Farberware 14 Piece Knife Set: A Practical Look at What You're Getting

The Farberware 14 piece knife set shows up frequently in budget knife searches because it packs a lot of pieces at a low price. If you're looking at one right now, you're probably wondering whether the quantity justifies the quality or whether you'd be better off spending slightly more on a smaller, sharper set. The honest answer: the Farberware 14 piece is a serviceable starter set for new households, renters, and college apartments, but it's not a long-term solution for a cook who cares about performance.

Here's a full breakdown of what's in the set, how the knives actually perform, what the limitations are, and who should and shouldn't buy it.

What's Included in a Farberware 14 Piece Knife Set

The exact pieces vary slightly by SKU, but a standard Farberware 14 piece set typically includes:

  • 8-inch chef's knife
  • 8-inch bread knife (serrated)
  • 8-inch slicing knife
  • 7-inch santoku knife
  • 5.5-inch prep knife
  • 4-inch paring knife
  • 4-inch utility knife
  • 6 steak knives
  • Kitchen shears
  • Knife block

That's 13 blades plus shears, all stored in a wood knife block with room for extra knives. The block typically has 13 slots plus a shears slot.

Build Quality and Materials

Farberware uses high-carbon stainless steel on most of their knife lines, which is a reasonable choice for budget knives. The steel is functional but not particularly hard, usually sitting around 52 to 55 on the Rockwell scale. For comparison, premium German knives like Wusthof Classic run around 58, and Japanese knives often start at 60 or higher.

What this means practically: Farberware knives are easy to sharpen because the steel is soft, but they also lose their edge faster. You'll likely need to run them through a sharpener every few weeks if you cook daily.

Handle Construction

The handles are a synthetic material, usually polypropylene or a similar polymer. They're comfortable enough for most tasks, but the blade-to-handle connection is a partial tang on most pieces, not full tang. This isn't a disaster for light use, but it limits the long-term durability compared to full-tang alternatives.

The handles are smooth on most versions, which can be slippery when wet. Some people add a grip texture sleeve or just dry their hands before cutting.

Performance in the Kitchen

Chef's Knife

The 8-inch chef's knife is the most important piece in any set, and Farberware's is competent rather than impressive. Out of the box it's reasonably sharp for basic prep work. Chopping onions, slicing tomatoes, rough-cutting vegetables, and portioning boneless chicken all go fine.

Where it falls short is on precision tasks and harder produce. Butternut squash, for example, requires a sharper or heavier blade than the Farberware chef's knife provides comfortably. After a few months of regular use, you'll notice the edge dulling faster than with a pricier knife.

Santoku

The 7-inch santoku performs similarly to the chef's knife. It's a decent vegetable slicer and works well for home cooks who prefer the lighter, flatter profile of a santoku over a curved Western chef's knife.

Bread Knife

Probably the best piece in the set. Serrated knives are hard to ruin, and Farberware's bread knife cuts through loaves cleanly. The serrations hold up better than the straight-edge blades over time.

Steak Knives

Six steak knives for the dinner table are a practical inclusion. They're serviceable for cutting meat at the table, though like the other blades they'll dull faster than higher-end options.

Shears

The included kitchen shears are surprisingly good for the price. They open herbs, cut pizza, and handle chicken prep adequately.

Who Should Buy This Set

The Farberware 14 piece makes sense if:

  • You're furnishing a first apartment or college kitchen
  • You need a functional, no-fuss setup for less than $60
  • You cook occasional simple meals and don't consider yourself a serious cook
  • You want steak knives included (most budget-friendly starter sets skip them)
  • You're buying for a rental property that needs a serviceable kitchen setup

For a comparison of what else is available in this price range, our Best Kitchen Knives guide covers options at multiple budget levels. Our Top Kitchen Knives roundup also shows what experienced home cooks tend to choose once they outgrow a starter set.

Who Should Skip It

If you cook 5 or more times per week, invest in better knives. A $100 to $150 budget gets you a significantly better chef's knife, santoku, bread knife, and paring knife from brands like Victorinox, J.A. Henckels, or Cuisinart Graphix. You won't need six steak knives or a slicing knife to get started.

Also skip this set if you value Japanese knife performance or cook a lot of delicate or precise work. The soft stainless steel won't hold the geometry required for fish butchery, fine brunoise, or anything that requires a truly sharp edge maintained over time.

Maintenance and Longevity

The Farberware set will last longer if you follow basic care rules that apply to all knife sets:

Hand wash only. Even if the packaging says dishwasher safe, don't do it. Dishwasher heat and detergent dull edges and corrode blade-handle connections faster. A quick hand wash takes 30 seconds.

Dry before storing. Wet knives left in a block can develop rust spots, especially along the spine where water pools.

Sharpen regularly. A pull-through sharpener used every 2 to 3 weeks extends the working life significantly. Farberware sells their own sharpeners but any decent pull-through works.

Don't store loose in drawers. The included block is adequate. Use it.

With reasonable care, this set lasts 3 to 5 years in a moderate-use household. After that, the blades may be too short from repeated sharpening or the handles may start to loosen.

FAQ

Is the Farberware 14 piece knife set dishwasher safe?

Some SKUs are marketed as dishwasher safe, but hand washing is strongly recommended regardless. Dishwashers accelerate dulling, corrode the handles, and loosen partial-tang connections faster than hand washing.

How does it compare to a Cuisinart or Chicago Cutlery set at a similar price?

They're comparable in quality. Chicago Cutlery tends to have slightly better handle ergonomics. Cuisinart has several sets in this range with better steel hardness ratings. The Farberware wins on quantity per dollar, especially with the steak knife inclusion.

Can you sharpen Farberware knives?

Yes, easily. The soft stainless steel is very responsive to pull-through electric sharpeners and manual sharpening rods. They sharpen quickly, but they also dull quickly for the same reason.

What block does it come with?

Most versions include a wood knife block with 13 to 16 slots. The specific block varies by SKU and retailer. Some versions come with a white or natural finish block, others a darker hardwood.

Conclusion

The Farberware 14 piece knife set delivers on its promise: a complete kitchen knife setup at a low price. It's not going to satisfy a serious cook or last a lifetime, but it outfits a kitchen quickly and handles everyday cooking without complaints. Buy it for a first apartment or as a functional gift for someone setting up a new kitchen. If you cook regularly and care about sharpness and precision, budget a little more for a smaller set with better steel, you'll be happier with it long term.