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The Spruce Eats / Lecia Landis
Our winner is the J.A. Henckels International Stainless Steel Steak Knife Set because you get eight durable knives that fit comfortably in your hand, can cut through any meat, and look good on any table, whether for weeknight family dinners or holiday parties. For a wonderful budget-friendly set, we recommend the four-piece Oneida Flight Steak Knives.
Steak knives are great to have for any meal that features steak, chops, or other thick cuts of meat that are difficult to cut with regular cutlery. They can also come in handy in the kitchen for slicing tomatoes, slicing bread, or cutting sandwiches neatly in half.
There are two basic styles of steak knives: serrated knives are more common, stay sharp longer, and cut easily, whereas straight-edged knives are easier to sharpen. If you only bring out the steak knives for special occasions, sharpening may never be an issue. If you toss the knives into a drawer and use them daily like utility knives, sharpening may be required more often. While expensive knives will last longer, budget knives can be replaced every few years to add a different style to the table.
Here are the best steak knives for your kitchen.
Best Overall: J.A. Henckels International Stainless Steel Steak Knife Set
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Courtesy of Amazon
Larger eight-piece set
Durable
Great price
Delicate tips may bend if stored improperly
Who else recommends it? Delish and Food & Wine both picked the J.A. Henckels International Stainless Steel Steak Knife Set.
What do buyers say? 93% of 3,500+ Amazon reviewers rated this product 4 stars or above.
This eight-piece steak knife set will look great at the holiday table or family dinners. Henckels steak knives are made to fit comfortably in your hand and can cut through any meat, thanks to the sturdy blade and handle design. The knives have a serrated edge that will never need sharpening. If you don’t need all the knives for dinner, the spares will come in handy in the kitchen as utility knives for tasks like slicing tomatoes or cutting sandwiches. Cleaning is easy because they're dishwasher-safe.
Price at time of publish: $60
Number of Pieces: 8 | Blade Type: Serrated edge | Blade Material: Stainless steel | Blade Length: 4 inches | Knife Length: 8.5 inches | Dishwasher-Safe: Yes
Best Budget: Oneida Flight Steak Knives
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Courtesy of Amazon
Coordinates well with existing flatware
Heavier weight
Great price
Can easily be mistaken for dinner knives
Couples and small families don’t need a wide array of steak knives taking up storage space, so this four-piece set makes family dinners more special without eating into the steak budget. They’re made entirely from stainless steel with a high-luster finish and swooping design on the handle that will look good with any flatware you already own.
The knives have a serrated edge for easy cutting and have weight to them that suggests quality construction. These are dishwasher-safe, too. If the flight design doesn’t fit your style perfectly, the company makes similar steak knives with different handle designs to better match your flatware.
Price at time of publish: $17
Number of Pieces: 4 | Blade Type: Serrated edge | Blade Material: Stainless steel | Blade Length: 5.4 inches | Knife Length: 10.4 inches | Dishwasher-Safe: Yes
Best With Storage: Wüsthof 8-Piece Stainless-Steel Steak Knife Set
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Beautiful wooden storage case
Contemporary design
Durable stainless steel construction
Hand-wash only
The contemporary look of these steak knives is modern enough to pair with sleek dinnerware and classic enough to pair with Grandma’s china. The attractive blades and handles are made from stainless steel for durability, and the serrated edges will easily slice through steaks and roasts while staying sharp for a long time.
As an eight-piece set, these knives are great for large family dinners and parties. They come in an olivewood presentation box that makes them perfect for gifting, and the box is also excellent for safe storage, meaning you don't have to worry about the knives rattling around in the utensil drawer.
Price at time of publish: $210
Number of Pieces: 8 | Blade Type: Serrated edge | Blade Material: Stainless steel | Blade Length: 4 inches | Knife Length: 8.7 inches | Dishwasher-Safe: Yes
Best Straight-Edge: Umogi Stainless Steel Steak Knives
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Courtesy of Amazon
Great price
Convenient set of six
Sleek, modern design
Need occasional resharpening
Made entirely from stainless steel, these knives will pair well with a wide array of flatware, dishes, and serving pieces. The straight edge is sharp and non-serrated to slice through steaks, roasts, and other meats. This six-piece set can easily be re-sharpened, and it's affordable enough to buy several sets for large gatherings.
Thanks to the all-metal construction, these are dishwasher-safe, so cleanup is simple when dinner is over. However, hand-washing is recommended.
Price at time of publish: $30
Number of Pieces: 6 | Blade Type: Straight edge | Blade Materials: Stainless steel | Blade Length: 4.5 inches | Knife Length: 9 inches | Dishwasher-Safe: Yes, but hand-wash recommended
Best Round-Tipped: Victorinox Classic Serrated Steak Knife Set
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Courtesy of Amazon
Easy-to-grip ergonomic handle
Safer for fine motor skill challenges
Very sharp for smooth cutting
Not attractive for formal dining
These steak knives offer a contemporary look with a little safety tucked in; the tips are rounded to prevent accidental pokes. This can be very helpful for children as well as people with fine motor skill challenges. The knives are handmade in Switzerland by the same folks who make Swiss Army Knives, and they have a serrated edge for smooth, easy cutting.
The handle is made from polypropylene, which is slip-resistant and easy to keep clean. The handle shape is ergonomic and simple to grasp, with a bolster for safety. This six-piece set is dishwasher-safe.
Price at time of publish: $55
Number of Pieces: 6 | Blade Type: Serrated edge | Blade Material: Stainless steel | Blade Length: 4.5 inches | Knife Length: 11.7 inches | Dishwasher-Safe: Yes, but hand-wash recommended
Best Laguiole-Style: FLYINGCOLORS Flying Colors Laguiole Steak Knife Set
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Amazon
Great price for this special style knife
Different handle finishes
Attractive ornamental design
Hand-wash only
Laguiole-style knives have a distinctive shape that’s easy to recognize. They’re distinct from other kitchen knives, making them a conversation piece as well as a cutting tool. This set of six knives has wooden handles with three rivets for security and a full tang; they also feature a decorative pattern in the metal along with the handle.
The same knives are available with other handle materials, so it’s simple to find the ones that are a good match with your existing flatware. These should be washed by hand.
Price at time of publish: $41
Number of Pieces: 6 | Blade Type: Straight edge | Blade Material: Stainless steel | Blade Length: 4 inches | Knife Length: 8.5 inches | Dishwasher-Safe: No
Best High-End: Jean Dubost Laguiole Steak Knives with Olive Wood Handles, Set of 6
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Courtesy of Amazon
Timeless classic design
Attractive olivewood handles
Beautiful and generous wedding gift idea
Expensive
Higher-maintenance
There are Laguiole-style knives, and then there are Jean Dubost Laguiole knives. Laguiole is not a brand (although many manufacturers may market them that way), but rather a style of knife from the Laguiole village in France. Originally, it was a high-quality carving utility knife in which the blade folded into the handle, but the dependability and interest in this unique style prompted the Jean Dubost cutlery company to produce the first non-folding Laguiole-style knife intended for dining in 1987. Since then, the Jean Dubost Laguiole steak knives have been featured in dining rooms around the world.
This set of knives is an impressive addition to any flatware set, with olivewood handles that encase a full tang stainless steel blade. The top of the blade is decorated with the traditional vine-like design, and the set includes a convenient wooden box for storage. These knives require a little extra care, including hand-washing, re-sharpening, and oiling the handles periodically.
Price at time of publish: $369
Number of Pieces: 6 | Blade Type: Straight edge | Blade Material: Alloy steel | Blade Length: 4.25 inches | Knife Length: 9 inches | Dishwasher-Safe: No
The eight-piece J.A. Henckels International Stainless Steel Steak Knife Set is our top pick because it's durable, ergonomic, sharp, and beautifully designed. For children and other folks with fine motor skill limitations, the Victorinox Classic Serrated Steak Knife Set features rounded tips and ergonomic handles for safety and ease of use.
What to Look for in a Steak Knife
Number of Pieces
While it might make sense to buy steak knives in a quantity that matches your place settings, there are other things to consider. Would you like an extra knife or two to use in the kitchen? Would you limit steak knives to just the adults in the family? To decide how many knives you want, consider who would be using them, and for what uses.
Style
Think about what dinnerware you plan to use with your steak knives—whether that's your everyday plates and bowls or your china on special occasions—and pick a set that coordinates.
Cleaning
While the general rule of thumb is that sharp knives should always be hand-washed for safety and to preserve their edge, some steak knives are safe for cleaning in the dishwasher. If hand-washing a set of steak knives is a task that does not need to be added to the to-do list in your home, it may be worthwhile to opt for a set that is fully dishwasher-friendly.
FAQs
How long is a steak knife?
Typically, steak knife blades range from 4 to 6 inches in length. Including the handle, steak knives tend to be around 8 to 9 inches long.
Can you sharpen a serrated steak knife?
The recessed nature of the serrations cause these types of knives to stay sharper longer. When yours begins to dull, use a sharpening rod to get each individual serration. The flat of the blade won’t need attention; just the curved indentions need sharpening. For full details about how to use a sharpening rod, see this Spruce Eats article.
Where does the steak knife go in a place setting?
When setting the table, utensils are placed according to the order they are used. With the plate in the center, the steak knife takes the place of the dinner knife, just to the right of the plate and next to the soup spoon. Salad and dinner forks are placed on the left side of the plate. Be sure to set the sharp edge facing the plate.
How We Researched
To compile this list, our team of editors and contributors spent hours researching the best products on the market in this category, evaluating their key features—like ease of use, material, or price—in addition to reviews from customers and other trusted sources. We then used this research to assign a star rating from one to five (five being the best; one being the worst) to certain products on the list.
Why Trust The Spruce Eats?
Originally compiled by Donna Currie, this collection is one of many kitchen and dining product round-ups that Donna has contributed to The Spruce Eats. She specializes in kitchen tools and gadgets and has been contributing her wisdom to The Spruce and The Spruce Eats since July 2016.
This article was updated by Katya Weiss-Andersson, a writer and editor who has nearly a decade of experience as a professional chef.
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