What Kitchen Knives Do You Need (Based on Your Cooking Style)?

You don’t need a fancy block with 12 knives you never use. You just need the right ones – sharp, reliable, and suited to how you actually cook. Whether you’re a throw-it-together weeknight cook or someone who finds zen in perfectly diced onions, the best knife is the one that makes your life easier. So if you’re trying to figure out which knives are worth investing in (and which you can skip), here’s a breakdown based on your cooking style.

👉🏻 Shop our kitchen knives collection 

If You Keep Things Quick and Simple

You’re not here to overcomplicate dinner. You want to get in, get out, and ideally have fewer dishes to deal with.

Go for:

• Chef’s Knife – your everyday all-rounder. It’ll handle everything from chopping veg to slicing meat.
• Utility Knife – smaller, lighter, and perfect for jobs where a big blade feels like too much – think slicing fruit, prepping sandwiches, or trimming things on the fly.

They’re versatile, fuss-free, and cover all your bases without adding clutter and extra washing up time. 

A good Chef’s knife is a kitchen all-rounder. 

If You Love Precision and Presentation

You care about neat slices, uniform cuts and beautiful plating – even if it’s just for yourself. Cooking is your creative outlet.

Go for:

• Santoku Knife – for clean, precise slicing with minimal effort. Great for soft veg, herbs and anything that benefits from a little finesse.
• Paring Knife – perfect for trimming, peeling, and all the little detail work that brings everything together.

They’re made for control and precision, so you can slice thin, trim neatly, and make it all look good.

Choose a Santoku knife if you love being precise with your chopping, slicing and dicing. 

If You Bake, Slice, and Carb-Load

You’re regularly dealing with crusty loaves, big roasts, or the kind of meal that needs a strong, clean cut without crushing or tearing.

Go for:

• Bread Knife – that serrated edge isn’t just for sourdough. It’s a beast on pumpkin, watermelon, even cakes and pastries.
• Chef’s Knife – for slicing through roasts, prepping fillings, or dicing whatever goes with carbs (which, let’s be honest, is everything).

You need a knife that can glide without squashing and cut clean without dragging. These do both.

Every bread-lover needs a bread knife!

If You Meal Prep Like It’s Your Job 

You’re all about big batches, smart portions and making your week easier. You want gear that keeps up and doesn’t slow you down.

Go for:

• Chef’s Knife – for all the heavy lifting—chopping, dicing, slicing in bulk.
• Utility Knife – for quick jobs and trimming as you go.
• Paring Knife – for the fiddly bits like peeling, prepping fruit, or finishing things off.

Together, they make you faster, more efficient, and way less likely to end up with a mountain of half-used tools.

For all the in-between cooking, a utility knife is an excellent choice.

If You Cook Everything and Anything

You roast. You bake. You meal prep. You pan-fry steak and then whip up a tray of rocky road. You need knives that can flex with your culinary repertoire. 

Go for the whole gang:

• Chef’s Knife – for everyday, heavy-duty jobs
• Santoku Knife – for precision and thin slicing
• Bread Knife – for loaves, cakes, and tough-skinned produce
• Utility Knife – for all the in-between
• Paring Knife – for the smaller stuff

You’re in the kitchen often and cooking across all categories. These five cover pretty much everything. Luckily, we have a complete knife set to get you up and running!

Build a Set That Works for You

The best knife setup isn’t necessarily the biggest, but rather the one that suits your style, fits in your hand, and makes you feel a bit more capable every time you cook.

Whether you’re keeping things minimal or building out a full kit, Crumble’s knife collection has what you need – sharp, ergonomic, and made for the everyday cook.

Explore our knives and find your perfect fit.

Looking for More Kitchen Cookware? 

Love Crumble's kitchen knives? You might also like these:

Non-stick cookware – Frypans and saucepans that make clean-up easy
Cast iron cookware – Make for cooks who want durability 
Casserole pots – Ideal for oven bakes and hearty meals
Knives – From everyday chopping to bread slicing without squish
Ceramic accessories – Handy extras like non-scratch spoons and steamer baskets