My Chef’s Knife Recommendations!
One of the most frequent questions I get as a cook is to recommend a good chef’s knife. I’ve used plenty of them over the years, and it is definitely he number one tool in my kitchen arsenal. A chef’s knife can do just about anything, and while it is also great to have a good paring knife, cleaver, bread knife, boning knife, and maybe a few more, the chef’s knife is the perfect place to start your collection! The good news is that you can start extremely inexpensive and work your way up to world-class and still be in good hands. Here is a list of some of my favorites that I have in my personal collection.
Disclaimer: links contain influencer marketing codes, none of which impacted their placement on this list. For my full list of knives and other kitchen essentials, check out my Amazon Storefront.
Best Affordable Starter Chef’s Knife
Victorinox makes some great all-purpose knives. The Swiss company also makes famous Swiss-Army Knives, luggage, and whole lot more, but their signature stainless steel with easy-to-grip black handle kitchen knives are workhorses of kitchens everywhere. And at around $40, it’s a great knife to start with!
Favorite Kickstarter Funded Chef’s Knife
Misen has been making some really cool products with their factory-to-e-commerce model that has allowed them to get some quality products to consumers at totally fair prices. I got my hands on the 8” chef’s knife and paring knife when they first launched, and I definitely put them to good use. You can grab this knife for $75.
Favorite Chef’s Knife I Got for Christmas
Shun makes some spectacular Japanese knives, and you get get some that have lots of layering or design in the steel for dramatic effect. I picked up this knife at a Christmas gift exchange one year and have been using it frequently in my kitchen ever since. It works brilliantly for chopping vegetables, rocking through herbs, or getting delicate cuts in on fish. At around $130, it’s a solid knife to build a collection around. You can see me using this exact knife making Philly Cheesesteaks here: https://youtu.be/cxxkvZiKcFA
Surprise Knife in My Collection
I actually use this Gunter Wilhelm knife A LOT. It’s the only knife that I have in the Nakiri style, and it sort of operates as half chef’s knife, half cleaver. I picked up this knife at the World Food Championships from the owner of the company, and I’ve absolutely made it a workhorse. I love chopping the Cajun trinity with it because I can chop the onions, bell pepper, and celery and move them from the cutting board to the pan with ease. Here you can see me using this very knife to slice a flank steak: https://youtu.be/MSAttHS5pQg. The knife goes for around $125 on Amazon.
Super Affordable Santoku-Style Knife
I got this knife from my buddy Tim from Australia, and I use it plenty. It comes from Everdure by Heston Blumenthal, an Aussie celebrity chef, and the maker of a great line of grills that I have in my back yard. It’s German steel and has held up nicely for the $20-30, and I like that the black blade with wooden handle helps it stand out.
Next Chef’s Knife to Add to My Collection
Global makes some bad ass knives out of Japan, and their 8” chef’s knife is one that will last you a lifetime if you care for it correctly. It’s awesome knife to continue your journey as home cook or for someone getting into professional cooking. Plus, the new Model X adds a little more height and heft for balance and ease of chopping. It comes in around $150, so it isn’t cheap, but it also isn’t crazy expensive, and can often be found on sale for around $120-130.
