Buying guide for Best ceramic knives
Chopping up onions or vegetables for your next round of meal prep? Without a sharp knife, you won’t get very far. A quality knife allows cooks to slice through foods easily, without resistance. Investing in a good set of knives will lead to a much easier food prep experience. Why not consider adding a ceramic knife or knife set to your arsenal of kitchen tools?
A ceramic knife is a long-lasting practical kitchen tool for cooks of all levels. Ceramic knives are incredibly durable and feature sharp precision blades for a relatively low price tag compared to other types of knives. Ceramic blades aren’t as delicate as ceramic dishware but should still be handled with care. These tough knives are prone to chipping if used to chop hard food items, but they’re ideal for cutting bread, soft cheeses, and certain meats. A low-maintenance ceramic knife is also perfect for the time-pressed home chef since it requires little upkeep.
Benefits of ceramic knives
Why choose a knife with a ceramic blade over one made of steel? Here are a few pros involved in owning a ceramic knife.
- Rust-free. Remains rust-free and won’t be corroded by acidic substances
- Lightweight. Easy to handle
- Easy to clean. Dishwasher safe and wipes down easily if washed by hand
- Long-lasting blade. Won’t require frequent sharpening like other blade types
- Very sharp blade. Allows for thin slicing and precision cutting
- No aftertaste. Won't transfer metallic aftertaste to your food
Yes, there are cons, too. So, why not have a kitchen outfitted with solely ceramic knives? Ceramic doesn’t do well against hard surfaces like bone and may chip if mishandled and dropped. If you want to cut bone-in meat, you’ll need a knife with a steel blade.
Expert Tip
Don’t leave any knife in a tub of soapy water. A helpful friend might come over and start washing, fish around in the water, and slice their hand or finger.
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Key considerations
Set or single knife
Here are some ways to help you determine if you only need one ceramic knife or a set.
You might only need a single knife if:
You will only use it for one or two purposes/on similar foods.
You don’t need a knife block or other place to store your knives.
You already have a comprehensive set of knives.
You aren’t sure how you will like ceramic (vs. steel knives).
You might need a set if:
You will use them all for a variety of foods with different textures and sizes.
You need a knife block to store them in.
You’re gifting knives to someone just starting their own home kitchen.
Types of ceramic knives
You’ll find any number of knife types available in ceramic form. The kind of knife you buy depends on your needs in the kitchen. Looking for a knife to cut up bread? Shop for a serrated bread knife. Need it to finely dice vegetables, herbs, and spices? You’ll need a knife that’s sharp and precise. Here are the essential knives any home cook should have at their disposal:
- Bread knife: The serrated blade of this type of knife makes it easy to slice through freshly baked loaves without tearing the bread.
- Paring knife: Use this sharp, precision blade for cutting and peeling vegetables.
- Utility knife: A must-have for any kitchen, this versatile tool is useful for all types of meal prepping tasks, including dicing up vegetables.
- Chef’s knife: The multi-tasking knife that measures around 8-inches is most often used to dice, chop, and mince foods.
- Fillet knife: Razor sharp and perfect for preparing and slicing up fillets of fish.
- Cheese knife: The holes in this type of knife allow it to slice right through hard cheeses sans gooey remnants sticking to the blade.
Expert Tip
When handwashing any blade, always flip the knife so the blade is facing away from the scrubbing hand.
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Features
Here are some of the features you may find in a ceramic knife or set of knives.
Ergonomic handle
A comfortable handle is essential, especially for cooks who will spend a lot of time chopping, slicing, and dicing. A handle should also be grippy to prevent slippage that may cause kitchen accidents.
Protective sheath or housing
Ceramic knife blades are sharp but delicate. Proper housing prevents damage and chipping. To be sure that your knives stay intact for a long time, choose a knife or knife set with some type of housing (e.g., knife block or sheath).
Color coding
If you are storing your knives in a drawer, block, or case, it can be tough to spot the one you need at a quick glance. Knives that are color-coded make it easier to find the knife you need quickly. Some knives even feature etched-in labels that help you identify the right blade for the task at hand (e.g., cheese knife, pizza knife, etc.).
Style
Style only matters if you’ll be leaving your knives on display. If you house your ceramic set on your counter, choose a knife block that fits with your kitchen decor. Prefer to store your knives on a magnetic strip? Pick knives that fit your aesthetic.
Expert Tip
Ceramic blades are brittle, so don’t use them to try to cut anything frozen or to get through something equally hard like bone.
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Ceramic knife prices
Purchasing a ceramic knife set will typically set you back more than buying a single knife, but building a set of knives by buying each one individually will be more expensive in the long run.
You can find inexpensive ceramic knives, even sets, for under $25. Costlier sets will likely include higher-grade ceramic and better-designed handles. High-quality ceramic knives will cost at least $50 and usually contain at least three knives. We recommend spending in the mid- to high-priced range if you plan to use the knives often and want them to last a while.
Storage and care tips
- Always store your ceramic knives inside a casing like a sheath or a block to prevent the blade from hitting other objects.
- Use drawer separators to keep your ceramic knives organized.
- While ceramic knives may not rust in the dishwasher, washing by hand is recommended to prevent chipping or breakage during a vigorous wash cycle.
- Once a ceramic knife blade has chipped, it’s time to throw it away. Ceramic knife blades aren’t typically replaceable.
FAQ
Q. How do I sharpen a ceramic knife?
A. Because ceramic is a very hard material, you’ll need a diamond sharpener. You could try to very carefully use a regular sharpener designed for sharpening steel knives, but you’ll likely end up with a chipped blade. The good news is that ceramic blades tend to stay sharp for a long time if used properly, so maintaining a sharp edge isn’t an issue and requires little maintenance. If your blade is getting dull, you can send it off to a professional for sharpening. Otherwise, we recommend a specialty sharpener.
Q. My knife says it’s dishwasher safe. Where should I put it in the dishwasher to prevent cracking or chipping?
A. Use the top rack of the dishwasher, lay it flat, and keep other dishes away from your knife to prevent accidental chipping.
Q. Is it worth investing in a full ceramic knife set?
A. This depends entirely on what types of knives you already have on hand. Buying single knives will be more expensive in the long run, but if you already have a filled knife block and merely want a durable new slicing utensil, buying an individual knife is the way to go. If you’re outfitting your newly moved-into kitchen, a full set will be more economical. Note that you’ll need to buy non-ceramic knives for other tasks, like cutting bone-in meats.
