The 6 Best Carbon Steel Knives in 2024

A carbon steel knife is essential for professional chefs because it remains sharp with little sharpening. These knives are highly durable and stay in their form despite regular use. Carbon steel knives are also incredibly stiff, and they do the job even with tough-to-cut solids or other rough knife work. So it's easy to see why the carbon steel material remains one of the preferred materials for both kitchen and multi-purpose knives. 

Despite these unique advantages, you probably won't see carbon steel knives in a typical knife set. Specialized brands manufacture them overseas, and they usually don’t sell them off-the-rack. For example, Japan is a leading maker of carbon steel knives that is popular with enthusiasts worldwide. They sell their knives at specialty stores or online. 

That said, we see more options from different manufacturers today. A variation that's also been trending is the high carbon steel knife — essentially knives with more carbon content. High carbon knives are stiffer but less ductile. And of course, the popular alternative to carbon steel knives is stainless steel knives. Although resistant to rust, stainless steel knives aren't as stiff as carbon steel knives. 

Indeed, choosing a good kitchen knife comes down to personal preference and intended use. We'll talk about the pros and cons of carbon steel knives vs. stainless steel knives to help you decide. We've also listed down what we think are the best carbon steel knives on sale today.

Table of Contents

• Best Overall Carbon Steel Chef's Knife: Misono Swedish Carbon Steel
• Best High Carbon Chef's Knife: Imarku Chef Knife
• Best Value High Carbon Stainless Steel Knife: Bekhic Chef Knife 
• Best High Carbon Knife Set: Dalstrong Knife Block Set
• Best Paring Knife: Saken Paring Utility Knife 4.5-Inch
• Best Carbon Steel Cleaver: Kyoku Samurai Series — 7-Inch Cleaver Knife 
• Carbon Steel Knife Buying Guide
• FAQ

Best Overall Carbon Steel Chef's Knife: Misono Swedish Carbon Steel

The Misono Swedish Carbon Steel Gyutou, from the traditional Japanese knife-maker Misono, is extremely sharp and can handle most cutting work in the kitchen. The carbon knife boasts a composite wood handle with a good grip and minor strain for large chopping needs. 

Furthermore, the carbon steel knife comes in 8.2 inches, 9.4 inches, and 10.5 inches. We note, though, that the dragon design is not available for the size 8.2-inch. Whether or not you're a fan of the engravings, we did find it a bit impractical as cleaning cloths occasionally get stuck on the etching. 

Another possible concern is the asymmetrical edge. For right-handed users, this is surely an advantage as food is automatically released from the knife. On the contrary, left-handed users might find the disproportionately steep angle challenging to use. 

But we're nitpicking here. The Misono Swedish Carbon Steel knife is the best in the market today. 

Best High Carbon Chef's Knife: Imarku Chef Knife

The highly-rated Imarku High Carbon Stainless Chef Knife combines the robustness of stainless steel while keeping the ultra-sharp qualities of carbon steel. The added chrome to the stainless and carbon metal gives the knife a glossy finish. It does not tarnish or rust easily, unlike its pure carbon steel knife alternatives. 

The Imarku knife is heavier than most stainless steel knives, so you'll need less pressure when cutting. We found that the added weight isn't an impediment to everyday and regular use. But we do understand how others might find it clunky.

The handle comes from Pakka wood sourced in Africa and amply provides comfort and stability. Our only gripe is with the attachment of the handle. We saw some weak points in construction between the handle and blade, which may eventually unfasten from wear and tear. 

Though at this point, that's purely an educated guess, and time will tell if it holds up. The Imarku is still a strong buy for high carbon knives in our book. 

Best Value High Carbon Stainless Steel Knife: Bekhic Chef Knife 

If you want a starter knife that offers good value for money, we recommend trying the Bekhic Chef Knife. The knife's weight is perfect for those who wish to practice their knife skills. It has a thin sharp blade with a pattern likened to the Damascus steel knife. But, although it remains sharp with regular use, you will need to sharpen it every month owing to its chromium component. 

The high carbon steel knife also comes in a nice sturdy box that we think is ready for gifting. The premium feel, despite the price, makes it a suitable present for foodie relatives and friends who love to entertain with their cooking skills. 

A downside we see is the knife's handle. Although Bekhic says the handle comes from Pakka wood, we did experience some loose fittings and rough edges where the handle meets the blade. Nevertheless, it's a steal for the price.

Best High Carbon Knife Set: Dalstrong Knife Block Set

An excellent complete set to work with is the Dalstrong Knife Block Set. It comes with an 18-piece high carbon knife set that affords you a multitude of uses and possibilities. Dalstrong also offers the smaller 5-piece and 8-piece knife sets. 

But, we recommend the 18-piece set as it is astonishingly versatile. This set includes a 9-inch Carving/Slicer, 9-inch Bread Knife, 8.5-inch Kiritsuke Chef Knife, 8-inch Chef Knife, 7-inch Santoku Knife, 7-inch Nakiri Knife, 6-inch Boning Knife, 6.5-inch Utility Knife, 6-inch Serrated Utility Knife, six 5-inch Straight Edge Steak Knives, 3.5-inch Paring Knife, 2.75-Inch Bird's Beak Paring Knife, a 10-inch Gladiator Series Honing Steel, and the handmade Acacia Wood Block. 

Its knives are amply weighted for balance and stability. Their handles are polymer, making them durable and long-lasting. Because these are high-carbon steel knives, they are more prone to stain than regular stainless steel knives. Though, cleaning is much easier than carbon steel knives. 

In addition to the knives, the Acacia knife block is an excellent complement to the set. The knife block is heavy, sturdy, and has a space-saving design that fits most kitchen counters. It also offers your knives a snug fit, and that means you avoid misplacements. 

Although the knife block is a plus, we did notice a few issues with its construction. But instead of being a detriment to our product set review, this turned out to be positive. Why? Because customer support immediately sent us a replacement when we told them about the issue. We commend the company's customer support. 

Best Paring Knife: Saken Paring Utility Knife 4.5-Inch

A paring knife comes in handy for small and delicate cutting jobs such as peeling, mincing, and dicing. The Saken Paring Utility Knife is our preferred paring knife. This knife comes with a good-sized handle for optimal control. The handle's size definitely comes in handy with precision work like deveining shrimp and deseeding fruits and vegetables.

The Saken knife also comes with a nifty storage box with magnetic enclosures. This makes it an ideal gift for enthusiasts, too. 

Of course, a paring knife will not be ideal for big cuts like slicing meat, deboning, or carving. The small handle also makes peeling and cutting tough-skinned vegetables like squash and pumpkin cumbersome. Also, the knife's thin top blade can break if it isn't securely kept in its box. 

Nevertheless, if you're looking for a paring knife, the Saken is the best in the market today. 

Best Carbon Steel Cleaver: Kyoku Samurai Series — 7-Inch Cleaver Knife 

Inspired by traditional Japanese knife makers, the Kyoku Samurai Series Carbon Steel Cleaver should be part of any carbon steel knife arsenal. The cleaver comes with a nicely finished 7-inch carbon steel blade that is great for chopping, dicing, and scooping up ingredients from the board to the pan. 

Due to its thinness, this carbon steel cleaver is great for splitting meat from the bone, typically portioning chicken, beef, pork, and other types of thick meat. The carbon steel blade glides easily between ligaments and dense bones. It is also perfect for large and hard-skinned fruits and vegetables like melons and pumpkins. 

However, the Kyoku cleaver is also thinner than other cleavers. While this can be an advantage for slicing through bone, it is also a disadvantage for heavy-duty work due to their tendencies to chip. Since the blade is of carbon steel, proper care and maintenance are also necessary to avoid corrosion. 

Even so, we think the cleaver's weight has ample consideration for chopping through tough food and ingredients. The handle is also made with Pakka wood and has a natural ergonomic feel. 

Carbon Steel Knife Buying Guide

When looking for a set of carbon steel knives, one inevitable question is how they compare to stainless steel knives. Both are great options for the kitchen, so we'll take a closer look at the differences between the two.

Another question is about increasing carbon content. If carbon makes knives stiff and durable, why not increase the carbon content for greater stiffness and durability? 

Carbon Steel vs. Stainless Steel

Both carbon steel and stainless steel are from a combination of the alloys carbon and iron. The difference between the two is the presence of chromium in the latter. Chromium provides stainless steel with rust-resistant qualities. It does this by forming a transparent oxidation layer.

However, this quality also makes stainless steel a softer metal. This is an undesirable property for knives as it results in dull edges. This also means frequent sharpening for best results. That said, stainless steel knives are easy to maintain and are forgiving of stuck food. Cleaning and washing are easy because they don't stain or rust. 

On the other hand, carbon steel knives are known for being stiffer and sharper. But they do rust, and the extra steps for rust protection can be frustrating. They are more sensitive to acidic food like onion, citrus, and food with vinegar. 

Through repeated use over time, the carbon steel knife develops a patina or discoloration due to its contact with different kinds of food. The build-up of a patina is actually a good thing because it protects the blade from rusting. And, depending on your tastes, you may also find the resulting patina appealing and full of character — kind of like aging leather. 

High Carbon Steel 

Although high carbon steel knives are stiffer and more durable, they are also less pliable and prone to breaking. They lack the flexibility to handle extreme forces. 

Let's again take a look at stainless steel knives as an example. The addition of chromium in stainless steel makes it ductile and malleable, which means they don't break easily. Instead, they slightly change their shapes and, consequently, result in dull or blunt knives. That is the compromise between stiffness and ductility. 

FAQ