A chef and his or her knife are two units that share an unbreakable bond in the kitchen. The best chef knives give you the ability to exhibit your skills to the maximum, while using sub-par equipment can make anyone of decent skill handling a knife look like they’ve never been in a kitchen before.
We’ve tried a million different knives, and have found several that we like and enjoy. Here are a few of those, as well as the best chef knives that are currently available on the market!
What to Look for in a Great Chefs Knife
There are a few things that you want to look for when you’re considering what chefs knife to buy, at least to us. While the requirements aren’t difficult, they are important and should be something you really focus on.
- Weight – We like chef knives where you can feel the weight and the handle, and the blade feels like. This way, when you just relax your hand the blade will really glide through whatever it is you’re cutting through with easy.
- Comfortable grip – If you grip the knife properly, you want something that feels like your hand cups around it comfortably. There’s nothing worse than doing a bunch of prep work in a kitchen with a knife that has a grip that doesn’t match your hand. This will vary from person to person, which is the reason why it’s important to experiment with different knives and different handle styles.
- Price – Of course, all things being equal, you need to consider price and be smart about it. I have friends that have dropped $200 – $300 on chefs knives, and I like my little $35 Wisthof much better. Don’t make it an ego purchase and you won’t waste a lot of money. Just go with what works.
- Guarantee – It always helps to get a knife with some type of replacement guarantee. If something happens that the handle has issues or the blade chips, you would be far better off with a knife that will be guaranteed in the event of severe damage.
- Sharpening – Better knifes don’t need to be sharpened every day. If used regularly, 1-2 times per week with a solid chefs knife is plenty, so if something happens that your knife is dulling every time you use it, strongly consider a replacement!
Consider all these factors when you’re considering your next chefs knife, and feel free to start your shopping below!