The Best Chef's Knives Of 2023

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Chef's knives are the go-to knife for almost any cooking task, from cutting up vegetables and chopping herbs to butchering and carving meat, a chef's knife can do it all. Most professionals recommend outfitting your kitchen with a chef's knife first and foremost. Sure it's nice to have lots of options, from paring knives to special pieces just for deboning meat but, at the end of the day, a chef's knife is the only truly indispensable choice.

Made up of different parts, like the blade itself, the handle, and the bolster, chef's knives can be surprisingly different from each other thanks to the different materials used for these pieces as well as how much attention manufacturers pay to the engineering and ergonomics. The blade on this type of knife averages 6-10 inches, but many examples exist outside of this range as well. Typically, these days at least, the cutting edge is made of stainless steel, but in the past, harder carbon steel was the metal of choice.

Cooks today are lucky to have many options at their disposal. However, having this many choices can sometimes feel overwhelming. It can help to know what you're looking for in a knife (i.e. value, longevity, aesthetics, etc...) and seek out a highly recommended option within that category.

Mercer knives, made in Taiwan, have become something of an internet sensation. Known for reliably producing high-quality knives at prices well below those of most other premium producers, Mercer blades are seen in commercial kitchens across the world.

Blade Advisor calls them "the Best Cheap Knives" and they regularly top lists of economical knife choices. Many culinary schools outfit their students with a knife roll full of Mercer knives and tools, a testament to their budget appeal. Although Mercer makes a vast line of knives, most of the differences between them are superficial and are related to handle design and composition. Mercer makes both lighter stamped blades and heftier forged ones. The Culinary Genesis, 8-inch chef's knife is a forged knife and feels substantial in the hand. Its textured, grippy handle keeps it secure, even in wet or greasy hands.

The bolster -– the part of the knife that bulges out between the handle and the blade –- provides balance and heft to this knife and the hard German steel makes for an excellent, very sharp knife at a very reasonable price. However, the bolster on this knife doesn't extend all the way down the blade which makes it easier to sharpen as it ages. On Amazon, the Mercer Culinary Genesis has over 1,200 reviews and its rating sits at an impressive 4.8 out of 5 stars. 

Purchase the Mercer Culinary Genesis, 6-inch chef's knife from Amazon starting at $37.21 as of April 14th, 2023.

A price tag north of $400 certainly earns New West KnifeWorks' Teton Edge Santoku Ironwood entrance into the splurge category, but you'll find that price is justified when learning about the craftsmanship that goes into making this chef's knife. The Japanese-style knife is constructed from S35VN "powder metal." This high-carbon steel gives the Teton Edge Santoku every quality you look for in a chef's knife: Superior sharpness, toughness, stain resistance, and sharpenability. The desert ironwood handle material is eye-catching while simultaneously durable and water-resistant.

What separates this chef's knife from a traditional Santoku blade, however, is the namesake — Teton Edge. This etching of the Teton mountain range on the knife's blade replaces the dimples you find on many other chef's knives. "A traditional Santoku has dimples that keep food from sticking to the edge," Michael Milligan, New West's director of marketing, told Forbes. "This [edge] does that job even better by creating even more negative surface area to keep food from sticking. Beyond that, dimples can sometimes weaken the precision of steel during the heat treatment stage. We're able to etch the design in without compromising on stability."

All this makes the Teton Edge Santoku's price tag a bit more reasonable. "There are definitely cheaper options out there, but if you're feeling indulgent, these multi-hundred dollar knives are totally worth the investment," said a reviewer for SPY.

You can order your very own seven-inch Teton Edge Santoku Ironwood from New West KnifeWorks for $439.

The Japanese have a long history of blade-making, extending back to the traditions of samurai warriors. They have also developed their own distinct style and shapes of blades, including specifically designated shapes for vegetables, fish, and meat.

Modern Japanese firms have taken traditional techniques and used them to make Western-style knives that are typically lighter and sharper than those most cooks are used to. This is usually due to the type of steel used, which tends to be harder and more brittle. This makes it harder to put a fine edge on the blade, but means that it stays sharper longer than the softer steels used by most European knife makers.

The Shun Classic chef's knife is a beautiful, striking tool. The handle is D-shaped so it fits comfortably and naturally into your hand and is made of a shiny PakkaWood, a material made by impregnating wood with resin to create something that can stand up to moisture and bacterial growth.

Most Japanese knives are sharpened to a finer angle than Western knives, which makes them feel sharper. The Shun is no exception and its fine cutting edge is remarked upon by nearly every review. In fact, Gadget Review suggests only using this knife on a wooden cutting board since it could easily cut chunks out of a flimsier plastic board.

Purchase the Shun Classic chef's knife from Amazon starting at $169.95.

The shape of this knife is straight from Julia Child's classic two-part cookbook "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" and anyone looking for a mid-century gourmet aesthetic could certainly do worse. Confusingly, the name Sabatier predates legal trademarks, so any unscrupulous manufacturer can throw this name on any mass-produced piece of junk. One sign of quality is if the knife is actually made in France, which this blade is.

The Sabatier, 8-inch chef's knife's shape differs from most German knives -– which have become the gold standard of Western blades –- by having a flatter blade and an overall narrower profile. Instead of the traditional rocking motion associated with high-end German knives, this shape is designed for more of a straight up and down cutting action.

K Sabatier has been making knives in Thiers, France -– a town with a longstanding tradition of knife making –- for over 200 years, and it shows. Blade Advisor calls this knife "the best Sabatier chef's knife available on Amazon." They cite its solid, well-crafted construction with a hefty bolster that adds weight and balance to the knife as particularly laudable. Its impressive, 4.7-star average agrees.

Purchase the Sabatier, 8-inch French forged stainless chef's knife from Amazon starting at $208.99.

This knife is a stalwart. Renowned across the internet, it is a longtime example of good value. Made by the same company that makes Swiss Army Knives, it comes from a legacy of reliability. Originating in Switzerland in the late 1800s, this brand takes its name from its founder's mother's name Victoria and the word "inox" another name for stainless steel.

Numerous well-respected cooking publications have long championed this knife and this has led to it being held as essentially the benchmark of bargain-priced cutlery. As time has gone on and the price has continuously risen, other quality knives that sit at a lower price point have premiered, but this blade is still an excellent kitchen companion.

The blade is stamped rather than forged, unlike most high-end knives. This means the blade is noticeably lighter than the more deluxe forged blades of competitors like Wusthof. This translates into deftness and maneuverability.

The textured, grippy handle keeps the whole thing secure, even when cooks' hands are slippery with moisture or grease and doesn't fatigue them with sharp, angular edges. Although the look won't win any design competitions (the Spruce Eats called it "utilitarian" in an otherwise glowing review) it's comfortable, sharp, and tough. This knife provides an incredible return on investment and, as long as it's cared for properly, it will serve you well for years.

Purchase the Victorinox, Fibrox 8-inch chef's knife from Amazon starting at $46.36.

Most tools are not designed for the smaller and less dextrous hands of kids. But then there are the Opinel Le Petit chef's knife's features that provide a safer experience for tots in the kitchen.

Opinel, is more well-regarded pocket knives than kitchen knives, but it's also a familiar name in paring knives -– the eye-catching colored wooden handles stand out in a world of riveted black. The company has been making knives since 1890, even winning recognition in 1985 as one of the best-designed objects, next to the like of Porsche luxury cars and Rolex watches (per Opinel.)

Opinel's Le Petit chef knife set has been recognized by America's Test Kitchen as a standout product for teaching young cooks to comfortably and confidently use a knife. It uses a comfortable wooden handle and a plastic ring to protect little fingers and provide a secure grip. Although it is sharp, it comes with a protective plastic guard that is worn on the opposite hand to protect from the blade.

The Kitchn writes enthusiastically about the reception of this knife with a budding chef. Not only was it love at first sight, thanks to the colorful plastic additions to the structure, but the smaller size was approachable and confidence-boosting for children age six and up. Its affordable price is not a huge investment, but it could be the catalyst for your child to have a lifetime appreciation for cooking.

Purchase the Opinel Le Petit chef knife set from Amazon starting at $36.

At first glance, ceramic seems to be a strange choice for a blade. However, when you consider just how hard zirconium dioxide –- the specific type of ceramic used in this type of knife –- is and, because of that, just how sharp you can make a knife made from it, it all starts to make sense.

Kyocera is a versatile company that makes everything from fine ceramics to solar panels for hybrid cars. The name has been adapted from the original Kyoto Ceramic Co., Ltd. into the shortened version we know today.

Although there are downsides to this material –- namely a more delicate construction that could lead to breakage much more easily than a metal blade would -– it can get so sharp and is so lightweight that many consumers don't seem to mind.

The Kyocera, Ceramic, 7-inch chef's knife has gotten endorsements from both amateur reviewers and professional test kitchens such as Good Housekeeping. With its mid-level price, you can get a unique knife for your collection that really works –- just don't drop it.

Purchase the Kyocera, Advanced Ceramic, 7-inch chef's knife from Amazon starting at $79.99.

MAC is a name that comes up again and again when researching well-made knives. They consistently garner rave reviews from places like Wirecutter or America's Test Kitchen –- and with good reason; the quality of these Japanese blades is overall excellent.

Although there are many different lines of knives produced by MAC that range in price and in how elaborate the blades are, the Chef Series manages to hit a sweet spot between affordability and substance. Particularly popular among line cooks, who expect reliability but don't want to pay a lot for it, these knives are stamped, meaning they are punched out of a single sheet of metal. This makes them particularly light and nimble.

The name of this blade –- specifically the "French" part -– is a reference to its more angular shape than most chef's knives. It is consistently called "light" in its reviews, usually linked with the phrase "razor sharp." This knife is particularly well suited for a marathon cooking session since a heavier blade will fatigue a cook's hands and arms faster than this featherweight option.

One of the best parts about the MAC chef's knife is the affordability –- you could easily spend a lot more and not get a knife as sharp.

Purchase the MAC Chef Series, 8.5-inch French chef's knife from Amazon starting at $78.95.