Cutlery 101
Sharp tips for stocking your kitchen with the knives you need.
A great knife is the one kitchen essential you’ll use every day. Plus, with good care, you can keep your investment sharp and working well for a lifetime. Read up on the basics and check out the questions our couples ask most. Then, shop our top picks.
Cutlery Basics
Most cooks need to stock their kitchen with a chef's knife, paring knife, and serrated knife. A utility knife and a set of steak knives are also great additions.
Register for a cutlery set if you’re starting fresh—it’s a great way to be sure you have all the basics. If you already own some knives or prefer to have more selection, it can be nice to pick them out individually.
Chef's Knife
You'll use this versatile MVP, which has a longer blade, for most daily tasks, like chopping, slicing, and dicing vegetables, meat, and fish.Shop Chef's Knives>>
Paring Knife
Handy for precision tasks like peeling, slicing and mincing smaller fruits and vegetables, this knife picks up where the chef's knife leaves off.Shop Paring Knives>>
https://www.wayfair.com/registry/browse/paring-knives/419538?rtype=9&redir=Paring+Knife
Serrated Knife
This blade slices through bread without tearing, and it's also great for tough-to-cut produce, like tomatoes, watermelon, and pineapple.Shop Serrated Knives>>
https://www.wayfair.com/registry/browse/bread-knives/419534?rtype=9&redir=Bread+Knife
Utility Knife With a blade size that's in between the chef's knife and paring knife, this tool is ideal for tasks like cutting sandwiches and slicing meat.
Shop Utility Knives >>
https://www.wayfair.com/registry/browse/utility-knives/419545?rtype=9&redir=Utility+Knife
Steak Knives Serrated or straight-edge, steak knives are used on heartier meats as part of a table place setting.
Shop Steak Knives >>
https://www.wayfair.com/registry/browse/steak-knives/419543?rtype=9&redir=Steak+Knives
Knife Set
These include most basic knives, plus knife storage, honing steel, and often times, a set of steak knives.Shop Knife Sets>>
https://www.wayfair.com/registry/checklist/Kitchen/Kitchen-Gadgets-and-Accessories/Knife-Sets~28
Specialty Knives: Boning knives, carving knives, cleavers, and other task-specific knives are great to have if you love to cook.
Knife Accessories: Use a honing steel to realign blades and keep knives sharp, and choose knife storage and cutting boards that work for your kitchen.
Knife Blade Materials
The material of your knife blade will determine its quality, price, and necessary maintenance. Here are some to look out for:
High-Carbon Stainless Steel: This material makes for some of the hardest and highest quality blades. It maintains a sharp edge and is stain-resistant.
Stainless Steel: A popular choice for less-expensive cutlery. It's resistant to rust and stains, but not hard enough to maintain the sharpest edge possible.
Ceramic: These affordable blades can stay stain-free and sharp with little maintenance, but they are not hard enough for all tasks.
Most Common Questions
How many knives do I really need?
Start with a basic chef's knife, paring knife, and serrated knife, and add more if you love to cook. An extra chef's knife can be helpful to have when cooking together.
What size blade is best?
We recommend 8-12 inches for a chef's knife, 3-4 inches for a paring knife, and 10 inches for a serrated knife.
How often should we sharpen our knives?
It depends on how often you cook, but most home chefs can get away with sharpening once a year.
How do I choose my knives if I can't hold them first?
Visit our cutlery section and filter by customer rating to see the top knives, then read the reviews. You can always return or exchange the knives that don't work for you.
