Ninja Knife Set 17 Piece: What You're Getting and Whether It's Worth It

Ninja is a brand most people associate with blenders and air fryers, not kitchen knives. So when a Ninja 17-piece knife set shows up in search results, a reasonable person wonders if it's a genuine quality option or just brand extension for the sake of it.

Here's an honest look at what you get with a 17-piece Ninja knife set, how the knives perform in practice, and who this kind of set actually suits.

What's Included in a 17-Piece Knife Set

The piece count in any large knife set includes more than just the knives. A typical 17-piece set usually breaks down like this:

8-inch chef's knife
8-inch slicing or carving knife
7-inch Santoku knife
6-inch utility knife
5-inch serrated utility knife
4-inch paring knife
6 to 8 steak knives
Honing/sharpening steel
Kitchen shears
Storage block

That math gets you to 17 pieces without much trouble. The actual cutting knives in that count are typically six or seven, with the rest being steak knives, the steel, shears, and the block.

This is worth knowing upfront because "17 pieces" sounds more impressive than "6 primary cooking knives plus accessories and steak knives." Both descriptions are accurate. Neither is deceptive. But understanding the composition helps you evaluate whether a set meets your actual needs.

How Ninja Knives Perform

Ninja positions their knives in the mid-range consumer market. The blades use stainless steel with reasonable hardness ratings for the price point. In day-to-day cooking, that means:

Sharpness out of the box: Generally good. Ninja knives arrive sharp enough for most home kitchen tasks.

Edge retention: Adequate for regular use. The steel isn't as hard as what you'd get from a dedicated knife brand like Wusthof or Shun, so the edge degrades faster with heavy use. Regular honing with the included steel makes a noticeable difference.

Balance and feel: This varies by model but Ninja generally produces knives with a moderate weight and reasonable balance. They're not as refined as European-style professional knives, but they're comfortable enough for extended prep sessions.

Steak knives: These tend to be the weakest element in large sets from any brand. The steak knives in most 17-piece sets are functional but not exceptional. If you entertain regularly and care about steak knife quality, dedicated steak knife sets from specialist brands will do better.

The Block and Storage

Most Ninja 17-piece sets come with a wooden block that holds all the knives plus the steel and shears. The blocks are generally sturdy enough and look fine on a counter.

One thing worth checking with any large block set: the slot angles and dimensions. Better blocks tilt the knives edge-up to reduce blade contact when inserting and removing. Cheaper blocks sometimes have slots that let the blade ride against wood, dulling the edge over time with regular use.

The block also takes up real counter space. A 17-piece set needs a reasonably sized block to accommodate everything, so measure your counter area before ordering if space is limited. If counter real estate is tight, a smaller Best Kitchen Knives setup might be more practical.

Who This Set Is For

A 17-piece Ninja knife set makes sense in a few scenarios:

First kitchen setup: If you're moving into your first apartment and need everything at once, a complete set at a reasonable price solves multiple problems simultaneously. You get knives, steak knives, shears, and a steel without having to track down each piece separately.

Replacing a worn-out set: If your current knives are past their prime and you want a fresh start without spending premium money, a mid-range 17-piece set covers the whole counter in one purchase.

Gifting: Large knife sets make appealing gifts because they look substantial and complete. For a couple setting up a home or a college student getting their own place, the "everything included" nature of a big set is genuinely useful.

Where this set probably isn't the right call: serious home cooks who already own good knives and want to upgrade specific pieces, or anyone who'd rather own three excellent knives than seventeen average ones.

Stainless Steel vs. German Steel vs. Japanese Steel

Knife marketing uses these terms in ways that can confuse buyers:

Stainless steel is a broad category. All modern kitchen knives use some form of stainless steel. The quality differences come from the specific alloy and hardness, not just the label.

German steel typically refers to softer, more flexible blade steel (around 56-58 HRC on the Rockwell hardness scale). German-style knives are easier to sharpen, more forgiving of rough use, and work well as all-purpose blades. Wusthof and Henckels are the benchmark brands.

Japanese steel is usually harder (60+ HRC), holds a finer edge longer, but can chip on dense items like bones or frozen food. It requires a bit more careful use and sharpening technique.

Mid-range sets from brands like Ninja typically use steel that falls somewhere in the German-style range without being made in Germany. That's entirely reasonable for everyday cooking.

Maintenance Makes More Difference Than Brand

Whatever knife set you own, how you care for it matters more than the brand on the blade.

Avoid the dishwasher. This applies to virtually every kitchen knife. Dishwashers combine harsh detergent, high heat, and blade contact in ways that accelerate dulling and can damage handles. Washing by hand takes seconds.

Use the honing steel. A honing steel doesn't sharpen knives. It realigns the microscopic edge that bends with use. Running your knife along the steel every few uses keeps it cutting cleanly between actual sharpenings.

Use a proper cutting board. Wood and plastic boards are gentle on edges. Glass, ceramic, and stone boards destroy edges quickly.

Store properly. A knife block, magnetic strip, or edge guards in a drawer all protect both the blade and your hands. Knives bouncing around loose in a drawer get dull fast.

If you follow these basics with a mid-range set, the knives will serve you well for years. If you ignore them, even expensive knives deteriorate quickly.

Comparing to Other 17-Piece Options

The 17-piece knife set category is crowded. You'll find options from Cuisinart, McCook, Home Hero, Chicago Cutlery, and dozens of other brands in addition to Ninja. At similar price points, the differences between them are often subtle.

A few things that actually differentiate sets:

Full-tang vs. Partial-tang blades: Full-tang construction (metal running the full length of the handle) is stronger and more durable. Check the product description.
Handle material: Composite and polymer handles tend to last longer than wood in wet kitchen environments. Triple-riveted handles are a traditional sign of quality construction.
Warranty: Some brands offer lifetime guarantees. Others offer one or two years. This matters if you plan to keep the set long-term.

For specific picks across brands and price ranges, the Top Kitchen Knives guide covers the best options in detail.

FAQ

Are Ninja knives dishwasher safe? Technically some are listed as dishwasher safe, but hand washing is always better for longevity. Dishwashers shorten the lifespan of any knife, including Ninja.

How do I know if a 17-piece set is worth the price? Check the per-knife cost when you strip out the accessories. If you're paying $80 for a set that includes 7 cooking knives, that's roughly $11 per knife, which is fair for entry-to-mid level steel. If you're paying $30 for the same, something had to give somewhere in the production.

Can I sharpen Ninja knives? Yes. They can be sharpened with a whetstone, electric sharpener, or pull-through sharpener. The included honing steel maintains the edge between sharpenings.

Do steak knives need to be sharpened? Serrated steak knives dull eventually but can go years before needing attention. Straight-edge steak knives need sharpening more often, similar to other kitchen knives.

Is 17 pieces too many for a small kitchen? If counter space is limited, a smaller set of four to six knives might be more practical. The block for a 17-piece set takes up meaningful counter space.

Final Take

A Ninja 17-piece knife set is a reasonable choice for someone setting up a kitchen, replacing an old set, or looking for a complete solution at a mid-range price. The knives perform adequately for everyday cooking, and having steak knives, shears, and a steel included means one purchase covers most bases.

Where they fall short is in edge retention compared to higher-hardness steel and in the refinement of balance and feel compared to premium German or Japanese knives. For serious cooks who want the best performance per knife, building a small collection of quality individual knives is a better long-term investment.

For everyone else, a complete 17-piece set from Ninja gets the job done.