The Best Paring Knife for Your Kitchen in 2021

Top Product: Victorinox Paring Knife (3 1/4″) | Amazon

A paring knife can be a true game-changer in the kitchen. We’re talking about chopping onions without crying and peeling potatoes without a peeler. It’s the perfect tool for all of those little tasks that require high precision.

But don’t worry if you’re not rolling in dough! You can get a great paring knife while still cutting corners, excuse the pun, financially.

Here are the best paring knives based on insights from experts and everyday average users alike. Let’s get to it.

Best From America’s Test Kitchen: Victorinox Paring Knife (3 1/4″)

At an affordable price of $8, this Victorinox knife is the originator of the Swiss Army knife. Designed for intricate tasks, this blade is thin as hell, so you’ll be able to slice the skin off of apples easily. The plastic handle is ergonomic and textured with a non-slip grip for optimum safety. You can even switch between having a larger plastic handle or go for a serrated blade instead for heavy-duty chopping. It has even been recommended by America’s Test Kitchen.

Best Wüsthof: Wüsthof Gourmet 3-Inch Clip Point 

Designed for close hand tasks, the clip point helps the blade curve easily to peel fruits and vegetables. This high carbon stainless steel blade cuts precisely and made with incredible sharpness for easy maintenance. This parking knife has a longer and narrower blade than a Cook’s knife to easily cut through meats. All Wüsthof knives are crafted to resist corrosion and dulling. Each comes with a limited lifetime warranty.

Best for the Money: ZYLISS with Sheath Cover, 3.5-Inch Blade

“I bought this as a camping utility knife, as I’m an avid backpacker and camper, but it quickly ended up in my kitchen drawer. It became my go-to, for a few reasons: 1) It holds an incredibly sharp edge… and has held up against cutting up several pecks of cucumbers for pickles, use by my Italian mother in her cooking, and the side pocket of my pack in the rain. Never once has it rusted, and it does wonderfully in the dishwasher. It is a bit heavy, for how small it is, but the handle has an excellent grip even when wet, and the blade has a decent balance. I was surprised… I will buy again!” – Antonia M Housas, Amazon Contributor

Best Ceramic: Kyocera 3-Inch Parer

Featuring an ultra-slim and sharp three-inch blade, the Kyocera Ceramic parer is super lightweight and holds its edge at least 10-times longer than any other professional cutlery. Handwash only, this knife is impermeable to acids, juices, oils, and salts so that it will never rust or brown foods. And if anything goes wrong, this knife comes with a limited lifetime manufacturer’s warranty.

Best High-End: Zwilling® J.A. Henckels “S” 4-Inch Paring Knife

Looking for a high-quality knife to deliver superior performance in the kitchen? The Zwilling J.A. Henckels Pro “S” paring knife has an ice-hardened blade that has been hand-honed to be extremely durable. It’s been manufactured from Zwilling’s special formula of high-carbon without any stainless steel. Its triple-riveted polymer handle creates a comfortable grip for easy handling.

.Best Global: Global 3.5” Paring Knife

Global’s 3.5” paring knife has a glowing 4.8-star rating on Amazon from more than 240 reviews as of this writing. This ergonomically-designed knife has a molded handle with a slip-resistant dimple texture, and reviewers suggest that it’s well worth the expense. Here’s one five-star appraisal:

“I love these knives. I have been buying the whole line little by little because they are not cheap. All worth it. The grip is perfect. Even with wet hands, the little indentations make it stay put. They won’t slip. They are super sharp and keep their edge.”

Best for Peeling Potatoes: Zwilling® J.A. Henckels TWIN® Master

Getting the perfect high carbon knife for peeling potatoes is no easy task. This TWIN Master paring knife is from Zwilling J.A. Henckels and has been NSF/ANSI tested for commercial food use. While this knife is great for preparing potatoes, it can also be used for a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, such as oranges. One reviewer posted:

“My mother in law bought me this knife as a thank you for introducing her to Zwilling knives. It cuts through apples like butter. Love love love it!” – JDmomof12

This story was originally published by Ignacia Fulcher on 09/28/2020 and updated with new information by Juliana Clark on 03/15/2021.