along the length of the handle as well, providing a nice balance between weight and control.
On the subject of the wooden handles, they’re triple-riveted, which means they should last a good while. They also proved comfortable to hold for a number of different hand sizes.
Keep in mind that you can’t just throw these into the dishwasher though. You’ll need to add them to the pile of washing up that was already waiting for your attention after cooking!
Given that these are at the lower end of the pricing spectrum though, you may not feel too bad about inflicting wear and tear on them in the dishwasher. Sometimes you need time more than anything else!
Pros
- Very high quality when you consider these are presented as “starter” knives.
- Retain sharpness even after general cutting use.
- Perfectly sharp out of the box and ready to use.
- Each knife comes with a plastic tip to help prevent accidents.
Cons
- Serrated edges can be harder to thoroughly clean and dry to prevent rust forming.
- Knife teeth are quite deep, which can lead to tearing.
- Handles are comparatively large, so you’ll need a fair bit of space in your knife drawer.
- The heavy handles may feel like hard work for some.
Victorinox Rosewood Steak Knives
The Victorinox Swiss Army set is available with either a serrated round tip, a serrated spear tip, or a smooth bladed spear.
Which of these you opt for depends on your own preferences, and after going through the buying guide I covered earlier on in this round-up.
- Dependable, sturdy, easy to carry
- Great for everyday use
- Swiss made precision
I’m focusing on the smooth blade version of the set here, as it’s my own preference for cutting steak.
Whichever version you opt for, these knives are made to an incredibly high standard. The manufacturer also makes use of ice tempering during production, to guarantee the blades keep their sharpness for a very long time.
Victorinox has been producing blades since 1884, and they know a thing or two about making high quality, long-lasting blades. You do pay a premium for that kind of quality though.
Beyond the build quality I also love the look of them. They have a deep dark rosewood finish on the handles that really makes them stand out on the dinner table.
The 4.75” blade is about right for all diners too, and the blade feels perfectly balanced.
Regardless of which of the three sets you choose you get six knives in total. That’s a nice number to have on hand when you need to scale up for larger dining groups.
Pros
- Incredibly sharp right out of the box, but make sure you have a knife block to store them in.
- Not only cuts steak and pork well, but you can also use them for other slicing duties.
- Comfortable to hold and lightweight.
- Very easy to sharpen.
Cons
- Supplied box isn’t suitable for gifting or for storage.
- Some owners find the smell of the rosewood handles a little off-putting.
- You can’t put them in the dishwasher without damaging the handles.
- You’ll need to sharpen them regularly.
J.A. Henckels 8-Piece Steak Knife Set
This collection of 4” serrated steak knives from J.A. Henckels is made from stainless steel. That means they won’t look out of place when laid alongside the kind of cutlery you’re already likely to have in your kitchen.
They’re stamped from a single piece of metal too, which makes them extremely accurate and comfortable to use.
- ULTRA-SHARP BLADES: Superior professional-level sharpness that ensures precision cutting.
- THE LAST KNIFE YOU’LL EVER NEED TO BUY: German Engineered Knife Informed by over 100 Years of Masterful Knife Making. HENCKELS...
- EFFORTLESS CUTTING: Enjoy cutting through steak and meats with little effort.
- SET INCLUDES: 8 steak knives.
- QUICK CLEAN UP: No-fuss cleanup, in the dishwasher or by hand. Stain and rust-free blades.
You can store them in any standard knife block. If you don’t have one in your kitchen then the box itself provides a safe way to store the knives when they’re not in use. That’s a nice bit of extra value.
The knives themselves are high quality. You can also put them through the dishwasher, although they’ll keep their high quality finish for longer if you take the trouble to wash them by hand.
If you’re looking for a set of steak knives to give as a gift, you really can’t go wrong here. As a collection these really do look super-smart!
Pros
- Blades keep their edge for a very long time.
- Some of the best looking steak knives in our round-up.
- Very resistant to water staining.
- Good balance between strength and cutting control, regardless of your hand size.
- Dishwasher safe (although I’d still recommend washing by hand).
Cons
- As serrated knives they work great on tender meat, but prove hard work on anything tougher.
- I’ve heard a few complaints that the box production quality can be hit and miss, prompting a return.
SAKEN Steak Knife Set
The 5” blades on the Saken steak knife set are made from carbon steel and you’ll get two benefits out of this.
First of all you’ll get much longer life out of each knife, thanks to natural corrosion-resistance. They’ll also stay sharper for longer. That’s important given that they have a serrated edge, as I like to minimize the time spent maintaining equipment wherever I can.
Each knife is built as full tang as well, which means you’ll have the greatest control over your cutting motion. I find it much easier to cut with precision using a full tang blade, and will always choose it over an alternative when it comes to steak knives.
The high quality of the knife construction extends to the presentation box as well. That makes it a good option if you’re looking to buy a set of steak knives as a gift.
Pros
- Serrated, carbon steel steak knives that truly retain their sharpness for an extremely long time.
- Presentation box doubles up as a storage box for the drawer.
- High quality wooden handles that look the part when the table’s been set.
Cons
- No sleeve covers, so watch those fingers when you’re taking them out of storage.
- Those with smaller hands may find the handle uncomfortable to hold after a while.
- A shorter handle means the butt of the knife can dig into your palms somewhat.
J.A. Henckels International Steak Knife Set
This is the second set of Henckels steak knives I’ve reviewed for this round-up. Again they’re made using the manufacturer’s custom micro-serrated technology. This supposedly eliminates the need for sharpening.
These comes as a set of eight but you don’t get any kind of fancy presentation box. That means they’re a good if you like the brand and the quality assurance that comes with it, but don’t need any of the extra bells and whistles.
- SET INCLUDES: Set of eight
- SHARP BLADE: Large serrations containing smaller serrations ensure sharpness
- QUALITY MANUFACTURING: 4.5 inches steel blades will stay sharp for years
- BALANCED KNIFE: Triple riveted handles provide strength and longevity
- EASY CLEAN UP: Dishwasher safe; hand washing recommended
These knives have wooden handles which are triple riveted to ensure stability and longevity. The blade is also full tang which will again give you great control over your cutting motion.
If you want to pay a little extra, you can even have the knives custom-engraved. I found the options to be a little tacky. Think astrology symbols and the like – and you can only apply three of them with a single order!
Pros
- Perfect for smaller hands, while not being too unwieldy for those of us with larger hands.
- Cuts very cleanly for a serrated blade, while still being safe to wield for younger diners.
- I know of someone who was gifted a set of these more than a decade ago and they’re still sharp – now that’s value!
- Dishwasher safe, and neither dull nor rust after repeat cleaning.
Cons
- The limited warranty extends only to the blade breaking. All other damage counts as wear and tear.
- No presentation box, although the packaging will serve as suitable storage in a pinch.
Conclusion
For my money I reckon the smooth-edged Victorinox Swiss Army set are the best of the bunch.
They’re incredibly long-lasting and the blades are frighteningly sharp out of the box. The high quality rosewood handles provide perfect control while looking the part too.
- Dependable, sturdy, easy to carry
- Great for everyday use
- Swiss made precision
In short, it’s a set takes the best elements of all the other knives in our round-up, and then knocks them all out of the park as an overall package.
Just remember that you’ll need a block or a drawer to store them in. If you’re after a gift set in particular, then you might be better served with the Henckels 8-Piece set instead. They’re still extremely high quality – just not quite as good as the Victorinox knives in my opinion.
Mark’s a lifelong food fanatic and spent ten years working as an entertainment journalist. He now combines his love of food, drink and writing as the founder and editor of Viva Flavor. Read more