If you want to add a new level of sophistication and function to your kitchen but have a set budget in mind take a look at the best budget kitchen knives online. In each budget category we have selected the best of the best so that you know you are getting the best value you can for the price you can afford.

To get started, in our $50 price range we have our R.H. Forschner 3-Piece Fibrox Chef’s Knife Set from Victorinox. This is a great starter set for people who want a good knife set but don’t have a lot of money to spend. In this set you get the three essentials – A chef’s knife, a slicer and a paring knife. The knives are top-quality, after all this is the company who produces the world famous SWISS ARMY brand of products. Even professional chefs who can afford $1000-a-piece knives rave about the ruggedness, and super sharp edge. These knives are German style which means that they are very handle-heavy with a sharp, durable blade and a full tang. They are a great set to match up with a nice basic Japanese set to give you a well equipped set of cutlery for under $100. This is a great way to get started with best budget kitchen knives.

Our second budget group is designed for those who have between $100 and $300 to spend. Among this group, looking for the best budget kitchen knives, they can afford a slightly more impressive set of knives for the kitchen and we recommend the Messermeister San Moritz Elite Mini set. This company although not well known in the United States is a producer of extremely high-quality knives worldwide, in the same caliber as Wusthof and Henckels but at a lower price due to their limited marketing strategy; they are top quality. For those looking for the best budget kitchen knives in this price range this set is a sure bet. The blades are made of very high grade steel – a high-carbon blend containing molybdenum and vanadium for sharpness and edge-retention. They feature a full tang and have a Rockwell hardness rating of 56. This is topped-off with a POM handle designed to never chip, break, fade, crack, melt, warp, bend, scratch, peel or pit. The handles are molded from the material and are a joy to hold. Messermeister provides free lifetime re-sharpening as well as a lifetime warranty on these knives.

Lastly, for those who want high quality but still want the best budget kitchen knives that won’t break the bank, let’s look at the $300-$500 range. Here we find the Shun knives. Now, granted Shun knives are not exactly what you would call “budget” but they can be very cost effective if you choose to select a small set of basic essentials. These knives are worth every dime that you spend on them and you may find yourself trying new recipes just so you can get your hands around your shun knives again. The under-blades are forged from high grade VG 10 steel; this is the same steel you find in top grade Japanese knives. This under-blade is then wrapped with 16 layers of the highest carbon steel available. The result is a Damascus style blade that will hold its sharpness and retain its edge for many years, even decades, with proper care and handling. The Rockwell hardness factor is almost at the top of the scale for kitchen cutlery with a rating of 61. We suggest going for the 6-piece set if you don’t mind not having a bread knife and want to save $100. That puts a basic set of Shun in the beautiful Bamboo block on your counter for $500. That’s what we call the best budget kitchen knives with style.

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