Best Chef Knives

Review & Comparison, Last Update January 27, 2024
A lot of people give preference to store-bought food these days. Why is it so? Because they can't afford (or do not want) to spend hours bustling about in the kitchen. However, things can be different. With a high-quality Chef's knife, cooking will not only be quicker but also bring you real joy. Keep reading and choose a Chef's knife that suits you best! ...Read more ...Read less
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BEST 2024
PROS
CONS
OUR VERDICT
Purpose
Blade length
Material
Handle type
Handle material
Warranty
 
PROS
Forged steel is the sharpest and long-lasting material. A replaceable handle is fixed directly to 3 rivets, which makes it more reliable than a shaft one.
CONS
Matte finish is less resistant to scratches.
OUR VERDICT

The Dalstrong Gladiator Chef’s Knife combines excellent design and outstanding performance. Made of high-quality steel produced by a world-leading company ThyssenKrupp, it definitely deserves your attention.

detailed parameters
Purpose
Chopping, Mincing, Slicing, Dicing
Blade length
8 inches
Material
Forged high-carbon stainless steel
Handle type
Replaceable
Handle material
Laminated Pakka wood
Warranty

Lifetime warranty 

PROS
Unique patented handle material (Fibrox) will provide an excellent grip and prevent sliding.
CONS

Due to a lightweight yet rather big handle, chopping might be a bit difficult.

OUR VERDICT

If you seek exceptional quality, the Victorinox Fibrox Pro Chef's knife is what you need. Produced by the company being the main supplier of knives for the Swiss Army, this knife will cater to all your cutting needs. 

detailed parameters
Purpose
Chopping, Mincing, Slicing, Dicing
Blade length
8 inches
Material
High-carbon stainless steel
Handle type
Shaft
Handle material
Textured plastic, Patented Fibrox handle
Warranty

Lifetime warranty 

PROS
Mirror polished handle looks very impressive. It also reduces fatigue and provides great maneuverability.
CONS

It is not recommended to slice frozen foods with it.

OUR VERDICT

Multifunctional and ultra-sharp, the Imarku Professional 8-inch Chef's knife will let you perform all cutting tasks with ease and serve you for a long while without a need to sharpen it. It's arguably the best knife at this price point.

detailed parameters
Purpose
Chopping, Mincing, Slicing, Dicing
Blade length
8 inches
Material
High-carbon stainless steel
Handle type
Shaft
Handle material
Mirror-polished Pakka wood
Warranty

Lifetime warranty

PROS

The combination of the 4.5-inch handle and quality materials provides an excellent balance and better control over the process of cutting.

CONS

Due to a non-standard blade length, this knife might fail to fit in some knife slots.

OUR VERDICT

Equinox Professional Chef's knife can be a great gift for any experienced cook. It features a perfect combination of feather-like weight, great balance, exclusive German quality, and high resistance to moisture and damage.

detailed parameters
Purpose
Chopping, Mincing, Slicing, Dicing
Blade length
8.75 inches
Material
High-carbon stainless steel
Handle type
Shaft
Handle material
ABS-plastic
Warranty

Amazon's 30-day return policy

PROS

The knife set comes complete with a practical sheath for safe storage and handling. Meanwhile, an enlarged bolster ensures a firm and secure grip minimizing the risk of cutting yourself. 

CONS

It might be slightly heavier than you expect. 

OUR VERDICT

Featuring a 67-layer carbon steel blade with the VG10 steel core, the KYOKU chef knife is a real work of art. It stands out for exceptional hardness, durability, and sharpness that can hardly be beaten. Perfectly crafted, it will serve for years and generations to come.

detailed parameters
Purpose

Chopping, Mincing, Slicing, Dicing

Blade length

8 inches

Material

High-carbon stainless steel, VG10™ Japanese steel

Handle type

Full-tang

Handle material

G10™ Thermoset plastic laminate

Warranty

Lifetime warranty

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Dalstrong Gladiator Series

Salad Сhallenge

If you believe that well cut and chopped food is a result of a professional cook’s skills, you’re not exactly right. Expertise and skill, of course, are important but dealing with multiple ingredients without a good quality knife might be a real challenge even for a pro.

The Gladiator Series Chef Knife from Dalstrong will solve a lot of issues and let you feel what it means to be a professional chef. Used for different purposes, we could clearly see no task was a challenge for this knife. Even for the Greek salad, with its finely diced and chopped Feta cheese and tomatoes. The knife cut through the softest ingredients and didn’t make them mush, the cutting board left unstained. That’s one of the best kitchen knives one could have dreamed of to use for different tasks and practice cooking with excellent results.

And the whole secret is in the blade design. ThyssenKrupp is a famous German brand well known around the world for its steel products. The company uses the latest technologies to ensure their goods deliver high quality and extreme sharpness. The Dalstrong knife is not an exception. The blade is made of high-carbon steel distinguished by 56+ Rockwell hardness and is tapered for extra flexibility and resilience. Hand sharpened at 14-16 degrees per side, it ensures precise cutting and allows for ultra-thin slicing with almost no effort from your side. Tempered at high temperatures, the blade is durable and can easily withstand extensive use on all sorts of ingredients while the chromium in the steel content gives it a nice satin finish and prevents staining, contributing to its longer service life.

Review of Dalstrong Gladiator Series Chef Knife

Good for Food and For the User

Tackling the trickiest cutting tasks with ease, the Dalstrong Chef knife is a breeze to handle and maintain. Though pretty hefty, it neatly fits into the palm and is easy to work with. That's thanks to a meticulously engineered knife construction and ideal blade to handle balance. The 8-inch blade doesn't outweigh the handle and an all-forged design is solid and robust enough both for making heavy-duty cuts and for accomplishing some more detailed cutting tasks. Made of Spanish Pakkawood imported from Spain, the knife handle not only looks attractive but is also stain- and water-resistant and the triple rivets make the handle super durable.

The Dalstrong Gladiator Chef knife is also very easy to take care of and doesn’t require any special treatment. After each use, make sure to hand wash it and leave it to dry out on a countertop or in a special knife block. And thanks to a BPA-free cover included in the set, you can easily take the knife with you when needed, with no chance to accidentally get hurt or damage other things in your travel bag.

To resume, combining excellent design and outstanding performance, the Dalstrong knife will cover the needs of both pros and enthusiastic home cooks.

Dalstrong Gladiator Series Chef Knife in the use

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price $59.99
Stock In stock
ASIN B01BVMD0YI

VIDEO
Kitchen Knives - Overview of the 8" Dalstrong Gladiator Series Chef

What customers say about this product

Size & Weight

I was skeptical when I purchased this knife as usually knives are not good quality and are very lightweight when they are in this price range.

Key Specs

A very good chef's knife for the price. It handles nicely and slices/dices/ chops better than any of the several others I've tried.

Features

The handle has a lovely weight to it and the balance is perfect. Pinch grip right at the bolster feels just right - the extra heft of the handle feels gone.
 

Victorinox Fibrox Pro 5.2063.20

Time-proved Reliability

When it comes to quality knives, the world-famous Swiss brand Victorinox is the one that will top the list of best-selling models. They know everything about cutlery and produce premium knives for decades. Hence, designed and released by Victorinox, the Fibro Pro Chef's Knife is undoubtedly a decent piece of kitchen cutlery that will impress you with its versatility and cutting performance.

With this knife at hand, you’ll be able to easily cut, chop and mince any foodstuff with no problem at all. Those users who often cook at home know firsthand how challenging it can be to chop onions into fine pieces without ending up with burning eyes. The only way not to let that happen is to get the job done quick, which can be done with the Fibrox Chef's Knife. Using this extra-sharp knife, you will be able to cut, slice, and dice all kinds of ingredients including onions with ease and start to enjoy cooking at home.

The Fibro Pro Chef's Knife comes with a moderate-sized blade, measuring 8 inches in length and 2 inches in width. European steel that the blade is made of is lightweight yet durable, strong, and razor-sharp. Tapered to hold the cutting edge for longer, the blade won’t get dull quickly and will need re-sharpening rarely. A slightly sloping blade design makes this knife a match both for chopping and shredding as well as for effortless slicing of hard-skinned and fleshy stuff.

The put-on handle of the knife is made of Fibrox, a special material patented by Victorinox that looks and feels pretty much like any conventional plastic. This also makes it very lightweight and well-balanced so that using it is effortless even for a length of time. The only thing we’d rather mention is that it’s not dishwasher safe. So, if you want to prolong the service life of your knife, make sure to hand wash it only.

All things considered, the Fibrox Pro is a practical knife to keep in any kitchen and use for multiple tasks. If you’ve got no chef's knife yet, we couldn't recommend the Fibro Pro highly enough. For a good price, you can get all the benefits of time-tested Swiss products.

Review of Victorinox Fibrox Pro 5.2063.20 Chef's Knife

Did you Know?

The Victorinox company has been supplying Swiss Army with knives since 1891. What's more, these knives are on the list of standard equipment designed for NASA astronauts. The strength of Victorinox knives is that they are all hand sharpened and backed with a lifetime warranty, which attests to the manufacturer's certainty in the quality of their products. The company owns numerous patents and utilizes unique steel composition, which they keep a profound secret up till now. One of the products the company is best known for is a Victorinox Swiss Army Pioneer Pocket Knife. It is the right tool to have with you when you're going on a trip or planning a picnic.

Victorinox Fibrox Pro 5.2063.20 Chef's Knife in the use

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price $47.78
Stock In stock
ASIN B008M5U1C2

VIDEO
The Victorinox Fibrox 8-Inch Chef's Knife Review

What customers say about this product

Key Specs

It feels awesome wielding such a sharp blade. I feel like an ancient samurai tasked by my emperor to slay a sworn enemy of our people. Ok that's more of a personal PRO, but there's no harm in sharing!

Size & Weight

It's weighted well. It has good balance. It came with and keeps a very sharp edge.

Features

The handle feels perfect in hand and actually grips better with a little moisture.
 

Imarku Professional 8-Inch

Dress Meat With a Chef's Knife

Dressing meat is not an easy task and to do it well, a good knife is a must. And probably no other knife will become a better helper than a chef’s knife. Yet, not all chef’s knives are the same. So, if you are a meat eater and steak lover and dressing meat is a rather common task for you, we strongly recommend turning your eyes to the Imarku chef's knife.

First things first, the blade in this model is made of high-quality stainless steel imported from Solingen, Germany. It contains a combination of carbon and chromium, which gives the knife an excellent resistance to corrosion and enhances its durability, which is important for cutting solid foods and performing heavy-duty cutting tasks. Sharpened using the latest technologies, the blade perfectly holds the cutting edge and will smoothly cut through hard and soft ingredients alike. Besides, the chrome and carbon blend also securely protects the blade from tarnishing and it will keep its fine glossy look for long.

With the length of 8 inches and the width of 1.75 inches at the base, the knife’s blade is ideally measured for all sorts of cutting tasks. Apart from cutting and mincing meat, you’ll be able to practice cutting foodstuffs of different shapes and sizes. For example, you can effortlessly cut vegetables into strips if you decide to treat your nearest and dearest with delicious soup. The only thing the manufacturer recommends avoiding is cutting frozen ingredients since they can dull the blade.

Review of Imarku Professional 8-Inch Chef's Knife

Mighty and Elegant

The high cutting performance offered by the Imarku knife goes along with exceptional design ergonomics making it really convenient in use. Thus, the handle counter-balances the blade to minimize aches and strain after prolonged use and ensures precision cutting. Besides, here the manufacturer has combined convenience and a chic look. Comfortable to hold and nice to the touch, the replaceable handle is made of mirror-polished Pakkawood (the material imported from Africa). With a noble chocolate brown color and vivid wooden patterns, this material is also known for high durability and resistance to moisture and will ensure an excellent non-slip grip. What’s more, coming in a sleek black box and exposed against a bright red liner, the Imarku knife will make a great gift idea for any seasoned home cook.

To cut a long story short, if you are not eager to buy a number of special-purpose knives for different cutting tasks and rather need a really quality multi-purpose knife that will cater to your everyday food preparation chores, the Imarku chef’s knife will certainly get you covered.

Imarku Professional 8-Inch Chef's Knife in the use

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price $33.99
Stock In stock
ASIN B01DDBJF12

VIDEO
Imarku Chef's Knife Unboxing
 

Equinox Professional 8.75-Inch

Affordable Chef Aid in Home Kitchen

A chef’s knife is a must-have tool in any household kitchen, whether you are a novice or an experienced cook. And it is not without a reason since this knife is a multi-tasker and can replace multiple specialized knives. Yet, a professional-grade chef knife might appear a rather significant investment, with the price tag falling somewhere around a hundred bucks. And if you are not ready to invest that much in a knife but still want a decent cutting assistant for your home kitchen, the chef's knife from Equinox will catch your fancy. At a fraction of the cost of premium models, this cutter offers pretty much everything you expect to see in a good chef's knife.

A quality knife is determined by the cutting performance and the tasks it can perform. In this regard, the Equinox doesn’t trail behind its pricier rivals. The blade is made of quality German steel. It is strong, rust-resistant, and perfectly sharp. Though it won’t hold the sharp edge for a lifetime, you can easily re-sharpen it when needed and continue enjoying smooth and easy cutting. Besides, the blade in this model is very light, thus, reducing overall knife weight, minimizing hand fatigue when cutting, giving you better control, and making it a perfect match for prolonged cutting jobs. This chef knife will help you chop, cut, slice, mince and even debone meat with ease. Chopping foods into tiny bits to prepare purees or soups, cutting middle-sized pieces to prepare fillings for cakes and pies, or shredding larger pieces for roasts and grilled dishes, the Equinox will help you handle all those tasks without a hassle. So, you’d be able to experiment with dishes and cook something new each time.

Review of Equinox Professional 8.75-Inch Chef's Knife

With Attention to Details

With attention to details, the blade of Equinox professional chef's knife conforms to all modern standards and boasts excellent cutting qualities, moisture and rust-resistance and simplicity of use. With a 8.75-inch blade, it’s a bit bigger than the other knives in this review, however, it is still easy to handle on most tasks. The handle of the knife is made of a durable ABS plastic, which is safe for contact with food and comfy in use. The handle offers a good grip and features an attractive design that’s not going to deteriorate over time. The Equinox Professional chef’s knife is shipped in a beautiful and stylish case, which makes it a great gift idea for any enthusiastic cook.

To conclude, functional, high-performing, and fairly affordable, the Equinox will become a great choice for thrifty home cooks who seek a quality knife at a budget-friendly price.

Equinox Professional 8.75-Inch Chef's Knife in the use
Last updated price $0.00
Stock May be out of stock
ASIN B00ZHO50FY

 

Kyoku Damascus 8"

A Lifetime Chef's Assistant

Any professional chef has his own arsenal of knives he cooks with on a daily basis. It’s a so-called private collection that is of special value for the top-rated cooks and their followers and usually includes only the best kitchen cutting tools. The Kyoku chef knife is worth being a part of the pro legacy and for a good reason. It stands out for exceptional quality and can become a faithful lifetime assistant for any restaurant chef.

What makes this model shine is a one-of-a-kind blade distinguished by the superior cutting performance that won’t turn for the worse over time. The thing is that the blade here is not a single piece of steel but a multi-layered hand-crafted construction. It consists of as many as 67 alternating layers of S/S 431 and S/S 301 steel with the core made of the VG10 steel. Following ancient traditions and sword manufacturing techniques, the blade is cryogenically treated to be super hard yet flexible and to perfectly resist corrosion. The VG10 steel is thinner, yet, much harder and sharper than other steel types used in western cutlery. It holds the cutting edge for much longer and shows no signs of rust even under acidic conditions. It's notable that in Kyoku, they don't use VG10 steel originated from Japan but go for globally-sourced VG10 steel. Featuring the same chemical composition and delivering the same quality, this steel is less expensive. So, you won't have to overpay.

The excellent blade sharpness in a combo with a hollow edge design will let you effortlessly cut literally anything, be it raw meat, hard veggies or cheese, soft bread, etc. It will smoothly cut through ingredients, with no foods sticking to the blade.

One more feature that will catch your eye at a glance is a stunning blade look. This is yet another characteristic of the VG10 steel. It allows creating incredible custom designs with mirrored finishes and unique textures. So, there are no two similar blades made of this type of steel and you can be sure you’ll have a unique knife.

Review of Kyoku Damascus 8" Chef Knife

... With a Thought-out Design

The up-to-par cutting performance of the KYOKU chef's knife is neatly complemented by a well-thought design. The gorgeous blade with a hammer effect and branded signature is paired with an elegant black handle accentuated by an exquisite mosaic pin in the middle. It’s notable that the blade seamlessly integrates into the handle. It’s a full tang handle design that ensures not only perfect balance and comfort while cutting but also high durability and strength of the whole knife construction. The triple-riveted pattern ensures a solid knife to handle connection while an enlarged bolster provides a firm and secure grip, thus, minimizing the risk of cutting yourself. To add more, the knife comes in the set with a practical sheath for protected storage and safe handling.

To sum up, if you look for a reliable cutting assistant that will serve you a lifetime, you can’t go wrong with the Kyoku chef's knife. Though it is not on a low end in terms of price, it is not too pricey and is worth every cent you’ll pay.

Kyoku Damascus 8" Chef Knife in the use

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price $97.79
Stock In stock
ASIN B07BJZ8WSP

 

What Is a Chef's Knife?

What differs a Chef's knife from every other knife available? A Chef's knife has a long blade, the length of which may reach 12 inches, and features a peculiar shape proportional to its size: the longer the blade, the wider the knife. Compared to any average knife, these stand out for their dimensions.

The advantage of a Chef's knife is that it makes it easier to chop larger ingredients and shove them directly into a pan thanks to the width of its blade. Once used specifically for slicing and disjointing, today a Chef's knife's become a general-purpose knife that can be found in most kitchens. Good at chopping, slicing, dicing and even mincing ingredients, Chef's knives render themselves as an all-rounder everyone should have in their kitchen.

As versatile as it is, having only a Chef's knife might not be enough for all cooking jobs, so we recommend you also take a look at these knife sets. And if you've not a knife sharpener yet, make sure to check out this review as well.

What Features to Compare

Performance

The most important thing to consider when selecting a Chef's knife is how comfortable it will be to use it. For that, you may need to check out such parameters as the weight, size, handle, and edge of a knife which directly affect its convenience of use. As a rule, knives with a shorter blade are more lightweight and give more agility for cutting a bigger amount of ingredients. Knives with a longer blade are more suitable for cutting more volumes or something large like pumpkin or watermelon, but not everyone will find them convenient to hold. So, in order to choose a good Chef's knife that will fit your purposes, think of the tasks you plan to use it for.

Blade

The other thing that can't go amiss is the blade, that is, its construction and material it's made from. In all, there are two main types of construction you can find: forged and stamped. Forged are produced by applying high heat to stainless steel, which is then molded into a desired style or shape. Knives produced this way are recognized as the strongest and will not bend or warp over time. Stamped knives, in turn, are made utilizing a machine. Unlike forged knives, the edge of stamped ones is sharpened when the blade is done. Though these are usually cheaper and considered not as great as forged knives, they fit most jobs and perform them well enough.

What is also worth considering is material. Naturally, most Chef's knives you'll find on the market will be produced from stainless steel, the material generally considered strong, durable and highly resistant to bending. However, you can also encounter other options. Some knives, for example, can be made from carbon steel. This material is sturdier than stainless steel but less durable since it is more susceptible to stains and rust, which makes it important to take care of it at all times. Also, you may find knives that use high-carbon steel. Compared to the other two options, these will be more durable than carbon steel and a little stronger than stainless steel, though not as lasting. Along with stainless Chef's knives, you can find ceramic models. The advantage of these knives is that they are very sharp while requiring no sharpening, and weigh less than metal.

Convenience

The final factor to consider is the handle comfort. Obviously, there's no one rule here as to which handle will perfectly fit you because this factor depends on such subjective things as the size of your palm, your cooking experience, as well as your personal preferences. In general, Chef's knives may have handles made from metal, wood or plastic, all requiring care and hand wash, in order to ensure their long service life and maintain the sharpness of the blade.

Sources:

1. Maryellen Driscoll How to Choose a Chef's Knife, FineCooking.

2. Chef's Knives, Cook's Illustrated. September 2013.

3. Dana Velden Choose the Best Knife for Your Cooking, Kitchn.

4. Types of Knives, Cutco.

5. Types of Knives, WebstaurantStore.

6. How to Select Quality Kitchen Knives, wikiHow.

7. Chef's knife, Wikipedia.

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