Best knife sets include chef’s, bread, and paring knives, Bon Appetit says

Bon Appetit reported that the best knife set does not require many pieces, but rather three essential knives: a chef’s knife, a bread knife, and a paring knife. This conclusion comes after years of testing dozens of knives and consulting with professional chefs and their Test Kitchen editors.

The publication noted that as cooks gain confidence, they might add knives like a nakiri, petty, or cleaver based on individual cooking needs and budget. However, the core set remains the three essential knives.

Bon Appetit recommended several top knife sets, including the Mac Professional Series 3-Piece as the overall best, the Shun Classic Damascus 3-Piece as another great option, and the Mercer Culinary Renaissance 5-Piece as the best budget choice. They also mentioned sets with additional pieces for those wanting more variety.

The Mac Professional Series includes an 8-inch chef’s knife, a 10.5-inch bread knife, and a 5-inch petty knife made of molybdenum high carbon steel with full tang construction. This set is praised for its high-quality construction, ultrasharp blades, and lightweight feel.

The article also provided guidance on how they selected the best knife sets and included long-term user notes from editors who spent extended time with the top picks.

Bon Appetit’s testing and recommendations aim to help consumers find high-performance and valuable knife sets without unnecessary extras.