Knives

Amazon Basics 12-Piece Color-Coded Kitchen Knife Set

Name: Amazon Basics 12-Piece Color-Coded Kitchen Knife Set
Brand: Amazon Basics

The Amazon Basics set has six knives (paring, utility, Santoku, carving, chef and bread) with six matching blade guards, 12 pieces in all. According to the listing the stainless steel blades hold a sharp edge, the nonstick color coating helps food release, the color coding helps avoid cross-contamination, and the set is dishwasher-safe. With over 26,000 ratings at 4.7 stars it is one of the best-reviewed budget sets, a practical choice for a first kitchen, a college student or a holiday gift.

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Best for: First kitchens · Gift sets on a budget · Cutting meat and produce separately

How it scores

Reviewed by Mara Ellison, Kitchen-Gear Editor

Ease of use4/5

Performance3/5

Durability3/5

Easy to clean5/5

Value for money5/5

Pros & cons

Six knives plus six blade guards
Color coding for separate foods
Dishwasher-safe
Very well reviewed (26,000+ ratings)

Budget steel will not match a premium set for edge life
Nonstick coating can wear with rough use
No storage block

In depth

The Amazon Basics 12-Piece Color-Coded Kitchen Knife Set is built for repeat use rather than occasional use, and ease of use lands at 4/5. Six knives plus six blade guards is what most reviewers single out. On cleanup, dishwasher-safe parts keep cleanup mostly hands-off.

First kitchens, Gift sets on a budget, Cutting meat and produce separately get the most out of the Amazon Basics 12-Piece Color-Coded Kitchen Knife Set. If budget steel will not match a premium set for edge life is a dealbreaker for you (or nonstick coating can wear with rough use is), it's worth comparing against the related picks below before buying.

Compared to the Victorinox Fibrox Pro 8-inch Chef's Knife, the Amazon Basics 12-Piece Color-Coded Kitchen Knife Set matches it on value for money (5/5). If excellent edge matters more to you than six knives plus six blade guards, the Victorinox Fibrox Pro 8-inch Chef's Knife is the one to check next.

Where it sits in Knives

Here is how the Amazon Basics 12-Piece Color-Coded Kitchen Knife Set compares with other knives we list.

Product	Blade length (in)
Amazon Basics 12-Piece Color-Coded Kitchen Knife Set (this page)	—
Cuisinart Classic 8-inch Chef's Knife	8
imarku 8-Inch High-Carbon Chef's Knife	8

Comparison is across the 7 knives in the Kantan Prep catalog, not the whole market. Check current prices on Amazon.

Full specifications

Material	Stainless steel blades with nonstick color coating
Color	Multicolor
Functions	Paring, Utility, Santoku, Carving, Chef, Bread
Included	6 blade guards
Dishwasher safe	Yes
Power	Manual
Footprint	Small

Common questions

Where can I check the current price of the Amazon Basics 12-Piece Color-Coded Kitchen Knife Set?

Prices on Amazon change often, so use the Check price on Amazon button to see the current price and any available options before you buy.

Who is the Amazon Basics 12-Piece Color-Coded Kitchen Knife Set best for?

Best for: First kitchens, Gift sets on a budget, Cutting meat and produce separately.

Is the Amazon Basics 12-Piece Color-Coded Kitchen Knife Set worth it?

At a 5/5 value-for-money score in our comparison, it's one of the stronger picks in its category — the main tradeoff to weigh is budget steel will not match a premium set for edge life.

📖 Want the full rundown? Read our Knives buying guide.