8 Best Chef Knives
- by Kristina Perrin
- Last Updated: February 27, 2023
Are you an advanced cook or a novice who’s looking for the best chef knives? It can be tough to find the best kitchen knives, but luckily for you, we’ve gone ahead and done the research. This article will introduce you to the best chef knives on the market today.
A good chef knife should be able to handle a variety of tasks, including slicing, dicing, and mincing. It should also be comfortable to hold and easy to control. With so many different factors to consider, it’s no wonder finding the right chef knife can be a challenge. A chef’s knife is a true workhorse in the kitchen, so choosing one that will suit your needs is important.
To help you find the best chef knife for your kitchen, we’ve put together a list of our top picks. We’ve included a variety of tested kitchen knives to suit different budgets and cooking styles. So whether you’re a professional chef or a home cook, there’s a knife on this list that’s perfect for you.
Wondering why you should trust us? We’ve been testing kitchen products for years, and our team of experts has more than 20 years of experience in the food service industry. We also go through reviews from buyers and experts to find the best kitchen knife brands and best swiss army knife on the market.
Top Picks for Best Chef Knives
- 1. Best Overall - Wusthof 8 Inch Classic Chef’s Knife
- 2. Sharpest Chef Knife - 7 Inch Santoku Knife
- 3. Best for Small Hands - Shun Classic 6 Inch Chef’s Knife
- 4. Best Lightweight - Global G-2 Chef’s Knife
- 5. Best Value - Material Chef’s Knife
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1. Wusthof 8 Inch Classic Chef’s Knife
This knife is a true workhorse in the kitchen. It’s made with high-carbon stainless steel and has a full tang for strength and durability. The Wusthof 8 Inch Classic Chef’s Knife is also precision forged and has a bolsterless edge for easy sharpening. The blade of this knife is 8 inches long, making it a great all-purpose knife for slicing, dicing, and mincing. No doubt, Wusthof is one of the best kitchen knife brands.
It also has a comfortable grip that’s easy to hold onto, even when your hands are wet. It weighs more than most of the other knives tested, giving it a sturdy feel. This Wusthof 8 inch chef’s knife is razor sharp and super versatile. This knife is on the expensive side, but it’s a high-quality investment that will last you for years. Nonetheless, Wusthof is amongst the best rated kitchen knives.
Pros
- Razor sharp
- It’s very sturdy
Cons
- Higher price point
2. 7 Inch Santoku Knife
The 7 inch Santoku knife is a great all-purpose Japanese knife. It’s shorter and lighter than a chef’s knife, making it easier to handle for some tasks. This knife is also precision forged from a single piece of high carbon stainless steel. The blade has a bolsterless edge for easy sharpening.
This knife has a Pakka Wood handle that is contoured for comfort and triple riveted for durability. The blade is also stain and rust resistant.
Pros
- It’s super sharp
- Entirely stainless steel
- A notched blade prevents food from sticking
Cons
- The handle may not be comfortable for everyone
3. Shun Classic 6 Inch Chef’s Knife
The Shun Classic 6 Inch, Chef’s Knife is a great all-purpose Japanese knife. This knife glides through ripe tomatoes with its sharp edge. The rounded black pakkawood handle is comfortable to grip, and the blade is made from high-carbon stainless steel. The Shun Classic is also stain and rust resistant.
Pros
- Very sharp blade
- Comfortable handle
- Stainless steel construction
Cons
- The blade may be too small for some tasks
- It May need to be re-sharpened
4. Global G-2 Chef’s Knife
If you’re looking for a very lightweight knife, the Global G-2 Chef’s Knife is a great option. The blade on this knife is made from high carbon stainless steel, and it has a textured grip that makes it easy to hold onto. This knife is also stain and rust resistant.
The metal handles have dimples to provide a more comfortable grip. Global knives are made in Japan and come in a range of sizes, including 6 inch, 8 inch, and 10 inch. This knife easily achieved paper thin cuts on our carrots and tomatoes, and it was also able to handle larger tasks like slicing through a butternut squash.
While this knife is on the expensive side, it’s a great investment if you’re looking for a high-quality chef knife that will last for years.
Pros
- Very lightweight
- Stain and rust resistant
- Easy to sharpen
- Super sharp
Cons
- Expensive
- The handle may feel slippery for some users
5. Material Chef’s Knife
If you’re looking to add a simply designed, low maintenance knife to your toolkit without making a major investment, the Material chef’s knife is a great option. This knife is made from high carbon and Japanese stainless steel, which is known for being both durable and easy to sharpen.
This knife also features a comfortable grip and balance, making it easy to control. The 8-inch blade is the perfect size for most tasks in the kitchen, and it is among the best knife for chopping vegetables and slicing meat.
Pros
- Affordable
- Durable Japanese steel blade
- Comfortable grip
- Well-balanced
Cons
- The blade may require frequent sharpening
- Some users find the handle too small
6. Mac Hollow Edge Chef Knife
For those who want a top-quality chef knife, the Mac Hollow Edge Chef Knife is a great option. This knife is made from high carbon stainless steel and features a hollow edge that helps to prevent sticking. This is a hybrid of Western Japanese style knives, which means it has a straighter edge and a thinner blade. The result is a knife that is extremely sharp and easy to control.
Pros
- Extremely sharp
- Hybrid of Western and Japanese style knives
- Well-balanced
- Ergonomic grip
Cons
- The blade may require frequent sharpening
- More expensive than some other options
7. Victorinox Fibrox Pro Chef’s Knife
If you’re looking for a great all-purpose chef’s knife, the Victorinox Fibrox Pro Chef’s Knife is a good option. It’s made from high-carbon stainless steel and has a slim blade that makes it easy to maneuver. The Fibrox handle is slip-resistant, making it comfortable to use even when your hands are wet.
It’s a good chef’s knife for both beginners and professional chefs. This affordable knife is lightweight and durable at the same time, which are essential features in any good chef’s knife
Pros
- Inexpensive
- Lightweight
- Sharp blade
- Non-slip handle
Cons
- Not as durable as some other options
- The blade may require frequent sharpening
8. Misen Chef’s Knife
Misen Chef’s Knife is another great option for those looking for a good chef’s knife. This is also a hybrid for Western Japanese style knives and comes at an affordable price point. It’s made from Japanese high-carbon steel, which is known for its durability and strength. The Misen blade is also shorter than most chef’s knives, making it easier to control. The knife comes with a finger guard to protect your fingers from accidental cuts. It also has a non-slip handle for added safety.
Pros
- Durable
- Strong blade
- Easy to control
- It comes with a finger guard
- Non-slip handle
Cons
- More expensive than some other options
- The blade is shorter than some other chef’s knives
Factors to Consider When Shopping for a Chef’s Knife
When shopping for the best chef’s knife, it’s important to keep in mind a few factors. Here are what you should look for:
Type
German or Western knives typically have a straighter edge, while Japanese knives are often curved. The type of knife you choose is a matter of personal preference. Because Japanese knives are crafted from the harder steel, they will hold their edge longer, but they can be more difficult to sharpen.
Western knives are often made with slightly softer steel, making sharpening easier and honing more effective. Most Western Japanese style knives have a double bevel that’s asymmetrical, as in Western knives. This makes them more forgiving than Japanese knives.
Handle
The handle of a chef’s knife is very important because it’s the part of the knife you’ll be gripping with your hand. You want a handle that’s comfortable to hold and won’t slip when your hands are wet. Some handles are made of wood or wood composites, while others are made of plastic and metal. The type of material you choose affects the weight and the feel of the knife, as well as the price.
Blade Style
The blade of a chef’s knife is the most important part. It needs to be sharp and able to hold an edge well. The blade also needs to be durable, so it doesn’t chip or break easily. Chef’s knives are usually made from one of three types of steel: high-carbon stainless steel, ceramic, or carbon steel.
High-carbon stainless steel is the most popular type of steel used in chef’s knives. It’s durable, has a good edge, and is easy to sharpen. Ceramic blades are extremely hard and hold an edge well, but they’re also brittle and can chip easily. Carbon steel is very tough and can take a lot of abuse, but it’s also more difficult to sharpen and can rust easily.
German knives have a heartier blade that makes it tough to do tasks like breaking down a whole chicken or slicing through dense squash. This makes the knives heavier and more durable. On the other hand, Japanese knives are lightweight with sharp, straight blades, which makes them ideal for slicing and dicing vegetables. Some Japanese knives, such as the Santoku knife, also feature dimples on the blade, which helps to prevent food from sticking.
Types of Steel
There are many different types of steel used in knives, and each has its own set of pros and cons. The type of metal used in your knife can have major implications on blade sharpness and how easy it is to clean. German style models are usually made with slightly softer steel alloys such as high carbon stainless steel. Japanese style models are usually made with harder steel harder alloys such as Damascus steel.
Harder steel holds a sharper edge for a longer time but is also more difficult to sharpen. A softer steel is easier to sharpen but won’t hold its edge as long. Stainless steel is the most common type of steel used in chef knives. It is an alloy of iron, chromium, and other metals, and it is highly resistant to rust and corrosion.
Bolster
The bolster is the portion of the knife where the blade meets the handle. Some bolsters are angled, while others are straight. Angled bolsters allow for a proper and more protected grip, making it better for novices, while straight bolsters allow for a more controlled grip for chefs who like to chop with the tips of their knives.
Tang
The tang is the portion of the knife that extends into the handle. The tang provides strength and stability to the knife. Full-tang knives are considered the strongest because the steel extends all the way to the end of the handle. Partial-tang knives are not as strong, but they’re lighter and less expensive.
FAQs on the Best Chef Knife Sets
What should you use a chef’s knife for?
A chef knife is a well made knife designed to function as a kitchen workhorse. Although some tasks may be easier with speciality knives, such as slicing tomatoes with a serrated knife or segmenting fruits with a paring knife, your chef’s knife should be able to nimble handle most of the common cutting tasks in your kitchen.
How often do you need to sharpen a chef’s knife?
At a minimum, you should sharpen your knife twice a year. However, depending on the frequency of use and the type of cutting board you’re using, you may need to sharpen it more often. If you notice that your knife is starting to feel dull or isn’t slicing through ingredients as cleanly as it used to, it’s time for a sharpening
Our Recommendations
Wusthof 8 inch classic chef knife is considered the best chef knife worldwide. This knife set has been tried and tested by many home cooks and professional chefs and their reply is as good as you can gues..amazing. With its razor sharp and super versatile feature, this knife set is indeed the best.
Next, Mac Hollow Edge Chef knife is a Japanese style knife that has been tested by how lightweight and sharp it is. It has proven to be the sharpest and quality built knife in the chef knife category. Next, if you’re tight on a budget and still want to enjoy the features of a chef knife, Victorinox Fibrox Pro Chef’s knife has got you covered. This is the most affordable in this set, and its features are superb.
Chef knives are indeed a workhorse in any kitchen, and any professional chef or home cook should have a good one. With so many great options on the market, there really is no excuse not to have a great chef’s knife in your kitchen.
Why Trust Kitchen Infinity?
Our writers and reviewers thoroughly research every aspect of kitchen appliances or home improvement products so you can make a well-informed decision when investing in these products. We evaluate top quality products from several brands within budget friendly price ranges and contrast consumer reviews, surveys, satisfaction forms, brand performance, and annual appliance rankings. We go to great lengths to ensure that your next buy is worth every penny!
Kristina Perrin
Kristina is an expert DIY home remodeler and mom to three. When she's not cooking or experimenting with new recipes, you can find her working on new home improvement projects or writing about her favorite kitchen appliances or DIY projects on Kitchen Infinity blog.
