Best Cheap Kitchen Knife

There is a great deal of difference in the quality of kitchen knives, which is well understood by anyone who has used a knife that just didn’t do the job – and then used a knife that was so good that one may have thought, wow, where have you been all my life! But there’s also a vast difference in price. You can pay hundreds of dollars for a set of knives that are supposed to last a lifetime – and they may be right. However, not everyone feels like they can afford to pay that much for something whose sole purpose is merely to cut. Of course, that can be pretty important, too! So how can you find the best cheap kitchen knife, one with an acceptable level of quality, that is not outrageously expensive? That is the question!

What Should You Be Looking for in a Good Quality Kitchen Knife?

Probably the most important factor to look for if you want any level of quality in a knife is blade material. Here are a few of the materials that are used in better-quality knives:

• Stainless steel. Stainless steel resists corrosion and is easy to maintain. It’s an alloy, actually – of carbon, iron, and other elements. There are different grades of stainless steel, with varying levels of hardness and edge retention.
• High carbon stainless steel. High-carbon stainless steel knives have more carbon, and less stainless steel. This means they will hold their sharp edge for longer, but they are also more prone to corrosion.
• Damascus steel. The core is carbon, the exterior is stainless steel. Knives made with Damascus steel are sharp and strong.
• Ceramic. Ceramic blades are extremely hard, so they are exceptionally sharp – and lightweight and rust-resistant, to boot. But they are more brittle and require care to keep them from breaking or chipping.

Another important element to consider in the purchase of any knife is, what are you going to use it for? There are different knives for different purposes: chef’s knives, paring knives, utility knives, etc.

Also: is the knife comfortable to use? It needs to have an ergonomic handle that feels comfortable in your hand as you use it, allowing you to get a good grip. They can be made of different materials – wood, plastic, and stainless steel. 

A Few Popular Kitchen Knife Sets

1. The Amazon Color-Coded Kitchen 12-piece Knife Set. This set – an “Amazon Basic” product – is certainly one of the most affordable and is made of simple stainless steel. It is advertised to hold a sharp cutting edge and is color-coded so you know at a glance which type of knife you have. At the price, it is value for money if it cuts at all! Which apparently it does fairly well… If this is all the knife you need, and it works for you, why pay more?
2. Cuisinart 15-Piece High Carbon Stainless Steel Knife Set. This set is very popular and moderately priced – well within the affordability range. It is made of high-carbon stainless steel, and the handles have triple rivets for durability. The handles also are ergonomically designed for comfort. Cuisinart cutlery comes with a lifetime “warranty against defects in material and workmanship under normal home use from the date of original purchase throughout the original purchaser’s lifetime.” So this one should last – or your money back!
3. Kyocera’s Revolution 4-Piece Ceramic Knife Set. If you think you might like to try ceramic knives, this may be the knife set for you. No, it’s not the very cheapest, but still at the affordable level. The company says it can outlast normal knives up to 10 times – which is quite a claim! If you want to keep your knife set for a long time, though, don’t use them for frozen or other hard foods.
4. XINZUO 73 Layer Damascus Steel 5-Piece Knife Set. This set is NOT cheap! But it is super high-quality – for those who are not that concerned about the budget. The company has gone to great lengths to make sure they are producing a product that will work exceptionally well and last indefinitely. I’m not necessarily recommending it over other knives, but for the price, you should be getting greater quality! Here are a few of the unique features:
   • With 73 layers of Damascus steel, this knife has been specially forged to improve blade performance. It has had vacuum and deep freezer heat treatments to raise the toughness level to astounding heights.
   • It has been engineered with a perfect cutting angle of 15 degrees on each side to ensure that the blade is strong and durable and keeps a sharp edge.
   • Rigorous testing has been applied to the design of the handle, to ensure that the weight between the handle and blade is balanced to foster both control and durability, and help keep you from feeling tired if you use it for a long time.
5. Taimasi 23 Piece Kitchen Chef Knife Set with High Carbon Stainless Steel. This 23-piece kitchen knife set, made with high carbon stainless steel, has a chef’s knife, a santoku knife, a bread knife, a slicing knife, a utility knife, a paring knife, a boning knife, and eight steak knives – a truly well-rounded set with pretty much everything you could need! Each blade is precision forged, each edge is hand-polished to a precise angle, and the textured handles are ergonomic, make them usable for long periods without tiring. This set is mid-range in price, seems to be fairly good quality, and just might be “what the doctor ordered” if you want a full multi-use set that will last for a long time.

Product Links

For visuals of the five products mentioned above and current prices:

In Conclusion

The kind of kitchen knife you get depends on so many different factors. You are the one who decides what level of quality you want, at the level you can afford. Quality can vary “all over the map!” If you want the best cheap kitchen knife, you have to decide what is “cheap” and what you are willing to sacrifice for the quality you want.

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