McCook

15-Piece Knife Block Set with Built-in Sharpener

Best for: Equipping a whole kitchen with knives in one affordable purchase

Our take

This is a complete starter set in one box. You get an 8-inch chef knife, an 8-inch slicing knife, a 5-inch santoku, a 5.5-inch serrated utility knife, a 5-inch utility knife and a 3.5-inch paring knife, plus six 4.5-inch serrated steak knives and two pairs of kitchen shears, all stored in a bamboo block. The feature that earns it a place here is the sharpener built into the block. Most people never sharpen their knives, and a slot you pass the blade through a few times before cooking keeps an edge usable for far longer than a set that is simply left to go dull. The knives are forged stainless steel, which McCook rates at a hardness of about 57 HRC with a 15-degree edge, and each is a single piece of steel from tip to handle, so there are no rivets or scales to loosen. The all-metal handles are easy to keep clean but can feel slippery with wet or greasy hands, and they are heavier than plastic-handled knives. These need hand washing and prompt drying; the brand states they are not dishwasher safe, and stainless knives left wet will spot. A pull-through sharpener is convenient but coarse, so do not expect the edge of a premium knife. For the price of a single high-end chef knife, though, this covers every everyday task.

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