Let’s be honest: shopping for kitchen knives can be a tad overwhelming. You’re faced with chef’s knives, paring knives, santoku, serrated, boning knives, steak knives, utility blades and more— and unless you're a pro, it’s easy to wonder:
“Do I really need all of these?”
At Nuovva, we’re here to simplify things. Because while you don’t need a drawer full of specialist tools, the right knife makes every task smoother, faster, and more satisfying.
In this guide, we’ll help you figure out:
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Which knives you’ll actually use
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and What makes each one different
We’re cutting through the fluff — just honest advice, useful tips, and a nudge toward better (and beautiful) tools.
Meet Your Kitchen Heroes:
Chef’s Knife — Your Everyday Workhorse
If you’re only buying one knife, make it a chef’s knife. This is the ultimate all-rounder —perfect for chopping vegetables, slicing meats, crushing garlic, and prepping herbs.
It typically has a broad, slightly curved blade that makes it easy to rock back and forth as you cut — giving you rhythm and control.
Our Nuovva stainless steel chef’s knives are sharp, well-balanced, and made for daily use — a must-have for both beginners and seasoned home cooks.
Best for: Daily chopping, slicing, dicing & mincing
Santoku Knife — Precision Meets Style
Originally from Japan, the Santoku knife has a straighter edge and a slightly shorter, wider blade than a chef’s knife. It’s fantastic for clean, precise slicing — especially for vegetables, herbs, and fish.
You’ll love its light feel and how it handles delicate work without crushing or tearing.
The ergonomic handle ensures it’s a knife that feels just as good as it looks.
🔪 Best for: thin slicing, chopping soft produce, fish filleting
Paring Knife — The Little One With Big Talent
Don’t underestimate this small but mighty blade. A paring knife is ideal for peeling fruit, trimming fat, or any detail work where a big knife would be clumsy.
The Nuovva paring knife comes with a sharp point and a comfortable ergonomic grip — you’ll find yourself reaching for it daily.
🧄 Tip: A good paring knife makes garlic prep and even snack slicing quicker and neater.
Serrated/Bread Knife — Gentle on Soft Surfaces
Soft bread, crusty sourdough, ripe tomatoes — the serrated bread knife handles them all without crushing or tearing. It glides through food with a gentle sawing motion and is surprisingly versatile. Also handy for cutting cakes and pastries neatly. Every home baker or brunch-lover needs one.
🎂Best for: Breads, cakes, and slippery tomatoes
Slicing Knife — Sleek and Made for Carving
A slicing knife has a long, narrow blade designed for carving cooked meats like turkey, roast beef, or ham. It creates clean, even slices with minimal effort — making it a must-have for hosting and holidays. If you love serving beautiful slices (not shredded messes), this knife will be your secret weapon.
🥩Best for: Carving meats or prepping for presentation
Utility Knife — The Everyday Backup
Sitting right between a chef’s knife and a paring knife, the utility knife is perfect for all those “in-between” jobs.
Think slicing cheese, prepping sandwiches, chopping fruit, or slicing cold meats — a reliable go-to when your chef’s knife feels too big and your paring knife feels too small.
🧀 Best for: Everyday snacking, sandwich prep, and cheese boards
Boning Knife — For the Detail-Oriented
The boning knife is slim, sharp, and slightly flexible — perfect for trimming fat, removing bones from meat or fish, or working around joints.
If you cook a lot of meat or enjoy experimenting with whole cuts, this knife gives you control and confidence.
🦴 Best for: Meat prep, filleting fish, or trimming fat
So... How Many Knives Do I Really Need?
If you’re just starting out, we recommend these three:
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Chef’s Knife – the all-rounder for 90% of tasks
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Paring Knife – for detail work and smaller ingredients
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Bread Knife – for anything soft, crusty, or crumbly
From there, you can build up depending on your cooking style. Many of our Nuovva knife sets include these three and more — all in a matching design, with ergonomic handles and gift-ready packaging.
Knife Care to Keeps Things Sharp
Proper care keeps your knives sharper, safer, and looking great.
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Always hand wash and dry — dishwashers can dull blades and damage handles
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Store them safely — in a knife block, magnetic strip, or individual guards
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Sharpen regularly — a honing rod or professional sharpener works wonders, shop Nuovvas fabulous steel kitchen knife sharpener
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Use the right cutting surface — wood or plastic boards protect the edge
🎁 Give the Gift of a Better Kitchen
Whether you're shopping for a housewarming, wedding, or new home gift, a beautifully boxed knife set is both thoughtful and practical.
Our Nuovva knife gift sets combine style, performance, and packaging that feels premium — with tools that get used every single day.
The Nuovva Promise
At Nuovva, we believe every home cook deserves better tools — the kind that make prepping quicker, slicing cleaner, and cooking feel like second nature.
That’s why we design knives that blend:
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Durability (hello, quality stainless steel)
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Comfort (ergonomic handles, perfect balance)
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Design flair (our knives look as good as they feel)
Let’s make prep time the part of the day you look forward to.
