If you want to be a great chef, then you will need all the best tools.
Knives are a core part of the tools you need to be able to make some amazing meals as they will help you properly slice and portion meat, vegetables, and more.
But, with so many different knives out on the market, how can you tell the best from the rest?
That’s where we come in – here are 12 of the best kitchen knives as proven by our own tests (see also ‘10 Sharpest Kitchen Knives, According To Testing‘).
Check them out below to find the best knives for you and your kitchen!
JA Henckels Classic 8-Inch Chef’s Knife
Chef knives are some of the most versatile knives that you can find in a kitchen set, so it’s definitely a kind of knife everyone needs in their kitchen (see also ‘A Complete Understanding Of Kitchen Knife Types‘).
One of the best chef knives out there is the classic 8-inch chef’s knife on offer from Henckels.
Henckels has a great reputation for good quality knives and for such an affordable price, making their products accessible to all.
However, this budget-friendly chef’s knife comes with a few downsides but the main one is the low quality handle which feels hard and difficult to grip comfortably.
The blade, however, is flawless in quality.
- ULTRA-SHARP BLADES: Superior professional-level sharpness that ensures precision cutting.
- STAYS SHARP LONGER: Professional, satin-finished blade boasts precision cutting and is finely honed for long-lasting sharpness.
- EFFORTLESS CUTTING: Enjoy easy meal prep with minimal effort with this lightweight, easy-to-use knife.
- KITCHEN TASKS: Slicing, chopping, and mincing vegetables, fruits, and herbs, to cutting through large slabs of meat and disjointing bones, and more.
- QUICK CLEAN UP: No-fuss cleanup, in the dishwasher or by hand. Stain and rust-free blades.
Wusthof Classic 8-Inch Chef’s Knife
As we mentioned earlier, chef knives are super handy to have but if you are not impressed with the ones on offer from Henckels, then this 8-inch chef’s knife from Wusthof is definitely a great alternative.
Wushthof has an amazing reputation for creating sharp and sturdy knives which means that you can count on the quality of this knife.
Unfortunately, this also means that you can count on paying a handsome sum for just a chef’s knife – but if it’s a razor sharp edge and sturdy blade you are after, look no further than the classic 8-inch chef’s knife on offer from Wusthof.
- KITCHEN WORKHORSE – The WÜSTHOF 8” Classic Chef’s Knife is essential for preparing any meal. This all-purpose cook’s knife can be used for chopping, mincing, slicing and dicing
- WÜSTHOF CLASSIC SERIES – The Full Tang, Triple Riveted handles of the Classic Line offer the widest range of cutlery that can satisfy every home cook or professional chef. The WÜSTHOF Classic Series has been our best-selling series for generations
- CHEF’S KNIFE – Features an 8” long blade, 5” long handle and weighs 8.5 oz. Full Bolster and Finger Guard, German Made Cook’s Knife. Ergonomic handle design made from a long-lasting synthetic material to resist fading and discoloration
- PRECISION FORGED – The 8” Chef’s Knife is forged from a single block of High Carbon Stainless Steel and tempered to 58-degree HRC. The Precision Edge Technology (PEtec) yields a blade that is 20% sharper with twice the edge retention than previous models
- CENTURIES OF TRADITION – Family owned for seven generations, WÜSTHOF was founded in Solingen, Germany over 200 years ago. WÜSTHOF’s cutlery carries the Solingen name, a designation reserved for products that meet the strictest quality standards
Mercer Culinary 6-Inch Chef’s Knife
For durability and ease of use, we would seriously recommend trying out the 6-inch chef’s knife from Mercer Culinary.
It works just as well as a traditional chef’s knife but with a shorter blade for easier cuts and use.
Plus, the ergonomic handle was super comfortable to hold and is made from a non-slip material so even if your hands are damp from juices or blood, you can still keep a firm grip on your knife.
It’s a really handy feature to have that some other affordable knives tend to forget about.
So, if you tend to get your hands dirty while cooking, this is your ideal chef’s knife.
- QUALITY CONSTRUCTION: Knife is precision-forged with high-carbon German steel for better durability, and taper-ground edge allows for increased efficiency when cutting along with incredible long-lasting sharpness
- SUPERIOR DESIGN: The finest handle in forged cutlery; built to last ergonomic handle offers comfort and a non-slip grip, even with wet hands
- BEST USE: The perfect knife for chopping, mincing, and cutting. Ideal for dicing onions, mincing shallots, chopping herbs, crushing garlic, and shredding cabbage
- EASY CARE: To maximize the performance and longevity of your knife, carefully wash cutlery by hand with warm water and mild soap; rinse and dry completely with a soft towel. Do not place in dishwasher or submerge for long periods of time
- MERCER CULINARY GENESIS SERIES: Never stop experimenting in the kitchen; this Genesis knife is essential in every kitchen, perfect for professional use or the home cooking enthusiast
Victorinox 6-Inch Chef’s Knife
Another great chef’s knife that is easy to use is this 6-inch chef’s knife from Victorinox.
It’s extremely well balanced and its shorter blade allows for easier precision cuts, especially when handling smaller items of food.
The blade itself is made from tapered stainless steel so it’s safe for dish-washer use and highly resistant to rust and corrosion. So, this knife is one that is built to last.
However, some chefs may struggle with a shorter blade and prefer a chef’s knife with a longer blade for better balance and fit with their hand.
- An all-purpose chef’s knife provides ultimate control to mince your way through any culinary challenge
- Contemporary, textured handle with a non-slip grip -- even when wet; The handle is ergonomically designed to help minimize tension at the wrist and provides a much more comfortable grip
- Hygienic, dishwasher safe, slip-resistant and NSF approved; These exceptional knives are weighted and balanced for easy handling
- Ergonomically designed, non-slip Fibrox Pro handle provides a sure grip and easy handling even when wet, making each knife safer and more efficient
Santoku Knife from Imarku
Another great type of knife to have in your kitchen is a santoku knife (see also ‘Santoku Knives Vs Chef’s Knives (Everything You Need To Know)‘).
Many mix up these two types of knives, but santoku knives are much better built for precision cutting and finer slicing.
This means that using a santoku knife will leave you with more refined results – and it’s a must have for any chef.
This santoku knife from Imarku is a great first choice due to its high quality steel, lightweight hold, and great edge retention.
Although not as durable as chef knives, santoku knives like this one from Imarku are still great knives to use if you care highly about the quality of your chopping, slicing, and more.
- Professional Santoku Knife: This imarku Super Sharp Santoku Knife is made of Jananese HC stainless steel that resists rust, corrosion, and discoloration. It can be used for your daily kitchen tasks of chopping, slicing, dicing, and mincing of all kinds of meat, vegetables, fruits, and bread. It is suitable for both home and restaurant kitchens.
- Ultra-Sharp Edge: Sharpness is key. The professional knife blade polishing makes this Japanese knife be more sharper than others, and it has been proven its ability to withstand the rigors of tough restaurant use. The thickness of this kitchen knife is 2.5mm. Its hand-polished edge is 15-18 degrees per side, which is sturdy and sharp to get the job done perfectly.
- Hollow Edge Design: The 7-inch santoku chef knife scalloped hollow edge is add gap between the knife blade and the material being cut, keeping things from sticking to the knife blade, special for slicing, dicing, and mincing.
- Ergonomic Design: Advanced Pakkawood Handle manufacturing process minimizes wrist tension while providing a secure, comfortable grip no matter your hand size or where you grip. Special texture, smoothly. Compare to other Pakkawood, it is way more stable and sanitary, No expantion, no crack like traditional wood and pakkawood handle, which asures you the best food safety.
- The Perfect Gifts: The knife comes in a high-end black gift box, making it the perfect gift for whoever you love. Our kitchen knife product provides worry-free purchasing for customers with our after-sales support offering a 3-month free refund and 1-year free exchange service.
Henckels Hollow Edge Santoku Knife
Another great santoku knife can be purchased from Henckels.
Like with their chef knives, Henckels offers a great hollow edge santoku knife that comes with the great high-quality manufacturing promise that all Henckels knives do.
Unfortunately, this also comes with a higher price tag compared to some other santoku knives – but none other can compare in blade quality.
- ULTRA-SHARP BLADES: Superior professional-level sharpness that ensures precision cutting.
- STAYS SHARP LONGER: Professional, satin-finished blade boasts precision cutting and is finely honed for long-lasting sharpness.
- EFFORTLESS CUTTING: Enjoy easy meal prep with minimal effort with this lightweight, easy-to-use knife.
- PERFECT FOR DETAILED KITCHEN TASKS: Excels at three cutting techniques: expertly mince garlic, slice cucumber, dice onions, and more.
- QUICK CLEAN UP: No-fuss cleanup, in the dishwasher or by hand. Stain and rust-free blades.
Wusthof Craftsman Knife
Wushthof makes a triumphant return with their version of the craftsman knife.
Craftsman knives are super versatile and act like a chef’s knife, boning knife, and carving knife all combined into a single knife.
Although the original knives for each category are better at their jobs, a craftsman knife is great if you are limited on budget and cannot afford to buy three separate knives.
So, Wusthof’s craftsman knife is a solid choice to go with if you want to save money.
It has a sharp edge that allows you to effortlessly cut through all kinds of ingredients, and this edge is hollow to allow for additional boning and filleting.
It’s super useful and so, a great knife to have.
- WÜSTHOF CLASSIC SERIES – The Full Tang, Triple Riveted handles of the Classic Line offer the widest range of cutlery that can satisfy every home cook or professional chef. The WÜSTHOF Classic Series has been our best-selling series for generations
- CENTURIES OF TRADITION – Family owned for seven generations, WÜSTHOF was founded in Solingen, Germany over 200 years ago. WÜSTHOF’s cutlery carries the Solingen name, a designation reserved for products that meet the strictest quality standards
Victorinox Pro-Boning Knife
Boning knives are often overlooked but are super useful knives to keep in any chef’s kitchen.
They help you safely remove meat from the bone, using the long blade and sharp tip to cut through meat with precision and ease.
This boning knife from Victornix has everything you need – a sharp, semi-flexible blade which makes it perfect for cutting through both tough and tender pieces of meat (see also ‘Best Knife For Cutting Meat‘).
- Blade type: curved/narrow
- With blade of stainless steel
- CARE AND USE: Follow these simple tips to get the longest life out of your knife; While Fibrex Pro knives are dishwasher safe, Victorinox recommends handwashing your knife for best results; Dishwashers are designed to spray water at a relatively high pressure, which can jostle your silverware and cause knives to dull; For best results, hand wash your knife with a soapy cloth and dry immediately; Hone your knives after every couple of uses and sharpen when necessary to maintain maximum sharpness
- CURVED, SEMI-STIFF BLADE works great for heavier cutting tasks like working with beef, pork, and most game and is perfect for slicing through bone and cartilage and around ribs and chops; With a thin blade and a curved edge, it's easy to separate your meat, poultry, and fish from the bone and skin; The semi-flexible blade allows you to cut into the tiniest, most hard-to-reach areas with ease, so you can get the perfect ribs, fillets, steaks, roasts, and chops, every time
Mercer Culinary 6-Inch Boning Knife
Another great boning knife is one on offer from Mercer Culinary.
The blade is arguably stiffer than the blade found on the Victorinox boning knife, which makes it even easier to debone tough pieces of meat.
Another great feature of this boning knife is its impressive edge. Seriously, this is easily one of the sharpest boning knives we’ve ever seen!
This means that we had great results when using it to bone and slice our test meats.
- QUALITY CONSTRUCTION: Knives are crafted with high-carbon Japanese steel for easy edge maintenance and a razor sharp blade that lasts
- SUPERIOR DESIGN: Built to last ergonomic handles with textured finger points offer a non-slip grip with added comfort, durability, and safety
- BEST USE: For separating meat from the bone. Ideal for deboning chicken, ham, and fish, or trimming fat and sinew
- EASY CARE: To maximize the performance and longevity of your Mercer knife, carefully wash cutlery by hand after each use with warm water and mild soap; rinse and dry completely with a soft towel. Do not place in dishwasher or submerge for long periods of time
- MERCER CULINARY ULTIMATE WHITE SERIES: An exceptional combination of quality, design, materials and craftsmanship for the value minded kitchen; perfect for professional use or the home cooking enthusiast
Misen 3-Inch Paring Knife
Not everyone eats meat and if you follow a vegetarian or vegan diet, then you will need a paring knife more than you need a boning knife.
Paring knives are the best for slicing and dicing pieces of fruit and vegetables – and this short paring knife from Misen is a great one to go for.
The short blade allows you to make easy cuts, plus the high carbon steel allows the blade to be super strong and retain its sharp edge.
If you spend more of your time slicing veggies than meat, then this knife is the one for you.
- Small But Mighty: The Misen paring knife, a versatile knife, excels at precision cuts, making fine-detail work in your kitchen effortless. Elevate your culinary experience with a small paring knife that's perfect for all tasks, classic chef knife
- Premium Steel: Crafted from AICHI Japanese AUS-10 steel, our sharp paring knife offers a perfect balance between long-lasting sharpness and durability, with 2x the carbon content setting it apart as the best paring knife in its class.
- Peeling, Slicing & More: This excellent fruit knife is perfect for precision slicing, chopping, and peeling tasks where a standard chef's knife might be too large, making it the small paring knife you need for every kitchen task made effortless.
- Unique Design for Comfort: The distinctive sloped bolster shape encourages a proper and safer "pinch grip," enhancing comfort and control. With a more acute 15-degree angle, it delivers a noticeably sharper cutting, making it an exceptional tool.
- Unmatched Value: Misen is committed to using the best materials and offering a fair and honest price for its paring knife, delivering quality and value to your kitchen, We believe in using the best materials possible, Discover the difference.
10-Inch Bread Knife From Mercer Culinary
Bread knives are often overlooked by most chefs but seriously – you try using any other knife to slice up your home-baked bread, and see which one you prefer.
A great bread knife allows you to safely slice up bread without issue, making it an important knife to own for the sake of safety.
This bread knife from Mercer Culinary is our recommended one to buy due to its super affordable price, strong steel, and great design which cuts through bread with no hassle.
- QUALITY CONSTRUCTION: Knife is crafted with one-piece high-carbon Japanese steel for easy edge maintenance and long-lasting sharpness
- SUPERIOR DESIGN: Built to last ergonomic handle with textured finger points offers a non-slip grip with added comfort, durability, and safety
- BEST USE: The teeth on the wavy edge of the knife's blade easily slice through foods' crust or skin without tearing the soft inside. Ideal for slicing bread, angel food cake, meatloaf, fruits, and tomatoes
- EASY CARE: To maximize the performance and longevity of your Mercer knife, carefully wash cutlery by hand after each use with warm water and mild soap; rinse and dry completely with a soft towel. Do not place in dishwasher or submerge for long periods of time
- MERCER CULINARY MILLENNIA SERIES: Innovative features and unparalleled performance to meet the demands of today's professional chefs and home cooking enthusiasts
Mueller 7-Inch Meat Cleaver
Our final recommended kitchen knife to buy is a cleaver.
Meat cleavers are great for cutting up and dividing larger sections of meat, but they also belong in your kitchen as well as a butchery.
This meat cleaver is a great one to keep in your kitchen as it’s large, durable, and super sharp – making it super easy to easy!
- PREMIUM DURABILITY AND QUALITY - Mueller Super Sharp Cleaver Knife is made of high-quality stainless steel that resists rust, corrosion and discoloration, quickly re-sharpens, easy to clean and maintain.
- MULTI-PURPOSE CLEAVER’S KNIFE - Designed to be multipurpose knife for professional applications and it can be used for your daily kitchen tasks, this durable knife's razor sharp and laser-tested blade effortlessly chops, minces, slices and dices. It is suitable for both home and restaurant kitchens.
- EXTREMELY SHARP EDGE - Sharpness is key to achieving the best cuts and this is evident in the knife's blade which is quite sharp and will remain this way even after tough tasks such as cutting tough all kinds of meat or removing flesh from bones. The sharpness is further boosted by use of the latest engineering.
- SAFETY AND COMFORT- To make it more professional and minimize any fatigue, finger numbness or aches after holding it continuously for an extended time the knife's handle is ergonomic and provides you a secure comfortable grip, not easy to slip, sturdy and labor-saving.
- SUPERIOR QUALITY WITH MUELLER - We are here to offer you only the best quality products designed to make your life easier. If you need any help, please feel free to contact us, our professional customer support is always here for you!
Final Thoughts
So, there you have it – the 12 best kitchen knives out there on the market!
We have put many to the test and the knives selected above are the ones we seriously would recommend.
Of course, you don’t have to buy them all – but run through them and make sure you have at least one of each type!
Happy cooking!
