The Best Steak Knife

If you’re a carnivore, you’ll want to consider adding a set of steak knives to your dining set says our expert Julie Chernoff, dining editor of Better, a lifestyle website and print magazine. “Meat-eaters only need apply when we are talking about steak knives,” says Chernoff, “[Steak knives] need to be kept super sharp to cut through thick proteins.” This is especially important if your main source of protein comes from meat and poultry. Traditional dinner knives aren’t going to be sharp enough to cut through a thick steak or chicken breast. As you shop for the best set of steak knives, keep the following features in mind:

Start off examining the steak knife’s blade. Most are made from a quality stainless steel that resists rust and corrosion. Depending on the how the knives are forged, however, they may come sharpened with the need to be resharpened every so often, or they may not require sharpening at all, like the AmazonBasics Kitchen Steak Knife Set, 8-Piece.

You’ll also want to check the blade’s edges. Straight edges are nice if you’re looking for clean cuts, while micro-serrated edges are designed to assist you with cutting through tougher meats. There are also models, like the Emojoy Steak Knives, that feature rock-hollow dimples, which help guide the beef and poultry off the knife after it’s been cut.

Look to see how the blade and handle are connected. Models that feature a blade that extends all the way through to the end of the handle are ideal, as they are less likely to break free from the handle when you put extra pressure on them.

Verify that the handle is comfortable to hold and that it has an ergonomic design. This ensures you have full control of the knife and that you are able to cut meat with as little effort as possible. The handles on the SKY LIGHT Steak Knives meet these standards and also add a non-slip element to prevent accidental cuts. It’s a bonus if you find a knife set with handles that are waterproof. You won’t have to immediately dry these handles after use, as they won’t rot like non-waterproof models.

Look for any extras that add value to the steak knife set. For example, the DALSTRONG Steak Knives Set, 4-Piece comes with four sheaths to protect the knives and a beautifully designed gift box. The gift box not only gives you a place to store the knives, but it also makes the set an excellent choice for a housewarming, birthday or wedding gift.

• Look for a customer satisfaction guarantee or a warranty before buying a set of steak knives. You may be surprised to learn that many companies actually offer a lifetime warranty on their knives, although some companies limit the lifetime warranty to certain defects. Still, that offers you more protection than you’d get with a set that had no warranties or guarantees.
• Many steak knife sets are not dishwasher-safe and require owners to wash them by hand. It’s important to note that when you wash your steak knives, you should never toss them in a dishpan of soapy water with other utensils, plates or bowls, as doing this puts you at risk of getting cut.
• Never use a steak knife for anything other than cutting food. Cutting other surfaces will dull the blades and make them ineffective the next time you go to slice through your steak.
• Over time, the blades on your steak knife will dull, even when you are using them properly and for strictly cutting food. When that happens, you’ll need to use a sharpening tool to restore the blades back to their former glory. Just keep in mind that steak knives with serrated edges should be sharpened by a handheld knife sharpener instead of an electric knife sharpener, as you’ll need to carefully sharpen in between each edge.
• In the event that your knife set doesn’t come with its own knife block, you’ll want to purchase a block to safely store them when they’re not in use. They make counter blocks, as well as in-drawer blocks. If you prefer, you can install a magnetic strip on your kitchen wall to hold the knives.
• You’ll find that the prices for steak knife sets vary greatly. There are several factors involved in setting the price for these knives, with the two most important being the quality of the construction and the presentation. You’ll find the Emojoy Steak Knives and the AmazonBasics Kitchen Steak Knife Set, 8-Piece are more basic in design, and therefore have a lower price tag. The SKY LIGHT Steak Knives fall in the middle with the DALSTRONG Steak Knives Set, 4-Piece, and its included sheaths and gift box, commanding the highest price.