A great BBQ knife set is versatile, easy to maintain, and durable. The OOU 15-Piece Kitchen Knife Set checks these boxes all while being easy on the eyes. You can just picture it sitting pretty in your kitchen workspace.
As a budding pitmaster, I did not fully appreciate the value of a BBQ knife set until I landed my first gig as a steakhouse prep cook. As I was expected to work flexibly, I had to learn to use the different blades for their intended purposes.
I eventually managed to perfect my techniques while also increasing my speed. With the many knives sets out there, it is important to pick one that goes the longest way to ease your BBQ tasks. Let me tell you what to look out for.
In this article, we will take a look at the BBQ knives that you should have in your workspace, and how to keep them in tip-top shape.
Here are my top 5 bbq knife sets as well as their pros and cons.
This brand is relatively new in the market having been introduced as recently as 2013. However, OOU is among the most wholesome, low-priced knife sets there are.
The best thing about this bbq knife set is that despite its price, OOU has not compromised on quality and value. To get the most bang for your back, I would recommend this eye-catching 15-piece knife set.
I am obsessed with this bbq knife set for 3 reasons. First, it is an eye-catcher. The knives come either all black or stainless steel from tip to top with the logo neatly spelled out on the blade, adding to its aesthetics.
Secondly, this OOU set features its patented black oxidized handles that are resistant to rust, wear and tear as well as chipping. They are also dishwasher safe.
Lastly, it comes with a storage block that has an in-built knife sharpener which makes this block the ultimate kitchen organizer.
Its blades are forged from high-carbon German steel. Blades made from carbon steel are strong, resistant to corrosion, and durable. This brand features full tang blades with reinforced handles that have a slope-bolstered design for easier control and maneuverability.
This OOU set includes:
The name Victorinox may sound familiar because it is mostly known for creating the Swiss Army Knife. However, Victorinox is a popular choice for bbq, home, and professional knives.
Unlike other knives, Victorinox Fibrox knives are not forged but stamped. This means that they are cut from a single piece made of steel before being ground, tempered, and sharpened.
Stamping is a fairly easier and cheaper process than forging which is why stamped knives are less expensive. However, stamped blades are not as durable as forged blades.
One of the best bbq knives you can own is their 15-piece knife block set. The blades are made from high-carbon stainless steel that has been hardened, tempered, ground, and polished for optimum functionality.
Victorinox has patented Fibrox handles which makes them excellent heat shielding and adds to the aesthetics with its glossy finish. The handles are ergonomic, anti-slip, and dishwasher-safe. They are also NSF certified which means these knives pass standard quality and safety tests.
The blades in this Swiss classic set include:
Dalstrong knives are no stranger to our kitchen gurus having been endorsed by the likes of Chef Ramsey, Mel Chmilar, and Johnny Trigg. Dalstrong knives feature eye-catching design elements and premium materials.
The Gladiator series by Dalstrong is their only series made with German steel. This high-carbon steel has a hardness of 55+ which is the softest in their collection. All their other knife series are made from Japanese steel which is significantly harder than its stainless steel counterparts but also more brittle.
The gladiator series blades are made from high-carbon steel which ensures they are corrosion-resistant and stand up well to wear and tear with regular use. They have a full tang design making them easier and safer to grip.
The handles are made from reclaimed Spanish pakkawood which is beautiful and durable. Triple rivets offer maximum safety and durability with the center rivet bearing the Dalstrong logo.
This Dalstrong set is comprised of:
Honorary mentions in the Gladiator series include:
The Mercer Renaissance 10-piece set is a great way to start building your collection. The blades come in a durable leather case that has a long adjustable and detachable shoulder strap which is convenient when you are on the move.
All the blades are forged from high-carbon stainless steel which makes them strong and durable. The handles are made of Delrin which makes them friction-reducing, lightweight, tough are resistant to wear and tear even with regular use.
The handles also feature a rounded spine that is easy to grip and triple riveting to keep the blades safely in place.
This Mercer 10-piece set is NSF certified which means the knives pass standard performance tests.
Included in the Mercer Renaissance set are:
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The best feature of the Eclipse knife set by Ross is the full tang design of the blades. I always advocate for full tang designs simply because they are more reliable, steadfast, and generally last longer.
This Ross Henery set features 9 blades capable of accomplishing a ton of bbq tasks from carving to slicing.
The blades of this knife set are made of triple-hardened carbon steel capable of taking you through several cooks before you need to sharpen them. They are also resistant to corrosion.
The Ross Henery Eclipse knife set is comprised of:
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There are many types of knives that are specifically suited for certain tasks. For example, a slicing knife works great when slicing a baguette, but it cannot cut through bone.
Similarly, a butcher knife is exactly what you need to hack through bone but is overkill when it comes to chopping tomatoes.
Right off the bat, I am yet to come across a knife set that encompasses all the essential bbq knives. However, some sets offer a great selection that includes most of these blades. So which are the most important bbq knives?
Here is a list of essential bbq knives that should be a part of your bbq kit and what they are suited for:
Paring knives are small with tiny handles that easily fit into the palm of your hand. It is excellent at peeling and cutting meat into tiny pieces.
This bbq knife gets its name from what it does, which is peeling off the outer cover of food. A spear-point paring knife can accomplish even the most delicate of tasks like mincing shallots, slicing garlic, and coring strawberry.
It is important to note that paring knives, unlike other bbq knives, cannot be used in place of other knives. I have attempted to trim meat with it and it proved very difficult. The short handles of paring knives make it impossible to get the leverage needed to cut large chunks of meat so this bbq knife is a must-have.
A boning knife is one of the most powerful bbq tools that you cannot do without. Boning knives greatly reduce the amount of meat that gets wasted from being tossed away with the bone.
Contrary to what the name suggests, a boning knife is not made for cutting bones but instead, it is used for deboning meat. Boning knives are also used for trimming excess fat and cutting raw meat.
The ideal boning knife should feature a flexible blade with a sharp point to allow for quick, shallow, and precise cuts and flicks that separate the raw meat from the bone. Boning knives should also be rigid enough to easily fit and cut through joints like wings and shoulders.
A carving knife features a long, slightly flexible, narrow blade perfect for slicing cooked meat and a pointed tip that helps you find your way around bones. This makes it easy to carve a whole turkey or crown roast. They work best when paired with a good carving fork that holds the cooked meat in place.
Carving knives are often confused with slicing knives because their blades are similar but a slicing blade has a rounded tip while a carving blade has a pointed tip.
Some carving knives have a Granton edge, also called hollows. They keep the food from sticking to the knife as you carve the meat by creating tiny air pockets that reduce friction.
Just as with all knives, you will be served better by a carving blade that fits your hand like a glove.
They vary between 8-12 inches. Since their blades are very long and narrow, ensure the handle gives you optimum control of the knife such that it is not too wobbly.
A chef's knife is also called a French blade and is the workhorse in your cutlery arsenal. A chef's knife does the bulk of cutting tasks so a good one will surely make daily meal prep a breeze.
A chef's knife has a broad, tapered shape with a fine edge. Chef's knives range between 6-12 inches in blade length and measure approximately 1.5 inches at the widest point.
Chef's knives are designed to rock back and forth from top to bottom on your cutting board. This bbq knife slices, chops, cuts, and dices, making it the jack of all trades.
Slicing knives have long thin blades and pointed tips to avoid puncturing your meat. It is ideal for slicing large cuts of meat like Easter ham, smoked brisket, whole salmon, and Thanksgiving turkey.
You can also use your slicing knife to portion melon, huge tubers, winter squash, a freshly baked baguette, and even layer cakes.
These bbq knives are not an absolute priority but go a long way to ease your grilling tasks. They include:
This large bbq knife typically resembles a rectangular hatchet. They are purposely built for cutting through thick cuts of meat and bone.
Meat cleavers are mainly used for cleaving hearty vegetables, taking apart chicken and turkey, and mincing beef and pork cuts, while looking really badass. I also use the broad side of my cleaver to crash garlic heads and scoop up my chopped veggies.
Since this is a heavy, sharp blade that requires a swinging motion, the most important feature to look out for in a meat cleaver is the stability of the handle. It should be tightly fastened and well-balanced. The goal is to hack your way through the meat and not yourself or your housemates.
A butcher knife is often mistaken for a cleaver but they have very different physiques. A butcher's knife is typically 6-8 inches in length with a broad, rigid blade that slightly curves at the tip. This bbq knife is specifically designed for taking apart an animal carcass, thus the name.
Both the butcher's knife and cleaver perform the same function but the butcher's knife is better suited to chopping, splitting, and stripping flesh whereas a cleaver is better for hacking.
A breaking knife is used to cut large cuts of raw meat into smaller cuts, trimming, and cutting through cartilage, and small bones. A breaking knife is thin and narrow, and curves towards the edge.
A filet knife is also called a filleting knife. It is mostly used to debone or filet fish. Filet knives vary in blade size and lengths from 6-11 inches long allowing for optimum maneuverability and control along the backbone of a fish as well as under the skin of the meat.
Filet knives are almost always used in a moist environment which explains why they have a signature elongated teardrop shape for a handle and a nimble blade. This ergonomic handle gives the user a safe, strong grip and a place to rest the index finger.
I use my kitchen shears for a variety of tasks including snipping a bunch of herbs, cutting open my food wrappings, and breaking down chicken and turkey.
You can also use them to cut raw bacon into uniform slices, snip through bread, and cut dried fruit.
Kitchen shears come in a variety of designs. Some have longer blades than others while some have multiple crisscrossing blades.
Shears with 3 pairs of blades are mostly used to chop vegetables and fruit evenly while shears with one pair of crisscrossing blades are ideal for deboning poultry.
The term comes from the Japanese term, Santoku Bocho knives which loosely translates to 'three uses'. Santoku knives are great for dicing, mincing, and slicing. Santoku knives are also widely used for cutting raw meat. They feature a straight edge and a sheep's foot blade.
A santoku knife evolved from the traditional Japanese vegetable knife that had a rectangular blade which explains why a Santoku knife in part, looks like a cleaver.
To narrow down on the perfect bbq knife set for you, there are some factors you should consider. They are:
The number one feature to look out for is the material the knife set is made of. A knife is a high utility equipment that is involved in more than a handful of tasks.
It is regularly exposed to food juices, water, and high temperatures that with time lead to a lot of wear and tear, not to mention that the blade demands regular sharpening to function properly.
For this reason, the material it is forged from must be strong, easy to clean, and rust-resistant. Several blades fit this bill including ceramic blades, stainless steel blades, laminated steel blades, titanium blades, and high-carbon stainless steel blades.
High carbon steel is added to stainless steel to make blades that are tough and impervious to corrosion. The carbon steel also maintains a razor-sharp edge longer than other materials. For longevity and easy maintenance, I recommend going for blades made out of carbon steel.
The weight distribution between the handle and the blade of your bbq knives should make it easier and quicker to accomplish your tasks without getting fatigued. For example, a heavy knife will require less force to cut through meat and bone while lighter blades require more force.
You should also consider the tang of the bbq knife. The tang refers to the part of the blade that goes into the handle. It is responsible for holding the knife and handles together. Tang designs are majorly divided into two, full and partial tang designs.
A full tang blade extends all the way to the end of the blade while a partial tang is not fitted to the end of the handle. Full tang designs are also classified as either hidden, skeletonized, encapsulated, or extended. Partial tang designs can either be a rat tail, push, or tapered tangs.
Most professional knives will feature a full tang design because it assures you of your safety.
Before settling on a bbq knife set, consider the handles. They should be ergonomic, preferably with finger grooves, heat resistant, antislip, and easy to clean. If you are left-handed, take time to find out if the finger grooves of the bbq knife will accommodate your grip as well.
The right bbq knife set fits into your budget without compromising on quality. There are dozens of quality competition bbq knife sets to choose from ranging from around $55-$400 that will get the job done.
Choosing between a pouch, sheath, or block for storage should be based on preference and functionality. However, if you expect to be traveling with your bbq knife set regularly, I recommend going for a compact knife roll-up carrying case.
If your set is for home cooking, I suggest going for a gorgeous storage block to complement your cooking area.
Below are some golden tips to ensure your knives remain in good shape even after years of use:
Although many brands are dishwasher safe, I recommend hand washing your knives instead of dishwashing them. This is because the water in the washer can easily over-saturate and degrade the handles and encourage the growth of harmful bacteria.
However, do not go crazy and grab abrasive detergents and scrubbers. Mild soap and water after use should do the trick.
After handwashing your knives, dry them using a kitchen paper towel or a clean cloth before placing them back in the protective sheath, or block. This makes it harder for bacteria or rust to ruin your blades.
A quality bbq knife should always be sharp which is why sharpening is a major part of knife maintenance. Dull knives are an accident waiting to happen not to mention frustrating and time-wasting.
You can sharpen your knife using a honing steel rod or a sharpening stone. Honing rods are great for maintaining the edges of your knife while sharpening steel works by grinding away metal, thus creating a new sharp edge.
If these options don't work for you, you can have the blades professionally sharpened or try an electric knife sharpener. I use Presto Eversharp Electric Knife Sharpener and so far, so good.
Since the blades of your knives almost always hit the cutting board, it is wise to go for a cutting board that will go easy on the blades like wood, plastic, or bamboo.
Gordon Ramsey has several favorites including Wusthof and Henckel's brands.
My gavel comes down on the OOU 15-Piece knife set for 3 major reasons. One, it has more blades than most knife sets. Two, it is fairly priced compared to other sets that offer as many blades, and three, the blades are drop-dead gorgeous.
That said, your best knife set for bbq comes down to personal preference which is why you should consider all the sets on this list to find the one that works for you.
