Three Knives, Used Daily: The Only Set You Need

Block sets are a status symbol. Three knives are a kitchen. Here is the case for a minimalist cutlery setup.

A chef knife, a paring knife, and a serrated bread knife will handle 99 percent of what you do in a home kitchen. We have run tests for a decade and never missed the tenth knife.

If you have space and budget for a fourth, buy a petty or utility knife between 120 and 150mm. It bridges the gap between the chef and paring knives, and it will spend more time out of the drawer than either.

The trick is sharpening. A dull knife is a dangerous knife. Buy a ceramic honing rod and use it before every meal. Once a year, send your knives to a professional sharpener. That is it.