Victorinox Knife Set review: These knives are a great investment for starter kitchens and less than

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Before I moved into my own place and when I was reviewing primarily bakeware, I didn't pay too much attention to the knives I used. Then, when I started testing the best cutting boards and started living on my own, I realized I needed a better set of knives. I turned to Insider's former knife expert, senior reporter Owen Burke, and he suggested the Victorinox Swiss Classic Kitchen Knife Set.

Another Victorinox knife line, the Fibrox, is our top budget pick in our guide to the best knife sets. I went with the seven-piece Swiss Classic because I got a few more pieces for less money. Not all members of the Insider home and kitchen team believe more is better with a knife set, but I wanted to feel fully stocked when I got to my new apartment.  

Specs

• Knives included: Carving fork, paring knife, bread and pastry knife, tomato and table knife, Santoku knife, carving knife, and universal peeler
• Blade material: Stainless steel
• Handle material: Plastic

Both the five and seven-piece Swiss Classic sets are on the low end of the price range for knife sets. The five-piece set doesn't have the carving fork or peeler.

This set doesn't have a chef's knife – instead, it has a thinner carving knife, which is similarly designed. However, I use the Santoku knife the most frequently. For everything from chopping carrots to slicing cheese, the Santoku knife is the perfect weight and sharpness. 

Comfortable handles and durable blades

One of the first things I noticed about the Victorinox Swiss Classic knives was how they are so lightweight. Not only are the handles comfortable to hold, they don't add unnecessary heft — the knife feels balanced in my hand. 

I have used these knives for over six months, and I cannot say I have taken fastidious care of them. The knives definitely need to be sharpened, but I have not noticed a major decline in performance. Especially in terms of chopping and dicing, the Santoku and carving knives still cut easily. 

Extra pieces

Since I don't cook many big pieces of meat, I don't use the carving fork too often. Though during my testing for the best cast iron skillets, I did use the fork to flip pieces of strip steak. It kept my hands far away from the spitting oil and was strong enough to lift the cuts of meat. 

The peeler has a serrated edge, so it's not great if you're trying to be delicate or not remove too much under the skin. Still, it hasn't dulled in over a year of heavy use, and I can use the serrated edge to make carrot strips.

The bottom line

The Victorinox Swiss Classic Knife Set has complementary pieces that make preparing food safer and easier. Home chefs of any experience level can comfortably handle these knives.

Pros: Lightweight, includes multipurpose Santoku knife, knives are easy to handle and can cut through tough meat

Cons: Serrated edge on the peeler, no chef's knife

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