My Four Favorite Steak Knives for Feasting Season

Allie Chanthorn Reinmann

November 19, 2024

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Allie Chanthorn Reinmann

Food Editor

Covering kitchen appliances, cooking hacks, and more.

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My Top Four Steak Knives for Feasting Season

Best for thick cuts

Master Series Japanese Damascus Steel Steak Knife Set

$178.99
at Hexclad Cookware

$178.99
at Hexclad Cookware
A good mix of value and performance

Quince German Stainless Steel Steak Knife Set

$49.90
at Quince

$49.90
at Quince
The best classic steak knife

Victorinox Serrated-Edge Steak Knife Set

$214.59
at Amazon

$214.59
at Amazon
Best chill flex steak knife

HexClad Steak Knife Set

$178.00
at Amazon

$178.00
at Amazon

Besides looking great on a dinner table, steak knives are crucial tools for cutting through all types of roasts. So why go another year setting out the barely useful Ikea butter knives that came with your everyday set of cutlery? Now is the best time to equip yourself with a set as beautiful as the turkey, ham, or chicken you’ll be serving.

I’ve spent the last month testing various blades for craftsmanship and feel—slicing them through beef gristle, using them to cut bites of smoked turkey, and subjecting them to the daily grind of tumbling around in my sink and drying rack—and the four below passed all of my tests.

Here’s a breakdown of what each knife is best used for, so you can decide which is worthy of a spot at your table.

My Top Picks

Best for thick cuts

Master Series Japanese Damascus Steel Steak Knife Set

This knife make an impression. With its upturned blade and glimmering hex emblem, you feel like you’re holding a family heirloom, or maybe in a period drama that involves wealthy family members battling for control of a dynasty. It fit in comfortably at my much more modest table. I liked this knife for its medium-sized, weighty handle. Although it’s not really ergonomic to fit your grip, many other steak knives have dinky little handles; while a comfortable shape is nice, they’re still harder to cut with.

The curved blade of this dramatic knife gives you extra cutting edge compared to straight-bladed steak knives. If you’re serving a thick cuts of meat, using this knife will be a joy for your guests. The blade edge is straight (as in, not serrated), which means you can easily sharpen it at home.
- The Good
  - Weighty handle.
  - Straight edge to sharpen at home.
  - Comes with a storage box.
  - Beautiful aesthetic.
  The Bad
  - The extra half-inch of blade can feel cumbersome.
  - A bit over-the-top, if that’s not your vibe.
- - 5.1-inch blade and 4.7-inch handle.
  - 67 layers of hard-wearing Damascus steel.
  - Full tang construction.
Get It Now
A good mix of value and performance

Quince German Stainless Steel Steak Knife Set

I found these knives to be my favorite for elevated everyday use, and the price is a ~~steel~~ steal. They’re undoubtedly sharp, they have a weighty, comfortable handle, they’re full tang (meaning the metal of the blade extends all the way through the handle), and even after getting banged around a bit in the drawer, the tip and blade still look perfect.

This four-piece set is excellent for cutting your weekly roast, while the look is sleek enough to fit right in at Thanksgiving dinner, or at any other sit-down holiday feast. I also love their non-serrated blades, which allow you to do your sharpening upkeep at home.
- The Good
  - Great value for the quality.
  - Straight edge for at-home sharpening.
  - Balanced handle to blade length.
  The Bad
  - If you’re looking for something fancy, these have a more simple look.
- - 4 1/2″ handle with 4 1/2″ blade length.
  - High-carbon German steel, stain and corrosion resistant.
Get It Now
The best classic steak knife

Victorinox Serrated-Edge Steak Knife Set

For a “classic” dinner knife that looks like it could have been plucked up from Peter Luger’s in 1920, this rosewood handled set is suitably elegant and effective. The knife is extremely lightweight compared to the other three on his list, and has a lower overall profile. The blade is serrated, which means you’ll likely have to send it out for sharpening, but the stainless steel blades should hold on to their edge for some time if you treat them well. That said, hand-washing is best—that goes for any high quality knife, but especially one which sports a wooden handle.
- The Good
  - Thin, serrated blade for no-slip slicing.
  - Beautiful wood handle.
  The Bad
  - Light weight feel so you do more of the work.
  - Serrated edge may require outsourced sharpening.
- - 4.5-inch handle and 4.75-inch blade.
  - Rosewood handle.
Get It Now
Best chill flex steak knife

HexClad Steak Knife Set

I like these knives for their mid-weight feel and beautiful detailing. The hardwearing layers of Damascus steel show up as little waves on the blade, similarly to the other HexClad on this list, but the simple straight blade and round handle come off less of a brag compared to the extended curved blade and serious black handle of the HexClad Master Series.

Practically speaking, this set of four features a pakkawood handle, in a unique green color. Pakkawood is a composite of hardwood layered with resin, which makes it extremely durable and less likely to split. (That said, I’d recommend hand-washing them anyway.)
- The Good
  - 67 layers of hard-wearing Damascus steel.
  - Durable pakkawood handle.
  - Full tang construction.
  - Mid-weight feel creates ease of use while not being heavy.
  - Straight edge for at-home sharpening.
  The Bad
  - The handle shape is not particularly comfortable.
- - 4.25-inch handle and 4.8-inch blade
  - Damascus steel.
  - Full tang construction.
Get It Now

These knives range in price, and you can’t go wrong with any of them. I can understand that buying a set might seem like a big ask when your holiday grocery bill has already gone up, but think of the long game: Unlike the Thanksgiving turkey, these knives will stick around much longer than one evening.

In fact, if you keep them sharpened and stored properly, your set of steak knives will last decades. (And here’s some guidance on how to care for your knives.)

What do you think so far?