The Pioneer Woman Pioneer Signature 14-Piece Stainless Steel Knife Block Set, Teal

I had the opportunity to try this very attractive set of block and knives. The block is a very handsome and nicely stained and the knife handles, though plastic, are matching color, in my case, "Periwinkle." In addition to the typical block complement of Scissor, Butcher (8 in), Bread, Carving (5 in), Boning, Paring, and (6) Steak Knives, the set also includes a 6 in Santoku Knife. The latter is a nice addition that I haven't seen much. The blades are all full tang and riveted. The handles are a solid, quality plastic, similar to that found in higher end knifes. Of course, knives are a practical tool and the real test comes in their utility and comfort. Sharpness, balance, and heft play essential roles, here. The stainless steel blades come razor sharp. I haven't had them long enough to know how long the edges will hold true, but it's nice to have a set be ready for use. The instructions suggest to steel (not included) sharpen after each use. Sometimes, it's worth purchasing a block set just for the Steak Knife Set. Although the knives felt a bit light, I liked the combined serrated/plain blade that allows you to cut easily through different foods. I thought the Steak Knives would be dishwasher safe, since the handles are plastic (I would never machine wash wood handles or the larger knives) and was a little disappointed that the manufacturer recommends against that. I found the Butcher and Carving well balanced, with the center around where the handle ends. The Paring was a little off for me, but that may not patter as much, since the entire handle likely rests within your hand. The Butcher was lighter than my high-end knife set, but most of the other knives were lighter. This is not necessarily a negative, just a comfort preference and views will vary. Slicing and chopping with the Butcher and Carving knives were a pleasure. They sliced through onions, vegetables, etc. with ease. For tomatoes, I use a bread knife, as its serrated edge works best. I prefer this blade to be very thin and I found the Pioneer Wife blade a bit thick, but it sliced evenly and quickly, without squashing the tomato. I was surprised to find that the Carving also sliced well through the tomatoes, and then realized it was serrated at the top edge and plain below. This is a nice feature, shared by the Steak knives. It's very useful to have a Scissor within easy reach, so I was pleased to see one in the block. However, I was surprised that it wouldn't cut through a bag of salad, then realizing that the curved handle is likely designed to cut poultry. Not having a chicken or turkey ready, I wasn't able to test that, but it seems useful if you roast poultry a lot. The carved Boning is likely to assist here. My experience is that a straight Boning is sharper and does better with meats and tough cuts, but a curved one helps with raw chicken or when cutting down the bone. It seems to me that the Pioneer Woman cooks a lot of poultry or chicken-based dishes, so maybe these tools fit with that theme. If you don't roast a lot of chicken, it might be worth swapping out the Scissors for straight pair. All in all, this is a lovely set that you will be proud to display as well as use. It includes an excellent, razor sharp complement of knives that will make food prep a pleasure. The inclusion of a Santoku Knife is a nice addition and the innovated blades seem like a nice idea.