Article By: Suraiya Fardous
- April 17, 2023 , Last updated on : November 25, 2023
Be it for leisure or competition. The best BBQ knife set will enhance your grilling experience and give you a competitive advantage. As a result, a quality grilling knife set is a must-have for any barbecue enthusiast. Besides grilling, the versatility of these knife sets will allow you to use them for various purposes in the kitchen as well.
Buying guide for the best BBQ knife set
There are a lot of knife sets on the market. However, not all of them will be ideal for a barbecue. There are a few types of knives that you need to have in the set to make it perfect for grilling. Here is a buying guide, which you can follow to select the best BBQ knife set for yourselves.
Knife types
First and foremost, the barbecue knife set that you have in mind must contain a chef’s knife, a boning knife, a paring knife, a carving knife, and a butcher’s knife. However, if you do not usually deal with large, heavy-duty meats, you can choose a set without the butcher’s knife.
Material
The material that the knives in the BBQ set are made of will determine two important things. First, it will determine their durability. Second, it will determine their sharpness. If you want durability, you can go for stainless steel sets. Alternatively, you can go for high-carbon steel sets, but you will need to maintain them accordingly.
Accessories
Last but not least, there are various accessories that will make your life easier when you are BBQing. For example, knife sharpeners, blocks, cases, shears, etc., will ensure that you can use and store your knives optimally and ensure their longevity.
Best BBQ knife set | Top 10 Picks
The best BBQ knife set can be hard to choose since there are so many good sets on the market. However, the best knives for BBQing are still a necessity for anyone who is serious about grilling. Here are some of the most popular BBQ knife sets on the market, which are ranked based on personal experience and user reviews.
List of the best BBQ knife sets
DALSTRONG Knife Set
Mercer Culinary M21820
Cangshan BBQ Knife Set
Victorinox BBQ Set
Shun Cutlery Kanso BBQ Knife Set
Ross Henery Professional Kitchen Knife Set
HENCKELS Knife Set
OOU Knife Block Set
HD HUNTER.DUAL Knife Set
Numola Chef Knife Set
DALSTRONG Knife Set
Material: Forged High-Carbon German Steel
Set: 18 pieces
If you are looking for the best overall knife set, the DALSTRONG Knife Set is the one to get. It consists of 18 pieces, including 17 knives and a sharpener. Additionally, the whole set comes in a wooden block, which is very aesthetic. As a result, you can use the block to store the knives in your kitchen.
The DALSTRONG BBQ knives included in the set have full tang builds, which means the metal goes all the way to the tip of the handle. A full tang build makes the knife more durable since the blade cannot easily snap from the handle. However, since metal handles can be uncomfortable, the handles on the knives are covered with a beautiful ABS Polymer.
Pros:
Full tang build
Stain-resistant knives
Versatile options
Aesthetic wood block
Cons:
Very expensive
While the DALSTRONG Knife Set is definitely one of the best BBQ knife sets out there, it is also among the most expensive ones. However, if you can meet its price tag, you will definitely have the best grilling knife set in the neighborhood.
The Mercer Culinary M21820 stands out from the rest of the sets available on the market because of the number of options they provide. As a result, you can find what you are looking for within your specific budget. Additionally, all the knives in the set are NSF certified.
The knives in the Mercer Culinary M21820 have ergonomic handles that are slip-resistant. As a result, you can skilfully carve your grilled meat without messing up. Other than that, the Japanese steel used to make the knives are very easy to sharpen and maintain.
Pros:
Slip-resistant handles
Easy maintenance
Various options available
NSF certified
Cons:
Case strap can snap
While the Mercer Culinary M21820 comes in a handy roll case, the strap on it is not very durable and snaps easily. As a result, you cannot depend on the case for storing the knives. If you do not have a problem storing the knives elsewhere, then its features make it one of the best BBQ knife sets.
If you want to look good at your next barbecue, the Cangshan BBQ Knife Set is the one for you. All the knives and the carving fork in the set have aesthetic white handles that look good in everyone’s hands.
Besides looks, the knives in the Cangshan BBQ Knife Set has exceptional edge retention, which makes them perfect for people who hate sharpening their knives regularly. Lastly, the set comes in a case, which includes sheaths for all the sizes in the set.
Pros:
Exceptional edge retention
Long lasting durability
Aesthetic handles
Case and sheaths provided
Cons:
Handles get dirty easily
A common problem with white handles on knives is that they pick up stains very easily. Additionally, if you leave the knives with stains overnight without cleaning them, it can get very difficult to get them off afterward. However, if you do not have a problem cleaning them, the Cangshan BBQ Knife Set’s long-lasting durability makes it one of the best investments you can make.
The Victorinox BBQ Knife Set stands out from the crowd because of its beautiful Rosewood handle. However, if you do not want to spend extra on looks, they have options for plastic handles as well. Other than that, the knives in the Victorinox BBQ Set have blades with long-lasting sharpness. Lastly, the set comes with a canvas roll with sturdy straps for storing and carrying the knives.
Pros:
Beautiful Rosewood handles
Long-lasting sharpness
Canvas roll with sturdy straps
Cons:
Pairing knife too small
The only issue we had with the Victorinox BBQ Set was that the pairing knife’s handle was too small for a regular adult’s hand. While pairing knives have small blades, it is not necessary for them to have smaller handles as well. Other than that, the beautiful handles, combined with their long-lasting sharpness, make it the best BBQ knife set.
The Shun Cutlery Kanso BBQ Knife Set consists of three brilliant knives, which are made from high-carbon stainless steel that is refined with Vanadium. Additionally, it has a full tang build, so the outstanding metal strengthens the handle as well. Lastly, the metal on the handle is covered by real Tagayasan “iron sword” wood, which makes each of the knives feel like a katana. It comes with a bag for carrying all of the knives at once.
Pros:
Full tang construction
Real Tagayasan “iron sword” wood handle
Oustanding Vanadium refined steel
Cons:
Extremely pricy
The Shun Cutlery Kanso BBQ Knife Set can be classified as a luxury because of its price tag. However, not only does it have exquisite looks, but it also performs well thanks to the alloy steel. So, if you can afford it, it is the best BBQ knife set that you can get on the market.
The Ross Henery Professional Kitchen Knife Set contains eight knives, one sharpener, and one case. All the knives have a full tang build with stainless steel, which makes both the handles and the blades rust and corrosion-resistant. Other than that, the knives also let you skilfully carve your grilled meat so that you can serve even portions to your guests. Lastly, the knives are aesthetic, so you can use them in front of your guests.
Pros:
Rust and corrosion-resistant blades
Durable handles
Promotes excellent precision
Cons:
Uncomfortable metal handles
While the full tang build of the knives in the Ross Henery Professional Kitchen Knife Set makes them durable, the metal handles are not covered with other materials like its competitors. This makes the handles uncomfortable to hold. Other than that, their durability and precision make them the best knives in a BBQ set.
If you want a pair of scissors in the package, the HENCKELS Knife Set is perfect for you. Besides the scissors, it has 13 knives and a sharpener in the set. In addition to these, they also provide a block for storing the knives easily. Lastly, all the knives and accessories provided in the set are dishwasher safe, which makes cleaning up after the barbecue super easy. All of the knives in the set combined give you a lot of freedom.
Pros:
Dishwasher safe knives
Wooden block provided
Lightweight knives
Cons:
Knives could be more durable
They had to sacrifice the durability of the knives in the HENCKELS Knife Set to make them more portable and lightweight. While they are rust and corrosion-resistant thanks to the stainless steel build, you can still snap the tips because of the lightweight build. Other than that, it is the best BBQ knife set for you if you want lighter knives.
The knives in the OOU Knife Block Set have a black oxidized layer that not only gives them a unique look but also makes them completely rust-resistant. Besides that, the knives also have ergonomic handles that make them very easy and comfortable to use. Lastly, the high-carbon stainless steel blades allow the knives to cut through cooked meat like butter.
Pros:
Unique design
Ergonomic handles
Cuts grilled meat like butter
Cons:
Block could be more durable
While the OOU Knife Block Set includes a storage block for the knives, it is not very durable. However, if you do not plan to move the set around the house too much, this will not be an issue. Other than that, its oxidized black blades make it one of the most aesthetic BBQ knife sets you can buy.
The HD HUNTER.DUAL Knife Set is one of the most affordable BBQ knife sets on the market. They also have the aesthetic black oxidized blade that makes them stain and rust-resistant. Other than that, the set comes with a block that has a built-in knife sharpener. Lastly, all the knives in the set are dishwasher-safe. It provides one of the highest numbers of knives a set can offer on the market.
Pros:
Stain and rust-resistant
Dishwasher safe
Very affordable
Built-in sharpener in block
Cons:
Could be more durable
While the HD HUNTER.DUAL Knife Set’s price tag makes it a very lucrative deal. It is not the most durable set out there. However, it can last a long time since they are stain and rust-resistant if you can do it carefully. Other than that, its versatility makes it one of the best BBQ knife sets.
If you like your vegetables on the grill with your meat, the Numola Chef Knife Set will be perfect for you. It includes a peeler in the set that you can use for prepping the vegetables. Other than that, the knives have polished blades that prevent food from sticking to their sides. Lastly, the ergonomic design allows you to use the knives for a long time without tiring.
Pros:
Has a peeler
Prevents food from sticking
Ergonomic design
Cons:
Plastic handle
While the knives in the Numola Chef Knife Set have handles with a wooden design, they are actually plastic with a wooden print, which can mislead some people. Other than that, it is an outstanding BBQ knife set that is affordable as well.
The best BBQ knife set will depend on what you need. For example, if you want the best competition BBQ knife set, go for the DALSTRONG Knife Set, which will enable you to tackle all barbecue obstacles. Alternatively, if you want an aesthetic set, you can go for the OOU Knife Block Set or the Cangshan BBQ Knife Set. If you liked our top picks, check out our list of the best oyster knives and best knives for slicing briskets.
