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Best Paring Knife 2023: 5+ Detailed Reviews

Best Paring Knife 2023: 5+ Detailed Reviews

Top 5 Best Paring Knives 2023:

  1. Victorinox 6.7733, Black 4 Inch Swiss Classic Paring Knife with Serrated Edge, Spear Point, 4″
  2. Victorinox 6.7631, 3.25″ Paring, Red
  3. DALSTRONG Paring Knife – Gladiator Series Paring Knife – German HC Steel – 3.5″
  4. Mercer Culinary Millennia 3.5-Inch Paring Knife
  5. Zyliss 31325 Classic Paring Knife Set, 4″, Red/Green

When it comes to your collection of kitchen knives, apart from the utility knife, there is another type that stands out for its versatility and usefulness: the paring knife.

It is unrivaled for precise and delicate tasks, and it offers a high level of control because of its smaller size – and that’s precisely what you need sometimes (e.g., when you’re peeling fruit).

It is likely that you will reach for your paring knife almost every day, so you don’t want to get one that will become dull easily, or, even worse – break.

The market is crawling with smaller types of knives, and they aren’t even all made to be paring knives.

We created the list to help you find the best paring knife that will suit your needs, without any pink-colored eyeglasses, based on our research and findings.


5 Best Paring Knives In 2023: Detailed Reviews

1. Victorinox 6.7733, Black 4 Inch Swiss Classic Paring Knife with Serrated Edge, Spear Point, 4″ – Best Overall

Image Credit: Amazon.com

When in need of an all-purpose paring knife that you can always use, even for some professional chef’s tasks, there’s hardly a better choice than the Victorinox 6.7733 paring knife.

After testing it out, we fell in love with all of its aspects, and we’ll try to present them to you today.

It aced all of the tests with flying colors – a lot of mincing, peeling, slicing, dicing, even garnishing.

The short blade allows perfect accuracy and precision for those jobs where control is crucial, and the serrated edge makes it even easier to slice through anything that you need. 

If you prefer a straight blade to the serrated one, though, you can also buy the straight model. The efficiency stays the same; the difference is only in terms of style.

And now, let’s touch upon the aesthetical part. 

The knife comes in seven vivid color variants that aren’t what you would call “elegant,” but they are rather vibrant and modern. It all depends on you whether you like that or not – we did. Also, if you’re not in the mood for vivid colors, you can get the black variant that will blend into any kitchen.

The contoured Swiss Classic handle is a trademark of Victorinox’s patented Fibrox Pro line that is one of the most ergonomically designed and secure grips out there, even when your hands are wet.

We didn’t even doubt it – this durable knife by this reputable brand comes with a lifetime warranty, which is a true testimony to its quality.

Pros

  • Excellent value for the price
  • Razor-sharp
  • Dishwasher-safe
  • Lightweight
  • Slices everything with ease

Cons

  • We couldn’t find any!

2. DALSTRONG Paring Knife – Gladiator Series Paring Knife – German HC Steel – 3.5″ – Premium Pick

Image Credit: Amazon.com

When you imagine a high-end paring knife, something that comes to your mind probably looks like the Dalstrong paring knife. We consider it essential for every professional cook out there, but it is also an excellent choice for all of you who care about their cutlery.

This knife is our pick from the company’s Gladiator Series, awarded for its premium design. It’s no wonder – the knife really looks amazing.

More importantly, its performance and functionality do not fall behind the impressive design.

Made of imported high-carbon German steel with a hand-polished edge (at 14-16 degrees on each side), it promises an incredibly sharp paring knife. There will be minimal slicing resistance, no matter what you’re cutting.

The added chromium is there for stain resistance and easy maintenance of the knife.

Its blade is brought to perfection at 56+ index of Rockwell hardness. Did we mention that it has a shiny, satin finish?

On top of that, the triple-riveted ergonomic handle is extra-durable and perfectly weighted in order for the knife to handle both heavy-duty and delicate tasks. 

You also get a beautiful water-resistant sheat with Dalstrong’s logo with the purchase, which is a nice bonus.

There is a serrated version of this paring knife if that’s what you’re looking for, and you can also get it in a 3-piece set.

The manufacturers offer a money-back guarantee, but we don’t believe that anyone will need it. Still, we wanted to mention it as additional proof that they thought about everything!

Pros

  • Exceptional packaging
  • Luxurious design
  • Hand-polished edge
  • Full-tang
  • High-quality steel
  • Rust-resistant
  • Easy to sharpen and clean

Cons

  • A bit heavier than your standard paring knife

3. Mercer Culinary Millennia 3.5-Inch Paring Knife – Budget-Friendly Pick

Image Credit: Amazon.com

Our budget-friendly pick is not the prototype of a paring knife in the sense that it is a tiny tad narrower. Still, we believe everyone should own one of these! It is incredibly cheap, and yet, it will make a valuable addition to your cutlery.

Let’s dissect it so that we can show you why we think that.

First and foremost, its 3.5-inch size is an ideal fit for garnishing and peeling jobs. And should we even emphasize how compact it is? This knife will fit anywhere that you want, and its portability is further enhanced if you get it with a high-quality Mercer sheat for this knife.

Its comfortable ergonomic handle is made of a combination of Santoprene (that accounts for a very nice feel) and polypropylene (that enhances its durability). Due to the textured finger points, you can rest assured that there will be no slips of the knife.

However, we must emphasize that this choice of materials does not make a tool that is compatible with the dishwasher, and it can easily get damaged. Considering its other features, this is not a high price to pay, but we thought that you deserve a heads-up!

As for the blade, it is made of the highest-quality traditional Japanese steel that is always among our favorite picks when it comes to knives. It is easy to sharpen, and it is very precise and efficient. It has indentations that prevent the food from sticking to the knife.

Pros

  • Excellent handle
  • High-quality steel
  • Sharp edge
  • Lifetime warranty

Cons

  • Should not be washed in the dishwasher; thus, a little bit more difficult to maintain than some other picks

4. Victorinox 6.7631, 3.25″ Paring, Red – The Most Versatile

Image Credit: Amazon.com

Victorinox pushes things a little bit further with their series of paring knives, and the fact that this is our second pick from their line proves it.

This is the sibling of our best overall pick, the 6.7733 paring knives, and it has a few different properties to its successor.

The most notable one is its shape. While the 6.7733 has the rounded end of the knife, this one has the standard, pointed one.

The tip doesn’t make a lot of difference, to be honest, but the sharp tip can come in handy for some purposes. For instance, you can use it when deveining shrimps for lifting out the vein.

So, if you need the best knife for that and similar cleaning tasks (trimming the stems and leaves of Brussels sprouts, removing the ribs of some veggies, etc.), this is the best paring knife for you.

Apart from the different tips, most of the other characteristics of this knife are similar to what we’ve described.

So, it’s the same contoured Swiss Classic handle that enables full control and precision, accompanied by the world-renowned blade that makes this knife optimized for both home and professional use.

Hand washing is recommended, but there will be no damage if you decide to wash it in your dishwasher every now and then. This is one of the most durable knives we’ve come across, and it won’t rust over time.

The stainless steel 3-¼-inch blade is as sharp as a razor, and we have no bad words about it. We can just sing praises to how efficient it is.

You’re covered under a lifetime warranty, just like with all other Victorinox knives.

The name of the game here is versatility – and that’s what you want of an excellent paring knife.

Pros

  • Durable steel
  • Rust-resistant
  • Versatile
  • Sleek design

Cons

  • A bit more difficult to sharpen than our other picks

5. Zyliss 31325 Classic Paring Knife Set, 4″, Red/Green – The Best Set of Knives

Image Credit: Amazon.com

We are used to Zyliss manufacturing the most exciting and innovative knives, and this is their take on paring knives.

What you get with this purchase is not only an excellent and attractive paring knife – but you get a set of two! There is a green knife with a straight edge and the red one with a serrated edge.

So, for an incredibly low price, you get a pack of everything that you need when it comes to paring knives.

Made of high-carbon stainless steel, the blade is somewhat longer than a usual paring-knife blade (4 inches), but it is unnoticeable and does not affect its performance in any way.

With these two, you’ll be able to cut, slice, and peel off fruits and vegetables at incredible ease.

The hand fatigue is minimized with a comfortable soft-touch handle, and even though it felt a bit fragile, it passed our durability tests. We can confirm that you can wash it in a dishwasher.

Finally, this set comes with a handy sheat cover in the color of the knife. At this price, you cannot really ask for anything more!

And if two aren’t enough for you, you can also get a 3-piece set that contains another, slightly bigger, Zyliss paring knife.

Pros

  • Excellent design
  • A pack of two for a budget-friendly price
  • 5-year warranty
  • Sharp
  • Durable

Cons

  • The handle feels a bit cheap, though it has a good grip

Factors You Should Consider When Buying A Paring Knife

Best Paring Knives Review

There are some key features to consider before you choose the best paring knife for your needs. 

We’ve boiled down everything you need to know to two factors that are crucial for your safety and successful tasks:

1. Blade

With your best paring knife, you need a razor-sharp blade; don’t accept anything else, but be aware when you’re using it.

All of our picks were made of the highest-quality materials, and, as you might’ve noticed, our vote usually goes for stainless steel.

Choosing the right kind of blade is what will guarantee that you’re buying a durable knife that is going to serve you for a long time without any troubles!

The best length of the blade for the paring knife is anywhere from 3 to 4 inches, and most of our picks belong to the mid-size (3.5 inches).

2. Handle

Another crucial aspect of the paring knife is, of course, its handle.

The material of the handle should be sturdy enough to allow for a tight grip but also enhanced with ergonomic features that reduce the pressure on your fingers and wrist.

What you’re looking for is a non-slip texture and some curves so that you can hold the knife in your hand firmly and comfortably.

Also, some of our picks have quite an attractive design of the handle, and it doesn’t hurt to own one that will make your cutlery lively and unique!


Main Uses Of The Paring Knife

There are no strict rules when it comes to what are the uses of the paring knife – it is an all-purpose knife, just like the utility and chef’s knife. 

However, its smaller shape makes it ideal for some purposes:

1. For Mincing

The paring knife is excellent for mincing smaller foods. What do we mean by that?

Well, a utility knife is still your best bet for mincing onions, bell peppers, and other larger foods, but a paring knife is much more convenient for smaller ones.

You can use it for garlic cloves, shallots, as well as leafy herbs. It’s much easier to maneuver, and you’ll do these tasks faster than you would with any other type of knife!

2. For Chopping

Just like with mincing, you want to use your paring knife for tasks that are smaller and don’t require you to use the utility knife. Our advice is not to go with fruits and veggies that are larger than the blade of your paring knife.

Some examples include chopping dates, cucumber, plums, etc.

3. For Peeling

There’s no better tool for stripping the peel-off fruits and veggies than the paring knife. It will all come off in a long, curly strip, no matter whether you’re peeling a potato or a pear.

There is a simple reason behind the success of the paring knife with such tasks: it allows for a grip that has complete control over the knife.

It won’t take much of the flesh, for sure, even if you’re peeling thin-skinned foods.

It’s also great for citrus fruits that have a thick peel.

4. For Trimming & Hulling

The paring knife is also perfectly suited for trimming peppers, hulling strawberries, and cleaning shrimp or artichokes because these are all delicate jobs that require smaller knives.

5. For Scoring

It’s excellent to make those shallow slices into the surface of something to decorate your pastry, e.g.

The purpose of scoring isn’t only for decoration purposes, though – it allows you to score the layers of fat in meat, which means that the fat will release when it cooks, thus making it more delicious (and healthier). 


To Slice It Up – Our Recommendations

Our team is pretty picky about their knives collection, so you can rest assured that these are definitely the five best paring knives on the market right now.

Our first recommendation is the Victorinox 6.7733 paring knife. For its price and features, this is truly the best paring knife that reaches a professional-grade level.

To be fair, if you’re looking for a great paring knife that is a little less professional, but still sharp and durable, its sibling, the Victorinox 6.7631, is what you need.

If you aim for something more premium, the Dalstrong Gladiator paring knife is the game-changing pick for you.