Astercook Knife Set Review: Worth It? (October 2026)
The Astercook 15-Piece Full Tang Block Set is the best fit for a broad everyday lineup with a built-in sharpener. Choose the 17-piece set for its boning and cheese knives, or the one-piece stainless steel set for that construction style.
On this page (9 sections)
- Which Astercook knife set fits your kitchen?
- What does the Astercook 15-piece set include?
- How should you choose between the Astercook sets?
- What should you know about the built-in sharpener?
- How do the Astercook sets differ?
- How does McCook compare with Astercook?
- How do you set up and care for a knife block set?
- What common buying mistakes should you avoid?
- Which Astercook knife set should you buy?
The Astercook 15-Piece Full Tang Block Set is the strongest starting point in this Astercook knife set review if you want a varied lineup, six steak knives, shears and a built-in sharpener. The 17-piece set adds two specialty knives, while the other 15-piece model uses a one-piece stainless steel design.
The right choice depends on which blades you will reach for and how you want to care for them. McCook is also worth comparing if you want two utility knives and two pairs of shears.
Which Astercook knife set fits your kitchen?
The 15-piece full-tang set suits cooks who want a broad everyday lineup in one block. It covers larger prep, bread, slicing, detail work and table use, and includes a built-in sharpener.
Astercook 15-Piece Full Tang Block Set: Best for everyday home cooks
- 15 pieces
- Full-tang construction
- Built-in sharpener
- 6 steak knives
A broad everyday lineup with a built-in sharpener, full-tang construction and six steak knives. It suits cooks who want those features together in one block.
Pros
- Includes chef, slicing, santoku, bread, utility and paring knives
- Six serrated steak knives and kitchen shears are included
- Block has a built-in sharpener
Cons
- Hand washing and drying give you more control over care
- The built-in sharpener may not suit every sharpening preference
The German Steel Block Set suits buyers who prefer its one-piece stainless steel design. Its lineup also has six steak knives, shears and a built-in sharpener, with hand washing and drying recommended for long-term performance.
Astercook 15-Piece German Steel Block Set: Best for steel handle fans
- 15 pieces
- One-piece stainless steel design
- Built-in sharpener
- Wooden block
This 15-piece option pairs a one-piece stainless steel design with a wooden block and built-in sharpener. Its knife lineup covers common prep and dining tasks.
Pros
- Includes chef, bread, slicing, santoku, utility and paring knives
- Six steak knives and kitchen shears are included
- Astercook recommends hand washing and drying for long-term performance
Cons
- Its construction differs from the forged full-tang set
- It has fewer pieces than Astercook's 17-piece set
Choose the 17-piece set if you expect to use both its boning knife and cheese knife. Those are its main additions to the familiar core lineup, so skip it if those tools would sit unused.
Astercook 17-Piece Block Set: Best for specialty knife users
- 17 pieces
- Full-tang design
- Built-in sharpener
- Boning and cheese knives
The 17-piece set adds a boning knife and cheese knife to the core lineup. Choose it when those tools have a clear place in your cooking routine.
Pros
- Includes chef, slicing, santoku, bread, utility and paring knives
- Adds a boning knife and a cheese knife
- Block includes a built-in sharpener
Cons
- More pieces mean more knives to store and maintain
- The extra knives may go unused if you mainly cook with a chef knife and paring knife
McCook is a sensible alternative if its two utility knives and two pairs of shears better match your cooking. The scores reflect how each set's stated features fit this review's likely buyer.
What does the Astercook 15-piece set include?
The 15-piece full-tang set covers food prep and serving with six kitchen knives, six steak knives, shears and a block sharpener.
| Knife or accessory | Count and size |
|---|---|
| Chef knife | 1, 8 in |
| Slicing knife | 1, 8 in |
| Santoku knife | 1, 7 in |
| Serrated bread knife | 1, 8 in |
| Utility knife | 1, 5 in |
| Paring knife | 1, 3.5 in |
| Serrated steak knife | 6, 4.5 in |
| Kitchen shears | 1 |
| Wood block with built-in sharpener | 1 |
Use the chef knife for broad prep, the paring knife for smaller, controlled cuts, and the serrated blade for bread. The santoku overlaps with some chef-knife jobs, so you may find one more comfortable depending on how you hold and move a knife.
A block set makes sense when you need several knife types and want them stored together. If you mainly use two or three blades, how many knives you really need in a kitchen can help you decide whether a full block is useful.
How should you choose between the Astercook sets?
Choose by the knife jobs and construction you want, then consider the block and care routine. Piece count is useful for checking what comes in the set, but it does not tell you how many pieces will earn a place in your routine.
The standard 15-piece full-tang set is the clearest fit for a cook who wants a wide core lineup and steak knives. The German Steel version is for someone who prefers its one-piece stainless steel design and is comfortable hand washing and drying.
The 17-piece option is for cooks who regularly prepare boneless cuts or serve cheese and will use its specialty knives. If those jobs are rare, the added blades take storage space and need care without adding much to your day-to-day prep.
The McCook set changes the mix rather than simply adding more blades. Its extra shears and second utility knife may be more useful to you than Astercook's santoku and slicing options, depending on how you cook.
For a wider look at set construction, see German versus Japanese knives. If you are still deciding between a block and individual knives, our knife set versus individual knives guide lays out the trade-offs.
What should you know about the built-in sharpener?
The sharpener sits in the block, giving you a convenient place for routine edge touch-ups without storing a separate tool. Astercook describes it as a one-handed sharpening option.
Use the sharpener according to the instructions for your exact set. A built-in sharpener does not remove the need to keep blades clean, dry and stored safely, and it may not match every cook's preferred sharpening method.
If a block sharpener is a deciding feature, compare these sets with our guide to knife sets with built-in sharpeners. It helps you judge whether the convenience matters more than the rest of a set's lineup.
How do the Astercook sets differ?
The two 15-piece sets share a broad lineup but use different construction descriptions. The 17-piece set keeps the full-tang design and adds two specialty knives.
| Set | Pieces | Construction | Block sharpener | Main difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Astercook 15-Piece Full Tang Block Set | 15 | Forged, full tang | Yes | Six serrated steak knives |
| Astercook 15-Piece German Steel Block Set | 15 | One-piece stainless steel design | Yes | Hand washing and drying recommended |
| Astercook 17-Piece Block Set | 17 | Full tang | Yes | Adds boning and cheese knives |
Astercook describes the full-tang 15-piece and 17-piece sets as using German 1.4116 steel. The other Astercook 15-piece set is described as high-carbon stainless steel, so use the construction and knife lineup to guide your choice rather than relying on a material label alone.
For more on what full tang means in a set, read Do Full Tang Kitchen Knives Matter in a Set?. For a broader value comparison, see best knife sets for the money.
How does McCook compare with Astercook?
The McCook 15-Piece Block Set With Sharpener offers a different mix at the same piece count as Astercook's standard full-tang set. It includes a 5-inch santoku, two utility knives and two pairs of shears.
Its other pieces are an 8-inch chef knife, 8-inch slicing knife, 3.5-inch paring knife and six 4.5-inch serrated steak knives. The wood block has a built-in sharpener.
McCook describes its knives as forged and full tang, and recommends hand washing for long-term rust prevention. That care guidance differs from Astercook's dishwasher-safe description for its full-tang set, while Astercook recommends hand washing and drying for its German Steel set.
Read the direct McCook versus Astercook comparison if those are your finalists. Match the actual knives and care guidance to your kitchen before choosing by piece count.
How do you set up and care for a knife block set?
Place the block on a stable, convenient counter spot where you can reach the handles without reaching over a hot surface. Before filling it, check that the slots match the knives and that each blade sits securely.
Use a cutting board that stays steady, and let the knife do the work instead of forcing a cut. Keep fingers curled away from the edge, and use the right blade for the job: a serrated bread knife for crusty loaves, a paring knife for small detail cuts and a chef knife for broad prep.
Astercook describes the Full Tang Block Set and the German Steel Block Set as dishwasher safe. The German Steel set's care guidance also recommends hand washing and drying for long-term performance, so hand washing is a practical routine for protecting the edges and keeping the wood block dry.
Wash knives soon after use, dry them fully, and return them to the block rather than leaving blades loose in a drawer. Keep the block itself out of the dishwasher, and follow the care directions that come with the specific set you buy.
What common buying mistakes should you avoid?
The most common mistake is choosing the largest set without a use for its extra knives. The 17-piece Astercook makes sense when you will use the boning and cheese knives; otherwise, the standard 15-piece set already covers a wide range of prep and table tasks.
Another mistake is assuming every knife in a block has the same job. The chef knife, santoku and slicing knife overlap in some kitchen routines, while the bread, paring and steak knives fill more distinct roles.
Don't treat the built-in sharpener as a reason to ignore care. Follow the sharpening instructions, keep blades dry, and avoid using a knife for tasks its shape is not suited to.
Finally, check your counter and storage space before committing to a block. If you prefer to choose each blade separately or have little room for countertop storage, a block set may not suit your kitchen.
Which Astercook knife set should you buy?
Choose the 15-Piece Full Tang Block Set for a broad everyday collection with six steak knives, shears and a built-in sharpener. Pick the 17-piece set if its boning and cheese knives will get regular use, or the German Steel set if its one-piece stainless steel design is your preference.
Choose McCook if two pairs of shears and two utility knives better fit your cooking. If you only need a few blades, start with the plain-English kitchen knife set buying guide before choosing a full block.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Astercook 15-piece knife set worth considering?
The Astercook 15-Piece Full Tang Block Set is worth considering if you want a broad knife lineup, six steak knives, kitchen shears and a built-in sharpener in one block. Its full-tang construction is another stated feature.
Compare the knife types with your usual cooking before choosing a 15-piece set.
What knives come in the Astercook 15-Piece Full Tang Block Set?
It includes an 8-inch chef knife, 8-inch slicing knife, 7-inch santoku, 8-inch serrated bread knife, 5-inch utility knife, 3.5-inch paring knife, six 4.5-inch serrated steak knives, kitchen shears and a wood block with a built-in sharpener. The listed pieces add up to 15.
What is the difference between the Astercook 15-piece and 17-piece sets?
The 17-piece Astercook adds a 6-inch boning knife and a 5-inch cheese knife to the core lineup described for the 15-piece full-tang set. Pick the larger set if you expect to use those two knives.
Otherwise, the 15-piece set already covers common prep and dining tasks.
Can you put Astercook knives in the dishwasher?
Astercook describes the Full Tang Block Set and the German Steel Block Set as dishwasher safe. For the German Steel set, Astercook also recommends hand washing and drying for the best long-term performance.
Check care instructions for your exact set, and keep the wood block out of the dishwasher.
