Calphalon and Cuisinart sell knife blocks that look alike on a store shelf: forged-looking blades, bolsters, 15 pieces and a wooden block. Neither publishes a steel grade or a hardness number for these sets, so the specs won’t separate them. What does is how each brand deals with the fact that most home cooks never sharpen.
Calphalon builds the answer into the block. Its SharpIN slots hold small ceramic sharpeners that touch the straight-edge knives every time you pull one out or put it back. Cuisinart gives you a forged, triple-riveted set with a plain honing steel and leaves the upkeep to you, in exchange for a lower price and a lifetime warranty.
If you know you won’t hone, buy Calphalon’s Premier 15-Piece Knife Set with SharpIN. If you’ll use a steel now and then, or the budget is tight, Cuisinart’s forged Classic Triple Rivet 15-Piece Block is the better value. The two brands’ three-piece starter sets follow the same logic, just without the block, so the choice there comes down to handles and price.
My Calphalon and Cuisinart Picks
The block does the honing for you, which is exactly what most households need. Contoured handles, full-tang prep knives and a limited lifetime warranty.
Forged, full tang and triple riveted, with a slicer, santoku and honing steel for much less than the Calphalon. Ideal if you’re willing to hone every few uses.
Just the chef’s knife, a serrated utility and a paring knife, with the Premier build and handles. A good fit when you already own a block or magnetic strip.
The cheapest way into Cuisinart’s forged Triple Rivet line: chef’s, utility and paring knives that suit a first apartment or a vacation rental.
Calphalon vs Cuisinart at a Glance
| Feature | Calphalon Premier | Cuisinart Classic Triple Rivet |
|---|---|---|
| Edge care | Ceramic SharpIN sharpeners in the block slots | Honing steel included, used by hand |
| Construction | Full tang, bolstered | Forged, full tang, extra-wide bolster |
| Handle | Contoured synthetic | Triple riveted with stainless rivets |
| Steel details | Stainless steel; no grade or hardness published | High-carbon stainless; no grade or hardness published |
| 15-piece prep knives | Chef’s, santoku, utility, serrated utility, paring | Chef’s, slicer, santoku, utility, paring, bird’s beak |
| Steak knives | Eight | Six |
| Bread knife | No full-size bread knife | No bread knife |
| Warranty | Limited lifetime, original US buyer | Lifetime, original purchaser |
| Best for | Cooks who will never sharpen | Budget buyers willing to hone |
What Separates the Two Brands
Self-sharpening slots vs a honing steel
This is the real difference. Calphalon’s SharpIN slots contain spring-loaded ceramic sharpeners, so the chef’s knife, santoku, utility and paring knives get a light touch-up every time they leave and return to the block. Anything serrated, plus the shears, belongs in the plain slots instead. Cuisinart includes an ordinary honing steel, which does a similar job only if you actually use it. My Calphalon self-sharpening review explains what the slots can and can’t fix.
Build quality
Both prep sets are full tang with bolsters. Cuisinart’s Classic Triple Rivet is forged with an extra-wide bolster and three stainless rivets, which gives it a heavier, more traditional feel. Calphalon says its Premier specialty knives are forged German steel (high-carbon and no-stain), with stamped steak knives. Neither brand publishes a Rockwell hardness, so I judge them on construction and edge care rather than steel numbers.
What’s in the block
The two 15-piece sets count their pieces differently. Calphalon spends eight slots on steak knives and adds shears, leaving five prep knives. Cuisinart has six prep knives (including an 8″ slicer and a tiny bird’s beak for peeling), six steak knives, a honing steel and shears. Neither includes a proper bread knife, so budget for one if you bake.
Warranty
Cuisinart covers its cutlery against defects for the original purchaser’s lifetime. Calphalon offers limited lifetime coverage on Premier for the original owner who bought from Calphalon or an authorized US seller, excluding normal wear and misuse. Cuisinart’s warranty excludes dishwasher damage, and Calphalon’s excludes damage from ignoring its care instructions, which call for hand washing. Either way, keep both sets out of the dishwasher.
Price
Cuisinart costs less in both of my pairs. Calphalon’s premium pays for the SharpIN block and the contoured Premier handles. If you’d use a honing steel anyway, that premium buys you very little.
Which Set Should You Buy?
Choose Calphalon if you never sharpen
For a busy household where nobody will ever pick up a honing steel, the SharpIN block keeps the main knives sharper than they’d otherwise be, with no habit to learn.
Choose Cuisinart if you want the most for the money
If you’ll give the knives a few strokes on the included steel every few uses, Cuisinart’s forged set does the same jobs for less and has the more useful mix of prep knives.
Choose a three-piece set if you already own steak knives
Both 15-piece blocks spend a third or more of their count on table knives. If yours are fine, a three-piece set from either brand covers daily prep without the filler.
The Calphalon and Cuisinart Sets Side by Side
Two matched pairs: the full blocks first, then each brand’s three-piece starter set.
1. Calphalon Premier 15-Piece SharpIN Block: Best Hands-Off Block
Who it’s for: families who want a complete block and will never hone or sharpen a knife by hand.
Without this block, there’s little reason to choose Calphalon over Cuisinart. Its 8″ chef’s knife, 5″ santoku, 6″ utility and 3.5″ paring knife sit in slots with built-in ceramic sharpeners, and the 6″ serrated utility, eight steak knives and shears have plain slots of their own. Every time you cook, the main straight edges get a quick touch-up you don’t have to think about.
That makes the biggest difference in kitchens where knives otherwise go dull and stay dull. The contoured handles are comfortable, and the prep knives are full tang with bolsters. My reservations are the steak-heavy count and the missing bread knife; if you need one, add it separately. The block is also deep, so measure your counter. I cover every Calphalon line in my Calphalon knives review.
Key specs
- Prep knives: 8″ chef’s, 5″ santoku, 6″ utility, 6″ serrated utility, 3.5″ paring
- Also: eight steak knives, kitchen shears, block with ceramic SharpIN slots
- Construction: full tang, bolstered stainless blades; contoured handles
- Limited lifetime warranty; hand wash
Pros
- Main knives are honed automatically
- Comfortable, contoured grips
- Eight steak knives for a full table
Cons
- No full-size bread knife
- Steak knives make up most of the piece count
- Bulky block
My verdict: the set I’d buy for a household that will never sharpen. If you’ll use a honing steel, the Cuisinart does more for less.
2. Cuisinart Classic Triple Rivet 15-Piece Block: Best Value Block
Who it’s for: budget buyers who want a forged, complete block and don’t mind a quick hone before cooking.
Cuisinart’s Classic Triple Rivet is the brand’s strongest line, and this black-on-black block is its full version. The prep side runs from an 8″ chef’s knife and an 8″ slicer down through a 7″ santoku, a 5.5″ utility and a 3.5″ paring knife to a 2.75″ bird’s beak; six 4.5″ steak knives, an 8″ honing steel and shears fill the rest. Each blade is forged high-carbon stainless, full tang, with a wide safety bolster and stainless rivets.
The trade-off is upkeep. Cuisinart owners commonly report that these knives arrive sharp and lose that edge within weeks, so the included steel matters: a few passes every few uses keep them working, and a proper sharpening a few times a year does the rest. My Cuisinart knives review covers the brand’s other lines.
Key specs
- Prep knives: chef’s and slicer (both 8″), santoku 7″, utility 5.5″, paring 3.5″, bird’s beak 2.75″
- Also: six 4.5″ steak knives, 8″ sharpening steel, shears, block
- Forged high-carbon stainless; full tang, wide bolster, three stainless rivets
- Lifetime warranty for the original purchaser
Pros
- More prep knives than the Calphalon, including a slicer
- Forged, triple-riveted build
- Costs much less
Cons
- Edge needs regular honing
- No bread knife; bird’s beak is a niche shape
My verdict: the best value of the two full blocks. If nobody in your house will touch the steel, pay more for the Calphalon.
3. Calphalon Premier 3-Piece Knife Set: Best Small Upgrade
Who it’s for: cooks with storage already in place who want three better everyday knives.
This trio gives you an 8″ chef’s knife, a 6″ serrated utility and a 3.5″ paring knife with the Premier’s full-tang, bolstered blades and contoured handles. The serrated utility is the smart choice here: it handles tomatoes, sandwiches and small loaves, so it partly covers the missing bread knife.
What you lose is the reason most people buy Calphalon. There’s no SharpIN block, so these knives need a honing steel or sharpener like any other. Against the Cuisinart trio, you’re paying for the handles and the Premier build rather than for self-sharpening.
Key specs
- Knives: 8″ chef’s, 6″ serrated utility, 3.5″ paring
- Construction: full tang, bolstered stainless blades
- Handles: contoured
- No block or sharpener included
Pros
- Three knives that cover daily prep
- Serrated utility doubles for tomatoes and rolls
- Comfortable handles
Cons
- No self-sharpening block
- Costs more than the Cuisinart trio
My verdict: a tidy upgrade for an existing kitchen. If you want Calphalon for its sharpening slots, buy the full block instead.
4. Cuisinart Triple Rivet 3-Piece Knife Set: Best Low-Cost Trio
Who it’s for: first apartments, rentals and anyone who wants three forged knives for very little money.
The Triple Rivet trio is an 8″ chef’s knife, a 5.5″ utility and a 3.5″ paring knife with the same forged, full-tang build and extra-wide bolster as Cuisinart’s 15-piece block. The blades are precision tapered to a fine edge, and the lifetime warranty covers defects for the original buyer.
It costs very little, which is why I like it as a starter or a spare set. There’s no block, no sheaths and no steel, so plan on a drawer guard or strip, and a honing steel if you don’t own one. For more choices in this price range, my best knife sets under $100 guide compares other brands.
Key specs
- Knives: 8″ chef’s, 5.5″ utility, 3.5″ paring
- Forged, full tang, wide bolster, stainless rivets
- Precision-tapered blades
- Lifetime warranty
Pros
- Forged knives for very little money
- The three shapes most cooks use
- Lifetime warranty
Cons
- No storage or honing steel
- Edges need frequent honing
My verdict: the cheapest sensible pair of hands for a new kitchen. Spend more on the Calphalon trio only if its handles suit you better.
Keeping Either Set Sharp
- Use the slots or the steel. Calphalon’s SharpIN works only if knives go back in their slots; Cuisinart’s steel works only if you pick it up.
- Keep serrated knives out of sharpening slots. Steak knives, bread knives and shears go in the plain slots.
- Hand wash and dry. Dishwashers dull edges and can void either warranty.
- Sharpen properly once or twice a year. Honing straightens an edge; it doesn’t replace sharpening forever. My guide on how to sharpen Cuisinart knives walks through it.
FAQ
Is Calphalon better than Cuisinart for knives?
Calphalon is better for hands-off edge care, thanks to the SharpIN block. Cuisinart is better value, with forged triple-riveted knives, more prep shapes per set and a lifetime warranty. Pick by whether you’ll hone.
Do Calphalon self-sharpening knives really stay sharp?
They stay sharper than they would without care, because the ceramic slots touch up the edge each time a knife goes in or out. They won’t repair chips or a badly worn edge, so a proper sharpening every year or two still helps.
Are Cuisinart knives forged?
The Classic Triple Rivet line is, with a full tang and an extra-wide bolster. Some other Cuisinart lines, such as the colorful Advantage sets, are stamped and coated.
Which set includes a bread knife?
Neither 15-piece set includes a full-size bread knife. Calphalon’s has a 6″ serrated utility and Cuisinart’s an 8″ slicer, so bakers should buy a bread knife separately.
Final Verdict
For most households that never sharpen, Calphalon’s Premier 15-piece SharpIN block is the better buy, because it keeps the main knives in shape on its own. If you’ll hone, Cuisinart’s forged Triple Rivet 15-piece block gives you more prep knives for much less. For small kitchens, the Calphalon Premier 3-piece is the nicer upgrade, and the Cuisinart Triple Rivet trio the cheapest sensible start.
Want to see other self-sharpening blocks next to Calphalon? My best self-sharpening knife sets guide compares several brands.
Gary Portman founded knivesadvice.com in 2019. He learned to cook in his family’s kitchen as a kid and has used kitchen, pocket and outdoor knives ever since, from paring and fillet knives to survival blades he carries camping and hiking. He writes the site’s buying guides, brand reviews and sharpening how-tos to help readers find the right knife for the job. More about Gary.