A super sharp, well-balanced knife set that’s comfortable enough for heavy chopping

Whether you’re an experienced home chef or just starting on your culinary journey, having high-quality knives can make all the difference in your kitchen. The Cuisinart 15-Piece Knife Set with Block is a high-quality set that offers everything you need to chop, dice, slice and mince your way through meal-prep tasks — plus, it looks great sitting out on your counter. 

To fully evaluate the Cuisinart 15-Piece Knife Set with Block, the BestReviews Testing Lab used the knives for various regular cutting tasks, from chopping vegetables to slicing bread. Additionally, we considered how comfortable the knives were to hold, especially for extended cutting sessions, and how well-balanced they felt in our hands. After a week of testing, we also assessed how well they held their edge and used the included sharpening steel to see how easy they were to maintain. 

By the end, the Cuisinart 15-Piece Knife Set with Block proved itself to be an excellent knife set for both new and experienced home cooks. It was easily one of the very best options we tested, and its limited lifetime warranty adds extra value. 

What is the Cuisinart 15-Piece Knife Set?

The Cuisinart 15-Piece Knife Set features super sharp high-carbon stainless steel blades.

Product specifications

Number of Pieces: 15 | Blade Material: High-carbon stainless steel | Blade Construction: Full-tang | Handle Material: Plastic resin | Dishwasher-safe: No

The Cuisinart 15-Piece Knife Set with Block includes 12 knives, a pair of kitchen shears, a sharpening steel and a natural wood block to hold all the components. The knives have high-carbon stainless steel blades that were extremely sharp right out of the box. We sliced a tomato and an onion, creating thin, clean slices that were perfect for sandwiches and burgers without much effort. They are also full-tang, so the knives had a well-balanced feel that gave us excellent control while cutting, even for more precise tasks like mincing garlic or fresh herbs. 

The plastic handles felt durable, too, and had a curved underside that allowed them to fit comfortably in our hands even when chopping or dicing for 20 minutes or more. The stainless steel rivets that hold the full-tang blade in place also ensure that the handles are sturdy and can hold up to years of use. We were especially pleased by the Cuisinart knives’ extra-wide bolsters, which provided a comfortable place to rest our thumb and forefinger and prevent our fingers from accidentally sliding closer to the blade. 

While the Cuisinart knives aren’t dishwasher-safe, they were very easy to hand-wash during testing. After cleaning them with warm water and dish soap for a week, we didn’t observe any rusting or tarnishing. We were also pleased with how well the knives held their edge during our testing week. However, the included sharpening steel makes it easy to sharpen the knives if they become dull. 

To see how it compares to other products in its space, check out our reviews for the best kitchen knife sets.

Price and where to buy

The Cuisinart 15-Piece Knife Set with Block regularly retails for $99.99. It’s available at Amazon and Wayfair.

Why we like it

• Super-sharp blades: The Cuisinart 15-Piece Knife Set’s blades were incredibly sharp right out of the box, so we easily could cut thin, clean slices of onion and tomatoes. The knives maintained their edge during a week of testing, too, so we didn’t need to sharpen them. However, the set includes a sharpening steel that is extremely easy to use to maintain the knives’ sharpness. 
• Full-tang construction: The Cuisinart knives feature a full-tang construction, so the metal of the blade extends all the way through the handles. The handles are also triple-riveted to ensure the knives are durable enough for heavy chopping, slicing, dicing, mincing and more. 
• Comfortable handles and extra-wide bolster: The undersides of the Cuisinart knives’ handles have a curve to them that fits perfectly in hand to ensure a solid, secure grip. The knives also have an extra-wide bolster between the blade and handle, providing a natural place to rest your fingers. These knives were some of the most comfortable when cutting for extended periods. 
• Stylish design: The Cuisinart knives have pure white handles, and paired with the silver blades and rivets, they make a striking statement on the counter. They are an excellent option for kitchens with fresh, modern decor. 
• Lifetime warranty: This Cuisinart knife set is backed by a lifetime warranty, so the brand covers any issues that result from defects in the material or craftsmanship during normal home use, giving you plenty of peace of mind about the knives’ durability. 

What we don’t like

• Price: The Cuisinart 15-Piece Knife Set with Block is one of the highest-quality knife sets we tested, but it costs nearly $100, so it may not fit all budgets. 
• Not dishwasher-safe: Cuisinart doesn’t advise cleaning the knives in the dishwasher, so they could take a bit longer to wash than other sets. 

Cuisinart 15-Piece Knife Set setup

To clean the included knife block, Cuisinart recommends wiping the surface with a warm, damp cloth and then towel-drying it immediately.

The Cuisinart 15-Piece Knife with Block Set comes in a branded box, with the knives and tools housed separately from the block. The block was wrapped in plastic to protect the wood from scratches and other damage during shipping, while the knives came in a smaller box. All the knives were wrapped individually in plastic within their box, and each blade had a cardboard sheath around it and a plastic guard on the tip to prevent accidental nicks when unpacking the set.

Once we removed the plastic and cardboard from the knives, we washed each with warm water and dish soap. We thoroughly dried the knives and then placed them in designated slots in the block, so they were ready for use. From unboxing to placement in the knife block, the entire process took approximately 25 minutes. 

Included knives and accessories

The Cuisinart knife set comes with a set of six steak knives.

The Cuisinart 15-Piece Knife Set with Block contains a dozen knives, two tools and a knife block to hold all the pieces. 

It includes: 

• An 8-inch chef knife for many food-prep tasks, including chopping, slicing, dicing and mincing all types of food
• An 8-inch slicing knife for slicing vegetables and meat into larger pieces
• A 7-inch santoku knife for slicing, chopping, dicing and mincing vegetables and meat 
• A 5.5-inch serrated utility knife for slicing bread and other tender baked goods, cutting meat, slicing delicate produce and cutting frozen foods
• A 3.5-inch paring knife for peeling and coring fruits and vegetables, mincing garlic and fresh herbs and other more precise tasks
• A 2.75-inch bird’s beak paring knife for trimming, peeling and coring small foods and other precise tasks
• Six steak knives for cutting meat 
• All-purpose household shears for trimming poultry and other meat, cutting fresh herbs and green onions and opening plastic packaging
• An 8-inch sharpening steel for sharpening the knives 
• A wood knife block for organizing the knives and tools 

During testing, we were impressed with how well the Cuisinart knives performed their intended tasks. The slicing knife was especially effective for slicing tomatoes and onions super thin, but it was also excellent for slicing chicken breast to top a salad. The chef’s knife made quick work of the potatoes and carrots we needed to chop for corn chowder, while we quickly minced garlic and fresh herbs with the Santoku knife for the same recipe. We also found the serrated utility knife made it easy to slice a loaf of bread from the bakery without squishing or tearing it. The paring knife made peeling an apple for a snack easy, too. 

The all-purpose shears were not only convenient for cutting into plastic packaging but also came in handy for cutting green onion and raw bacon that we were rendering for the corn chowder. They also felt like they were higher quality than the shears included in most of the other knife sets we tested. Finally, we were impressed by the knife block itself, which is made of natural wood. It was the most stable block among the knife sets we tested, so it didn’t wobble or shift around on the counter. Its slots were perfectly sized for each knife, so they slid in and out without dragging.

Blade material and design

Full-tang knives like the Cuisinart set can withstand greater pressure than partial tang blades, so they are a better option for heavy-duty tasks like cutting through tough, dense foods.

The knives in the Cuisinart 15-Piece Knife Set with Block have high-carbon stainless steel blades with a full-tang design. The blade extends all the way through the handle, connected with triple rivets for a highly durable, sturdy design. The knives also had a good weight in our hands — the blades were heavy enough that they could do some of the work, especially when cutting through harder foods. However, they weren’t so cumbersome that they caused any hand fatigue, even when cutting for 20 minutes or longer. 

Overall, the Cuisinart knives felt like some of the highest-quality knives we tested. Their full-tang, triple-riveted construction made them very easy to control during testing and gave us confidence that the blades wouldn’t come loose from the handles.  

Handle material and design

The testing team appreciated that the underside of the handles are slightly curved, so they’re more comfortable to hold.

The Cuisinart knives feature plastic resin handles with triple rivets to hold the full-tang blades in place. The underside of the handles is slightly curved, so they fit comfortably in our hands during testing. The smooth surface of the handles sometimes became a bit slippery when wet, but overall, we had excellent control over the knives while cutting. 

Our one concern with the plastic resin handles is the possibility of cracking over time. If they were dropped or handled too roughly, the plastic may crack or split. The set is backed by a limited lifetime warranty, though, so we still have confidence in the handles’ durability. 

While it doesn’t affect the knives’ usability or durability, we were also fans of the handles’ white and silver design. Most of the other knife sets we tested feature basic black handles, so the Cuisinart knives’ white handles stood out for their fresh, modern look. 

Edge retention

The Cuisinart knives feature tapered ground blades that narrow to a super sharp edge, allowing for precise, accurate cutting.

After five days of testing, the Cuisinart knives still maintained their edge, so we didn’t notice any resistance, no matter what we were cutting. We chopped, sliced, diced and minced for approximately two meals and the occasional snack, cutting everything from super ripe tomatoes to hard carrots and potatoes. The knives remained so sharp that we only used the sharpening steel toward the end of the five days to test how well it worked. Based on our experience during testing, we estimate that the knives could go a good month or month and a half between sharpening sessions. 

Extra-wide bolster

The extra-wide bolster on the knives provided excellent control during testing.

The knives in the 15-Piece Knife Set with Block have an extra-wide bolster, which connects the blade to the handle. This large section of the knife provided a natural place to rest our thumb and forefinger while cutting, so we had excellent control and balance with the knives. It also prevented our fingers from slipping and accidentally sliding along the blade when cutting with the knives.

Sharpening steel

The sharpening steel features a handle that’s easy to grip.

The Cuisinart 15-Piece Knife Set with Block comes with a sharpening steel to maintain the blades’ edge. It was extremely easy to use because we only had to hold the steel in one hand and run the knives along its length at a 20-degree angle with the other. We especially appreciated its handle because it provided a solid grip that gave us excellent control while sharpening the knives. 

The knives didn’t really lose their edge during our five days of testing, but we noticed a difference after running them along the sharpening steel. We ran the knives along it approximately six times and found they were just as sharp as they were right out of the box. 

How does it compare to other knife sets we’ve tested?

Of all the knife sets we tested, the Cuisinart 15-Piece Knife Set with Block is one of the highest-quality options. Only the Henckels Premium Quality 15-Piece Knife Set compares in terms of weight, durability and sturdiness. Both sets contain 15 pieces, including a sharpening steel and a natural wooden knife block. The Cuisinart set is more affordable, though, making it a better value than the Henckels for many home cooks. 

The Carote 14-Piece Forged Knife Set is similar to the Cuisinart set, though its knives don’t feel quite as hefty and durable. It doesn’t contain as many pieces, either, but it is nearly half the price, making it an ideal option for those on a budget. The knives in the McCook Knife Set and Hunter.Dual Knife Set are noticeably lighter than the Cuisinart knives, sometimes leading to us having to use more force to cut through hard or dense foods. In particular, the Hunter.Dual knives felt flimsy compared to the Cuisinart set, so we had some concerns about their durability. 

Testing the Cuisinart 15-Piece Knife Set

The testing team evaluated the Cuisinart knife set on its performance, comfort, durability and more.

To see how well the Cuisinart 15-Piece Knife Set performed, we began by slicing tomatoes, onion and raw chicken breast, assessing how easily the knives moved through the foods. We also tested how well they chopped and diced potatoes, carrots and cucumbers and how effectively they could slice bread without squishing it. Additionally, we used the knife set to prepare our regular meals and snacks during the testing period, so we also sliced cooked chicken and steak, minced garlic and fresh herbs, cut a homemade pound cake, diced bell peppers and peeled apples and carrots. We also used the knives to chop for prolonged periods to see how comfortable they were even when cutting for 20 minutes or longer. We paid attention to how well the knives held their edge after five days of testing, too, by slicing tomatoes and onions again to see if there was any resistance or changes in the slices. 

After cutting with the knives, we hand-washed them with warm water and dish soap to see how easy they were to clean. We also used the included sharpening steel to sharpen the blades at the end of our testing period to determine how easy it was to use and how effective it was at maintaining the knives’ edges. 

Should you get the Cuisinart 15-Piece Knife Set?

The Cuisinart 15-Piece Knife Set won’t break the bank and offers a higher-quality feel than other similarly priced sets.

The Cuisinart 15-Piece Knife Set was one of our favorite sets among those we tested, standing out for its durable, full-tang design, comfortable grip, efficient cutting and excellent weight and stability in hand. It’s an excellent knife set for both new and experienced home cooks because it’s easy to use but offers a higher-quality feel than other sets. It costs around $100, but we think it’s an excellent value, considering its lifetime warranty and the overall quality of the knives. We recommend it for anyone looking to upgrade their knives, but it would also make a fantastic wedding, engagement or housewarming gift.