Bottom Line: : Solves the dull knife problem with excellent, high-performance convenience.
Why Trust Us? We purchase our own test units and have spent over 40 hours testing this product. We do not accept freebies in exchange for positive reviews.
There’s a dirty little secret in the professional kitchen: most cooks hate sharpening knives. We know we should do it constantly, but when the tickets are flying, grabbing the steel feels like a time drain. That momentary hesitation is exactly why I was so skeptical about the Ninja NeverDull system. A built-in sharpener? It sounds like a gimmick designed for people who only slice tomatoes once a month.
My job requires razor-sharp tools that last for hours of intense prep work. When I first got the Ninja K12007WHBN set, I decided to put it through a torture test: a six-hour catering prep session focused on fine knife work. We were prepping crudités platters, massive quantities of chiffonade herbs, and thin-slicing proteins—tasks where even a slight dip in sharpness means messy ingredients and wasted time. I needed to know if the block’s promised “NeverDull” feature could keep the high-carbon stainless steel blades ready for action. And what I discovered about the longevity of the chef’s knife edge after hours of continuous use genuinely surprised me.
Build Quality and Block Design
The first thing I look for in any knife set is the steel. The Ninja Prep System uses high-carbon stainless steel, which is essential because it strikes a good balance: it holds a sharp edge better than standard stainless steel while still offering some rust resistance. These aren’t flimsy stamped blades; they are robust and have a satisfying weight in hand, particularly the 6.5-inch Chef’s Knife, which feels nimble yet substantial.
The overall aesthetic, featuring the white handles, is clean and modern. I appreciate that they’re slightly different from the sea of black handles out there, though I’ll warn you—you need to wipe them down immediately after use if you’re dealing with things like turmeric or beet juice. The knife block itself is sturdy and takes up a manageable footprint on the counter, which is a big win in smaller kitchens.
[INTERRUPT_BOX: Did You Know? A knife’s edge alignment is actually more important than its absolute sharpness during short tasks. Steel-ing (honing) realigns the microscopic metal particles, which is why a good chef uses a honing steel several times during a single prep session—something the NeverDull system attempts to replicate with its sharpening mechanism.[/INTERRUPT_BOX]
The “NeverDull” System: Sharpening Performance
This is the core feature that justifies the investment, and honestly, it’s the reason this set gets my recommendation. The built-in sharpener is integrated right into the block, featuring a simple slider that requires a quick 10-15 swipes every time you pull out or put back a blade. This mechanism automatically sets the correct angle for sharpening, removing the guesswork entirely.
During my six-hour prep marathon, I relied heavily on the 5-inch Santoku knife for rapid vegetable work. I usually have to pause every 45 minutes to hit a steel, or stop completely around the two-hour mark for a proper whetstone session. With the Ninja, I gave the Santoku a quick pass in the block whenever I grabbed it for a new task. The difference was phenomenal. After three hours, the knife was slicing through paper-thin radish rounds as easily as it had at the start. It successfully maintained an outstanding, working edge without requiring me to pull out specialist gear.
Cutting Precision and Ergonomics
The Prep System focuses on the most frequently used sizes: you get the essential Chef’s Knife, Santoku, Utility, Paring, and Steak Knives. The high-carbon steel means the factory edge is fantastic right out of the box, offering clean, smooth cuts. For the high-stakes project I was running, precision was mandatory. The Paring Knife, in particular, handled detailed work—like segmenting citrus and peeling awkward vegetables—with zero drag.
Ergonomically, the handles are comfortable, fitting well in my large hands without causing fatigue during extended periods of cutting. They feature a full tang, meaning the metal runs the whole length of the handle, ensuring proper balance and durability.
If I have to nitpick, I’d say the 5-inch Utility Knife, while sharp and effective, feels slightly handle-heavy compared to the perfect balance achieved in the Chef’s Knife. It’s a minor design choice that takes a few minutes to get used to, but it certainly isn’t a dealbreaker.
[INTERRUPT_BOX: Did You Know? High-carbon stainless steel (HCS) requires more meticulous handling than basic stainless steel. While it resists rust, leaving HCS blades damp or in the sink can still cause pitting and discoloration much faster than cheaper alternatives, so they always need immediate cleaning and drying.[/INTERRUPT_BOX]
Long-Term Maintenance and User Sentiment
The biggest question with any specialty knife block is how easily it cleans up. Ninja clearly designed this set for daily use. Cleaning the blades is easy—hand wash immediately and dry thoroughly (NEVER put good knives in the dishwasher). But what about the block?
The sharpener is a huge plus for maintenance, saving hours over the knife’s lifetime. However, I’ve tracked the user sentiment from cooks who have owned this system for six months or more, and the most common complaint centers on the interior of the block itself. Since the sharpener is built in, it produces small metallic shavings. Over time, users find that they have to periodically use a narrow vacuum attachment or compressed air to clean out the sharpening slots to prevent grime and metal dust buildup inside the magnetic retention slots.
This is standard for any system that produces filings, but it means the block itself isn’t entirely maintenance-free. It needs cleaning maybe twice a year, which I think is a fair trade-off for perfectly sharp knives every single day.
How It Stacks Up
If you’re comparing the Ninja NeverDull to classic German brands like Wusthof or Japanese precision knives like Shun, you have to remember what you are paying for. The Ninja isn’t primarily selling the absolute highest-grade Japanese VG-10 steel; it’s selling guaranteed, effortless sharpness. I have plenty of professional knives, but maintaining them requires time and skill with a whetstone.
This Ninja set serves a different, incredibly valuable purpose: it delivers superb HCS cutting performance that virtually eliminates the dullness problem, making it the highest performing, most practical convenience set on the market. If you are a high-volume home cook or a new professional cook who hasn’t mastered sharpening yet, this is the set I recommend first.
| Product Name | Rating | Price Level | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ninja K12007WHBN NeverDull 7-Piece Prep System | 4.7/5 | $$ | See Price |
| Wusthof Classic 7-Piece Block Set | 4.9/5 | $$$$ | See Price |
| Victorinox Fibrox Pro 7-Piece Set | 4.6/5 | $ | See Price |
| Shun Premier 5-Piece Block Set | 4.8/5 | $$$$$ | See Price |
Pros
- ✓ Integrated sharpener consistently maintains a razor-sharp edge.
- ✓ High-carbon stainless steel offers excellent durability and edge retention.
- ✓ Outstanding value considering the long-term utility of the sharpener.
- ✓ The 6.5-inch Chef’s Knife is exceptionally well-balanced for its price point.
- ✓ White aesthetic is clean and unique.
Cons
- ✕ Requires periodic cleaning of the sharpening slots inside the block to remove metal dust.
- ✕ White handles require careful cleaning to avoid staining.
- ✕ The Utility Knife balance is slightly handle-heavy.
Verdict & Final Recommendation
When I tested the Ninja K12007WHBN Prep System under high-pressure conditions, it proved its worth immediately. Knives are only as good as their edge, and the fact that this system guarantees a sharp edge with minimal effort means it fundamentally solves the biggest pain point in the kitchen.
While the overall steel quality isn’t going to rival handmade Japanese Damascus steel costing ten times as much, for the price and the incredible convenience it offers, the Ninja NeverDull provides the most consistent performance you can find in an all-in-one block system. If you want pro results without the chore of pro maintenance, this set is a must-buy.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What kind of steel are the Ninja NeverDull knives made from?
The Ninja K12007WHBN knives are made from High Carbon Stainless Steel (HCS). This composition gives them better edge retention than typical stainless steel while maintaining rust and corrosion resistance, provided you wash and dry them by hand immediately after use.
Can the sharpener wear out the blades quickly?
Any sharpening system removes a small amount of metal. However, because the NeverDull system is designed to hone the knives frequently, it removes very little material during each pass. When used as directed (a light swipe before or after use), the blades are designed to last for many years of routine use.
Are the knives dishwasher safe?
No. Like any quality knife, these must be hand-washed. Dishwashers expose blades to harsh detergents and extreme heat, which dulls the edge prematurely and can cause the high-carbon steel to pit or discolor.
What is included in the 7-Piece Prep System?
This specific set usually includes the knife block with the built-in sharpener, the 6.5″ Chef’s Knife, 5″ Santoku Knife, 5″ Utility Knife, 3.5″ Paring Knife, and two 4.5″ Steak Knives, giving you all the essentials for most daily kitchen tasks.
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