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Best Kitchen Knives: The 3 You Need (and the Extras Worth Adding)
What kitchen knives do you actually need? Most home cooks need just three: an 8" chef's knife, a paring knife and a serrated bread knife. That's the advice of America's Test Kitchen's chief knife reviewer, who has tested hundreds of knives. Useful extras are a petty or utility knife, a long slicing knife for roasts and brisket, a boning knife, and kitchen shears. Buy the chef's knife first and spend the most on it.
This guide covers each knife and what it's for, then links to our detailed buying guide for each type. Dalstrong prices are from dalstrong.com as of November 3, 2026.
The essential kitchen knives at a glance
| Knife | What it's for | Buying guide | Dalstrong option |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chef's knife (8") | Nearly everything on the board, from chickens to squash to herbs | Best chef's knife | Gladiator 8" $79; Shogun 8" $129 |
| Paring knife (under 4") | Small, in-hand and detail work | Best paring knife | Gladiator 3.5" Paring $35 |
| Serrated bread knife | Bread, tomatoes, cakes, watermelon, layered sandwiches | Best bread knife | See guide |
| Petty or utility knife | Medium tasks: tomatoes, shallots, salami, cheese | Best petty knife | Shogun 6" Utility $119 |
| Slicing/carving knife | Roast turkey, brisket, large boneless cuts | Best carving knife | Gladiator 10" Slicer $89 |
| Boning knife | Trimming silverskin, deboning chicken | Best boning knife | See guide |
| Cleaver | Bone-in chicken and light butchery | Best cleaver | See guide |
1. Chef's knife: buy this first
ATK calls the chef's knife "the most essential, versatile, and indispensable knife you can own." It prefers sharp, gently curved 8-inch blades with grippy handles. A Japanese gyuto can stand in for one, but ATK notes that its harder steel is more likely to chip on chicken bones or dense squash. Compare the styles in Japanese vs German knives, or see best gyuto knife.
2. Paring knife
For peeling, coring, cutting lime wedges, mincing a shallot or deboning a chicken breast. ATK prefers thin blades under 4 inches.
3. Serrated bread knife
Besides bread, ATK reaches for it on tomatoes, layer cakes, pineapple, watermelon and BLTs. Skip it only if you never cut any of those.
Useful extras
- Petty or utility knife: splits the difference between a paring knife and a chef's knife.
- Slicing knife: ATK's favorites have 12" granton blades for turkey and brisket. See our carving knife guide before Thanksgiving.
- Boning knife: a short, nimble blade for trimming and deboning.
- Nakiri or cleaver: worth it if you chop lots of vegetables or do light butchery.
Set or individual knives?
Buying individually lets you put your money into the chef's knife. A set makes sense if it matches the knives you'll actually use and comes with storage. Dalstrong's Gladiator 8-Piece Block Set is $249. For the full pros and cons, see best kitchen knife sets.
Kitchen knife checklist
- 8" chef's knife (or a gyuto, used with care)
- Paring knife under 4"
- Serrated bread knife
- Extras only for tasks you do often
- A way to keep them sharp: best knife sharpener
- Hand wash: can you put knives in the dishwasher?
Frequently asked questions
What are the 3 knives every cook needs?
A chef's knife, a paring knife and a serrated bread knife, according to America's Test Kitchen. Those three cover almost every home kitchen task.
What is the most important kitchen knife?
The chef's knife. ATK calls it the most essential, versatile and indispensable knife you can own, so put most of your budget there.
What size chef's knife is best?
8 inches suits most home cooks. ATK prefers sharp, gently curved 8" blades with grippy handles.
Is a knife set worth it?
Only if it contains the knives you'll actually use. Otherwise, buying a great chef's knife plus a paring knife and a bread knife is usually better value.
What other knives are worth adding?
A petty or utility knife for medium tasks, a long slicing knife for roasts and brisket, a boning knife for trimming, and kitchen shears. Add a nakiri or cleaver if you do lots of vegetables or butchery.
Sources: America's Test Kitchen, The Three Knives Every Cook Should Have (2024); Dalstrong product pages. Checked November 3, 2026.
