Every keen chef needs a decent knife set in their kitchen arsenal. However, it can often be difficult to find quality knives that are also available at a reasonable price. Especially if you’re restricted by a budget.
With so many different types of kitchen knife sets on the market, it can be tricky trying to find a quality set that will suit your wallet. So how can you be sure that you’ve found the best knife set under $100?
That’s where we come in. We’ve done all the hard work for you so that you don’t have to, and looked at all the market has to offer. We looked at hundreds of different knife sets under $100 and compared them for factors such as materials used, sharpness, value for money, and many more.
We’ve also put together a helpful buyer’s guide to give you all the information you need to make a fully informed decision. There are even a few frequently asked questions below, too!
Short on time? Check out our top pick below.
OUR TOP PICK
The Cuisinart 15 piece stainless steel knife set easily earns the spot of our top pick. That’s because it covers a wide range of essential factors, as well as being well within budget.
You get 15 high-quality pieces in one knife set which can all be stored in the knife block.
You’ll get 6 steak knives, 1 chef knife, 1 slicing knife, 1 Santoku knife, 1 serrated utility knife, 1 paring knife, 1 bird’s beak paring knife, 1 sharpening steel knife, 1 all-purpose scissors, and a block to hold them all in.
This knife set from Cuisinart uses superior high carbon stainless steel to create a set of precision blades that will last you for many years to come.
Stainless steel is corrosion resistant and will last you longer than knives made from an inferior metal.
These knives have been designed to be easier to handle. The handles have been ergonomically designed to give you comfort and support when in use.
Perfect if you find it tricky to grip knife handles for long periods of time without getting cramp.
The Cuisinart knives have been designed to be lightweight. You can effortlessly pick up any of the knives for use with slicing, carving, and chopping various foods.
The blades narrow gradually to an extremely sharp, fine edge so as to give you precision cutting.
All of these knives are easy to clean and are dishwasher safe. This will be a lifesaver if you want a set that is easy to use and easy to clean once used.
The knife set also comes with a lifetime warranty for added peace of mind.
Pros
- 15 piece set under $100.
- Stainless steel knives for durability.
- Ergonomically designed handles for easy use.
- Lightweight and extremely sharp.
- Dishwasher safe for easier cleaning.
Cons
- Some customers found the curved design of the steak knives strange.
EDITORS CHOICE
The Oster Lindbergh 14 piece stainless steel knife set is the ideal pick for those on a budget. This knife set will give you everything you need from a quality knife set but still be affordable to boot.
A variety of knives are included in this set, including a carving knife, boning knife, paring knife, and many more. You’ll have everything you need to get cooking like a pro!
These knives have been designed with serrated edges to give you smoother cutting and slicing. This will be essential for cutting those trickier ingredients such as various meats.
What’s really great about this particular knife set is that it includes a rubberwood storage block.
Not only does this help you to keep all of your knives in one place, but it also serves to protect the blades from damage when they’re not in use. This will be vital for keeping them sharp and ready to use!
All of these knives are manufactured using high-quality stainless steel. The blades are stain and rust resistant, and will last you for many years to come.
Ideal if you want to invest in a quality set of knives that you won’t have to replace in a few months’ time.
All of the knives included in this knife set are dishwasher safe. This will make them easier to clean, and means they should last you even longer.
Pros
- 14 piece stainless steel knife set for those on a budget.
- Designed with serrated edges for smoother cutting.
- Includes a rubberwood storage block.
- Manufactured using high-quality stainless steel.
- Dishwasher safe for easier cleaning.
Cons
- You may need to sharpen the knives over time to keep them nice and sharp.
BEST VALUE
The McCook 15 piece stainless steel kitchen knife block set with a built-in sharpener will give you all you need to cook like a professional chef.
It comes with a selection of chef’s knives, as well as a pair of scissors, and a set of steak knives.
The McCook knife set also includes a hardwood knife block for easy storage. You can keep all of your blades in one place and save on drawer storage.
What’s really great about this particular knife block is that it comes with a built-in knife sharpener, so you can easily sharpen your blades through the years to keep them slicing efficiently.
These knives are made from high carbon stainless steel to last you for even longer. The blades are tarnish resistant and rust resistant, so you can rest assured that they won’t become damaged over time.
All of the knives from McCook have gone through at least 5 different checks before being shipped out of their warehouse to give you even more peace of mind.
The McCook knives feature an exclusive taper grind edge to give them optimum sharpness. This will be ideal for precise cutting, and also makes them even easier to re-sharpen should you need to.
All of the knives feature an ergonomically designed handle to give you comfort when handling them, especially for long periods of time.
These knives are easy to clean and care for. Simply hand wash, then dry them on a clean cloth, before adding them back into the knife block. This will ensure that you get the most out of your new knife set.
Pros
- 15 piece knife set including a variety of knives.
- Includes a wooden block with built-in sharpener for easy storage.
- Constructed from high carbon stainless steel.
- Features an exclusive taper grind edge for optimum sharpness.
- Easy to wash by hand.
Cons
- The manufacturer recommends hand washing these for a longer lifespan.
RUNNER UP
The Marco Almond 14 piece kitchen knife set with hardwood block is the ideal choice if you’re looking for a knife set under $100.
This set of kitchen knives will give you everything you need to get cooking at home, or even in a professional kitchen.
There is a variety of knives included in this set, including a set of steak knives, a pair of scissors, and various chef’s knives.
What’s great about these particular knives is that they’re made from high carbon Japanese steel. This steel is designed to be as durable as possible and is rustproof.
You can rest assured that these knives won’t fall foul of rusting, stains, or pitting. These knives are designed to last you for several years.
Each knife is crafted from a single piece of metal. The blades are sharp enough to cut a variety of ingredients and feature cutting-edge technology. The handles are also easy for you to hold while you use the knives.
You can save on storage space thanks to the hardwood knife block that comes with the set. The knife block will help to protect your blades from any potential damage when they’re not in use, too.
What’s really great about this knife block is that it comes with a built-in sharpener. This will be a lifesaver when you need to sharpen your knives, and will save you from buying a knife sharpener specifically!
These knives are easy to hand wash after use. The manufacturer recommends washing your knives by hand and drying them with a clean cloth afterward to ensure they last you for many years to come.
Pros
- 14 piece set of kitchen knives.
- Comes with a hardwood storage block with built-in knife sharpener.
- Constructed from high carbon Japanese steel.
- Each knife is crafted from a single piece of metal.
- Easy to hand wash after use.
Cons
- These knives will need to be washed by hand and not in a dishwasher.
RUNNER UP
The Wanbasion 16 piece kitchen knife set will be a welcome addition to your kitchen countertop. This set comes with everything you could possibly need for cooking in the kitchen.
Not only does it come with a selection of sharp knives for you to use, but it also comes with a pair of scissors, a potato peeler, and a knife sharpener.
Ideal if you want an array of kitchen accessories all in one handy product!
This particular knife set comes in a range of beautiful colors for you to choose from. The great thing about these is that they come with a titanium coating, meaning they won’t scratch or lose their color.
The knives themselves are manufactured from a hard wearing stainless steel and will be resistant to rust and stains.
You can save storage space in your kitchen thanks to the clear acrylic block that comes with the knives.
This block is more aesthetically pleasing than a traditional wooden knife block due to the clear nature of the acrylic, which allows you to show off your colorful new knives.
It will also give you plenty of room to store the potato peeler and knife on the acrylic block so you can keep everything in one place.
These knives feature precision technology, which allows them to stay sharper for longer. This will be essential for cutting various ingredients when you need them most!
You can also easily resharpen the knives, should you need to, using the free knife sharpener.
The Wanbasion knife set has been designed to be as durable as possible. They won’t bend or break, no matter how often you use them for slicing. This will be ideal if you’re looking for a long-lasting set of knives!
Pros
- 16 piece kitchen knife set comes complete with scissors, potato peeler, and a range of knives.
- Available in an array of beautiful colors.
- Save on storage space with the acrylic knife block.
- Designed to stay sharper for longer.
- Constructed with stainless steel to be durable.
Cons
- Some customers found the handles to be too lightweight.
Best Knife Set Under 100 Buying Guide
You don’t have to invest hundreds of dollars in order to get a set of great kitchen knives. There are plenty of options for you to choose from that cost below $100, and will often do a better job.
With so many different types of knife sets available on the market, it may be tempting to buy the first one you stumble across.
However, before you hit purchase, there are a few things you will need to consider. While it may be tempting, don’t opt for the cheapest option you can find.
You’ll want to get the best value for your money so that you don’t have to replace them again in a few months’ time.
The good news is that we’ve put together a list of all the key things you need to consider when buying the best knife set under $100 for you. As long as your chosen knife set has these aspects covered, you’ll know that you’re getting a bargain!
Take a look at the points below, or skip to our frequently asked questions.
Number of Pieces Included
How many knives are included as part of the knife set? This will be crucial if you want a set of knives that can cope with whatever you plan on cooking in the kitchen.
Most of the basics to look for will be a chef’s knife, a paring knife, a bread knife, a carving knife, and a boning knife. Anything extra that your knife set can offer will be a welcome bonus!
Some knife sets are able to offer you a Santoku knife, a set of steak knives, as well as a pair of sharp scissors. Remember, it’s better to have a knife for every occasion than to have to buy more knives at a later date!
Durable
You will want to opt for a set of knives that promises to be durable. The more durable they are, the longer they will last you. If you’re looking for a set of knives that will last you for many years to come, take a look at the materials that have been used to craft them.
One of the most valuable materials to look for is stainless steel. That’s because stainless steel has been deliberately fashioned to be rust resistant, and as it says in the name, won’t stain. This hard wearing material will pay you back many times over anything cheaper.
It will be worth noting what materials the handles are made out of, too. Is it hard wearing plastic? Or has the knife been crafted from a solid piece of stainless steel? As long as the materials used to construct the knives are hard wearing, you’ll know that you’re making a worthwhile investment.
Value for Money
Sometimes, as much as you try to find the best deal possible, or try to stick to a budget, it’s worth shelling out that few extra dollars to buy a better value set of knives.
It may be very tempting to just opt for the cheapest knife set you can find, but it’s worth remembering that this price is often a reflection of the materials used. If it uses cheaper materials and is cheaper overall, it probably won’t last you very long.
Similarly, just because you’re limited to under $100 doesn’t mean that you have to buy the most expensive set of knives that you can find. Instead, try and opt for the best quality knives that you can afford. This will go hand in hand with the materials that have been used to construct them.
If in doubt, remember the old adage - buy cheap, buy twice! Try and opt for a more middle-priced set of knives if you can.
Easy to Clean
One of the most important factors that will come into play is how easy your chosen knife set is to clean. Knives that are harder to clean will become a pain over time, and will make you less likely to use them.
Take a look at whether your chosen knives are dishwasher safe. If you’re lucky enough to have a dishwasher, this will make your life easier in the long run.
While there’s nothing wrong with a set of knives that can only be hand washed, this might be more of a hassle long term if you tend to shove everything else in the dishwasher.
It’s also worth remembering that some knives are recommended to be only hand washed so as to ensure their longevity.
Easy to Store
Another key thing to look for is a knife set that includes a storage block. A storage block will be a lifesaver in your kitchen.
That’s because not only does it keep all of your knives in one handy place, it will save on storage space, and protect your blades from any potential damage when they’re not in use.
Most knife sets will include a storage block of some kind with them, but if not, you should be able to pick one up for a couple of dollars.
It’s also worth noting what material the knife block is made out of. Traditional wooden blocks will be longer wearing than anything plastic, and will do a good job of protecting your knife blades.
Sharpness
Who wants to invest in a set of dull knives? We’re sure you certainly don’t! In order for your new knife set to cut food efficiently, you’ll want them to be as sharp and precise as possible. Even better than that, you’ll want them to retain those sharp edges for many years to come.
While it is true that your knives will need to be sharpened up occasionally through the years in order to cut food effectively, you won’t want to be doing this on too regular a basis. Take a look at other customer’s reviews. Have they found the knife set you’ve chosen to be sharp and reliable?
It’s worth investing in a more expensive set of knives that are going to be reliable, than opting for a cheaper alternative you’ll need to replace once they’ve become too dull to use.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a good knife set?
As we’ve explored in more detail above, there are several qualities that make a good knife set. One of the most important is how sharp the knives are.
Next, you’ll want to look at how many various knives are included in the set, what materials have been used to make them, and how durable they are.
A good knife set is one that will last you for many years to come.
What knives should every chef have?
While it’s valuable to have a variety of knives in your kitchen, there are only three which are considered to be the most crucial.
These are a chef’s knife, a paring knife, and a serrated knife.
My love for cooking started early in my life. My dad owns a restaurant and I will frequently help out in the kitchen since a very young age.
My aim on this website is to provide you with quality content on food, kitchen and dining. I strive to give the most detailed and honest reviews on products, definitive guides and the best recommendations. I am not here to make a quick buck by providing you with inaccurate information.
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