Whether you are a professional chef or a hands-on mom who loves cooking for your kids, you need to have one of the best ceramic knives in your kitchen in preparing great meals. Compared to their steel counterparts, ceramic knives are harder, sharper and have longer edge retention. Here are some of the things that you need to know about ceramic knives.
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- Best overall Ceramic knife set: Kikusumi 3-piece Knife Set
- Best budget Ceramic knife set: Imori 3-piece Ceramic Knife Set
Qualities of Good Ceramic Knives
Durability. These knives are made of high-quality material, i.e. zirconium oxide which make the blades twice as hard than steel knives, almost as hard as diamonds.
Edge retention. Ceramic knives stay sharp longer than steel knives. The blades stay sharp 10 to 15 times longer than steel knives. However, when it comes to sharpening, ceramic knives need specialized sharpening services. Manufacturers usually offer this kind of service.
Balance. Ceramic knives are lighter than steel knives. This makes these knives more comfortable and convenient to use.
Care and maintenance. Ceramic knives are easier to clean and do not absorb odors. With this type of knife, foods stay fresh. Cleaning up will not be a chore as well.
We have listed 7 best ceramic knives of 2019 that are highly recommended by users and professionals alike. To help you make a good choice, we’re encouraging you to browse through these top picks.
The 7 Best Ceramic Knives For The Money
Kyocera Advanced Ceramic Knife
This 3-piece series is one of the best selling ceramic knives and is good for beginners because it has the 3 most basic types of knives as set pieces.
Durability: The Kyocera Advanced Ceramic Revolution Series features ultra-sharp ceramic knives with white spotless blades. Use them for all your cooking needs such as dicing, mincing, and chopping. Each ceramic blade has been grounded to microscopic precision with the use of ground wheels and is equipped with a rock-like edge that retains its excellent sharpness even after continued use.
Edge Retention: The best thing about these knives is that they are non-reactive to acids, oils, salts, juices and other elements and will not rust. If you need to sharpen them, you can use the Kyocera electric sharpener or if you don’t want the hassle of sharpening it yourself, you can mail it to Kyocera and they will do the sharpening for free.
Balance: Each knife is easy to use since each is lightweight and is easy to hold in your hand. The ergonomic handles provide maximum comfort so you do not have to worry about your hand getting tired even with repetitive and continuous cutting.
Set Items:
- 3″ Paring Knife
- 5″ Serrated Tomato Knife
- 6″ Chef’s Knife
PROS
CONS
Overall:
This 3-piece set from Kyocera is a good starter set especially for slicing and cutting ingredients.
Ozeri OZK1 Elite Chef Ceramic Knife Set
With a reflective black veneer finish, these knives will surely fit in anyone’s kitchen.
Durability: The Elite Chef Ceramic Knives are made of 100% ceramic and are non-corrosive, rust-proof, and non-reactive to acids, oils or moisture. Slicing fruits, vegetables and boneless meats is made easy with this ultra sharp knife set.
Edge Retention: This knife set was named Elite Chef Black Ceramic Knife Set for a number of reasons. One, the blades are made of the purest ceramic which makes these almost as hard as diamonds, thus, ultra-durable and stays razor-sharp 10 times longer than regular steel blades. Two, each blade weighs half as much as its equivalent metal knife so you exert less effort even through repetitive cutting.
Balance: The ergonomic handles make mincing, dicing and chopping easier so your food will remain as fresh-looking as when you started preparing them.
Set Items:
- 3″ Paring Knife
- 5″ Utility Knife
- 6″ Chef’s Knife
PROS
CONS
Overall:
This is one of the best knife sets for professionals and beginners as well. The set is great to be given as a gift.
AUYE Ceramic Knives Set
If you are the type who wants your food to retain their freshness and aroma, then this knife set is an awesome choice.
Durability: The ceramic blades do not absorb odors and are not permeable to fluids such as oils, juices, salts and acids that come from fruits, vegetables, and other foods. Also, the blades are rust-resistant and easy to clean. As a plus feature, the knives have their own black acrylic knife stand that helps keep them dry, safe and out of reach, especially for kids.
Edge Retention: The set features razor sharp blades made of the highest quality material, zirconium oxide. Its sharpness lets you glide through your slicing and dicing with ease. The great thing is, the blades retain their original sharpness up to 15 times longer than your regular steel blades. No need for regular sharpening.
Balance: This ceramic knife set is lightweight, having only half the weight of traditional stainless steel knives. Due to this, your hands, wrists, and arms will not get as tired and as fatigued compared to when you use other knives. Each set piece has an ergonomic and slip-resistant handle which makes your hand feel comfortable even with longtime use. With these features, this stylish knife set is the best gift for your loved ones. It even comes with a nice gift box.
Set items:
- 3″ Paring Knife
- 4″ Fruit Knife
- 5″ Utility Knife
- 6″ Chef Knife
- Ceramic Peeler
PROS
CONS
Overall:
One good thing about this knife set is that it comes with a knife block which allows you to display them without taking too much space. This ceramic knife set can be anyone’s best friend when it comes to functionality and comfort over repeated use.
Cook N Home 9-Piece Ceramic Knife Set
If you like a set that’s hygienic and low maintenance then this set is good for you.
Durability: Knives are made from 100% ceramic and have no metallic taste or component. They are harder and stronger than steel.
Edge Retention: Knives are extremely sharp and rarely need re-sharpening even after prolonged use. Blades are easy to clean and maintain. They are dishwasher safe and are non-reactive to any type of food substance. You would be able to use them without any difficulty.
Balance: Ergonomic handles ensure comfort and non-slip grip for safety. They even have matching blade sheaths which is handy if you don’t have a knife block for storage or if you’re afraid to put them in the drawer without protection.
Set items:
- 6" Santoku Knife
- 5" Utility Knife
- 4” Fruit Knife
- 3” Paring Knife
- Matching sheaths
- Peeler
PROS
CONS
Overall:
The design of the knives adds more style to your kitchen aside from providing excellent slicing and dicing functions especially when you’re preparing ingredients. This is great for both amateur cooks and home-cooks.
Cooks Concept Ceramic Santoku Chef’s and Paring Knife Set
If you’re looking for a starter set that would help you get a good feel on how ceramic knives work, then this set is good for you.
Durability: They are harder than the regular steel knives so they stay durable even after long use and all of the three knives are non-reactive and contains no metal so the food you prepare retains their natural taste.
Edge Retention: This ceramic knife set provides you with simple, no-frills kitchen tools. The blades are sharp and do not require regular sharpening. The knives also come with their own sheaths so you do not have to worry about storage and safety.
Balance: Lightweight with an ergonomic handle, the knives are designed for your comfort. Although they are not dishwasher safe, they are easy to clean and very hygienic. They are multi-functional. You can use them to cut meats, fruits, and vegetables.
Set items:
- 5” santoku chef’s knife
- 4” paring knife
- 3” paring knife
- Sheaths
PROS
CONS
Overall:
The best thing about the knives in this set is that they would allow you to keep working in the kitchen and be able to enjoy preparing and cooking food because of their durability and sharpness.
IMORI Ceramic Knife Set
Quality and convenience - these attributes best describe this knife set.
Durability: The Best Chef Rated Ceramic Knife Set by Imori Advanced Ceramics are made with high-grade zirconia, thus, ultra-sharp and will stay sharp up to 10 times longer than other knives. Compared to traditional steel knives, this knife set performs better.
Edge Retention: The blades are rust-proof, stain-proof, odor-proof and taste-proof so your food retains its natural clean and fresh flavors. It already comes with a protective gift box equipped with a magnetic closure.
Balance: One of the best features of these knives is their rounded SafeEdge back which ensures your safety as you work. The accompanying sheaths are also custom fitted for safe storage. The non-slip handles are ergonomic which makes you enjoy the meal preparation because of less fatigue. The knives cut with precision and are lightweight for convenient use.
Set items:
- 6" chef's knife
- 5" slicing knife
- 4" paring knife * all with safe edge back
- Safety sheaths
- Gift box
PROS
CONS
Overall:
What makes this set unique from the others would be the grade of zirconia used. They are really durable and sharp and can be used outside the kitchen in cutting different types of materials.
Kikusumi 3 Piece Chef Knife Set
This Kikusumi 3-Piece Chef Knife Set is a perfect gift idea. Each blade has the beautiful red Kikusumi logo etched using high-tech laser cutting. The entire set is wrapped in a luxurious magnetic knife gift box that makes it more memorable when given as a gift but apart from that, it’s also wonderful to use for yourself.
Durability: What sets this stylish Matte Black Ceramic knife set apart from other regular steel knife set is its material. The blades are made of a special ultra-premium quality zirconium oxide. This material makes the blades 50% harder than regular steel knives.
Edge Retention: The blades are ultra-sharp and remain so after continued use. In fact, each blade is fired at temperatures above 2700℉, that is why it stays as sharp 10 times longer than other blades. The knife set even comes with their own protective knife sheaths that are custom fit for safety. As a plus feature, you will also get a Cooking App for IOS / Android that makes the knives an ideal partner for daily use.
Balance: The knife handles have an ergonomic design suited for either left or right-hand slicing. The design is based on traditional Japanese knife design with flowing contours that are perfect for the curves of the hand. In addition, the handles have a soft tactile grip which prevents it from slipping from your hand even when wet. These also have a smart pressure point location for easier knife cutting motions.
Set items:
- 7” Gyuto Chef Knife
- 5” Santoku (Japanese knife)
- 3” paring knife
- 3 custom fit protective knife sheaths
- Cooking App for IOS / Android
- Luxury Knife Gift Box
PROS
CONS
Overall:
If you are a knife enthusiast then this would be a good set to keep as part of your artillery of knives. They have a good feel and have a sleek black design.
Comparison of The Best Ceramic Knives
Ceramic Knives | Blade/Handle Color | Set Inclusions | Unique Features | Current Price | Our Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White/Black | 6” Chef’s Knife 5” Serrated Tomato Knife 3” Paring Knife | Made from Kyocera's proprietary zirconia material with exceptional quality | ||
| Black/Black | 3 knives (black) | Made from Australian sourced zircon sand for the purest ceramic | ||
| Red/Black | 3" Paring Knife
4" Fruit Knife
5" Utility Knife
6" Chef Knife
Ceramic Peeler | Made with top quality craftsmanship to retain its original blade sharpness 15 times longer than steel blades | ||
| White/Multicolor | 6" Santoku Knife
5" Utility Knife 4” Fruit Knife 3” Paring Knife Matching sheaths Peeler | Very sharp, lightweight and rust-free, made from 100% ceramic | ||
| White/Black | 5” santoku chef’s knife 4” paring knife
3” paring knife Sheaths | Non-reactive, keeps food’s original taste 100% Ceramic | ||
| White/Orange | 6" chef's knife 5" slicing knife 4" paring knife * all with safe edge back Safety sheaths Gift box | Made with high-grade zirconia which is 2nd in hardness to diamond so blades will stay ultrasharp 10x longer than steel | ||
| Black/Black | 7” Gyuto Chef Knife 5” Santoku (Japanese knife) 3” paring knife 3 custom fit protective knife sheaths Luxury Knife Gift Box Cooking App for IOS / Android | The black Ceramic blades are super strong and lightweight |
Guide to Ceramic Knives
Before you click that order button for any of the above ceramic knives, read the following do’s and don’ts to ensure that your new ceramic knife will last longer.
Do’s and Don’ts
Do wash by hand. While some manufacturers say that their ceramic knife is dishwasher safe, it is still best to hand wash them. First, the hot water may cause the edge of the knife to become dull. Second, if the knife gets hit by a dish or cutlery, it might get chipped. Since ceramic blades are easy to clean as early said, this will not pose a problem.
Do look out for sharpening services. Yes, a ceramic knife stays sharper longer than steel knife but eventually, they would not some re-sharpening. So it is best to look out for products that can be returned to the manufacturer for sharpening. Otherwise, search for shops that provide professional sharpening services. This way you can enjoy your ceramic knife longer.
Don’t cut hard or frozen food. Since the blade of the knife is sharpened so thinly, cutting hard or frozen food might cause it chip. So be wary of this.
Don’t drop from a very high distance (if possible). Take care of your ceramic knife. Always put it back to its block or stand when not in use. Dropping may not cause the knife to shatter but the tip may chip.
Ceramic knives vs Steel knives
Many people still wonder which is better: ceramic knives or steel knives. The answer is pretty simple. Ceramic knives are hard and retain sharpness longer than steel but may chip and break under cold temperatures and if dropped from a high distance. In other words, having both types would be most beneficial. You can have ceramic knives and use them only for cutting, mincing, dicing and so forth. Then you can use steel knives such as carving knives for heavy cutting especially for meat and bones, cartilage and other types of ingredients that are hard to slice and involves a lot of pressure and weight (winter squash, pumpkin, zucchini, etc.).
Ceramic Knives | Stainless Steel Knives | ||
|---|---|---|---|
PROS | CONS | PROS | CONS |
Doesn’t need to be sharpened often and could take months or years | Prone to chipping and breaking when dropped over hard surfaces | Good for heavy cutting tasks | Prone to rust and corrosion |
Does not rust or corrode over time | Not good for heavy cutting tasks like bones and cartilage | Some stainless steel grades can retain their sharpness for a longer period compared to other grades | Needs to be sharpened and maintained regularly |
Very sharp and very handy for cutting, slicing and dicing | Not good to use for prying, boning or cutting frozen food | Does not chip or break easily | Needs to be kept dry |
Lightweight | Cell | Cell | Cell |
Dishwasher safe | Cell | Cell | Cell |
The Benefits of Using a Ceramic Knife?
Ceramic knives have been immensely popular nowadays, they are used by every chef or home cook, they are versatile and can fit in any kitchen. Here are some of the main benefits ceramic knives can offer:
- High acids, rust and stain-resistant
- Lightweight that can be used by everyone
- Very sharp that can offer precise cut
- Requires less maintenance
- Their cutting edges remain sharp for a long time without the need for any sharpening services.
- They are non-corrosive, which means they will not oxidize
Frequent Questions I Get Asked About Ceramic Knives
Why you should start using ceramic knives?
Ceramic knives are well known for their sharpness and resistance. They offer many advantages that make them usable in every kitchen. So, why should you use a ceramic knife? I have been asked that question a lot recently and I’ve decided to share with you the main reasons why I think you should get your own ceramic knife.
Durability
As I have already mentioned, ceramic knives are harder, durable and offer high resistance than any metal knife. Ceramic knives are manufactured in a way to retain their cutting edges thus, they can remain sharp for a longer time than metal knives while maintaining their qualities as if they’re brand new. However, they require specialized sharpening for the long run.
Low Maintenance
Due to the high resistance ceramic knives offers, they can maintain their performance and sharpness for a long time especially with proper care. Ceramic knives are able to remain 10x as sharp and retain their sharpness over prolonged use. Which means you don’t have to sharpen your ceramic knives often to enjoy their qualities.
Affordable
Most of the ceramic knives in the market are affordable and not as expensive as stainless steel knives or other knife sets.
Food freshness
ceramic knives are very sharp and offer a perfect precision that would cut soft ingredients easily or slice perfectly any vegetables like a high-quality nakiri knife.
What is the best way to sharpen a ceramic knife?
The best way to sharpen a ceramic knife is by having it done by a professional, however, if you’ve got no money to spare for professional services other ways of sharpening are as follows:
- Using a diamond file
- Using an electric knife sharpener
How to sharpen a ceramic knife?
If you’re doing the sharpening on your own using a diamond file, here are a few simple steps on how to sharpen a ceramic knife.
- First, you’ll need to check the sharpness of the knife by cutting some thick cardboard for testing so you would know how much sharpening is needed.
- Lay the knife’s blade down on a rest or sturdy elevated position like how you would position it on a whetstone.
- Carefully sharpen the edges of the knife using the diamond file and make sure they’re as even as possible on each side of the blade.
- Test the sharpness by trying to cut the same cardboard until you reach the desired sharpness.
Here is a complete guide that will walk you through the details step by step on how to sharpen any ceramic knife
These steps are pretty basic. You may also ask help from a professional so you can do it yourself or you can use an electric knife sharpener which is easy but a bit on the pricey side.
Do ceramic knives break?
The simplest answer, yes. Ceramic knives break and chip if you don’t take care of them. Ceramic knives don’t need a lot of sharpening but because of their hard surface, they break if you drop them from a high distance or if you try to use them to cut bones or cartilage. The best way to avoid this is to just use them for pure slicing, dicing and mincing tasks.
What are the benefits of using a ceramic knife?
Here’s a list of benefits when you use a ceramic knife:
- Food Freshness. Ceramic knives are very sharp and would cut soft ingredients easily.
- Low maintenance. You don’t have to sharpen them very often.
- Affordable. A lot of ceramic knives in the market are affordable and not as expensive and the best thing is they remain 10x as sharp and retain their sharpness over prolonged use.
The Final Takeaway
There is no way that you can prepare the perfect meal without a perfect knife partner. Getting the best ceramic knife would make cooking easier and more enjoyable. I recommend the Kikusumi 3-piece Knife Set since this knife set stands out for its best features namely, the knife blades stay ultrasharp 10 times longer than steel knives; blades offer the right balance between strength and thinness which makes cutting easier than usual; lightweight with ergonomic handles and; most importantly, rustproof, stain proof, odor proof and taste proof.