Emeril Knife Set: An Honest Look at What You're Getting
Emeril Lagasse is one of the most recognizable names in American cooking. The knives bearing his name have been sold for years, and plenty of home cooks pick them up because the brand is familiar. Whether that makes them a good buy depends on what you're comparing them to.
If you already own a Wusthof or Victorinox set, an Emeril knife set won't be an upgrade. If you're starting from scratch and want a complete set at a reasonable price that comes with the credibility of a well-known chef's endorsement, Emeril sets have some genuine appeal. Let me walk through what's actually inside these sets so you can make an informed decision.
What You Need to Know About Emeril Knife Sets
Emeril brand kitchen products are licensed goods. Emeril himself designs dishes and champions brands in his TV appearances, but the knives are manufactured by established cookware companies (primarily Lifetime Brands in recent years). This is standard practice in the celebrity chef knife market, and it's not necessarily a problem. The question is whether the underlying product is any good.
The current Emeril knife sets use German stainless steel with a high-carbon content. Hardness typically falls around 55-58 HRC, which is in line with entry-to-mid level German-style knives. The blades are stamped rather than forged on the entry sets, which affects balance and long-term durability.
The Knife Sets Currently Available
Emeril sells kitchen knives primarily through department stores and big-box retailers. The lineup has changed over the years, so what's available varies. The most common sets include:
Emeril Everyday 14-Piece Knife Block Set
This is the set most people are considering when they search for Emeril knives. It typically includes an 8-inch chef's knife, an 8-inch bread knife, a 7-inch santoku, 5-inch utility knife, 3.5-inch paring knife, six steak knives, kitchen shears, a honing rod, and a wood block.
The chef's knife performs well for basic prep: dicing onions, slicing chicken breast, rough-chopping herbs. It won't hold an edge as long as a Wusthof Classic or Victorinox Fibrox Pro, but it's usable and the factory edge is sharp enough for immediate use.
The steak knives are a genuine plus of this set. Six steak knives in a set at this price point adds real everyday value for families who cook and serve beef regularly.
Emeril Pro Stainless Series
A step up in the lineup with slightly thicker blades and better handle ergonomics. Still stamped construction but heavier gauge steel. Available in 13-piece configurations. This series represents a noticeable improvement over the entry-level Everyday sets.
How Emeril Knives Compare to the Competition
Emeril vs. Victorinox Fibrox Pro
Victorinox makes the Fibrox Pro chef's knife, which is the benchmark for affordable, workhorse kitchen blades. Professional cooking schools buy them by the case. The Fibrox chef's knife alone costs around $40-$50 and outperforms most Emeril chef's knives at the same individual price.
If you're choosing between a complete Emeril set and buying individual Victorinox knives, consider that the Emeril set gives you more pieces for roughly comparable money, but the individual Victorinox knives edge out performance.
Emeril vs. Chicago Cutlery
Both are in the same price tier and similarly positioned as accessible home kitchen brands with celebrity or lifestyle marketing. Chicago Cutlery knives tend to have slightly thicker blades and a heavier feel. Emeril sets often include more pieces for the same price. Edge retention is comparable between the two.
Emeril vs. Wusthof Gourmet
Wusthof's Gourmet line (their entry-level stamped collection) overlaps in price with the upper end of Emeril. Wusthof's quality control and steel consistency is noticeably better. If you can stretch to a Wusthof Gourmet set, it's a better long-term investment than a comparable Emeril set.
The Block and Accessories
Emeril knife blocks are typically made from rubberwood or bamboo and are attractive enough for a countertop display. Slot counts are generous, usually 14-17 slots including spaces for the shears and rod.
The honing rod included in most sets is a plain steel rod, which is functional. However, a diamond or ceramic honing rod would be more appropriate for steel in the 55-58 HRC range, as it actually realigns and lightly sharpens the edge rather than just honing it.
Kitchen shears in Emeril sets are usually adequate but not exceptional. They disassemble for cleaning, which is a practical feature worth having.
Who Should Buy an Emeril Knife Set
These sets make the most sense for:
- First apartment or first kitchen: Good piece count, good enough performance for learning basic knife skills, low risk if you're not yet sure what you want in a knife.
- Budget gift for a home cook: The brand recognition means the recipient is likely to be pleased, and the sets look good in the box.
- Supplemental steak knives: If you specifically want a set that includes good steak knives alongside cooking knives, Emeril's packages are a practical choice.
Where Emeril sets make less sense is for a home cook who already owns decent knives and wants to upgrade. At the price point where Emeril sets live, there are better-performing options in every individual blade category.
For a comprehensive comparison of complete sets in this price range and above, the best kitchen knives guide is a useful starting point. If you're specifically looking to compare full sets, top kitchen knives covers performance testing across multiple brands.
Edge Retention and Sharpening
At 55-58 HRC, Emeril knives will dull faster than harder-steel knives but sharpen back up more easily. A pull-through sharpener works fine on them without damaging the edge geometry as it might on harder Japanese steel. A honing rod used weekly keeps the working edge aligned between sharpenings.
Plan to do a full whetstone sharpening every 6-12 months under normal home use. These aren't heirloom knives that you'll pass down after 30 years, but with basic maintenance they'll perform adequately for 5-10 years.
FAQ
Are Emeril knives dishwasher safe?
Emeril sets often carry a "dishwasher safe" claim, but I'd still hand wash them. Dishwashers accelerate handle degradation and edge dullness on any knife, including stainless ones. For a set you want to last, hand wash and dry.
Where are Emeril knives manufactured?
They are manufactured in China. The steel used is designated as German-style stainless, which refers to the steel specification rather than country of manufacture.
Are Emeril knives worth the money?
At full retail price ($80-$150 for a full set), they're decent value for a first set. On sale, which happens frequently, they represent good value for the piece count. At no price point are they the best-performing option dollar for dollar, but they're not bad knives.
Do professional chefs use Emeril brand knives?
No. The brand is a consumer product line rather than a professional tool. Emeril himself uses higher-end knives in professional contexts.
The Bottom Line
Emeril knife sets deliver a functional, complete kitchen knife collection at an accessible price. The brand name does some of the selling work, and the underlying product is reliable enough for everyday home cooking.
If you want the best possible performance at any given price point, you can do better. But if you want a complete, attractive set that works for routine meal prep without breaking the bank, an Emeril set is a defensible choice, especially on sale.