Knife skills are some of the most important in the kitchen. Finding the correct knife set can help or hinder your knife skills. Since cutting and chopping are some of the most danger activities in the kitchen, you will want to select a knife set that best suits your needs. Chicago Cutlery makes some of the most popular knife set on the market. Reading The Best Chicago Cutlery Knife Set Reviews by consumer reports before selecting one of the company’s knife sets is the key to finding the right product for you.

Reviews Of 5 Chicago Cutlery Knife Sets

1. Chicago Cutlery Belden 15-piece Block Set

Best Chicago Cutlery Knife Set Reviews

The Chicago Cutlery Belden 15-piece Block Set comes in a beautiful cherry wood block that makes it unique from the other blocks on this list. This is one of the mid-priced sets on this list, but still comes with a large variety of knives for those who want a great value. A 15-piece set is a good start for people who don’t know exactly what they are looking for in a knife block.

  • Chicago Cutlery’s Belden 15-piece Block Set comes with a chef and bread knife, as well as a slicer, utility knife, peeler and shears. The set comes in a cherry wood block and six steak knives and two paring knives.
  • This set features knives with a forged design and full metal tang, both of which make the knives stronger, more balanced and well weighted.
  • Slightly heavier and sturdier than most knives on the market.
  • Features the 25 Degree Taper Grind edge that is sharp and easy to resharpen.
  • The high-carbon stainless steel blades are harder and more stain-resistant than other blades.
  • The angled bolster keeps your fingers safe while cutting.
  • The polymer handles are triple riveted.
  • Should be hand washed for best care.
  • Pre-sharpened and comes with a full lifetime warranty.

2. Chicago Cutlery Fusion 18-piece Block Set

Best Chicago Cutlery Knife Set Reviews

Chicago Cutlery’s Fusion 18-piece Block Set is loved by professional and at-home chefs due to its value and variety. With 18 different pieces, there is a knife for everything in this set. At a middle-of-the-market price, this set is perfect for those who want the most bang for their buck. Unlike other knives in this list, these must be hand washed. While it is always recommended that knives are washed by hand to keep them sharp and rust-free, these can’t do in the dishwasher, which may be inconvenient for some.

  • The Fusion 18-piece Block Set comes with a parer, peeler, utility knife, chef knife, slicer, bread knife, partoku knife, santoku knife, eight steak knives and stainless sharpening steel.
  • Comes in a pine wood block.
  • The angled bolster keeps your fingers safe while cutting.
  • The blades are made of high-carbon stainless steel with Taper Grind edge technology that allows for precision cutting. This also makes the knives easier to resharpen.
  • The high-carbon stainless steel blades are harder and more stain-resistant than other blades.
  • The non-slip grip handles are cushioned for comfort and safety.
  • Must be hand washed.
  • Comes with a full lifetime warranty.

3. Chicago Cutlery Insignia Steel Block Set

Best Chicago Cutlery Knife Set Reviews

The Chicago Cutler Insignia Steel 18-piece Block Set is one of the pricier items on this list, but it is well worth it for the convenience this set brings to the consumer. With a built-in knife sharpener, you won’t have to worry about hurting yourself while trying to sharpen your knives. This set comes with all the knives that a cook could need in the kitchen. Each knife is made for professional use, so the quality is higher than many other products on the market.

  • The Chicago Cutlery Insignia Steel 18-piece Block Set comes with a peeler, parer, boning knife, utility knife, bread knife, santoku knife, slicer, chef knife, shears and eight steak knives. The block has an in-block sharpener.
  • The handles are made of stainless steel that are contoured for comfort.
  • This set features knives with a forged design and full metal tang, both of which make the knives stronger, more balanced and well weighted.
  • The in-block sharpener makes sharpening easy and convenient.
  • Features the 25 Degree Taper Grind edge that is sharp and easy to resharpen.
  • The high-carbon stainless steel blades are harder and more stain-resistant than other blades.
  • Should be hand washed for best care.
  • Pre-sharpened and comes with a full lifetime warranty.

4. Chicago Cutlery Elston 16-piece Block Set

Best Chicago Cutlery Knife Set Reviews

The Elston 16-piece Block Set is sleek and stylish. The stainless steel blades and handles are easy to use and comfortable, but look nice sitting in the kitchen. What makes this set extra special is that is the perfect mix of value and practicality. Everything you could possibly need in a knife block is in this set, but you aren’t spending a ton of money for the set. Plus, you aren’t paying for additional pieces that you may or may not need. If you don’t want the clutter of additional pieces, this might be the set for you.

  • The Elston 16-piece Block Set contains a chef and bread knife, as well as two utility knives and two parers. Eight steak knives are included in this set, as well as the shears and sharpening steel.
  • This set features knives with a forged design and full metal tang, both of which make the knives stronger, more balanced and well weighted.
  • The stainless steel handles are curved to both style and comfort.
  • The high-carbon stainless steel blades are harder and more stain-resistant than other blades.
  • Features the 25 Degree Taper Grind edge that is sharp and easy to resharpen.
  • Should be hand washed, but are durable.
  • Comes with a full lifetime warranty.

5. Chicago Cutlery DesignPro 13-piece Block Set

Best Chicago Cutlery Knife Set Reviews

The Chicago Cutlery DesignPro 13-piece Block Set is a favorite for both its design and function. This set is professional quality, which is one of the reasons it is the top rated knife set. The only downside of this set is that it doesn’t come with as many knives as some of the other sets the company produces. This is one of the more expensive blocks on the list, but the value is tangible when you pick up one of the knives.

  • The DesignPro 13-piece Block Set made by Chicago Cutlery is the top rate Chicago Cutlery knife set. This set contains a chef, santoku, bread, utility and paring knife, as well as a peeler, shears and four serrated steak knives. The block also includes sharpening steel.
  • Each knife has a dot design etched on its bolster to show correct finger placement. The handles are contoured for comfort.
  • This set features knives with a forged design and full metal tang, both of which make the knives stronger, more balanced and well weighted.
  • Designed with Japanese stainless steel to retain sharpness.
  • Should be hand washed for best care.
  • Pre-sharpened and comes with a full lifetime warranty to protect your investment in the knife set.

How to Choose the Best Knife Set For You

Choosing a knife set will require careful consideration. First, consider broad issues like handle material and knife styles. Next, consider how many pieces you need and your price range. Also consider how the knives were made and the quality of the steel in the blade. Lastly, you will want to consider the look of the knives. We have some advice to help you narrow it down.

Handle Material

Chicago Cutlery has a number of different handle materials. If you like the look and feel of wood-handled knifes, you will want to look at walnut-handled products. These knives tend to be some of the heavier options, so if you like a lighter feel, this option isn’t for you. Wood handles aren’t as durable as the other options, so if you are especially tough on knives, you may want to skip the wood.

If metal is more of your style, consider stainless steel for a classic look or black oxide for a new age take on metal-handled knives. The metal handles may not be as comfortable as some other options, but they are light and easy to clean. Stainless steel handles typically lead to a better balanced knife, but the metal can be slippery, which can be dangerous.

Polymer knife handles are a popular choice. Chicago Cutlery’s polymer-handled knifes have sleek black handles that are in sharp contrast to the steel blades. Polymer handles are fairly lightweight and thin. Polymer knives are prone to cracking over time or when exposed to extreme temperature changes (webstaurantstore.com).

Chicago Cutlery’s Soft Grip handles are perfect for those who want maximum comfort from their knives’ handles. The Soft Grip handles allow for a sturdier grip on the knife. The Soft Grip knives also come in a variety of colors. If you want to purchase knives with a vivid and bright personality, these are the knives for you.

Knife Styles

There are a number of different knife styles. While we won’t get into all of them here, consider what you use your knives for and select a set that best fits those needs. If you are like most people, you will at least need the three most basic knives – a chef’s knife, paring knife and bread knife.

A chef’s knife is versatile. They are large, and good for almost anything. Think of them as a larger version of the utility knife. Paring knives are small, which makes them better for delicate work in the kitchen. They are great for skinning vegetables, for example. Bread knives are serrated so they can cut through bread without crushing it. You will want a set that at least has these three basic knives.

In addition to the basics, you may want a certain number of steak knives or a few specialty pieces. If you want kitchen shears, which are highly valuable in the kitchen, consider that when shopping. If you think you will need a meat cleaver or boning knife for your style of cooking, then you will want to make sure that you get a block with those knives, because they are highly specialized.

Steel Type

There are different types of steel, and not all steel is great for kitchen knives. Regular steel, or carbon steel, isn’t a good choice for kitchen knives as it is prone to rusting. Stainless steel is the most common material type for kitchen knives, because it is higher in carbon. Carbon makes the blade strong, and it prevents rusting and discoloration. Keep in mind that even stainless steel can rust if not properly cared for (primermagazine.com).

How to Care For Your New Knives

Once you spend money on a new knife set, you will want to make sure that you are keeping your knives sharp and clean. Keeping your knives in tip-top shape will make them last longer and look nicer. Dull knives also cause many of the injuries in both personal and commercial kitchens (Nursing Schools).

Maintain your knives with these three quick tips:

  • Keep your knives clean by washing with warm soapy water; dry the knives thoroughly before putting them away.
  • Don’t leave your knives in a sink or submerged in water for extended periods of time.
  • Hone or sharpen your knives regularly.

Benefits of a Knife Set

While you can easily purchase individual knives, purchasing a knife set can save you a ton of money both in the short- and long-terms. Although you may think that you don’t need a large knife set, getting even a small set is more cost effective, because individual knives cost more than the same knife in a set. For example, buying four quality knives individually may end up costing more than buying a high quality six knife set.

One of the best benefits of a set is that it comes in a knife block. Knife blocks help keep the blades of your knives safe. Most individual knives only come with a plastic shield, which can easily slide off in a drawer. The cost of fixing or replacing damaged or dulled knives can quickly bring the price of those individual knives well above the cost of a set.

You may, however, consider buying a small set, and then buying extra knives if necessary. That way, at least most of your knives are protected in the block, and you will probably save some money while still getting everything you need.

Final Recommendations

After reading the Best Chicago Cutlery Knife Set Reviews by Consumer Reports, it is clear that it is difficult to select a winner. Fortunately, there is one set that stands out a little more than the rest. The Chicago Cutlery DesignPro 13-piece Block Set comes with everything you could possibly need with the highest quality standards. The block doesn’t contain a bunch of unnecessary pieces that take up additional space on the counter. While the set may be pricy, it is worth every penny. It may not be for everyone, but if you can afford the highest quality block from the company, you may consider the DesignPro Set.