How We Research
Every guide on KittedWell starts with one question: will this product work for the person who is shopping for it? For our knife set guides, that means the cooking you do, the counter space you have and how many knives you will really use.
Here is how we answer it.
1. We start with your cooking and your counter
A 15-piece block is not better than a 9-piece block if you only reach for three knives. A big block also takes more counter room.
We check the piece count, which knives come in the set and the block size. When your kitchen limits the choice, we say what to measure.
2. We compare specs and features
We look at the knives in the set, the steel and how the maker says it was made, the handle design, the block style, any built-in sharpener and whether the maker says the knives are dishwasher safe.
We also note the warranty terms the maker lists. When a detail comes from the maker, we say so.
3. We look at buyer feedback
We read through what buyers report after using a set. We look for patterns, like blades that dull fast, rust spots, loose handles, blocks that wear the edge or sharpeners that don't help.
One angry review doesn't sink a product. A pattern does.
4. We score each product
Our score weighs specs, features and buyer feedback against what you're shopping for. A product that's great for one buyer may score lower in a guide written for another.
Scores spread out on purpose. A 10 is rare.
5. We keep pages up to date
Products change, and some disappear from stores. Henckels, Cuisinart and McCook each sell several sets with similar names, so we check each set name, piece count and model number before we write about it.
When we update a guide, the "Updated on" date at the top changes with it.
What our picks are not
Our picks are research, not cutting tests. We don't claim to have used every knife set we cover.
Our guides don't replace the maker's care steps. For washing, sharpening and storage, follow the maker's directions, and remember that knives are sharp.
We make no promises about sharpness or how long an edge lasts. When a maker names its steel, says where a set was made or calls it self-sharpening, we label it as the maker's claim.