By Melzware — 14 October 2026 · 5 min read
Most kitchens need three knives: a chef's knife, a bread knife and a paring knife. Any kitchen knife set that includes those three will cover your daily cooking, whether it has 5 pieces or 18. Extra pieces add steak knives, scissors, a sharpener and the block itself, so count the knives, not the pieces.
Shop the Melzware 18 Piece Knife Set
How many knives do you need?
Three, for most home cooks. Consumer Reports says most kitchens only need a chef's knife and a serrated bread knife, and a paring knife handles the small jobs those two are too big for.
- Chef's knife: chopping, dicing and slicing. It does most of the work.
- Bread knife: loaves, tomatoes and anything with a tough skin and soft inside.
- Paring knife: peeling, trimming and work in your hand.
After that, add knives for the way you cook. A carving knife suits a Sunday roast. A boning knife only earns its slot if you break down whole chickens. For a rundown of each blade, see our stainless steel knife set guide.
What counts as a piece in a kitchen knife set
Everything in the box. The block, scissors, peeler, sharpener and every steak knife each count as a piece. That's why two sets with very different piece counts can hold the same kitchen knives.
Here's our view: judge a set by its kitchen knives first. Our 18 Piece Kitchen Knife Set costs R999, and 6 of those 18 pieces are kitchen knives. The other 12 are 8 steak knives, kitchen scissors, a peeler, a 2-stage sharpener and a clear acrylic stand. Useful, but a different purchase from the 6 knives you cook with.
5 piece vs 8 piece vs 18 piece knife set
Typical line-ups, though contents vary by brand:
| Set size | Usually includes | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 5 piece | Chef's, bread, utility and paring knife, plus the block | First flats, small kitchens, cooks who already own steak knives |
| 8 piece | The 5 piece line-up plus a carving knife or santoku, scissors and a honing steel or sharpener | Regular home cooks who roast and want a sharpener included |
| 18 piece | A full set of kitchen knives, a steak knife set, scissors, a peeler, a sharpener and the block or stand | Families, braai hosts, and anyone equipping a whole kitchen in one go |
The jump from 5 to 18 pieces is mostly table knives and tools. The daily cooking knives barely change.
Knife set with block: is the block worth it?
For most kitchens, yes. Kitchen knife sets with block storage keep edges off other cutlery and keep blades away from fingers in a crowded drawer. Loose knives go blunt faster.
The catch is hygiene. NSF's 2013 household germ study ranked the knife block 7th of 14 kitchen items tested. The slots stay dark and damp, and crumbs collect at the bottom.
- Only put knives back clean and dry. A wet blade turns a slot into a mould farm.
- Shake it out weekly, upside down over the sink.
- Deep clean monthly with a thin brush and hot soapy water, then dry it upside down.
Open stands like our clear acrylic one are easier to clean than a solid wooden block. A magnetic wall strip saves counter space but leaves edges exposed around small children.
Which size set suits your household
- Student or first flat: a 5 piece set. You'll cook with three knives anyway.
- Couple who cook most nights: an 8 piece set with a sharpener included.
- Family of four or more: an 18 piece set, with steak knives for everyone at the table.
- Braai hosts: an 18 piece set. The 8 steak knives will see more action on a Saturday than a boning knife sees all year.
When a big set is the wrong buy
- You already own good steak knives. You'd be paying for 8 pieces you have. Buy a 5 piece set.
- You want one premium forged chef's knife. Spend the money on that single knife instead.
- Your counter has no room. Buy knives individually and hang them on a magnetic strip.
- Everything goes in the dishwasher. No set stays sharp that way, ours included.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many pieces should a kitchen knife set have?
Enough to include a chef's knife, a bread knife and a paring knife. A 5 piece set usually covers those plus a utility knife and the block. Go bigger only if you want steak knives, scissors or a sharpener included.
Is an 18 piece knife set worth it?
It is if you'll use the steak knives. In our 18 piece set, 6 pieces are kitchen knives and 8 are steak knives. For a household that braais often, that's good value. For a single cook, a smaller set does the same daily work.
Is a knife set with a block better than loose knives?
Yes, for most kitchens. A block or stand keeps edges from knocking against other cutlery in a drawer and keeps blades away from fingers. The trade-off is counter space and cleaning, because the slots collect crumbs and moisture.
What are the 3 essential kitchen knives?
A chef's knife for chopping and slicing, a serrated bread knife for loaves and tomatoes, and a paring knife for peeling and small jobs. Most cooking in a home kitchen uses one of those three.
Related at Melzware
- 18 Piece Kitchen Knife Set
- Stainless steel knife set: which knives you need
- Shop kitchen utensils
- More from the Melzware blog