Our Table Knife Set: What Makes a Great Everyday Cutlery Set

Finding a knife set that actually meets the demands of everyday cooking is harder than it sounds. The market is full of options at every price point, and marketing claims are often impossible to evaluate without picking up the knives yourself. The "Our Table" brand sold at Target has become a popular option for people setting up or upgrading their kitchen on a reasonable budget.

This guide looks at what makes a good everyday table knife set, what Our Table brings to the kitchen, and how to figure out whether it's the right fit for you.

What Is Our Table?

Our Table is a Target house brand focused on kitchen and dining products. The line covers cookware, bakeware, kitchen tools, and cutlery at accessible price points. The design aesthetic is clean and contemporary, meant to appeal to people setting up apartments and homes who want something that looks good without requiring a large investment.

The knife sets in the Our Table line are positioned as everyday kitchen cutlery, not professional-grade tools. That framing matters because it sets appropriate expectations for performance and durability.

What Comes in a Typical Our Table Knife Set

Our Table knife sets vary in configuration, but most include:

Chef's knife: The primary cutting tool for most cooking tasks
Santoku knife: An alternative all-purpose knife with a different blade profile
Bread knife: Serrated edge for loaves and pastries
Utility knife: Smaller than a chef's knife, useful for medium-sized tasks
Paring knife: Small blade for precise work like peeling and trimming
Steak knives: Often 4-6 individual knives for dining
Kitchen shears: Dual-purpose scissors for food prep
Knife block or storage solution: Varies by set

Larger sets include more pieces, sometimes up to 12 or more when you count all the steak knives individually.

The Steel Question

Most affordable knife sets at Target's price point use stainless steel that's been stamped rather than forged. This matters because:

Forged knives are made from a single piece of steel that's heated and shaped, producing a denser, harder blade that holds an edge better and typically has a bolster (the thick section between blade and handle).

Stamped knives are cut from a sheet of steel and then ground into shape. They're lighter, less expensive to manufacture, and don't have a bolster. The steel is often slightly softer.

For everyday home cooking, stamped knives work fine. You'll sharpen them more often than you would forged knives, but they cut effectively when maintained properly.

Handle Design and Comfort

Our Table knives generally feature handles made from materials like POM (polyoxymethylene), which is a common hard plastic used in affordable cutlery. The handles are designed to feel comfortable during normal kitchen tasks, though they won't have the ergonomic refinement of handles on higher-end brands.

The riveted handle design (three metal rivets through the handle) is a common aesthetic in this price range that mimics the look of more expensive European-style knives.

Grip comfort is subjective. If you have larger hands, some budget knife handles feel too narrow or too short. Reading reviews specifically mentioning handle size can help you assess fit before buying.

How Our Table Compares to Other Budget Options

At a similar price range, you'll find knife sets from brands like Cuisinart, Farberware, and various Amazon brands. These are all in roughly the same tier.

The Our Table line differentiates itself mainly through design. The color options (some sets come in colors like light gray or cream) appeal to people who care about kitchen aesthetics as much as function.

Performance-wise, most honest reviewers note that Our Table knives perform well out of the box, feel balanced for everyday cutting tasks, and are easy to maintain with a honing rod and occasional sharpening.

What Buyers Actually Say

Reading through reviews for kitchen knife sets at this price point reveals consistent themes:

Positive feedback tends to highlight: - Sharp right out of the box - Good value for the price - Attractive design and good color options - The included block looks good on the counter

Common criticisms include: - The edge doesn't hold as long as expected without regular honing - Some sets have softer steel that chips more easily than expected - The knife block can be awkward to fill and pull from

These are honest tradeoffs that apply to most knife sets in this category.

Getting the Most from a Budget Knife Set

Any knife set, regardless of price, performs better with proper care. A few things that matter:

Use a honing rod regularly. A honing rod (also called a sharpening steel) doesn't actually remove metal the way a whetstone does. Instead, it realigns the microscopic edge of the blade. Running your knives over it every few uses keeps them performing better for longer between actual sharpenings.

Hand wash and dry immediately. Dishwashers dull knife edges faster, period. The combination of high heat, harsh detergents, and blade-to-blade contact during the wash cycle adds up quickly.

Use an appropriate cutting surface. Soft plastic or wood cutting boards are gentle on edges. Glass, ceramic, and stone surfaces destroy knife edges quickly.

Store knives properly. A knife block, magnetic strip, or blade guards protect the edges and prevent dangerous loose blades in drawers.

When to Upgrade

An affordable knife set like Our Table can serve you well for years. You'll know it's time to think about upgrading when:

You're sharpening the blades frequently and they dull quickly again
You notice the steel feels soft (it flexes slightly when cutting rather than feeling rigid)
You want a specific type of performance, like the very thin, hard edge of a Japanese knife

At that point, buying a single high-quality chef's knife from a brand like Victorinox, Wusthof, or Global often makes more sense than buying another full set.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Our Table knives good quality? For the price, yes. They're well-suited for everyday home cooking. They're not professional-grade knives, but they'll handle the typical tasks home cooks perform without issue when maintained properly.

Can Our Table knives go in the dishwasher? Some are listed as dishwasher safe, but hand washing significantly extends the life of any knife. The dishwasher dulls edges faster and can damage handles over time.

How many pieces do you actually need? Most home cooks get by with a chef's knife, a paring knife, and a bread knife. If you buy a large set, you'll likely use three to four of the pieces regularly and the rest only occasionally.

What's the best way to sharpen these knives? A pull-through sharpener works well for occasional home users who want a quick fix. For better results, a whetstone at around 1000/3000 grit gives you more control and a better edge. Using a honing rod between sharpenings extends the time between whetstone sessions.

Does the knife block take up a lot of counter space? Most knife blocks in sets like this occupy roughly a 5 by 8 inch footprint. If counter space is tight, a wall-mounted magnetic strip is a space-efficient alternative.

Is it worth buying a knife set or individual knives? A set is more cost-effective if you genuinely need multiple knives. If you want to invest more carefully, buying a single excellent chef's knife and adding pieces over time gives you better quality control.

Final Thoughts

The Our Table knife set is a solid choice for people setting up a kitchen on a reasonable budget who want something that looks good and works reliably for everyday cooking. It's not going to compete with premium European or Japanese brands, but it doesn't need to for most home cooking situations.

With proper care, regular honing, and a gentle hand with the sharpener, a set like this gives you years of reliable service.