10 Best Paring Knives of 2021

Paring knife is commonly used in all the kitchens for peeling and slicing purposes. These have plain edge thin blade that gives you precise cutting and peeling of the food items.

People often have it confused with a chef’s knife but the difference is in their size. A chef’s knife is larger than a paring knife.

Basically, a paring knife is needed in the kitchen for various complicated tasks such as peeling fruits and vegetables, detailed cutting, designing and cutting shapes of the food items, etc.

To be honest, a best paring knife will be million times more useful than all other kinds of knives sitting in your kitchen such as a bread knife, or a filleting knife. The reason is that paring knife is a utility tool that every kitchen direly requires.

Let’s begin with the search of paring knife for your kitchen.

• Blade Length: 3.5 inches
• Blade Material: High Carbon Stainless Steel
• Weight: 5.3 ounces

Mercer paring knife holds a prime position in our list. The blade of this knife is made of Japanese high carbon stainless steel. Let us tell you that Japanese steel is considered to be the sharpest steel in paring knives, making this knife extremely sharp.

The blade is 3.5 inches in size which gives you enough room to cut the large food items. Also, the razor sharp edge makes the knife more suitable for detailed cutting. The blade is made of one piece steel to ensure longevity and high performance of the knife.

Handle with this model is made of polypropylene which enhances the comfort of the knife, making it more suitable for longer usage. The knife will not slip or slide even if used wet due to the textured finger points feature.

This model is available at highly economical price, making it best budget paring knife in our list. The knife comes with limited lifetime warranty.

• Blade Length: 3.75 inches
• Blade Material: High Carbon German Steel
• Weight: 3.68 ounces

Dalstrong gladiator has got a full tang high carbon German steel 3.75 inches long blade which is capable of delivering highest level of performance. The knife is pretty sharp and give precise cutting of the food items.

The blade is hand polished at 18 degrees at each side and precisely tempered to stay away from corrosion and rusting. It is also engineered at 55 Rockwell hardness for added durability, flexibility and toughness.

Speaking of the handle, this model has got black pakkawood triple riveted handle of premium quality to ensure utmost comfort of the holder. Also, it gives best control and manoeuvrability.

You get 100% money back guarantee with this model if unsatisfied from the performance. The weight of the knife is suitable for longer usage. This one is a good paring knife for your kitchen and every day usage.

• Blade Length: 4 inches
• Blade Material: High Quality Stainless Steel
• Weight: 3.68 ounces

J.A Classic model is made with high quality German stainless steel to ensure utmost sharpness and performance. In order to enhance the durability, the blade is fully forged on both the sides and the satin finish boost the precision cutting.

Furthermore, the blade is finely honed for the long lasting performance. The ergonomic handle is triple riveted to provide utmost balance and comfort. Knife will not slip from your hand as the handle provides utmost grip.

The transition from the blade to handle gives great knuckle clearance, making this knife safe for usage. This model is ideal for shaping fruits and vegetables, cutting, peeling, etc. You will find it really economical.

The knife is dishwasher friendly but due to the high carbon steel, you are suggested to hand wash and dry the knife immediately. This will boost the longevity of the knife and also keep away from rusting.

• Blade Length: 3.25 inches
• Blade Material: High Quality Steel
• Weight: 2.4 ounces

Victorinox has given this multi-purpose straight edge paring knife with 3.25 inches long stainless steel blade. The best part is that the blade will not corrode or rust because it is made of stainless steel.

The blade is laser tested and tapered for the durability and high performance. Due to the high qualities of the blade, you can expect precision cutting, peeling, slicing, and related kitchen tasks with ease.

The polypropylene handle is the USP of this model as it gives optimum grip and comfort to the holder, without slipping away as you do the cutting tasks. The handle is also extremely durable and provide best balance and control to the hand.

This one is ideal for the intricate jobs such as peeling fruits & vegetables, trimming beans, dining and slicing, etc. making it a perfect kitchen paring knife for the users.

This model is available at a very economical price.

• Blade Length: 3.5 inches
• Blade Material: High Carbon Stainless Steel
• Overall Length: 8 inches
• Weight: 0.32 ounce

If you are looking for a high quality paring knife that can be used for multiple purposes then Zyliss paring knife is your product. This model is equipped with 3.5 inches high carbon stainless steel blade which will not rust, stain, or corrode even after years of usage.

The super sharp edge can be easily re-sharpened whenever you feel the need. This way, the durability and performance of the knife is ensured.

The blade opens up to the ergonomic soft touch handle with rubber grip. You will feel the handle extremely soft and comfortable as it reduced hand fatigue and offer excessive control.

This model comes with a protective sheath to store the knife when not in use. Also, the knife is dishwasher friendly but it is recommended to hand wash and dry instantly. This will boost the durability of the knife. It comes with 5 year guarantee from Zyliss.

• Blade Length: 3.5 inches
• Blade Material: Stainless Steel
• Overall Length: 8 inches
• Weight: 0.96 ounce

This model from B-Chef is a great purchase for all the buyers that are looking for a conveniently priced paring knife with splendid features. The 3.5 inches stainless steel blade has anti-rust properties to ensure durability of the knife. Also, it will not corrode or rust as well.

Re-sharpening of the blade is also super convenient. The BPA free plastic handle is good to hold when you need to chop or slice for longer duration. This makes everyday chopping more fun. Also, the handle gives optimum control and great grip to the hand and does not tire it at all.

To keep the knife concealed and away from moisture, there is a protective sheath that comes along with the product. This way, you can travel with the knife without worrying about any uncertain accidents due to the open blade.

This model is dishwash friendly and available at a very economical price. Also, you can enjoy lifetime warranty with the purchase.

• Blade Length: 2.75 inches
• Blade Material: High Carbon Stainless Steel
• Weight: 1.92 ounces

Wusthof paring knife has bird’s beak edge to offer best peeling and shape carving ability. The 2.75 inches high carbon steel blade has excessive sharpness to give best cutting. The blade is precision forged to ensure that the knife stay clear from rusting and corrosion.

The full tang blade is for the added durability and enhanced performance which opens up to full bolster or finger guard to keep the user protected as they use the knife.

Also, the handle of this model is full tang and triple riveted so that it does not break from between after continual usage. The grip and comfort is completely ensured and the knife is made to serve you for years.

This model is slightly expensive than its counterparts but its features justify the cost completely.

Note: This model is not dishwasher friendly. You can wash it with hand and mild soap and dry instantly to avoid corrosion and rusting of the knife.

• Blade Length: 3.5 inches
• Blade Material: High Carbon Stainless Steel
• Weight: 4 ounces

The Mercer knife is created with the 3.5 inches high carbon steel that comes with anti-corrosion and anti-rust properties. The blade is precision forged, making the knife durable and away from discoloration.

Due to the full tang property, this knife provides great balance to the user. The tapered ground edge ensures stability, easy honing, and sharpness of the knife.  There is a short bolster between the blade and the handle which keep the user’s hand safe as the knife is used.

The blade opens up to the ergonomic santoprene handle for utmost grip and comfort. Even if the hands are wet, the handle will not slide away. You can expect great performance from the handle as it can withstand temperature wear and tear.

This model is available with limited lifetime warranty and at a budget-friendly price.

• Blade Length: 3.5 inches
• Blade Material: AUS-10V Stainless Steel
• Weight: 4.8 ounces

Dalstrong Shogun is created with 3.5 inches long Japanese stainless steel blade with cutting core 62+ Rockwell hardness for guaranteed performance and durability. This one is a great Japanese paring knife that will not corrode or rust with time as it is forged with 66 layers of high carbon steel.

The full tang blade is hand finished and nitrogen cooled for extraordinary performance, robustness and edge retention. You will find this knife extremely helpful in the kitchen because it can replace your basic utility knife and offer you great help with all kind of cutting.

Coming to the handle, this model is equipped with G-10 military grade handle for life long durability. This one can offer superior hand control, comfort and agility.

You can enjoy lifetime warranty from Dalstrong and even money back guarantee if you are not satisfied with the product.

• Blade Length: 4 inches
• Blade Material: High Quality Stainless Steel
• Weight: 0.8 ounce

Lastly in the paring knife review we have, Victorinox paring knife available with straight 4 inches long blade which is made of high carbon steel for added sharpness and performance.

The blade is laser tested and tapered to ensure its longevity and maximum cutting performance. This model is ideal for garnishing, mincing, peeling, slicing, and dicing, pretty much all the kitchen related tasks.

The handle with this model is inspired from professional Fibrox pro line to ensure easy handling and comfort, even when the hand is wet. You will not feet fatigue or tiredness in the hand and enjoy optimum control over the knife.

This model is available with lifetime warranty against defects and workmanship. Available at an incredibly affordable price, this model is extremely suitable for your kitchen.

Types of Paring Knives

A paring knife is available in 3 different blade shapes or types. In order to pick the right knife, you must read on and find out more about these types:

1. Spear Tip

2. Bird’s Beak

It is not as commonly purchased as the straight edge knife but it quite useful for intricate cutting tasks.

3. Sheep’s Foot

So, these are different kinds of paring knives, making spear tip the best and most useful among all.

How to Buy the Best Paring Knives

There are various things to keep in mind while picking the right paring knife, just like any other kitchen knife. We would like to inform you about all the prime things and make it easy for you to select the model of your choice.

1. Full Tang

For those who don’t know, tang is the part that runs through the handle. Basically, a full tang knife is made of one piece steel that stretches from the blade and concludes at the end of the handle.

Why is it suggested to purchase full tang knife? Well it is because a full tang knife is more secure and durable.

Other knives with handle and blade stitched with one another are more susceptible to break from between. Such knives can cause accidents and these are also not ideal to tackle hard cutting and slicing tasks.

The knife may claim to be of highest quality but it is highly recommended to buy full tang ones to ensure optimum performance and durability.

2. Blade Material

From the two different types of blades available in paring knives, we will discuss each below with their benefits and shortcomings:

• High Carbon Stainless Steel : Well, most of the suggested models above are made of high carbon SS because this material is the superior most blade material with sharpest performance. However, the steel is more open to corrode and rust.
• Stainless Steel : While the stainless steel material can keep distance from rusting and corrosion, it is not as sharp as high carbon stainless steel.

You can increase the performance and durability of high carbon stainless steel blades by keeping them away from continual moisture exposure.

3. Handle

From the various assortments and combinations of handles available in the paring knives, it is suggested to pick that is durable, and does not slip away while giving you comfortable grip.

4. Weight

A heavy knife is always a trouble as it tires the hand quickly. It is important to pick a knife that is lightweight and gives you best control of the tool.

Conclusion

In this review of best paring knife, we have given the models that are ideally suitable for all kinds of buyers.

If you are looking for an inexpensive model then you have a choice between Mercer, Victorinox, and Zyliss. All these brands are offering great products at extremely affordable price.

But if high cost is not an issue then you must pick the Dalstrong Shogun which is one of the finest products in our list.

All these models are ensured of high quality making and performance. So, make your pick for the paring knife and enjoy effortless cutting.