Should steak knives be serrated?

"A sharp knife is the best knife for a steak," says James Beard nominee Laura McIntosh, the executive producer and host of Bringing it Home on PBS. "That being said, the serrated knife gives you a bit more ease when cutting into food with a thick outer crust because it acts like a saw. The serrations keep the knife sharper longer but also give a bit more grip when cutting through tough exteriors."

How do you sharpen steak knives?

"The best way to make sure your knives are at their best is to take them to a knife sharpening professional twice a year," McIntosh says. "There are many ways to sharpen your knives at home with little effort. For ease, an angled manual sharpener will do the trick and is easy to use. However, for a more robust experience to keep your knives in peak condition, invest in a whetstone and a steel or ceramic rod. There are two steps to sharpening your knives: grinding and honing. Grinding your knives removes any pieces of steel from the blade — the whetstone is perfect for this. Once your knife is clean of nicks and any steel, the second step is honing, which is basically fine-tuning your blade. Use the steel rod for this by gliding the knife's blade at an angle against the steel."

Can you put steak knives in the dishwasher?

According to McIntosh, you should never place your steak knives in the dishwasher. "I think the most important step is drying your knife," she says. "Even while using your knife during cooking prep, it's important to keep your knife dry. Drying especially after hand-washing removes excess water, thus preventing rust. It can also help remove missed debris not otherwise cleaned with soap and water."

Can you use steak knives for other things?

Yes! Steak knives can be used for more than just cutting through beef. Since they're designed to be sturdy enough to slice through tough meat, they can be used in myriad useful ways, from coring apples and slicing avocados to cubing cheese. With tofu and alternative meats more popular than ever, even vegetarians may find room in their kitchen for steak knives.

The Best Steak Knives of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

Just like a poor-quality chef’s knife can turn slicing and dicing into a slow, hazardous chore, or the wrong paring knife can make prepping your fruits and vegetables a pain, a dull steak knife can put a damper on dinner. The best steak knives slice through proteins effortlessly and are comfortable to hold and maneuver. Steak knives aren't limited to fancy steak dinners — they’re useful with all kinds of meats, from chicken to roasted pork loin.

We tested 23 steak knife sets, evaluating each one’s design, size, performance, value, and cleanability. From Material's sleek and modern table knives to budget-friendly sets from Messermeister and Zwilling, we found the best steak knives to upgrade your next dinner party.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

Laguiole en Aubrac 4-Piece Steak Knife Set at Williams-Sonoma ($480)

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Best Modern:

Material Table Knives at Materialkitchen.com ($90)

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Best Value:

Messermeister Steak Knife Set at Amazon ($60)

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Best Splurge:

Miyabi Artisan Steak Knife Set at Amazon ($590)

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Best Serrated:

Zwilling Henckels Knife Set at Amazon ($45)

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Best Overall

Laguiole en Aubrac 4-Piece Steak Knife Set

PHOTO:

Amazon

$480 at Williams-Sonoma View on Laguioleenaubracshop.com

Pros

A sharp blade, excellent comfort in the hand, and beautiful aesthetics make these knives winners.

Cons

The knives are expensive for how many you get, but remember you're paying for high-quality craftsmanship and performance.

As our best overall pick, these Laguiole knives prove that you don’t have to sacrifice form for function. Laguiole is a small village in southern France where these beautiful knives are made from start to finish, beginning with sculpting the curved handle and ending with securing the razor-sharp stainless steel blade. It’s important to note that there are counterfeit knives that use the name Laguiole but aren’t authentically produced. This one is a true Laguiole knife set.

During our tests, cutting through a thick piece of New York strip steak required minimal effort thanks to the sharp blade, and the knife's weight made it feel balanced and substantial without being too heavy to use easily. We found these knives very comfortable to hold, with a thinner handle that's easier to grip for all hand sizes. After use, you'll have to hand wash them, but there's no difficulty there.

The product's luxuriousness is emphasized by its packaging since the knives come in a cushioned wooden storage case with disposable plastic blade protectors. When looking at the high price, keep in mind that these are straight-edged blades and you can sharpen them over time. For knives that will last a lifetime, it's worth the investment.

Food and Wine / Katie McDonald
Food and Wine / Katie McDonald

Best Modern

Material Table Knives

PHOTO:

Material

$90 at materialkitchen.com View on Bespokepost.com

Pros

These knives check the boxes of attractiveness, ease of use, and high-quality construction.

Cons

The blades are so sharp that you should take extra care if you decide to hand wash them (which actually isn't even required).

Function marries style with these knives. From the light orange shade (persimmon) to the evergreen shade (deep), the pretty matte color options for the stain-resistant handles would suit any modern kitchen. Looking at size and performance, we feel these knives have a nice weight that feels sturdy yet easy to control. In our tests, we found these knives' extremely sharp blades delivered clean, straight lines.

Other things the busy, modern cook will appreciate about these knives are that they're dishwasher-safe and come with a wooden knife block that you can position vertically or horizontally for neat, versatile storage and convenient protection. Price-wise, the knives are in the middle of the pack of all the ones we tested, but their performance puts them in the top ranks, making them an excellent value.

Food & Wine / Nick Simpson
Food & Wine / Bridget Degnan
Food & Wine / Bridget Degnan

Best Value

Messermeister Steak Knife Set

Messermeister Avanta 5” Fine Edge 4-Piece Steak Knife Set

PHOTO:

Amazon

$60 at Amazon $60 at Walmart View on Shoppremiumoutlets.com

Pros

These high-quality knives work just as well as more expensive options and feel balanced in your hand.

Cons

We wish it came with a storage case or block.

This knife set performed so well that we couldn’t believe that it costs less than $100. During our tests, we found that the knives were the perfect size and weight to feel balanced, comfortable, and sturdy and they could cut smoothly through the thickest part of the steak. In addition to meat, we believe this knife set is suitable for everyday cutting tasks, which makes it even more worthy of our best value pick.

With a full-tang construction and a 5-inch blade, each knife in this set is extremely durable and built to handle any job. They feature an upward curved tip, ideal for those who like bone-in steaks because it allows you to get every last bit of meat. The only thing missing from this knife set is some sort of storage case. It’s not a dealbreaker, but you’ll need to buy one separately or place them in a safe spot.

Messermeister Avanta 5” Fine Edge 4-Piece Steak Knife Set on checkered napkin next to cutting board of sliced steak — Food & Wine / Nick Simpson

Best Splurge

Miyabi Artisan Steak Knife Set

PHOTO:

Courtesy of Amazon

$590 at Amazon $590 at Williams-Sonoma $590 at Sur La Table

Pros

These well-balanced knives have beautiful, comfortable handles and extra-sharp blades.

Cons

These knives don't come in the sophisticated packaging you might expect from their price (it's just a box with foam and bubble wrap), so you'll need to sort out something else for storage.

For kitchen products worth splurging on, knives are up there since they're used so frequently. No, this high-end knife set may not come cheap, but the high price comes with high performance and top design.

These steak knives have a sloped, katana edge that's incredibly sharp (be careful when hand-washing), so they passed both the paper and steak tests with flying colors. "I don't think I've ever used a knife that cut steak so easily," one editor said. "It took next to no effort to slice my strip steak, and the cuts were very clean."

The elegantly designed rosewood handles have a D-shaped curve that makes them fit snugly in your palm. Despite being much longer and wider than your average steak knives, we found them balanced in the hand. Looking at the blade, the hand-hammered finish prevents sticking."

Food & Wine / Taysha Murtaugh
Food & Wine / Taysha Murtaugh
Food & Wine / Taysha Murtaugh

Best Serrated

Zwilling Henckels Knife Set

Zwilling Henckels Stainless Steel Serrated Steak Knife Set

PHOTO:

Amazon

$45 at Amazon $45 at Wayfair $45 at Walmart

Pros

At an economical price, these dishwasher-safe knives offer precise cuts.

Cons

These knives don't look the fanciest or have the most design flair.

For how well these knives perform, their price feels like a real steal — especially considering that we found them suitable not just for meat but also for slicing produce for further, everyday use. Its serrated blade makes it particularly ideal for tomatoes.

The sharp edges and delicate shape feel like a precise surgical tool. The narrow, serrated blade cuts through a slab of steak with ease, even in the grisly bits. The knives are a pleasure to use, as our tests found that although they're light, they still feel sturdy.

The cherry on top is that you can throw these in the dishwasher, but even if you decide to hand-wash them, the serrated edge is still easy to clean. Since the handles are also made from stainless steel, a quick polish after drying will make them ready for your table setting.

Food & Wine / Allison Wignall
Food & Wine/Allison Wignall
Food & Wine / Allison Wignall

Our Favorite Steak Knives

The Laguiole En Aubrac Steak Knives topped our list of best steak knives due to their gorgeous, timeless design, excellent performance, and usability. We also recommend Material's Tables Knives because of their stunning, modern aesthetic and effortless cutting.

How We Tested Steak Knives

We tested 23 steak knife sets by putting them through a series of real-world tests. We evaluated each steak knife set based on performance, design, comfort, cleanup, and overall value.

Performance: We used the steak knives to cut a sheet of standard printer paper and a medium-rare New York strip steak. During both tests, we assessed whether the knife could slice cleanly or if it tore through, and how much effort was required for cutting.
Design: In addition to performance, we examined the steak knives’ overall design, aesthetic, and size, noting how functional and comfortable they were to hold.
Cleanup: We evaluated how easy the knives were to clean by hand, regardless if hand-washing was necessary.
Value: To round out their assessment, we also looked at whether the knives were fairly priced for the results they delivered.

Material Table Knives on displayed on a plate and cutting board with sliced steak — Food & Wine / Nick Simpson

What We Looked For

Blade Material

Steak knives are most commonly made with stainless steel blades so they stay sharp, are easy to clean, and are resistant to wear and tear. Some are still made with carbon steel, as are older sets, which can be slightly better for sharpness but require diligent maintenance since they can rust. We are just beginning to see ceramic steak knives, a great sharp material, they but can chip if stored improperly.

Edge

Steak knives generally have three edge styles: Straight, serrated, and dual. Dual-edge-style knives have straight edges at the center and bottom and serrated edges at the top third. The best edge can be a personal preference. Serrated blades require less frequent knife sharpening, but they are harder to sharpen once dulled and can be rough on more delicate proteins, giving a sawn look instead of a smooth cut. These are a good choice if you use steak knives for hearty steaks and chops.

Straight-edged blades will need sharpening more frequently, but they can be easily maintained at home with a honing steel and sharpening tool and will not need professional sharpening as serrated blades do. They are the most versatile since they work well on hearty cuts but handle delicate foods, like chicken or fish, without turning them into shreds.

Dual blades do not give the best of both worlds, since you will still have the sharpening issues of a serrated edge and no real benefit on the smooth edge.

Construction

As with all knives, steak knives are designed with a full-tang or partial-blade tang. Full-tang means that the blade's metal extends to the base of the handle, providing stability to the knife and preventing warping over time. This can also make them a bit heavier. Partial-tang blades are inset into the handle at the top, which makes them lighter, but you can also have issues with the blade coming loose from the handle over time. While full-tang blades are essential for work knives, such as chef's or bread knives, it is less important for a steak knife. So if the knives you like are not full-tang, it shouldn't be a deal-breaker.

Comfort

The most important feature of a steak knife beyond the blade function is comfort in the hand. A knife that doesn't sit well or is unwieldy can be dangerous to the user. While there is a trend of giant-handled steak knives, those hefty handles are often not ideal for ease of use and especially difficult for younger people or anyone with limited hand strength or mobility. Some knives have ergonomic handles, which can also be a smart choice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should steak knives be serrated?

"A sharp knife is the best knife for a steak," says James Beard nominee Laura McIntosh, the executive producer and host of Bringing it Home on PBS. "That being said, the serrated knife gives you a bit more ease when cutting into food with a thick outer crust because it acts like a saw. The serrations keep the knife sharper longer but also give a bit more grip when cutting through tough exteriors."
How do you sharpen steak knives?

"The best way to make sure your knives are at their best is to take them to a knife sharpening professional twice a year," McIntosh says. "There are many ways to sharpen your knives at home with little effort. For ease, an angled manual sharpener will do the trick and is easy to use. However, for a more robust experience to keep your knives in peak condition, invest in a whetstone and a steel or ceramic rod. There are two steps to sharpening your knives: grinding and honing. Grinding your knives removes any pieces of steel from the blade — the whetstone is perfect for this. Once your knife is clean of nicks and any steel, the second step is honing, which is basically fine-tuning your blade. Use the steel rod for this by gliding the knife's blade at an angle against the steel."
Can you put steak knives in the dishwasher?

According to McIntosh, you should never place your steak knives in the dishwasher. "I think the most important step is drying your knife," she says. "Even while using your knife during cooking prep, it's important to keep your knife dry. Drying especially after hand-washing removes excess water, thus preventing rust. It can also help remove missed debris not otherwise cleaned with soap and water."
Can you use steak knives for other things?

Yes! Steak knives can be used for more than just cutting through beef. Since they're designed to be sturdy enough to slice through tough meat, they can be used in myriad useful ways, from coring apples and slicing avocados to cubing cheese. With tofu and alternative meats more popular than ever, even vegetarians may find room in their kitchen for steak knives.

Other Steak Knives We Tested

Strong Contenders

Wüsthof 8-Piece Steak Knife Set with Wooden Gift Box

Although we loved the slightly serrated blades and contemporary stainless steel construction, we were not wowed by the sharpness of these steak knives. The 8-piece set comes in a beautiful wooden gift box, so though they didn't make our final list of the best steak knives, we think they would make a nice gift for grillers.

Viking German Stainless Steel Steak Knife Set

We liked the wood handle and stainless steel construction of these serrated steak knives, but unfortunately, the blades weren't sharp enough to cleanly and consistently slice through paper without snagging. The wood construction of the handle also made hand washing a bit time-consuming, and these knives must be dried immediately after washing to avoid stains.

Shun Classic Steak Knives

Initially, we loved these steak knives and they got immediate points for their beautiful aesthetic. These steak knives cut through paper cleanly without dragging, and we found them to be easy to clean by hand. Due to the high price point, however, we wouldn't recommend them over other top-performing steak knife sets. They didn't wow us enough.

What Didn't Make the List

In our tests of 23 steak knife sets, a few options were not up to snuff. Though we liked the Victorinox Swiss Army Classic Set, the Henckels Steak Knife Set, the Global Classic Steak Knives, and Misen Steak Knives, we found enough flaws in design, performance, or comfort that prevented their inclusion in our list of favorites. Some other options were not sharp enough, the blade dragged, or the knives felt too heavy in our hands.

Our Expertise

Cindy Brzostowski is a freelance writer and avid home cook who has previous experience in cookbook publishing. Her writing has been featured in Allrecipes, Blue Apron, The Kitchn, and EatingWell among other publications. For this piece, Food & Wine editors tested 23 different steak knife models in their home kitchens to find the best ones.
This piece was also updated by Stacey Ballis, a freelance writer, recipe developer, and product reviewer. Stacey has been published in Food & Wine, Eating Well, Allrecipes, MyRecipes, Delish, and more.