Best Chef Kitchen Knives in 2023

Last Updated on February 16, 2022

Our editors independently research the best products online to produce this list. We may receive commission on purchases made from the links below but this will never affect our product choices.

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Our Favourites

1. SKYLIGHT Chef’s Knife Professional Kitchen Japanese Santoku Knives (Editor’s Choice)
2. ZELITE INFINITY Bread Knife 8 inch (Luxury Choice)
3. Sabatier Professional All Purpose Knife (Best Value)

Kitchen knives are an essential part of any household. There are 11 different types of kitchen knives- the Chef’s knife, the utility knife, the Santoku knife, kitchen Shears, the Boning Knife, the Bread Knife, the Cleaver knife, the Paring knife, the steak knife, the Nakiri bocho, and the fillet knife.

All the knives serve different purposes, and they demand different techniques to be handled. It is not as complicated as it may sound. Spend a little time with these kitchen beauties, and you would know how to use them and when to use them. Usually, these knives are a must-have at a professional chef’s kitchen because they like precision and perfection in the food they make.

Things To Consider Before Buying Knives

•      Hold each knife individually to check the grip. It is not necessary that what is comfortable for others would be suitable for you.
•      Ensure that the knife has little or no steel at the joints. Remember, this is a weak point of the knife, and a little pressure can bend or break it. The best knives are made with a single piece of steel and are a bit costly but durable.
•      Feel the weight. A heavy knife is difficult to handle and can also cause some pain in your hands. A light, durable knife is faster and easier to handle. However, the prerequisite will change with solid food, which would need heavier knives.

How We Compared Kitchen Knives

To find the right kitchen knives we considered multiple factors including:

• Forged or Stamped Knives
• Cost
• Sharpness
• Weight
• Balance
• Design of the handle
• Maintenance and Care
• Storage

Our team independently examined and compared hundreds of products to help satisfy different needs. We spent our time researching kitchen knives and consulting customer reviews to ultimately bring you what, in our opinion, are the best options on the market right now.

To find out more about our editorial process, take a look here.

Best Chef Kitchen Knife Reviews – Top 10 Picks

Sabatier Professional All Purpose Knife

Made of superior quality steel, this knife is built with razor-sharp technology and can serve multiple purposes. It has a laser-tested, tapered knife edge, which is ground to form an exacting angle to ensure maximum cutting performance and durability. Crafted from Chrome-Molybdenum-Vanadium Stainless Steel, it is harder than standard knife steel and holds the sharp edge for longer. Made from a single piece of metal across the entire length, it offers superior durability and flexibility.

A Full tang knife usually weighs more than a regular knife and is less likely to bend. It also distributes the weight better, allowing for more excellent knife balance and higher leverage capabilities. Apt for shallow meat cuts, incisions, and chopping small vegetables and herbs, this knife offers greater control.

Kitchen Knife, Chef Knife 8 Inch – Professional Chefs Knife

Cooking becomes more relaxed and fun with this knife. Made from the best available material, it has been designed with the latest technology. Together with its Premium Case and Protective Sheath, this is truly a thing to possess. This 8-inch knife promises of an UltraSharp 4116 ThyssenKrupp German Steel Blade at 55 Rockwell Hardness, producing extraordinary cutting performance.

The edge is also Hand Sharpened to 16-18° per side to maintain the Perfect Balance between Blade Sharpness and Toughness. It has been specially designed for Cutting, Dicing, Slicing, Chopping and Mincing. Owing to its perfect design, it effortlessly Cuts Meat, Fish, Fruits, Vegetables and much more.

Richardson Sheffield Stratus Essentials 6 Piece Knife Set

Made of high-quality steel, these kitchen beauties are durable and sharp. Made of martensitic stainless steel blades, these knives are best for cutting almost anything and everything around the kitchen. They have rigid three rivet bolsters for structural strength and comfortable handling. The set comprises of 4 paring, five utility, six cooks, eight carvings and eight bread knives. The brand of the knife speaks for itself, offering excellent grip.

These knives need to be sharpened on a timely basis and are not dishwasher safe. The ergonomic design is meant for ease of use and durability. There are no hinges and welding, which makes the knife even stronger. A must-have kitchen accessory, these knives make cutting and chopping more comfortable. Be it vegetables or meat; these knives make cutting faster even amid cooking. They save time because you do not need to plan your schedule ahead of cooking.

Black Kitchen Knife Set with Covers 5 Professional Miracle Blade Knives

Made of premier steel, all knives have been designed to stand extreme temperatures. Comprising of Chef, Bread, Carving, Paring, and Utility knives, the set is complete in itself. A safe and quick way to cut, chop and mince, the knives are nonporous and antibacterial, preventing any foodborne diseases. These are accompanied by sheath pieces so that the blades and the user’s fingers are safe when they are stored. Easy to handle, these knives are light and therefore fast.

The blades are made of top quality miracle blade and are ergonomically designed. These knives are easy to maintain because they are nonporous. They also do not corrode or tarnish like ordinary steel blades available in the market.

Cooking Knife Kitchen Knife Chef Knife 8 Inch Professional Chefs Knife

Cutting and chopping are made easy with this chef’s knife. Made of German steel – from the design of the blade to the handle of the knife, everything speaks of technology coupled with master craftsmanship. Extremely sharp because of its make, this tapered knife edge is ground to form an exacting angle. The high carbon stainless steel has been heat-treated for extreme sharpness, which makes it durable and offers maximum cutting performance.

German stainless steel 1.4116 has been used in the making of the knife, making it more sharp and durable and most of all perfectly balanced. The ergonomic design of the handle aligns the wrist and forearm, thereby reducing fatigue. This reduction provides better stability and control while chopping vegetables. This knife is suitable for cutting vegetables, fish and meat, and it is a multipurpose knife designed to cut smoothly.

SKYLIGHT Chef’s Knife Professional Kitchen Japanese Santoku Knives

The Santoku knife is one of the finest quality of knives, made with top-class German steel. It is made of high carbon German stainless steel X45 CrMoV15 at 58 Rockwell Hardness. The quality of the steel makes it rust-resistant, durable, and stain-resistant. The design ensures that there is no wastage of the material being cut. The hollowed design at the edge of the blade ensures that there is enough air circulation between the material and the blade.

It is therefore great for slicing, dicing and mincing. The Ergonomic Handle of approximately 23.95 inches makes it easy to handle. The angular side makes it easy for slicing, thus making it a masterpiece by artisans. The handle is made of a military-grade high polymer which is highly impervious to heat, cold and moisture.

Santoku Knife-MAD SHARK Pro Kitchen Knife 7 Inch

Made of premium-quality German steel, the ergonomic design makes it comfortable to handle. No fatigue of hands, no strain on the forearms. The 7-inch blade is extremely sharp and can make fine cuts on vegetables. It is easy to maintain since it does not rust. You only have to wipe it dry once used. Manufactured by Mad Shark, the knife has been designed with the latest technology that makes it adept for slicing, cutting and mincing.

The Santoku Knife has a triple rivet design that attaches the handle to the blade. The ergonomic shape enables the right balance between the handle and the thin blade, ensuring ease of movement. Best choice for home or kitchen, the knife makes for the first choice of both homemakers and chefs. Light and easy to handle, the design does not damage your fingers at all.

Tansung Kitchen Knife 8 Inch Chef Knife

You know a knife is best when it is carved out of a single piece of metal. The make, quality and the look, everything has been designed for ease of use and glee for your eyes. Ultra-sharp, the knife is hand-finished by experienced craftsmen who are familiar with the science of making knives. It is a stable and durable knife, which is best for its streamlined design. Easy to clean, the fish-shaped handle has an ergonomic design, and the curved tail prevents the knife from falling off.

Made from high-quality carbon stainless steel, the 8-inch knife is highly durable and has a beautiful Damascus pattern on the surface. The well-balanced weight and size of the blade are meant to make elegant slashes while protecting your hand from injuries. It offers a varied experience of slicing, dicing, chopping and mincing.

Fillet Knife – PAUDIN 6 Inch Boning Knife Sharp and Flexible

Don’t go by the small look of this knife. It can do much more than its size. An excellent boning knife, it can slice through bones of lambs and beef. Excellent for deboning, preparing, filleting, skinning, trimming and butterflying, this knife is a great multipurpose option for any household. Made of high-quality German steel, this knife is rust-resistant, water-resistant and corrosion-resistant.

It offers long-lasting performance because of its specially-designed wave-patterned blade. Its precision sliced blade with 15 degrees per side allows a cutting core of 56+ Rockwell hardness. This boning knife is also suitable for skinning fish and trimming meat with the flexible blade, which provides a more comfortable cooking experience. The soft and comfortable handle is made of pakkawood (a wood/plastic composite material), creating the perfect look and grip. The shape ensures ease of movement.

ZELITE INFINITY Bread Knife 8 inch

Slicing bread was never more comfortable than with this bread knife. Made of a single piece of metal, it has no hinges or joints to reduce the strength of this blade. Offering minimal slicing resistance, it cuts through tomatoes or bread like a knife on butter. Made of premium Japanese steel, the blade comprises of 67-layer high carbon stainless steel with the company’s trademark – Japanese tsunami rose Damascus pattern – that incorporates a serrated edge at 18 degrees.

The blade does not require any maintenance and sharpening. It boasts of the stunning triple-rivet rounded handle. The Black Classic G10 Handle Triple Riveted to the Forged Full Tang adds extra strength and durability. Ergonomically designed, the rounded handles ensure a secure and comfortable grip. It is incredibly satisfying to handle with its rare tapered bolster. It promises a perfect balance, which creates no tension for the hands and the forearm.

Sharpness: Check the sharpness of the knife and the material with which it is made. Remember, getting cuts from a sharp knife could be accidental, but injuries from a dull knife are usually due to negligence. This is because you have been trying to cut a vegetable or fruit with a dull knife, which increases your chances of getting hurt. Chefs, therefore, always prefer sharp knives because they are easy to control. 

Weight: Do not confuse buying knives with cars! Weight matters in both. Just imagine the burden your hands and wrists will experience if they have to bear with a heavy knife? Handling heavy knives needs skill and technique. There is no “correct” weight for a cutting knife. It all depends on the preference of the user and the way he/she can handle it. While some people find it easier to use light knives, professionals are comfortable using the heavier ones. 

Balance:  Balance is directly proportional to weight. It determines how comfortable you are in handling the knife. If the pressure falls on one side of the hand, chopping would be a great deal of work. An ill-balanced knife may also lead to injuries due to slipping.

Design of the handle: A lot depends on the handle of the knife and the shape of your hands. If both are compatible with each other, slicing and cutting is just another small task for you. The material of the handle – wood, plastic, metal, and composites – is also essential. 

Maintenance and care: Some knives are prone to corrosion or rusting while others continue to last for a long time. So, if you do not like cleaning much, opt for the one that needs less maintenance. However, ensure that when you do clean it, you also sharpen it.

Storage: Ensure that the kitchen knives are stored in a cool, dry place. It is best to keep them separately, away from other utensils because they tend to rust quickly. It is best to create a separate knife block for them. It is also crucial to store knives away from children and pets to avoid accidents and injuries.