4 Best Paring Knives of 2024, Tested and Reviewed
These small-but-mighty knives are great for prepping produce and tedious kitchen tasks.
Our Top Paring Knife Picks
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Tested by Laura Denby
Most chefs will agree that the only two knives a person really needs is a chef’s knife and a paring knife. Unlike the all-purpose chef’s knife, a paring knife is a smaller knife that’s made to tackle nimble tasks with extra precision. If you’re an avid home cook who likes to prepare vegetables, mince garlic or peel fruit, a paring knife can add a level of efficiency to your toolkit that’s unmatched by any other style of knife.
Before selecting a paring knife, first assess what types of prep work you do most often, how often you’ll use it, and how you intend to clean and care for it. Paring knives are a super simple item as far as kitchen gadgets go, but they can vary greatly in price. To make sure you’re getting the right knife for you, make sure to consider the size and weight of the knife to determine how functional it will feel in your hands.
In order to find the best paring knives available, we put a few of the leading models to the test. We sliced fruit, peeled shallots, hulled strawberries and even cut notoriously slippery cherry tomatoes. Read on for our list of the best paring knives.
Photo by Laura Denby
How We Tested
To test the best paring knives, we ran each knife through a series of culinary tests. To start, we observed each knife and evaluated, size, weight and the feel of the handle. We took note of the manufacturer’s instructions for care and cleaning and considered any other special qualities.
Next, we used each knife to peel and section oranges. Oranges can be slippery and juicy, so this test helped us evaluate how sharp the blade was and how sturdy the handle was, even when wet.
Photo by Laura Denby
Next, we used each knife to hull strawberries. This task allowed us to properly assess how sharp the tip of each knife was. It also gave us an idea of how comfortable the knives were when performing precise tasks, and how easily each knife moved.
Next, we used each knife to peel and dice shallots and slice cherry tomatoes. Shallot skin can be slippery, so through this test we were able to determine the effectiveness of each knife. Lastly, cherry tomatoes are easy to crush with dull knives, so a paring knife’s ability to cleanly slice through tomatoes was the ultimate test of functionality.
- Super-sharp blade makes it easy to achieve clean cuts
- The longer handle provides a comfortable grip
- It feels heavy-duty yet balanced in your hand
- Dishwashing is not recommended
- The blade doesn’t bend at all, so it’s not as flexible as some others
Misen’s paring knife is miraculously heavy-duty yet lightweight at the same time, making it our absolute favorite knife of all we’ve tested. This durable yet nimble knife will become a workhorse in your kitchen — it can handle tough tasks and small, precise cuts with the same level of accuracy and consistency across the board. It’s affordable and high quality, which makes it the best overall pick for any home cook.
This knife excelled in all of our tests. The handle felt easy to hold and maneuver, and it easily sliced through sections of citrus with precision in our orange-peeling test. The handle felt sturdy even when wet or dripping with slippery orange juice. While sturdy, it still felt perfectly balanced when choking up on the blade — the technique of moving your hand up the knife handle for more control on the blade — to hull strawberries. Since the blade is sharp from heel to tip, it glided through tomato and shallot skins with minimal pressure in our tests. We observed the blade is thicker than other knives tested, which provided stability and power.
If you’re looking for a reliable knife to help streamline your vegetable prep, this stainless steel option from Misen is a safe bet. Keep in mind that this knife is not dishwasher-safe and should be washed by hand and dried immediately.
- Blade Length 3.5 inches
- Blade Material Carbon stainless steel
- Dishwasher-safe? No, hand-washing is recommended
- The blade is flexible and thin, which makes for easy maneuvering
- A textured grip on the handle means it won’t slip, even when wet
- It’s one of the most affordable knives we’ve tested
- The thin blade struggles to cut through denser vegetables like squash or potatoes
- It doesn’t retain its sharpness over time as effectively as some other brands
This sharp, nimble knife ensures precise cuts and a nonslip handle, all for under $15. If you’re looking for a simple, lightweight knife that can tackle a variety of tasks at an affordable price, this is the option for you.
With a 3.25-inch blade that’s flexible and thin, this knife easily sliced through orange sections and removed any skin or pith with ease in our culinary tests. Since the blade is sharp from end to end, hulling strawberries was easy to do with the pointed tip. In testing, we found this knife is particularly easy to handle, and the textured grip ensures that it doesn’t slip, even when wet or sticky.
Though we like how lightweight this knife is, keep in mind that you’ll want something a bit more heavy-duty when handling dense vegetables. The blade is flexible — which is great when peeling fruit or deboning fish — but the flexibility doesn’t lend itself to denser vegetables. If you’re looking for a knife that can cut through squash or sweet potatoes, a knife with a stronger, thicker blade might be better suited to your needs.
- Blade Length 3.25 inches
- Blade Material Stainless steel
- Dishwasher-safe? Yes
- Micro layers of stainless steel help prevent food from sticking
- The Pakkawood handle provides a sturdy, comfortable grip that’s resistant to slipping
- It’s available in two blade sizes
- The tip of the knife isn’t as sharp as some of the others we’ve tested
This gorgeous knife uses micro-layers of stainless steel to create a ripple effect, much like you would find on a Damascus steel knife. The Damascus-style blade helps reduce friction and prevent food from sticking. Made with a Pakkawood handle that’s ergonomically designed and resistant to moisture, this knife is a splurge-worthy option for serious home cooks.
We found that it excelled in our tests — the belly of the blade was sharp enough to peel fruits and vegetables with ease, and the knife cut through citrus and shallots easily. The 3.5-inch blade and 4-inch handle perfectly balanced each other, which made this knife our favorite to hold and maneuver. It was by far the easiest to use, and we found that it made it easy to work quickly and produce precise results. Though the balance and weight of the Shun paring knife felt the best of all the knives tested, we found the tip to be slightly less sharp than some other knives. We had some challenges when hulling strawberries and cutting through shallots with the tip.
- Blade Length 3.5 or 4 inches
- Blade Material Stainless steel
- Dishwasher-safe? No, hand-washing is recommended
- This incredible value comes with three knives for the price of one
- A sheath makes storage easier and safer
- Super-sharp blades easily cut through a variety of ingredients
- Use caution when sliding the knife into the sheath; if you miss the opening, it can be easy to cut your hand or finger
For home cooks with limited knife storage who want a bit of added safety, having a knife with a sheath is a great way to add extra protection. Our testers love Kuhn Rikon’s paring knife that comes with a safety sheath because it’s comfortable to hold, easy to use, and super sharp. This incredible value includes three 4-inch, stainless steel knives, all of which come with their own sheath for added safety. Not only does the sheath protect against cuts and knicks, but it also helps keep the blade sharp while sitting in the drawer.
Our testers found this knife to be comfortable to hold — the ergonomic handle felt secure and sturdy in the hand. Thanks to the stainless steel blade's nonstick coating, even sticky foods slid off with ease. We found that this knife achieved precise cuts with ease, thanks to the durable blade that was consistently sharp from heel to tip. We had no problem peeling vegetables, cutting tomatoes or hulling strawberries, and our testers were pleasantly surprised at how functional and efficient this knife performed.
Best of all, this is an incredible value for the price. If you’re looking to stock up on a set of knives to help streamline your produce prep, this set from Kuhn Rikon is a great option.
- Blade Length 4 inches
- Blade Material Stainless steel
- Dishwasher-safe? Yes
What to Consider When Buying a Paring Knife
Size
Generally, paring knives range from three to four inches long. These smaller knives are made to be more nimble, so the handle of the knife is much smaller than that of a chef’s knife, too. The smaller size often lends itself to more control and precision, which makes paring knives the ideal option for quick tasks like peeling shallots or slicing lemons. Because they’re so much smaller than a standard chef’s knife, even a small difference in blade size from knife to knife can make a difference in efficiency. Before selecting a knife, consider if a short or longer knife is best for you. If you want to have complete control over your cuts, opt for a 3-inch knife. If you want to slice onions, limes and tomatoes, opt for a knife with a slightly longer 4-inch blade. By selecting a 3.5-inch blade, you’ll get the best of both.
Care & Cleaning
Before selecting a knife, consider how you plan to care for it. Some paring knives are dishwasher-safe, while others must be washed by hand. Pay attention to the manufacturer’s instructions before handling any knife, and keep in mind that most knives should be dried thoroughly and immediately after each use. If you don’t have a safe place to effectively store your knife, you may want to consider one that comes with a sheath for safer storage.
Price
Paring knives can vary greatly in price, so first determine how often you’ll use your knife and for what types of tasks. If you prepare produce frequently, it might be a good idea to invest in a long-lasting, heavy-duty option. If you’re looking for a knife to keep in your drawer for the occasional task, opt for a more affordable knife. Luckily there are many paring knives available at really affordable prices, so it’s a great idea to start with a cheaper knife and upgrade as needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do I need a paring knife?
A paring knife makes certain kitchen tasks much quicker and more efficient. Paring knives are much more nimble than large chef’s knives, so they’re a great option for tasks that require a bit more precision. Paring knives make it easier to peel vegetables like onions or shallots, and they make taking the tops of strawberries much easier. They provide an easy way to make small, precise cuts with minimal effort.
What types of paring knives are there?
Paring knives come in two styles, serrated or straight edge blades. Though serrated paring knives aren’t as common as straight paring knives, they’re fantastic for cutting small pieces of bread or slicing tomatoes. Paring knives can range in size, but they typically have a blade that measures between 3.25 inches and 4 inches long.
How do you sharpen and care for a paring knife?
You can sharpen and care for a paring knife the same way you sharpen and care for the other knives in your collection. Be mindful of the manufacturer’s instructions, and wash them accordingly — some paring knives can go in the dishwasher while others should be washed by hand. You can sharpen paring knives on a whetstone and keep the blade straight with a honing steel.
What's the best way to store a paring knife?
A paring knife should be stored the same way you store your other knives! You can either store it in a knife block, on a magnetic knife strip or in a drawer with a sheath. Knives should never be left in a drawer without some sort of protection to cover the blade.
