We tested each set over a three-week period putting it through its paces with a range of chopping and cutting tasks. This steel is hard enough for Global knives to keep their edge for a long time, but soft enough so that it is not too difficult to sharpen the knives. Another thing we love about these knives is that they come colour coded, so you can quickly grab which knife is right for the job without having to pull each one out to check if it’s what you need. These are really good knives if you’re into making Japanese cuisine, as the range is perfect for meat, fish and vegetable dishes such as sushi. Plus as an added extra you get a signature hand-held knife sharpener which is compact enough to sit inside your cutlery drawer and ensures it’s easy to keep your knives sharp.

The blades are crafted from Japanese steel, which makes them super-sharp and long-lasting, plus, they have a non-stick coating to ensure that food does not get stuck to the blade and is easy to clean. We chopped, sliced and peeled a range of items of varying toughness to really see how well these knives handled the job in hand.Plus, if you’d like to add to your collection by including a bread or carving knife, then you can purchase them separately.

Bread knives deliver consistently clean cuts through all types of bread without causing undue pressure to be applied.

Crafted from high-quality stainless steel, rust-resistant and covered in a black non-stick coating to reduce cutting friction, these knives have been tempered to keep the edges super sharp even after heavy use. The carved wood handles are really nice to hold, although they can feel a bit loose after prolonged use. If you’re looking to make an investment when it comes to knives, then look no further than the kyūkyoku set. The carbonised ash wood handles are really comfortable to handle, and even if you have damp hands, they retain a good grip. The brilliant thing about this set is that the block comes with a built-in sharper on the side, which means you’ll always have super-sharp knives with little effort.

The non-slip pinch grip on the handle allows for better handling, and they just feel very safe and secure when in use. The Robert Welch signature book oak knife block set combines great design with superb functionality.The Global Series of knives and accessories are a firm favourite in kitchens the world over, and for good reason. The ultra-sharp blades are made using Japanese stainless steel, with an additional non-stick silicone coating.

So, not only does this knife look the part thanks to its innovative and cutting-edge Japanese design that appeals to professionals and home cooks alike, but it's a complete powerhouse in terms of performance and longetvity. Whilst there’s no knife block, these knives do come with colour-matching sheaths to keep them safe and secure in your drawer. They’ve been designed to be soft to touch and super comfortable to hold meaning you can cut and chop with precision. They can be used to cut cleanly through large fruit such as watermelons and pineapples, as well as vegetables, dense cakes, biscuits and even cooked and cured meat. We really love the fun dog design which also doubles up as a safety feature, with the ears acting as a hand guard to keep fingers away from the cutting surface and the tail steadying the hand with soft poke-free plastic.

The sleek, all-steel design and long, textured handle made handling the knives comfortable regardless of what was being sliced and diced. If you want a cheap and basic set of knives that will still give you the tools for multiple jobs, this set is ideal.