The paring knife is widely overlooked and hardly ever used sometimes in the knife set. But owning the best paring knife that money can buy will step up our prep game immensely. A paring knife comes in handy more than you would think.
Most people use other knives to prep fruits and veggies when a paring knife will do the job better and faster. Its short handle and short blade have the capability to make precision cuts on smaller items and foods that would prove troublesome for a larger knife like a chef knife or a santoku knife. It is imperative to own one within your knife set at home and will definitely help you in the long run.
In this article, we will go over what to look for when purchasing a new paring knife as well as some of the different types of paring knives. We will also cover some of the best paring knives that are available for purchase on the market today and which one may be the best fit for you and your prepping needs.
How to Choose the Best Paring Knife
When choosing the best paring knife, it is important to consider a few different things. First and foremost, you want to make sure that the knife you are buying is made with quality materials. There should be no reason to buy a poor-quality knife that will just break or become dull overtime. This will just put you right back at the beginning of purchasing a new paring knife.
With that being said, you should try to buy a paring knife that comes with some kind of manufacturers guarantee or at least a warranty to protect the knife from defects or damages that may occur while the knife is in use or during the shipping process.
If the knife comes with an extra added bonus like a sharpening stone or a sheath to store it in, then that would be great as well. You can’t go wrong with a storing device to protect your knife or a sharpening stone to keep the edge sharp.
The paring knife should be east to use and easy to clean. Even though it is not wise to place knives in the dishwasher, because it will dull the edge and split the handles causing warping and chipping of the blade. But having one that is dishwasher safe will be an added bonus making it easier to clean. Just make sure the knife is comfortable to use.
Construction and design
The overall construction of the paring knife should be the same as goes with any knife for that matter. There are a few things to look for to make sure the knife is going to withstand the test of time.
First off, the materials used to construct the knife will determine what it will be able to be used on and how it should be handled. There are many different materials but for the most part, stainless steel is going to be the best. Of the stainless-steel category, there are two types that push the envelope even further. High carbon stainless steel is going to be more durable and able to handle lots of cuts throughout the day. It will also be stronger than most other blades and won’t be prone to warping or chipping.
Low carbon stainless steel is going to be softer but also will be able to hold a sharper edge and longer. This would be perfect for a filet knife or a boning knife that needs to make precision cuts. Most German knives are high carbon stainless steel while Japanese knives like to be constructed of lower carbon steel. It just depends on what kind of cutting applications you plan on using the knife for.
You also want the knife to have a full tang that is held on the handle with rivets. A knife without a full tang usually is not well balanced and has a few problems in the future. A well-balanced knife will also sit in a butcher block nicely or hang on a magnetic knife holder with care. You also want the handle to be comfortable and have a slip-resistant grip or a form-fitting handle so it doesn’t slip out while in use. There are many different handles and many different materials used to construct them, so make sure it is easy for you to use and is comfortable in your hand. Lastly, make sure the knife is well balanced so that your cuts will be even and precise.
Best Paring Knives
Shun Premier Paring Knife
The Best Paring Knife
This paring knife is the cream of the crop. It is a little expensive when compared to most other knives but it does come with a lifetime warranty to protect it. The knife is constructed of vg-10 stainless steel and has a hammered surface to help the release of food when cutting through them. The edge has a double beveled edge to create precision cutting and incredible sharpness that doesn’t dull overtime.
The blade may be prone to chipping though if not properly taken care of or if placed in the dishwasher. The knife has a full tang and is held in place with a hardwood Pakkawood handle that is contoured to fit your hand and creates effortless control. The blade resists moisture and is stain proof when handled correctly.
- The blade has a double beveled edge to create smooth sharpness and precision cutting.
- The blade is constructed of vg-10 stainless steel and has a hammered finish to prevent food sticking while cutting.
- The handle is constructed of hardwood and is contoured to fit your hand for optimal control.
- The blade may be prone to chipping if handled incorrectly.
- The knife may come with a warranty to protect it but it does come at an expensive price.
Wusthof Classic Ikon 3-1/2-Inch Paring Knife
The Best German Paring Knife
This next paring knife is close to perfect just like the one before it just with a little different construction. The knife is quite expensive though and does come with a lifetime warranty to protect it. The paring knife is constructed of carbon stainless steel which gives it strength and is able to withstand all of the elements.
The blade has a single beveled edge and a full tang through the handle to give it excellent balance. The handle is constructed of synthetic composite and is held on the tang with three rivets. It is also contoured to fit the hand and give extra control. The rear bolster acts as a balancer for the knife and protects the fingers.
- The knife is constructed of carbon stainless steel which creates strength and longevity throughout the blade.
- The handle is held on by three separate rivets and is contoured to fit the hand nicely.
- The knife is equipped with a bolster to create balance and safety.
- While it does come with a lifetime warranty it is one of the more expensive knives of the list.
Tojiro DP 3.5-inch Paring Knife
The Best of Both Worlds
This paring knife is kind of like a combination of both of the last two paring knives. It is quite expensive to purchase but does come with a lifetime warranty to protect it. The blade is constructed of carbon stainless steel which is triple clad covered and vg-10 steel core. This makes the knife very strong and very sharp while still resisting water, moisture and rust.
The blade has a full tang and a hard-composite handle that is held on by three rivets. The handle is comfortable and contoured to fit the hand creating extra control. The edge also has a 60 Rockwell hardness with a 12-degree beveled edge.
- The blade has a full tang and is held on the handle by three rivets.
- The blade is constructed of triple clad stainless steel with a vg-10 core.
- The handle is made of synthetic composite and is contoured to fit the hand creating balance and control.
- While it does come with a lifetime warranty to protect it, it is still quite expensive to purchase.
DALSTRONG Shogun Series Paring Knife 3.5″
The Serrated Paring Knife
This paring knife is pretty cool looking and is also serrated but that may prove to be difficult in some cutting applications since most paring knives are straight edged. The knife is very expensive to purchase but does come with a lifetime warranty to protect it.
The blade is constructed of pressed vg-10 stainless steel that has 66 layers of pressed steel. It also scores a 62 on the Rockwell hardness scale and has a full tang. The handle is held on the blade by three rivets and is contoured to fit the hand creating extra control. The rear bolster creates balance and safety. The knife also comes with a sheath to store the blade in.
- The knife comes with a sheath to store the knife.
- The blade is constructed of 66 layers of pressed vg-10 stainless steel and has a serrated edge.
- The handle is contoured to fit the hand and is held on by three rivets.
- The knife does come with a warranty but is quite expensive to purchase.
- The knife has a serrated edge and not a straight edge which could be difficult for some cutting applications.
Global 3.5″ Paring Knife
The One-Piece Paring Knife
This knife is constructed of one piece of metal all the way through. It is still very expensive but does come with a lifetime warranty to protect it. The knife is constructed of stainless steel and the handle has been molded to the knife as well.
The handle is also pitted to create slip resistance and is contoured to fit the hand creating control. The knife has a single beveled edge for extra sharpness and precision and a hollow handle for lightweights. However, there is no rivets, full tang or bevel to create balance or evenness through the blade.
- The blade is constructed of stainless steel and is rust proof.
- The handle is pitted to create slip resistance and contoured to fit the hand.
- The blade has a single beveled edge and comes with a lifetime warranty.
- The paring knife is quite expensive.
- There are no rivets, bolsters or full tang on the knife.
Yoshihiro VG-10 16 Layer Hammered Damascus Stainless Steel Paring Knife
The Best-Looking Paring Knife
This paring knife is absolutely gorgeous. However, it is very expensive and does not come with a warranty to protect it. The blade is constructed of 16 layers of pressed Damascus vg-10 stainless steel with a hammered finish to prevent food sticking. The blade has a full tang and is held on the handle with three rivets and a bolster at the end to keep the knife balanced.
The blade has a double beveled edge with a Rockwell hardness scale of 60 creating an extra sharp edge for precision cutting. The handle is constructed of polished wood with a western style contoured handle to create even control and comfortability for handling the knife.
- The blade is constructed of 6 layers of vg-10 Damascus steel with a hammered finish to prevent food sticking.
- The handle is constructed of polished wood and contoured to fit the hand nicely.
- The blade has a full tang and is held on the handle with three rivets.
- The knife is very expensive and does not come with a warranty to protect it.
Zwilling J.A. Henckels TWIN Signature Paring Knife
The Cost-Effective Paring Knife
This paring knife will work well for anyone on a budget without skimping on the quality. The paring knife is very affordable but does not come with a warranty to protect it. The blade is constructed of carbon stainless steel with a full tang that follows through the handle and is held on by three rivets.
The handle is synthetic composite and is contoured to fit the hand nicely creating control. The bolster at the end provides even balance within the knife. The edge has a single bevel with 19-degree angle and a rating of 54 on the Rockwell hardness scale.
- The knife is constructed of stainless steel and has a single beveled edge of 19 degrees.
- The knife has a full tang, three rivets and a bolster at the end to provide balance.
- The handle has a comfortable grip and is contoured to fit the hand.
- The paring knife may be affordable it does not come with a warranty to protect it.
Mercer Culinary Genesis Forged Paring Knife
The Bargain Buy Paring Knife
This paring knife is also a great option for the kitchen if you don’t need all the bells and whistles to go with it. It is very reasonably priced but does not come with a warranty to protect it. The blade is constructed of high carbon stainless steel that is corrosion, rust, stain and moisture proof.
The blade has a full tang and a bolster to create even balance and safety. The handle has a soft and comfortable grip that is tapered at the edge to prevent slipping and easy handling. The edge also has a double beveled edge to create precision cutting and extra hardness.
- The knife is constructed of high carbon stainless steel with a double beveled edge.
- The handle has a soft and comfortable grip that prevents slipping.
- The blade has a full tang and a bolster at the end to provide even balance and safety.
- While the paring knife is very affordable, it does not come with a warranty to protect it.
Conclusion
In all honesty, any of these paring knives will work very well, except for may any that are serrated. You really just need to decide if the paring knife you want will be used for precision cutting or to be used as a workhorse in the kitchen. This will narrow down the choices from there, then just go with what is in your price range as long as it is protected as well. Good luck hunting!
