Your choice of cutlery can make or break a dinner party. The right steak knife is just as important as the doneness of steak you serve to your guests.Steak knives cover a wide range of price options. Some sets cost only $50 or less, while other sets are seriously expensive.
To help you pick the right knife according to your budget, we’ll go over the best steak knives out in the market today.
Top 5 Best Steak Knives for 2021
1. Shun DMS400 Classic 4-piece Steak Knife Set
The Shun DMS400 Classic 4-piece Steak Knife Set is probably my favorite set in terms of design. It has a Damascus steel look, which I love showing off to my friends. And because the knives are made in Japan, I am assured that they are of utmost quality.
Pros
- Each blade is made of 33 layers of high-grade, rust-free stainless steel.
- The blades are given a Damascus look, which gives the knives an elegant appearance that not many knives can boast of.
- The handles are made of pakka wood and are designed for an easier and more comfortable grip.
- Each knife comes with a steel end cap so you don’t have to worry about poking your finger accidentally while handling one.
- Forged in Japan, the blades are very sharp and requires little to almost no force to make a nice clean cut on your meat.
- Because the blades have no serration, you lock in the meat’s juices and make the food tastier.
- The weight of the knives feels good in the hand.
- You know that each knife is meticulously crafted, as evidenced by its elegant look.
Cons
- Each set comes only in four pieces instead of the standard six.
- This knife set is quite expensive.
- The packaging box can still be improved.
2. Wüsthof Classic Steak Knife Set
The Wüsthof Classic Steak Knife Set is everything that a classic steak knife should be. This is one of the first steak knives I’ve ever bought, and they remain sharp and beautiful until now. It’s more expensive compared to many other steak knives, but it’s an investment I do not regret making.
Pros
- The blades are made of high-carbon stainless steel so they are very tough and durable.
- The blade’s edge is razor sharp and can cut through any kind of steak like butter.
- No serration in the blade means that most of the juices remain in the meat, so you end up eating a juicier, more flavorful steak with every bite.
- It has a classic look, complete with three rivets in the handle.
- The rivets in the handle not only improve the appearance of the knife, but also make the handle more stable and secure.
- This brand offers a lifetime warranty.
- I love Wüsthof’s customer service. They answer inquiries promptly, and my order arrived promptly, without any damages.
Cons
- There are only four knives in set instead of the usual six.
- This set is more expensive than other steak knife sets in the market today.
- This set is not dishwasher friendly.
3. Tyrellex Premium Steak Knife Set
The Tyrellex Premium Steak Knife Set is one of the cheapest steak knife sets available today. But unlike other cheap brands, it doesn’t sacrifice look for price. It also comes in a nice wood box, which makes it a good gift to your friends and loved ones.
Pros
- The serrated-edged blade is very sharp and sturdy and can cut through all sorts of meat with relative ease.
- The handles are made of beautiful brown pakka wood, adding a touch of elegance to the design.
- The box looks great, like it is made of bamboo. This makes it a great anniversary or holiday gift to your friends.
- The knives come with a removable plastic tip protector, so you don’t accidentally cut yourself when removing a knife out of the box.
- Each set comes with a lifetime limited warranty.
- This set is one of the least expensive steak knife sets in the market.
Cons
- The metal on the handle sticks out a bit, so you may find it a little uncomfortable if your hands are sensitive.
- There is not much attention to detail, so the metal work is a little rough between the handle and the blade.
- This knife is not dishwasher friendly.
4. FlyingColors Laguiole Steak Knife Set
The FlyingColors Laguiole Steak Knife Set has a unique appearance for a steak knife, but it doesn’t make it any less elegant looking. It also comes in a beautifully-crafted wood case, which I think makes this a great present for your friends and family members.
Pros
- These knives are made of high-grade stainless steel that can last for a very long time.
- The handles are made of rose wood, giving them a rich reddish brown color that is both unique and elegant.
- There are no serrations on the blade so you don’t spill the juices out of the steak and into the plate.
- The knives have a nice balance to them which makes handling them a fun experience.
- I find the wood box so impressive, and I think it’s a great case when giving out this set as gifts to friends.
- The set is reasonably priced.
Cons
- The blade’s edge could be a little sharper.
- The texture of the handles is a bit rough and not as smooth as I hoped.
- The box has a huge barcode sticker on the front, so you have to spend time removing it before you can wrap the box and send it as a
- present.
5. Victorinox Cutlery 6-Piece Steak Knife Set
Made in Switzerland, the Victorinox Cutlery 6-piece steak knife set is, in my opinion, a very affordable choice if you’re on a strict budget. It may not be as visually appealing as other more expensive steak knives in the market, but it’s an all-around cutlery tool, which you can use not only for steaks but for other dishes as well.
Pros
- This knife set is simple in design and effective in cutting all sorts of meat and vegetables.
- The knife’s edge stays reasonably sharp for a long time, even with everyday use.
- You can choose between a rounded or spear tip when you order a set.
- You don’t need to do a lot of maintenance, which is great because you can spend more time preparing your meals (and eating them).
- The serration is on the right side, which makes it easier to use for right-handed people.
- The handle is easy to grip so there’s less risk of an accident during your meal.
- This set is very cheap compared to other big brand names.
- Unlike most knives, this set is actually dishwasher friendly.
Cons
- The knife is a bit lightweight, which steak lovers may find discomfiting.
- The knife’s handle is made of textured plastic.
- These steak knives are not as elegant looking as other brands.
Types of Steak Knives
Before we check out steak knife prices, we first need to differentiate one knife type for the other. Here are four types of steak knives based on their blade edge:
A straight-edged knife can cut through meat smoothly and easily. This helps keep the steak’s juices in the meat and straight into your mouth, instead of spilling over the plate.
One downside of a straight-edged knife is that it tends to scratch through the bottom of the plate because it is so sharp. This can make the blade dull a lot quicker if you’re not careful with how you use it.
A steak knife with serrations tends to be sharper longer than a straight-edged knife because it rarely touches the bottom of the plate. This is because you have to cut through the meat the way a woodcutter cuts through wood using a saw.
The disadvantage of using serrated knives is that your sliced pieces will have ragged edges, and a lot of the steak’s juices might spill out. This makes the meat less juicy and less visually appetizing, too.
A micro-serrated edged knife is like a cross between a straight edge and serrated edge. The serrations are very small, so they don’t do much to improve the cutting experience of the user.
I would recommend staying clear of micro-serrated knives because they’re not a good investment. The blade’s edge gets dull easily, and you can’t really re-sharpen it once it loses its sharpness.
The hollow-edged knife may not be as popular as the straight-edged or serrated types, but it can be a good addition to your knife collection once you’ve already bought your standard set.
Following the design of the santoku knife, the hollow-edged knife has small indentations along the edge of the blade, making it easier for the meat to slide off after every cut.
How to Sharpen a Steak Knife
Not even the sharpest of knives will stay sharp forever. If you’re serious about keeping cutlery for your dinner parties, you should also know how to re-sharpen your knives as necessary.
Whiskeyfox gives detailed instructions on how to sharpen a steak knife in this helpful video:
Conclusion
If you are willing to spend a bit of money for a good set of steak knives, then I recommend getting the Shun DMS400 Classic 4-piece Steak Knife Set. With its Damascus look and Japan-forged blade, it wins both in design and durability.
Wüsthof Classic Steak Knife Set comes a close second, especially if you want a more classic look to your knives, but keep the same degree of sharpness in the blades.
If you’re on a tight budget, I suggest getting the Tyrellex Premium Steak Knife Set instead. It’s cheaper than the Shun and Wüsthof brands, but it still has a nice, sharp edge. It also looks more visually attractive than the Victorinox Cutlery 6-Piece Steak Knife Set, and it’s sharper than the FlyingColors Laguiole Steak Knife Set.
If you are interested in other popular air fryer toaster oven combos available on the market, check out our reviews of 10 best rated air fryers on the market to buy in 2021. To toast bread while using the oven for baking, you should consider some of the reviews of best air fryer toaster oven consumer reports 2021 with a toaster on top.