9 best chef knives for your kitchen (2022): Affordable, Japan, Carbon Steel

A great knife It is the foundation on which to build a great meal. But if you ask three chefs what makes a great knife, you’ll likely get at least five answers. The truth is that what makes the perfect knife for you will depend on many factors, including your comfort level with the knife, the size of your hand, and the type of food you like to cook.

That said, there’s a reason the basic 6- to 8-inch chef’s knife is ubiquitous: It’s the most versatile knife. The chef’s knife is capable of slicing vegetables, slicing meat, smashing garlic, and chopping herbs and nuts. In a short time, it will even go through small bones without too much difficulty.

There is a wide range of chef knives available, from inexpensive knives to expensive specialty knives. To help you understand that better, we cut and diced with dozens of knives until one simple truth emerged: A shoddy $10 blade that you sharpen weekly is useful. more than a dull $200 blade. Every knife needs sharpening, some just need it more than others. Much of the difference in the price of knives depends on the quality of the material, which in turn often translates into blade durability.

We primarily use the 8-inch blades, which are great for a classic chef’s knife. Experimenting involves things you would do in your own kitchen — peeling, filleting, dicing, chopping, dicing, slicing, and all other standard meat prep work and vegetable. Here are our picks.

Update February 2022: We removed a Shun that is no longer available anywhere. We’ve also added some sharpening options and updated pricing throughout.

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