Cuisinart knives offer quality at an accessible price point. But the brand makes several different knives, making it difficult to choose the best Cuisinart knife set.
In this Cuisinart knives review, I’ve broken down the features of nine different Cuisinart knife sets, as well as their pros and cons.
Which Cuisinart knives will make the final cut? Keep reading to find out.
Contents
About Cuisinart
Before 1971, no one had heard of Cuisinart. But it wouldn’t take long for the brand to become a household name. Founded by Carl Sontheimer, Cuisinart began as a home appliance brand that would introduce the world to the first electric food processor.
The brand was bought by Conair Corporation in 1989 and has since expanded its product lines to include all sorts of kitchenware and home goods, from cookware and cutlery to bakeware and kitchen gadgets.
The Cuisinart brand is known for making high-quality products at an affordable price range. When it comes to the kitchen, there’s a Cuisinart product to cover almost any need.
Cuisinart does the bulk of its manufacturing in China, including kitchen knives. If you’re looking for products made in the U.S.A., Cuisinart is not on that list.
Despite the manufacturing location, Cuisinart still maintains a reputation for quality. The company also offers a limited lifetime warranty on all products, ensuring your cutlery is free from defects.
At a Glance
Cuisinart Product Reviews
Cuisinart Classic 15-Piece Knife Set with Block: Best Overall
It’s tough to beat a classic. The Cuisinart Classic 15-Piece Knife Set includes all the most commonly used knives in a choice between a white or black handle and different wood block shades.
The set comes with the following pieces:
- 8-inch Chef knife (20 cm)
- 8-inch slicing knife (20 cm)
- 7-inch Santoku knife (17.8 cm)
- 5.5-inch utility knife (14 cm)
- 3.5-inch parer (8.9 cm)
- 2.75-inch bird’s peak parer (7 cm)
- (6) 4.5-inch steak knives (11.4 cm)
- Sharpening steel
- All-purpose household shears
- Wooden block
These Cuisinart Knives feature high-carbon stainless steel blades and an extra-wide safety bolster for stability and control. The bolster means these knives have forged blades, which are great for long-lasting performance and proper grip.
This set is on the larger side, with every knife you need for chopping, mincing, and slicing. You can cover almost any everyday kitchen cutting task with these blades.
The handles are secured with triple stainless steel rivets, and the full-tang structure provides extra durability. The ergonomically designed handle is comfortable and fits right- or left-handers.
The tapered ground blades narrow gradually to an extremely sharp, fine edge. Even though the blades can keep an edge for a long time, the sharpening steel means you can keep these Cuisinart knives sharp as long as you use them.
Customers were impressed with this Cuisinart knife set. They especially loved the sharp blades and the superior edge retention. Several also commented on the attractive appearance of the blades and the block.
While the blades hold up well over time, the handles are prone to cracking. That was the most common complaint among reviewers. I recommend hand washing the knives to limit any damage from the dishwasher.
Pros
- High-carbon stainless steel forged blades
- Super sharp edges
- Beautiful appearance
- Comfortable, secure handles
- Full-tang
- Excellent edge retention
- Lightweight
- Includes steak knives
Cons
- Hand wash only
- Reports of cracked handles
Cuisinart 10-Piece Stainless Steel ColorCore Knife Set: Best Starter Set
The Cuisinart ColorCore Knife Set is a unique set of knives made for someone who likes efficiency with a pop of color. This set includes the following pieces:
- Chef knife
- Slicing knife
- Santoku knife
- Utility knife
- Paring knife
- 5 Color-coded sheaths
There is also a 12-piece ColorCore set available, as well. There aren’t specific lengths listed, which is unusual. However, you can safely assume the knives fall within the typical range for each blade type.
This Cuisinart knife set features stainless steel blades that resist staining and rusting. The stainless steel handles have an ergonomically-designed grip for comfort and control.
Cuisinart doesn’t specify if these knives are stamped blades or forged, but the design and lack of bolster heavily imply that these are stamped blades.
That means they won’t have the same level of durability, but they are lightweight and easier to handle… and more affordable.
The stainless steel riveted handles are comfortable and have a pop of color running along the spine and end cap of the handle.
The matching blade guards are great for helping home cooks know which knife should be used for each task. Since this set doesn’t include a storage block, the sheaths also protect the blade edges from dulling in the drawer.
Buyers were overall pleased with the ColorCore set. They found them to be very sharp and were able to use the knife set for slicing meats and chopping vegetables.
They also liked the affordability and the pop of color on the handles. The color on the handles also makes it easy to match the sheath with the correct knife.
When it comes to knife sets, this one isn’t going to be a forever pick. If you want a heritage set to pass down to your children, go with another option.
But I would highly recommend this as a starter set for home cooks.
Pros
- High-quality stainless steel blades
- Ergonomic handles
- Color-coded sheaths
- Affordable
Cons
- Stamped blades (not forged)
- No wooden block
Cuisinart Professional 15-Piece Stainless Steel Blades with Wood Block: Best Stainless Steel Knife Set
There’s sleek, and then there’s this Cuisinart Professional 15-Piece Set. These Cuisinart knives marry elegance and functionality in a single knife set. Here is what you get:
- 8-inch Chef’s knife (20 cm)
- 8-inch serrated bread knife (20 cm)
- 8-inch slicing knife (20 cm)
- 7-inch Santoku knife (17.8 cm)
- 5.5-inch utility Knife (14 cm)
- (6) 4.5-inch steak knives (11.4 cm)
- Stainless steel kitchen shears
- Sharpening steel
- Wooden knife block
The Cuisinart Professional line features a V-Edge that’s three times more durable than regular-edge knives.
Each blade features stainless steel with molybdenum and vanadium to maximize hardness and make it corrosion-resistant.
This set has an ultra-sharp cutting edge that stays sharp for a long time. According to Cuisinart, the Chef’s knife is professionally rated with 136% better edge retention than regular knives.
It supposedly performs 67% better than regular knives, as well, although they don’t provide details as to how it performs better. You might take that claim with a grain of salt.
But customer reviews speak for themselves. Buyers were impressed by the sharpness of the blades. They liked the sleek appearance and the comfortable stainless steel handles.
But there were several complaints of rusting on the blades and handles. I recommend hand washing these knives and drying them immediately to prevent rusting.
Also, each steak knife is super thin. It almost resembles a butter knife except with a serrated blade. Plus, the serration only goes halfway down the blade. The design could use some improvement.
Despite that, if you want stainless steel knives that are sharp enough to cut food like butter, this is a good set for that.
Pros
- V-edge is more durable
- Corrosion-resistant blades
- Ultra-sharp cutting edge
- Superior edge retention
- Sleek stainless steel handles
- Full bolster for control
Cons
- Complaints of rusting
- Steak knife quality is lacking
Cuisinart Normandy 19-Piece Cutlery Block Set, Stainless Steel: Best Large Knife Set
When it comes to Cuisinart kitchen knives, you can’t get a more comprehensive set than the Cuisinart Normandy Cutlery Block Set. This set includes a whopping 19 pieces, ensuring you have different knives for every cutting task.
Here is what it comes with:
- 8-inch Chef’s knife (20 cm)
- 8-inch bread knife (20 cm)
- 8-inch slicing knife (20 cm)
- 7-inch Santoku knife (17.8 cm)
- 5-inch Santoku knife (12.7 cm)
- 5.5-inch utility knife (14 cm)
- 3.5-inch paring knife (8.9 cm)
- 2.75-inch bird’s peak paring knife (7 cm)
- (8) 4.5-inch steak knives (11.4 cm)
- Sharpening steel, stainless steel scissors, & wood knife block
Phew, that’s a lot! It includes all the pieces from the 15-piece sets, with a bread knife, an extra Santoku knife, and a couple of extra steak kitchen knives.
The blades are made of high-carbon steel for precision and accuracy. They’re precision-tapered to achieve a fine, razor-sharp blade.
The knife handles are made of stainless steel, as well, with an ergonomic design for comfort and control.
Buyers found the knives to be super sharp and comfortable to hold. They liked the weight and balance of the knives, and they found the set to be attractive.
However, they were not pleased with the block. The size of the block is large, so it takes up more counter space. Furthermore, the plastic inserts in the slots are not durable and look cheap. Several people had cracked slots, too.
I also recommend hand washing and drying immediately to avoid rust spots. The increased carbon content in the steel helps the edges stay sharp, but it does rust more easily.
If you aren’t a stickler about the block and want a large set, these are the best Cuisinart knives for you. It is more expensive than the other sets, but it has a lot of value in terms of how many knives you get.
Pros
- Comprehensive set
- High-carbon stainless steel blades
- Attractive appearance
- Comfortable handles
Cons
- More expensive
- The block design is lacking
Cuisinart German Stainless Steel Hollow Handle Block Set: Best German Steel Knife Set
The Cuisinart German Stainless Block Set provides a lot of value. It comes with the following pieces:
- Chef’s knife, 8 inches (20 cm)
- Bread knife, 8 inches (20 cm)
- Slicing knife, 8 inches (20 cm)
- Santoku knife, 7 inches (17.8 cm)
- Serrated utility knife, 5.5 inches (14 cm)
- Paring knife, 3.5 inches (8.9 cm)
- Bird’s peak paring knife, 2.75 inches (7 cm)
- Kitchen shears, sharpening steel, knife block
The blades feature German high-carbon steel construction and stainless steel handles. The forged blades offer extra durability and control while slicing and dicing fruits and vegetables.
This set has comfortable stainless handles and a durable bolster for extra control, allowing you to slice, chop, and dice with ease and precision.
Customers found these knives good for slicing vegetables and preparing meat. There were mixed reviews on the sharpness, but everyone agreed the knives require frequent sharpening.
Fortunately, the honing rod allows you to sharpen the blades at any time.
This set does not include steak kitchen knives, but it’s more affordable than the sets that do. If you want just the essential knives in a block set, these Cuisinart knives are perfect for you.
Pros
- Attractive appearance
- German stainless steel
- Full bolster
- Include proper storage
Cons
- Requires frequent sharpening
Cuisinart MAIN Elite Hammered 10-Piece Block Set: Best Hammered Knife Set
The Cuisinart MAIN Elite knife set is unique with its hammered look. It comes with the following:
- Chef’s knife, 8 inches (20 cm)
- Bread knife, 8 inches (20 cm)
- Slicer, 8 inches (20 cm)
- Santoku knife, 7 inches (17.8 cm)
- Serrated utility knife, 5.5 inches (14 cm)
- Paring knife, 3.5 inches (8.9 cm)
- Bird’s peak parer, 2.75 inches (7 cm)
- Kitchen shears, sharpening steel, wood block
The knife blade features German high-carbon stainless steel construction. The handles have a hammered finish, which gives the user a non-slip grip. The bolsters also are slip-resistant, allowing you to chop with precision.
These Cuisinart knives come with safe storage and steel to sharpen the blades.
Buyers found the kitchen knives to be extremely sharp, but some reported problems with rusting. I recommend avoiding the dishwasher and never letting the knives soak in water.
This knife set is one of the more affordable ones, making it great for those on a tight budget.
Pros
- German stainless blades
- Hammered non-slip handles
- Razor-sharp
- Includes wood block
- Lightweight
- Affordable
Cons
- Reports of rusting
Cuisinart Nitrogen Collection 15-Piece Knife Block Set: Best Balanced Knife Set
This Cuisinart Kitchen Knife Nitrogen Collection uses unique materials to create a great knife set. It comes with the following:
- 8-inch Chef knife (20 cm)
- 8-inch slicer (20 cm)
- 5-inch utility serrated knife (12.7 cm)
- 3.5-inch paring knife (8.9 cm)
- (8) 4.5-inch steak knives (11.4 cm)
- shears and sharpening steel
The nitrogen-infused steel maintains sharpness for a longer time while providing superior corrosion resistance.
The precision-tapered ground blades narrow gradually to an extremely sharp edge.
These Cuisinart kitchen knives are forged blades with a full safety bolster for secure dicing and chopping.
Customers enjoyed this Cuisinart kitchen knife set. They liked the weight and balance and the sharp blades. There were a couple of complaints about rusting. I recommend drying these immediately after washing.
Pros
- Good weight, balance
- Nitrogen-infused steel blades
- Stays sharp for a long time
- Forged blades
- Includes knife block
Cons
- Hand wash only
Cuisinart Advantage Cutlery 14-Piece Walnut Knife Block Set: Best Wooden Handle
The Cuisinart Advantage Set has a vintage look with timelessly beautiful materials. The knife set includes the following:
- 8-inch Chef knife (20 cm)
- 6-inch bread knife (15 cm)
- 5-inch utility knife (12.7 cm)
- 3-inch paper (7.6 cm)
- All-purpose shears
- (8) 4.5-inch steak kitchen knives
These Cuisinart Advantage knives have walnut handles that are triple-riveted for extra strength and durability.
These knives are made with a forged structure for a high-quality build, and the blades are made of high-carbon stainless steel.
Customers loved the extremely sharp blades and the gorgeous walnut handles. They do require more careful washing and maintenance, but these are the best knife handles for that classic look.
However, some were surprised that the steak knife blades aren’t serrated. Most kitchen knives for cutting meat are serrated for the sawing motion.
This Cuisinart Advantage set is affordable, making it the best knife for those on a budget.
Pros
- Beautiful Walnut handles
- Triple-riveted handles
- High-carbon stainless blade material
- Affordable
Cons
- Hand wash only
- Steak blades aren’t serrated
Cuisinart 12-Piece Ceramic Coated Stainless Steel Knives: Best Value
If you’re looking for different materials, you might try these Cuisinart Ceramic Knives. This knife set includes the following:
- 8-inch Chef’s knife (20 cm)
- 8-inch slicer (20 cm)
- 8-inch bread knife (20 cm)
- 7-inch Santorum knife (17.8 cm)
- 6.5-inch utility knife (16.5 cm)
- 3.5-inch paper (8.9 cm)
Each Cuisinart knife comes with a color-coded blade guard. The blades are stainless steel for strength, while the non-stick ceramic coating makes it easy to slice fruits and vegetables without sticking.
The ceramic coating also protects the blade to help keep the knife sharp for longer. Color coding the Cuisinart knives reduces the risk of cross-contamination when cutting bread or vegetables and meat.
Customers loved these Cuisinart knives. They were pleased with the color-coded blades, the non-stick cutting, and the ease of use.
On top of that? The knife’s price is highly affordable, so you can snag this set on a tight budget.
These knives are not as sharp as the others, and you’ll want to hand wash them. The ceramic coating could come off in the dishwasher.
Pros
- Color-coded knives and blade guards
- Ceramic non-stick coating
- Comfortable handles
- Very affordable
Cons
- Not as sharp
- Hand wash only
Alternative: HENCKELS 12-Piece Statement Knife Set with Block
Henckels is known for its high-quality materials and utility. This Henckels 12-Piece Statement Knife Set has quality German-engineered steel blades. It comes with 12 pieces, including all the most commonly used knives.
The triple rivets secure plastic handles, while the full-tang offers extra stability. These knives are stamped, however, which lessens their durability somewhat.
Despite that, these kitchen knives are sharp and are great for everything from cutting vegetables to slicing meat.
Customers were pleased with this set of knives. It has a similar price point to Cuisinart’s knives, and a similar quality, as well. It’s a good alternative if you want other brands besides Cuisinart.
Pros
- Sharp blades
- High-quality German stainless
- Full-tang
- Handles with triple rivets
- Durable
Cons
- Stamped blades
Alternative: Shun Classic 10-Piece Knife Block Set
Shun is known for its high-quality Japanese knives. This knife set has 10 pieces, with a utility, paring, Santoku, utility, Chef, carving knives, and kitchen shears for snipping herbs and other small tasks.
The VG-MAX cutting core has 34 layers of stainless steel with Damascus cladding. These knives are incredibly sharp and durable. The ebony handle is Pakkawood and D-shaped to encourage proper grip.
These knives have excellent reviews from buyers. They love the sharp blade and the quality with which the knives are made. These are the best kitchen knives if you want quality Japanese knives, but they are expensive.
Pros
- VG-MAX cutting core
- D-shaped ebony handle
- Safety bolster
- Handcrafted in Seki, Japan
Cons
- Expensive
- Hand wash only
Cuisinart Buying Guide
Finding the Right Set Size
Knowing how many different knives you need can be a bit of a challenge. It largely depends on what you plan to cook, but there are a few knives that are essential in the kitchen.
Utility Knife
A utility knife is great for trimming and cutting meat.
Serrated Bread Knife
A bread knife is excellent for loaves of all types. The serration allows you to cut through the bread without smashing it.
Paring Knife
You need a paring knife for trimming and slicing fruits and small vegetables.
Chef Knife
This is great for slicing vegetables and other foods. It’s a versatile multi-purpose knife.
How to Care for Your Cuisinart Knives
To get the most out of your Cuisinart knives, it’s best to hand wash them. Use a wooden or polypropylene cutting board so as not to dull the blades.
It’s best to dry the Cuisinart knives immediately to prevent rusting. Store the kitchen knives in a wooden storage block, in sheaths, or on a magnetic strip.
Best Cuisinart Knives: My Recommendation
My recommendation? You can’t beat the Cuisinart Classic 15-Piece Knife Set. The classic knives have some of the best reviews, a full-tang blade, beautiful handles, and excellent grip and performance.
