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The Best Paring Knife

Last updated on September 13, 2021

We looked at the top 13 Paring Knives and dug through the reviews from 21 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best Paring Knives.

Our Review Process

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Whether you are a professional chef or a home cook, you need a paring knife. This small knife packs a powerful punch and makes preparing fruits and vegetables for consumption or use in a recipe a breeze. Of course, not all paring knives are created equal, so make sure you examine the knife’s features before you buy.

Start your search for the best paring knife by reviewing the construction of the knife. Not only do you want the knife to be sturdy, but also extremely durable. The Cuisinart C77TR-3PR Triple Rivet Collection Paring Knife is made from a high-carbon stainless steel. It won’t rust, retain odors or become stained, no matter what piece of produce you’re working with.

Check the paring knife’s blade next. The Victorinox Swiss Straight Edge Paring Knives, 4-Piece uses a short blade for precision, while other knives have a professional satin-finished blade that is finely honed to stay sharp for longer. Typically, you’ll find paring knives have blades that are between 2 and 4 inches long with either a straight or a curved edge.

Just as important as the construction and quality of the blade is the paring knife’s handle. You want a knife with an ergonomic handle that is not only comfortable but also reduces hand fatigue. This is especially important if you’re prepping a large number of fruits and vegetables at once. The Mercer Culinary Millennia Slim Paring Knife, 3-Inch goes a step further with their handle, by incorporating a few safety features. It comes with textured finger points, a non-slip grip and a protective finger guard.

Look for any extra value that the paring knife might offer. For example, a knife set inside a luxurious gift package is a great choice for a birthday, Christmas or housewarming gift. Knives with colored handles may add a little brightness to your day. You can even purchase paring knives in a multi-pack, so you can assign one knife for fruits, one for vegetables and one for de-veining shrimp.

Our Picks For The Top Paring Knives

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Product Overview
Our Take
Pros
Cons
 oos

Cuisinart C77TR-3PR Triple Rivet Collection Paring Knife

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Cuisinart

C77TR-3PR Triple Rivet Collection Paring Knife

Durable is the best word to describe this paring knife. It's constructed from a high-carbon stainless steel blade that won't rust or stain. Consumers will love the ergonomic handle, as it's comfortable to use when tackling larger tasks. Of course, the extra-wide safety bolster is also a nice touch, as it provides added control.

Overall Take

High-QualityAs an added bonus, this paring knife comes with a blade guard for safety.

 OOS

DALSTRONG Gladiator Series Paring Knife

DALSTRONG

Gladiator Series Paring Knife

You'll get maximum control and slicing power with this paring knife, which has a sharpness and hardness that makes precise cuts. The handle is comfortable while also resisting bacteria to keep your kitchen sanitary. We like that it includes a microfiber cloth for cleaning. However, the pakkawood handle isn't designed to withstand extreme temperatur...

Overall Take

Most Comfortable HandleThe handle of this paring knife is comfortable and resists bacteria.

Pros
" The blade on this knife is made from 67 layers of Damascus steel, making it razor sharp and super tough. The handle has a full tang and a tapered bolster that keeps the knife perfectly balanced, keeping the user in..."
 Best Set

Victorinox Swiss Classic Straight Edge Paring Knife, 4-Piece, 3.25-Inch

Victorinox

Swiss Straight Edge Paring Knife, 4-Piece

Whether you're dicing onions or slicing a bell pepper, this set of paring knives has you covered. You'll get four knifes with colorful handles that are made using a comfortable ergonomic design. The blades are short for better precision, yet sharp so you don't have to exert much effort.

Overall Take

Ergonomically Designed HandleThis set of four paring knifes allows you to quickly peel, dice and mince ingredients for your favorite recipe.

Pros
" The Victorinox 3¼-Inch Paring Knife has been our favorite since first publishing this guide in 2014. The plastic handle is very comfortable in the hand. The point where the slender handle and blade join feels almost seamless. The Victorinox has..."
Cons
"But, since it is rather feathery, it may not be suitable for cutting through harder veggies such as carrots or artichokes."

J.A. Henckels 16900-081 Forged Premio Paring Knife, 3-Inch

J.A. Henckels

Forged Premio Paring Knife, 3-Inch

Constructed from a high-quality German stainless steel, this knife resists both rust and stains. The blades have a professional satin finish that allows for better precision when slicing and dicing. Users will also love the triple-rivet handle, which has an attractive stainless steel end cap.

Overall Take

Professional Satin-Finished BladeCleaning this paring knife is a breeze, as it's dishwasher-safe.

Pros
" The triple-rivet design is curved, and the handle ergonomically designed for you to have the perfect grip on the knife, making it safer to use."
Cons
"Some buyers say the blade is a bit thin for the price."
Don't just take for granted what one reviewer says. Along with our own experts, DWYM analyzes the top expert reviews of the leading products and generates a score you can actually trust.
20

Products Considered

We identified the majority of the paring knives available to purchase.
13

Products Analyzed

We then selected the leading and most popular products for our team to review.

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21

Expert Reviews Included

In addition to our expert reviews, we also incorporate feedback and analysis of some of the most respected sources including: Ktchn Dad, BestReviews, Knives Sensei, Choppy Choppy, New York Times Wirecutter.

35,735

User Opinions Analyzed

We also incorporate user reviews from the leading retailers including

Our experts reviewed the top 13 Paring Knives and also dug through the reviews from 21 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best of the best Paring Knives.

DWYM is your trusted roduct review source. Our team reviews thousands of product reviews from the trusted top experts and combines them into one easy-to-understand score. Learn more.

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The Best Bang For Your Buck

Victorinox Swiss Classic Straight Edge Paring Knife, 4-Piece, 3.25-Inch

Our Expert Score

10.0
3 expert reviews

User Summarized Score

9.6
585 user reviews

Our Take

Whether you're dicing onions or slicing a bell pepper, this set of paring knives has you covered. You'll get four knifes with colorful handles that are made using a comfortable ergonomic design. The blades are short for better precision, yet sharp so you don't have to exert much effort.

What other experts liked

The Victorinox 3¼-Inch Paring Knife has been our favorite since first publishing this guide in 2014. The plastic handle is very comfortable in the hand. The point where the slender handle and blade join feels almost seamless. The Victorinox has a very fine, pointed tip and a sharp blade that...
- New York Times Wirecutter
It’s a viable choice for cooks who need a go-to tool for precise tasks because it enables consistent and smooth cuts that will help you prepare nutritious and beautiful dishes.
- Knife Verge

What other experts didn't like

But, since it is rather feathery, it may not be suitable for cutting through harder veggies such as carrots or artichokes.
- Knife Verge

What to Look For

  • Pay attention to the size of the paring knife’s handle. Reviewers report that big handles make in-hand work cumbersome. This is especially true if your hands are on the smaller side.
  • Thinner paring knife blades will have a harder time slicing through tough vegetables.
  • Your paring knives are no different than a chef’s knife, in that, they need to be sharpened from time to time. You can take them to a professional or attempt to sharpen the blades yourself. One method is to purchase a knife sharpener, which actually does the work for you. While this method is the easiest, most professionals suggest using a whetstone or a honing tool instead. Both of these tools give you more control and are less damaging to your knife’s blade.
  • Always check the paring knife’s product care label before washing. Many are dishwasher safe, however, some suggest hand washing the knives, as it’s easier on the blade.
  • If your paring knife didn’t come with a storage box or a butcher block, there are a few storage options you can choose from. A magnetic strip is an excellent choice, as long as you don’t have small children in the home who could access the knives. You could also go with an in-drawer knife holder. This handy invention not only protects the blades, but it eliminates accidental cuttings that occur when knives are simply floating around your drawer.
  • Paring knives are available at a few different price points. The Mercer Culinary Millennia Slim Paring Knife, 3-Inch is among the most affordable, while the Victorinox Swiss Straight Edge Paring Knives, 4-Piece is more moderately priced. If you’re looking for a higher-end paring knife, the Cuisinart C77TR-3PR Triple Rivet Collection Paring Knife is your best bet.

More to Explore

Knives have certainly evolved over the years. At the beginning of time, humans carved their knives out of rock. Today, we don’t even have to travel to a store to purchase a knife. We also have several types of knives available to us for different culinary chores. The paring knife was designed specifically for cutting, dicing and mincing fruits and vegetables. While we don’t know exactly when this type of knife made its way to the market, we do know there are a few models from 1937 on display at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History.

More to explore