7 Best Steak Knives to Buy in 2024

Best Steak Knives

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A dull knife is a steak’s worst enemy.

A set of dedicated steak knives is the best way to respect the ribeye you slaved over a hot grill.

Your guests will also be impressed with how well you have your life together when you lay out your set of knives.

We decided to buy 7 different sets of steak knives at a variety of price points and put them to the test to see which ones we would recommend.

Best Steak Knives of 2024

I put each knife set to the test, inspecting the packaging and storage, weight and balance, overall design, and most importantly, how well they sliced a steak.

1. Best Overall – Wüsthof Gourmet Serie Steak Knife Set

Wusthof Gourmet 4-Piece Knife Set
  • Blade: High Carbon Stainless Steel
  • Blade Length: 4-1/2”
  • Blade Edge: Straight Edge
  • Handle: Polypropylene
  • Set Size: 4 knives

Wüsthof is a name that is synonymous with quality, and the Gourmet Series steak knives are no exception. They feature a clean and simply designed polypropylene handle and high carbon stainless steel blades that are incredibly sharp.

Wusthof Gourmet Steak Knife on a plate

I found the ergonomic handle to fit comfortably in my hand, and it cut through steak easily without much effort.

The design is very basic and definitely won’t be a showstopper at the dinner table, but the quality of the knife is unquestionable.

The price point reflects that they are stamped with the Wüsthof name. At $135.00 per set, they come in at $33.75 per knife.

If they are cared for properly, I believe this set earns ‘buy it for life’ status. They also come with a limited Lifetime Warranty.

2. Best Value – Zwilling Steak Knife Set

ZWILLING 8-Piece Steak Knife Set
  • Blade: Alloy Steel
  • Blade Length: 4”
  • Blade Edge: Straight Edge
  • Handle: Stainless Steel
  • Set Size: 8 knives

The Zwilling design is different than the others, and the stainless-steel handle reminded me of silverware, which is a nice touch for a table setting.

They are not meant to stand out on your table but to blend in and fulfill their purpose.

ZWILLING steak knife on a white table with a piece of steak

The knife is light, and the handle is very slender, making them one of the more delicate steak knives I tested.

Don’t mistake the delicate design for weakness. These knives feature a razor-sharp alloy steel blade that cuts through steak like butter.

I did notice that as I used the knife, I struggled with fingerprints on both the handle and the blade, which could be a bit annoying while you are setting a table for company, but they are dishwasher-safe, which is not typical with steak knives.

The storage case was also a plus with this set. The knives sit upright in a wooden case branded with the Zwilling logo, so it’s perfect for storing them in your kitchen or China cabinet, and I consider that a huge bonus.

At the price for a set of 8, they come in at around $10 per knife, which is an amazing price for the quality of the steak knives, and the inclusion of the proper case.

3. Best for Table Settings – Trudeau Laguiole Steak Knife Set

Trudeau Laguiole 6-Piece Steak Knife Set
  • Blade: Stainless Steel
  • Blade Length: 4”
  • Blade Edge: Serrated
  • Handle: Pakkawood & Steel
  • Set Size: 6 knives

This was my first experience with a Trudeau knife product, and I was immediately impressed by the design.

The knives are beautiful, point blank. They come in a gorgeous gift box that can also be used for storage, and the pakkawood handles are shined to perfection.

Trudeau Laguiole steak knife on a white plate with a piece of steak

They feature serrated, stainless steel blades and the handles are hand stamped. I found the knife very easy to hold and handle, plus they really look gorgeous in a table setting.

When I sliced into my steak, I got little resistance, but because of the serrated edge, you do have to do a bit more manual slicing than I am used to.

I found it a little odd that the set came with six steak knives, as I’m used to seeing dining tools come in increments of 4 or 8, but they are very affordable for around $8.00 per knife.

4. Best for Gifting – Dalstrong Gladiator Series Steak Knife Set

Dalstrong steak knife set gladiator series
  • Blade: High Carbon Forged Steel
  • Blade Length: 5”
  • Blade Edge: Straight Edge
  • Handle: G10
  • Set Size: 4 knives

Dalstrong knives are an experience. From the moment I opened the box, I was blown away by the little details.

I felt like I was unboxing something special. Each knife comes with its own sheath, which is great for storage purposes, plus each set comes with a beautifully designed pin that makes a nice keepsake.

Dalstrong steak knife on a white plate with a piece of steak

I found the knives to be a little bigger than I used to. They have a very masculine feel, which isn’t a bad thing – these are not your typical, delicate steak knives.

They feature incredibly sharp German steel blades that have been hand-sharpened, and I felt very little resistance as I sliced into the steak.

The handle is made from Luxury G10 and has a nice grip that fits nicely in your hand to give you full control.

These knives come to $24.00 each, and they include a “100% Satisfaction or Money Back Guarantee”. Because of the unique packaging and clean design, I think these steak knives would make a fantastic gift.

5. Messermeister Avanta Steak Knife Set

Messermeister Avanta Knife Set
  • Blade: Stainless Steel
  • Blade Length: 5”
  • Blade Edge: Straight Edge
  • Handle: Pakkawood
  • Set Size: 4 knives

Messermeister makes quality German steel knives, and their affordable Avanta series is no exception. The packaging is simple, but the steak knives are beautiful and simplistic.

I do wish that the packaging was designed for storage as well, but I was impressed by the overall design.

Messermeister Avanta steak knife on a white plate with a piece of steak

They feature German X50 stainless steel blades and pakkawood handles and almost reminded me of a prep knife instead of a true steak knife, making them a multi-purpose option.

The knife felt balanced in my hand and was very ergonomic, but I found cutting into the steak was a little harder than I am used to.

You’ll be paying around $17.00 for each knife in this 4 piece steak knife set which is a pretty middle-of-the-road price for steak knives. Overall, they are a great quality knife for a good price.

6. Amazon Basics Steak Knife Set

  • Blade: Alloy Steel
  • Blade Length: 4-1/2”
  • Blade Edge: Serrated
  • Handle: Alloy Steel
  • Set Size: 8 knives

Amazon Basics is an Amazon-branded set. The focus is more on affordability than anything else. They are extremely basic steak knives with black handles and alloy steel blades.

I found them to be the “just get the job done” option out of the group.

Amazon Basics steak knife on a white plate with a piece of steak

While they felt balanced in my handle, I was not impressed with the minimalistic design.

They reminded me of something you would get at a chain restaurant. As I cut the steak, I didn’t feel like I was using a steak knife because I had to put more effort than I’m used to into cutting the meat.

While the edge is lightly serrated, if you want to go for serrated steak knives I would recommend the next option from Chicago Cutlery.

As I mentioned before, the focus with this set is on affordability, and a set of 8 puts them around $2.50 per knife.

I think these would be a great choice for a college student that just needs a set of steak knives for their kitchen or for someone who doesn’t eat steak very often.

7. Chicago Cutlery Steakhouse Knife Set

Chicago Cutlery Steakhouse Knife Set
  • Blade: Stainless Steel
  • Blade Length: 5”
  • Blade Edge: Serrated
  • Handle: Wood
  • Set Size: 4 knives

Chicago Cutlery was not playing around when they designed these serrated steak knives. They are huge compared to any other steak knife I’ve ever used. They reminded me of the knife you get when you visit a Texas-style steakhouse – everything is bigger!

Chicago Cutlery steakhouse knife on a white place with a piece of steak

The design is simple and seemed very intentional. They feature a stainless steel, serrated blade and a simple wooden handle.

The knife felt very big in my hand and definitely has a masculine feel to it. When I sliced into the steak the knife did a good job, but I did have to put a bit more effort into slicing it because of the serrated edge and sheer size of the utensil.

The price point on this 4 piece steak knife set is really great at just under $30.00 for a set of 4, making each knife around $7.50 so I think these knives are a great choice if you just want some knives for your collection that do the job without being fancy.

Also worth considering

While I didn’t put these knives through my hands-on testing, they are all well-reviewed knives from respected companies.

  • Shun Classic 4-Piece Steak Knife Set – If aesthetics and function are both equally important to you, or if you are looking for a gift for a very special occasion, these outstanding Japanese steak knives are the perfect choice.
  • Wüsthof Classic Steak Knife Set – These steak knives feature four and a half-inch, razor-sharp straight edge blades.

How I tested

Packaging

The first thing I did was inspect the packaging for flaws that may have been caused during shipment. Luckily, I did not find any major packaging flaws in any of the steak knife sets. I did note that only 3 of the 7 sets came in a package that would be suitable for future storage, which I personally view as a plus.

The best packaging was by far the Dalstrong Gladiator Series set. It features a bright green ombre-colored case with the Dalstrong logo right in front. Each knife came with its own sheath, and they included care instructions and a collectable pin inside the box. The packaging also doubles as a storage case for future use.

Dalstrong Gladiator Series steak knife set with collectable pin

The Zwilling Knife Set had the best storage case by far, crafted from wood with the Zwilling logo emblazoned on both the outside and inside cover. The steak knives sit upright in the case in a way that does not put unnecessary pressure on the blades, and I was very impressed by the quality of the design.

My least favorite packaging design was the Chicago Cutlery Steakhouse Knife Set. It came in a shrink-wrapped plastic case attached to a flimsy piece of cardboard. When I received the set, the cardboard was already damaged, and the overall packaging was just not very appealing.

Weight and balance

One of the most important things in a steak knife is the weight and balance of the knife. You want something that fits comfortably in your hand, but with a balanced weight that works with you while you are slicing into your steak.

The knife that felt the most balanced in my hand was the Wüsthof Gourmet Series. It was light, but had a great grip that allowed me to easily control it while slicing into my steak. The polypropylene handle was not slippery and I was impressed by the overall design.

I was not a fan of the Amazon Basics Steak Knife Set when it came to weight and balance. The knife was not balanced at all and the blade is significantly lighter than the handle, which takes away from the control you need to have to slice a steak properly.

The overall look & design

Let’s be honest, when you are having guests over for a nice steak dinner, you want the table to look as beautiful as the food. A great quality steak knife should accent the table setting without taking away from the overall table design.

By far my favorite when it comes to looks was the Trudeau Laguiole Knife Set. The packaging was gorgeous from the get-go and the steak knives inside were even more beautiful. The sleek and slightly serrated blades shine beautifully against the gorgeous pakkawood handle. The handles also have stamped steel at the edge and overall the knives just look elegant.

Trudeau Laguiole steak knives

The worst design from an aesthetic standpoint was the Chicago Cutlery Steak Knife Set. As I mentioned before, the packaging was flimsy and the knives inside were not much better. The wooden handle was unfinished and came in an odd, grayish brown tone. The knife has a giant Chicago Cutlery logo on the blade that was not quite evenly placed and the knife just looks really cheap.

While I really loved the design of the Zwilling Knife Set and I believe they are absolutely gorgeous steak knives, I was a little annoyed by how easy it was to transfer fingerprints onto both the blade and the handle. If I was setting a table with them, I would need to bring a cloth napkin along to polish each one before setting it down.

How they slice a steak

The most obvious test when it comes to reviewing steak knives (and possibly the most important): The Slice Test.

I grilled 2 Prime Ribeye steaks and 2 Prime Filet Mignon steaks, then tested each knife on both cuts. I chose these steaks because a good steak knife should be able to handle both. The ribeye is full of fat and gristle, thus needs a knife that can stand up to the challenge while the filet is a tender cut that honestly should be able to be cut with a butter knife.

The cleanest cut on both the ribeye and the filet mignon was made by the Wüsthof Gourmet Series. While it has a very simple design, the high carbon stainless steel was sharpened to perfection and cut through the meat with very little effort. A very close second-place goes to the Zwilling Knife Set because I found the blade to be impeccable as well.

I struggled with the Amazon Basics Knife Set. I’m not sure if it was the heavily serrated edge or just the overall design of the knife, but I felt like it would be better suited for cutting up a piece of bread that for a steak. I had to put a lot of effort into slicing both steaks and was generally unimpressed with the quality of the knife.

Why you need a good set of steak knives

A piece of cooked meat on a white plate along with a fork and a knife

There are plenty of reasons to own a good set of steak knives – here’s why you should consider getting a high-quality set for your home.

Sharper blades

Don’t ruin your expensive filet mignon with a blunt table knife that will shred the meat and cause all the flavorsome juices to run out. 

High-quality steak knives have sharp, carefully-crafted edges that slice through steak like butter, so you and your guests can enjoy your meal without breaking a sweat. 

Easy to use

Let’s face it, if sharpness alone was enough, we’d all be using our trusty, freshly-honed kitchen knives at the table. 

Great steak knives are not simply sharp, they are also easy to hold, have good proportions and are well balanced, thus enabling you to make your desired cuts effortlessly while holding a conversation. 

A good model will feel so natural in your hand that it won’t detract from your dinner table talk, aside from inspiring compliments from your guests, of course. 

Safety

Sharp knives need to be sturdy and safe to use. Even more so when you’re sitting around the table with your loved ones. 

A good set of steak knives will be well made and of a sturdy, high-quality construction that’s unlikely to loosen and begin to wobble over time. Ideally, your steak knives should have full tangs, meaning they are made from one single piece of metal, ensuring that the blade will not come out from the handle unexpectedly.

Furthermore, ergonomically shaped handles make for fewer accidents when using sharp blades, as do full bolsters that help you to position your hand and cutting pressure correctly to avoid slips and cuts. 

Sense of occasion

If you’ve made the effort to invest in a premium steak, it’d be a shame to serve it alongside some beaten-up, old steak knives. Using a high-quality steak knife set that looks just as good as it cuts will make your steak night extra special. 

Elegant steak knives can also be great conversation starters and will show your guests that you’ve gone that extra mile. 

Types of steak knives

When shopping for steak knives, there are several different types and features that you should bear in mind before making your final choice. 

In this section, we take a look at the most important factors to consider. 

Type of edge

Not all blades are equal – here are the three types to look out for: 

Plain

Plain edged steak knives may be less traditional, but they are gaining popularity. Also known as straight edge knives, these options tend to be razor-sharp at first, but they can quickly blunt with regular use. However, unlike serrated knives, they are easy to sharpen. 

Therefore, if you opt for plain-edged steak knives, make sure that you have a good-quality knife sharpener on hand to keep them in prime shape.

Wusthof Gourmet Steak Knife on a plate

Serrated

Serrated edges have little teeth, rather like a saw. This type of edge stays sharp over long periods of time, typically for many years. 

This is because, unlike straight edge knives, the grooves between the teeth are not exposed to the hard china of your dinner plates. Therefore, although small sections of the teeth may become blunt, the grooves remain sharp and almost maintenance-free. 

If you want to freshen up this type of blade, you can sharpen them with a special sharpener and a bit of extra effort.

Chicago Cutlery steakhouse knife on a white place with a piece of steak
The steak knives from Chicago Cutlery have a serrated edge.

Micro-Serrated

Micro-serrated blades are generally found on lower priced steak knives. While many people write them off, if you’re not looking for a steak knife set as an investment for many years of use they can provide you with a reasonable cutting blade at a low price. 

However, they cannot be sharpened, so if it’s a case of paying a little more for a straight edge or serrated version, you may wish to consider this so that you’ll have a longer-lasting knife. 

The micro-serrated edge on the Amazon Basics knives did not impress.

Blade material

Stainless steel is the material of choice for steak knife blades. However, there are many different types of stainless steel, all with their own qualities. 

Generally, more expensive steak knives will be made from branded types of stainless steel that provide enhanced strength, durability and resistance to corrosion or staining. 

Stainless steel that contains a high carbon content is a popular choice. This type of steel is lighter, easier to sharpen and tends to hold its edge for longer. 

Types of steel - Carbon vs Stainless. Which is better?

Grind

The grind refers to the way your knife is thinned to provide a sharp cutting edge. 

Many steak knives have what is known as a ‘hollow grind’, that creates a V-shape when viewed as a cross-section. Ideal for slicing through meat with ease, knives with a hollow grind are extremely sharp. 

You may also come across steak knives with a full flat grind. This particular grind is less sharp than a hollow grind; however, it provides additional strength and is easier to sharpen. This type of blade slopes linearly and slowly, for easy slicing and low-resistance. 

Types of handle

Generally, steak knife handles are riveted on to the blade’s full tang. However, you can find other different types of handles, especially on Japanese style or contemporary style steak knives.

Let’s examine the differences below:

Traditional style handles

A knife with a black handle

Traditional style handles can be made from wood or plastic and tend to feature three rivets, ensuring that the handle remains firmly in place. 

Ergonomically shaped, they are designed to fit easily and comfortably in your hand, reducing the risk of slipping. 

Additionally, traditional style steak knife handles often have full bolsters that create a buffer join between the handle and the blade. This is useful to prevent accidental cuts, as well as providing a comfortable rest for your fingers while eating. 

Japanese and contemporary style handles

A knife with a straight black handle

Japanese and contemporary handles can also be made from wood or plastic. They tend to be narrower and flatter than traditional style handles and often lack the ergonomic design seen in traditional models. 

These types of knives rely upon a greater balance between the blade and the handle, so that you won’t miss the handle’s ergonomic shaping to keep it safely in your palm. If you’re new to steak knives, this may feel strange at first, but you’ll soon get used to it. 

What makes a good steak knife

  • Sharp blade – you need a sharp blade to cut through those tough cuts with ease.
  • Full tang – having a full tang is best for your safety and the longevity of your knife. 
  • Balanced – a good steak knife should be well balanced for ease of use.
  • Close handle fit – look for a well-fitted handle without any gaps between the blade and the start of the handle.
  • Good-quality stainless steel – the better the steel, the better your blade will cut and the longer it will retain its edge. 
  • Sturdy handle material – whether you opt for natural wood or plastic, make sure that the handle is comfortable, smooth and durable.

Can you sharpen steak knives?

If you have a straight edge steak knife you can sharpen them using any of the common methods.

According to Mosen, Serrated steak knives “can and should be sharpened”, but won’t need it as often.

This is because the serrated blade gets less friction. When used correctly, a serrated steak knife can go for years without being honed or sharpened.

While you can technically use a ceramic honing rod to sharpen your knives, it’s quite tricky to do with the serrated edge and I would recommend getting a professional to do it.

Final Verdict

Whether you’re a foodie fanatic or a weekend grill master, a set of high-quality steak knives is a must.

While we found the Wüsthof Gourmet Serie Steak Knife Set to be the best overall option, there were several other good candidates depending on your requirements.

If you’ve got a favorite knife that we left out, let us know in the comments below.

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2 Comments

  1. Hi.
    How are you going?
    Just let you know, the word straight does not have an “e” in it.
    Cheers
    Gordon

  2. Karen Selman says:

    Did you review the Friedrich Dick steak knives?

    Karen

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