Top 10 Picks for the Best Paring Knives – Reviewed & Compared

Anyone who’s spent time cutting, chopping, slicing and dicing will tell you that nothing less than the best paring knife is needed for success. With the right paring knife at your disposal, you will have an easier time finishing up those kitchen chores.

But how are you going to find that knife with literally thousands of products to choose from? That is what we’re here for, to review the top 10 paring knives. 

10 Best Paring Knives - Comparisons

The Culinary Genesis has a 3.5-inch full tang blade designed for all-around use in the kitchen regardless of your experience. It has a sharp blade with a durable tip and excellent edge retention. The high quality German steel blade is also ideal for various types of food preparation. Add the fact that the Santoprene handle is non-slip and ergonomic.

The bolster enhances the knife’s balance, and it helps to keep your fingers safe when you’re cutting food. And no matter what it is you’re cutting, the steel won’t corrode, discolor, or rust. Forging is first-rate and provides the knife with extra strength. This knife also has a taper ground edge that prolongs the blade’s sharpness, which is also the reason why the blade sharpens quickly—not that you’ll be needing to do that often. 

The Four Star series is one of Henckels’ more popular lines, and this model shows you why this is the case. This knife is built from a single piece of no-stain, high-carbon steel. Using the company’s proprietary Sigmar forge procedure, the blade is more durable, has greater stability, and superior geometry.

The blade structure gives the Four Star greater precision when cutting and chopping food. The blade is sharp, and since the knife retains its edge you’ll be able to use it for the long term. This is also a full tang that gives the knife extra balance when you’re using it.

The handle is made of bonded polypropylene so it’s comfortable to use. The molding design is another plus that will also help to keep food safe. Once you’re done using the knife, just put it in the dishwasher so no need to get your hands dirty.

Wusthof has manufactured quite a few paring knives over the years, and this model from their Classic line has many of the qualities you would expect from them. Its 3.5-inch blade is durable enough and can take a pounding, while its sharp edge cuts and slices smoothly without you having to apply a lot of force.

The small blade means the knife is more suited for cutting and slicing small fruits and vegetables. It is made from high carbon stainless steel for extra strength, and it has been manually honed for maximum sharpness. The knife isn’t that heavy either so it won’t give you hand fatigue even when using it for extended periods.

The Classic has an ergonomic handle so you’ll feel at ease while using it to cut food. The handle’s multiple rivets provide more strength. The blade’s sharpness is really the selling point however, as it takes out a lot of the drudgery that comes with its use.

Also Read: The Ultimate Guide to the Best Spyderco EDC Knives

The GS-38 is a versatile knife that’s been constructed for all-around use in your kitchen. Its blade has been specially designed for common tasks like food cutting and slicing. The blade is also sharp enough to use for peeling fruit without causing damage.

The blade has a straight edge that simplifies cutting tasks. It also helps that the blade is thin so you can be more precise with your cuts. Thanks to the light weight of this knife, there is little chance you’ll mess up your cuts and slices—in terms of accuracy and precision, it’s great.

It has a weighted hollow handle that gives it good balance, and not having a bolster means you get to use the entire edge. The stainless steel blade is very sharp and can be used for long stretches. Another thing we like about this knife is its durability and its capability of handling even the more demanding food preparation chores. 

Victorinox is known for making excellent knives, so it’s no surprise that their paring knife has made it to our list. It’s an outstanding multipurpose knife that you can use for slicing, dicing, peeling, mincing, cutting and garnishing—pretty much everything you need to do in the kitchen, this blade can handle.

The knife’s edge is tapered and tested, and its precise angle allows for longer edge retention. And the longer the edge retention, the longer you’ll be able to use the knife.

Apart from its longevity, this knife also has an ergonomic handle that makes it very comfortable to hold. Anyone who’s used a poorly-made paring knife knows how quickly hand fatigue can set in, which is why it’s good to know the Victorinox is comfortable. This blade may be shorter than others, but it does not compromise in quality. 

The Shogun Series have gotten a lot of positive feedback and that’s understandable when you look at the quality of these knives. The first thing we want to emphasize about these knives is how sharp they are. Dalstrong used the 3-step Honbazuke technique to create the 8-12 degree angle on each side of the blade, ensuring that you’ll have no trouble cutting hard fruit and vegetables.

The blade is made from VG 010 steel, and it has been further enhanced for better edge retention. With 66 high carbon stainless steel layers, this knife is built for constant use without wearing out.

This is a full tang knife so there is no risk of the blade separating while you’re using it. It has also been nitrogen-cooled for extra hardness, and it’s corrosion resistant. While the Shogun Series have durable blades, they’re flexible enough to be used in various food preparations.

This paring knife from TUO Cutlery belongs to the Fiery Series and is classified as a fruit knife, so it should come as no surprise that this knife cuts fruits very well. However, it isn’t just for fruits—this knife is also great for chopping veggies and other foods.

While there are a lot of things we can say about this knife, we will start off by saying that its blade is sharp enough to cut most foods with ease. This is a full tang knife so it’s well-balanced. As you slice and dice, your hand and wrist feel comfortable thanks to the ergonomic handle.

The straight blade has a slight curve that improves cutting, and the HRC56±2 hardness level is evident when you use it. The blade’s stain resistance is impressive, and its durability is comparable with more expensive paring knives. This one is an exceptional knife and a worthwhile addition to your kitchen tools. It is durable, easy to use, sharp, and very reliable.

Also Read: Best of the Best Steak Knives

This paring knife from Mcusta Zanmai is a versatile kitchen knife that’s built for the all-around cook. With this knife you can trim, slice, dice, scrape, and peel foods with ease. The blade’s edge retention is excellent so you won’t have to sharpen it very often.

The knife is comfortable to hold, and even when you’re chopping with a lot of force, the blade retains its balance. The sharp blade of this knife is complemented by an ergonomic handle. Red spacers complement the triple riveting, making the knife nice to hold and manage. The easy handling makes this knife a good choice for chopping onions, garlic, etc.

This knife comes with a steel end cap that adds extra stability. The knife is solidly made and offers a nice blend of style and functionality. It has a Damascus blade made from 33 layers, and the core is VG-10 super steel for extra strength.

It is rare that you find a paring knife that offers excellent cutting performance and has exceptional aesthetics, but that is exactly what you will get here. 

This paring knife from Zelite Infinity’s Alpha Royal Series is primarily for slicing and cutting vegetables and fruits, but it is just as effective for other kitchen uses. It has a Japanese VG10 super steel high-carbon blade, which make it stronger and more reliable than the average paring knife.

The blade has a sharp, excellent edge that allows you to cut smoothly with minimal force. Both the edge and the tip are sharp, and it’s also full tang for greater balance. The blade handles most cuts and slices with ease, and its heft adds to the consistent results. The blade is corrosion-resistant and non-stick, so it’s very convenient to use.

This is a very well-made knife overall—it is versatile, durable, and gives you full control over each cut. While it is not the lightest paring knife around, it isn’t too heavy and delivers where it counts.

The Gou is an exceptional paring knife, and its sharpness is matched by its durability. Its blade has been hardened in ice and heated at high temperatures to ensure stability and that it can cut through veggies, fruits, and more. The blade’s core has multiple layers of high carbon stainless steel to ensure its strength and durability.

The blade’s high quality is complemented by its handle. It is ergonomic, comfortable, and made of Canvas-Micarta. This is a very strong and odorless material that will provide a solid grip. The handle has steel rivets for security, which is essential if the knife will be used extensively. The Gou paring knife is well-made, and with more than 100 carbon stainless steel layers, you are assured of its quality and longevity. 

Final Verdict

Hopefully you’ve found this guide detailed enough to give an idea of which paring knife to buy. All brands naturally claim they have the best paring knife, but only a few are worthy of being called that, and we guarantee that with these ten, you cannot go wrong. 

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