The 8 Best Cheese Knife Sets in 2023

Nothing elevates a socially distant gathering or solo night in like a homemade cheese board. Whether wine or beer is your drink of choice, nibbling cheese along with your libation always promises the perfect pairing for sipping and snacking at home—and what better way to elevate a hand-curated cheese platter than a solid set of cheese knives?

We cut, sliced and tested a handful of cutlery to narrow down the best options for using with homemade cheese boards. In the end, Laguiole's 3-Piece Cheese Knife Set came out on top.

Here, our top picks for the best cheese knife sets on the market, no matter what your preferred style—or budget—may be.

Best Overall: Laguiole 3-Piece Cheese Knife Set

Courtesy of Crate and Barrel

They say that the French do cheese best, and when it comes to cheese cutlery, they’ve got that down too. Best known for its highly regarded steak knives, Laguiole’s Three-Piece Cheese Knife Set doesn’t disappoint. This gorgeous three-piece set features a spreader, pronged cheese knife and cheese cleaver, all made with stainless steel blades with a metallic finish.

We love these knives for their thin, ergonomic handles, as well as the fact that they're dishwasher-safe (Laguiole recommends steering clear of citrus-scented detergents to avoid damaging the products). For those looking for a softer look than steel, we recommend checking out the Laguiole Mini Cheese Set in Ivory (view at Laguiole's site).

Best Budget: Farberware 4-Piece Cheese Knife Set

Courtesy of Amazon

Who says you can’t elevate your cheese board on a budget? This four-piece multicolored set from Farberware gets the job done for less than 10 bucks (more money to spend on the actual cheese, right?) This affordable set comes with a spade knife, fork, serrated fork and cheese wedge in yellow, orange, blue and green colors. All of the knives are resin-coated stainless steel and provide an easy, comfortable grip. Each knife is dishwasher safe, making cleanup at home a breeze.

Best Bamboo: Zulay Kitchen Bamboo Cheese Board and Knife Set

Courtesy of Amazon

In a sea of bamboo platter options, we found that Zulay Kitchen’s offering is one of the best. This multi-faceted cheese board comes equipped with four pieces of stainless steel cutlery that conveniently tuck into the platter’s hidden tray. Note: Zulay Kitchen’s stainless steel cutlery is equipped with bamboo handles to match the board.

Best of all, the platter is crafted with four non-slip supports under its base, making it friendly for large gatherings and a variety of spaces. The set includes one cheese spade (for hard cheeses), one spreader (soft cheeses), one serving fork (medium to hard cheeses and meats), and one fork. Easy to clean, easy to store and a lifetime guarantee—what more could you want?

Related: The Best Cheese Boards

Best Marble: Pottery Barn White Marble Cheese Knives (Set of 4)

Courtesy of Pottery Barn

Marble cheese knives are some of the most aesthetically pleasing choices out there, and this four-pack set from Pottery Barn is no exception. Equipped with a wide spade, spreader, fork and pronged knife, these beautiful tools are crafted from high-grade stainless steel and are reminiscent of vintage pieces from Napa Valley.

Each knife’s handle is polished in white and gray marble tones and promises to match with a variety of plates and dishware. For a marble and brass option, check out this set of marble and brass cheese knives.

Best Slate: Brooklyn Slate Company Cheese Board Starter Kit

Courtesy of Brooklyn Slate Co

What’s a set of cheese knives without a high-quality slate? After scouring the many cheese slate options out there, we found that Brooklyn Slate Company’s offerings are some of the best—and its Cheese Board Starter Kit will provide you with all you need. This starter kit features a natural slate cheese board, one hand-carved maple wood cheese knife, one pack of soapstone pencils for labeling and one bottle of mineral oil for maintaining the “look and integrity” of the board, according to the company.

Brooklyn Slate Company’s cheese slate is also dishwasher friendly. The company sources its slate from upstate New York and crafts its products to be impervious to fungus and mold. Each hand-cut board is at least ⅜-inch thick, which, according to the company, makes them “stronger than most plates and sturdy enough to withstand commercial dishwashers.” Personalized monogramming options are available.

Related: The Best Wine Glasses

Best for Soft Cheese: BOSKA Cheese Knife Set Mini Copenhagen

Courtesy of Amazon

If you love soft cheeses, then this one’s for you. BOSKA’s four-piece Mini Copenhagen set promises to cover all of your needs (and its miniature size makes it perfect for apartment living). While the set does include a Hard Cheese Knife Mini, the three other knives (Cheesy Mini, Presentation Mini and Spreading Mini) are perfect for soft to semi-hard cheeses. If you’re looking for an affordable jack-of-all-trades, this set’s your go-to.

Best of all, BOSKA’s set clocks in at just under around $25 and comes with a 10-year guarantee. The knives are also dishwasher safe, lightweight and perfect for gifting. Who could say no to this sleek, ultra-useful set?

Related: The Best Paring Knives

Best Design: Wüsthof 3-Piece Plum Charcuterie and Cheese Set

Courtesy of Amazon

Wüsthof has long held a high reputation for its knives’ quality craftsmanship and design, and this well-rounded three-piece set is proof. It includes one soft cheese knife, one sausage knife (equally good for hard cheeses) and one pâté knife, similar to many of the spreaders we’ve recommended above.

Each of Wüsthof’s knives is created with a riveted plum wood handle and high-carbon stainless steel blade. Whether charcuterie, cheese or a combination of the two are on the menu, you can’t go wrong with this set. Produced in Solingen, Germany. (Note: The sausage knife comes serrated, which makes it equally ideal for slicing into crusty baguettes.)

Best Splurge: Cutco 2-Piece Cheese Knife Set

Courtesy of Amazon

Cutco has been America’s No. 1 brand for high-quality cutlery for over 50 years, and although its products are a bit pricey, the splurge is well worth it. Each of Cutco’s knives is crafted from high-carbon stainless steel and equipped with thermo-resin ergonomic handles, making them both easy and comfortable to use. The products are entirely made in the USA and are perfect for both left- and right-handed users.

Cutco’s strong and solid edges create smooth, clean cuts every time; we have to say, the cheese does quite literally fall from the rind while cutting. Although the knives are dishwasher safe, the brand advises that you hand-wash and hand-dry them right away to preserve the integrity of the knives.

Related: The Best Bar Sets

Final Verdict

Overall, we find that Laguiole’s quality-to-price ratio offers the best product and experience out of the list. We love these knives for their ergonomic handles and sleek appearance (view at Amazon). For those looking for a quick fix, Boska’s Mini Copenhagen set is one of our favorites, as it includes four knives (sets around the same price from other companies generally include three), and it clocks in at less than $25 (view at Amazon).

FAQs

How sharp are cheese knives?

Serrated cheese knives, as well as cheese knives with a point, tend to be on the sharper side because they are generally used for harder cheeses. On the other hand, flat spreaders and soft cheese knives tend to be less sharp. However, keep in mind that flat spreaders and soft cheese knives are still meant for slicing, so use with caution!

Do you have to get cheese knives sharpened?

Depending on how often they are used, most professionals say that cheese knives should be sharpened every one to two years, though this of course depends on the quality and model of the knife, as well as how often it is used.

How do you clean and care for cheese knives?

Although most cheese knives are dishwasher friendly, the majority of cheese knife manufacturers will advise hand-washing and hand-drying cheese knives to preserve the integrity of the product.

How long do cheese knives last?

When cared for properly (hand-washed, regularly sharpened), cheese knives can last a lifetime. In fact, many high-quality producers will offer a lifetime guarantee (including Zulay, above), as well as complimentary sharpening (such as Cutco).

Why Trust Liquor.com?

Vicki Denig's writing has appeared in Decanter, Departures, Food & Wine and Wine Enthusiast. She has contributed to Liquor.com since 2020. Splitting her time between New York and Paris, she is a certified wine specialist and has worked in the wine trade since 2013.

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