The 9 Best Chef's Knives of 2021

Best Overall: Wusthof CLASSIC Cook's Knife, 8-Inch Hollow Ground Blade

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This knife is a true kitchen workhorse that you’ll reach for every day. The Granton edge on the 8-inch blade helps keep food from sticking to the blade as you chop, slice, and dice. The blade is forged rather than stamped, for better durability and a comfortable weight, and the knife has a full tang with a triple-riveted handle for security and a classic look.

The knife is made in Germany and has a synthetic handle that can stand up to kitchen abuse while providing a good balance when cutting. The full tang keeps fingers away from the blade and helps promote a proper pinch grip when cutting, for more efficient and safer use every time. When it comes to weight, it's all about personal preference, but some warn this one is on the heavier side for chef's knives.

Best Mid-range: Victorinox Fibrox Pro 8-Inch Chef’s Knife

Excellent

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If the Victorinox name seems familiar, perhaps it’s because it's the manufacturer of the very popular Swiss Army knives. Like those knives, this one is made in Switzerland. The 8-inch blade on this knife is made from high-carbon stainless steel that will maintain its super-sharp edge. The blade is straight with a gently curved tip that encourages a rocking motion, so it’s also great for slicing meats.

The handle is made from the proprietary Fibrox material that is textured to provide a nonslip grip. It's placed so you won’t hit your knuckles on the cutting board, even if your hands are large, and it’s designed to provide a comfortable ergonomic feel for most users. Our tester said the knife came "seriously sharp" and also reported that it maintained its edge well during her testing.

Best Budget: Farberware EdgeKeeper Chef Knife, 6-Inch

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This knife is inexpensive to buy and inexpensive to maintain, since a sharpener is built into the sheath. Every time the knife is inserted or removed, the blade sweeps against the sharpener to hone it and keep it sharp without the need for a separate sharpener.

The six-inch blade is great for people who have smaller hands, and it’s also great for tiny kitchens. Since it comes with a sturdy sheath, you can safely store this in a kitchen drawer or toss it into a picnic basket without worrying about finding the blade instead of the handle.

With an affordable price point and lack of maintenance needed, this is also a great knife for a vacation cottage or RV, or for taking along to potlucks or parties where you want to slice the food onsite. 

Best 6-Inch: Mercer Culinary Genesis Forged Chef's Knife, 6 Inch

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This chef’s knife has a 6-inch blade, so it’s easier to use for people with small hands, or for those who simply prefer the shorter length. It’s also great from tiny kitchens where counters and cutting boards are similarly small.

The handle on this knife is made from Santoprene, so it’s NSF safe for commercial kitchens and easy to keep clean. The Santoprene material also provides a firm, non-slip grip, no matter if your hands are wet or dry, so it’s great for working with wet foods that you’ve just washed. It is also unaffected by heat, cold, or food oils, so it won’t crack, get sticky, or degrade over time.

The blade is made from German high-carbon steel that resists corrosion and is forged rather than stamped. The edge is taper ground so it can be easily honed and it will maintain a sharp edge for a longer time.

Best Design: Shun Classic 8-Inch Chef’s Knife

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The popular Japanese knife brand Shun calls its Classic Chef's Knife the "one knife you simply can't be without." And it's easy to see why. It's beautifully designed with an ebony Pakka wood handle, a full tang for balance, and 34 layers of Damascus steel enveloping each side of the blade. In terms of quality and durability, all Shun knives are made with a proprietary VG-MAX cutting core that lends extra strength and corrosion resistance.

You will love both the look and feel of this knife. The ergonomic D-shaped handle provides a comfortable hold, although left-handed chefs may not like it as much as righthanded folks. It's meant to be "rocked" (the curved belly is better suited for this motion than straight chopping), and the extra-wide blade is ideal for transferring your freshly chopped herbs and other food from cutting board to pan.

Best Professional: Mac Knife Professional Hollow Edge Chef's Knife, 8 Inch

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Mac Knives have a long-standing reputation for quality Japanese craftsmanship, and this 8-inch knife is beloved by professionals and novices alike. Its lightweight design (6.5 ounces) and thin 2.5-millimeter blade and bolster make it easy to slice through almost anything. Added dimples aid in chopping sticky foods like potatoes and squash. The Pakka wood handle offers a comfortable grip that cooks say is well-balanced and easy to use no matter what you're trying to chop.

It's extremely sharp and holds an edge well (customers recommend Mac Knives' sharpeners for when you do need to resharpen the blade). This knife is not dishwasher safe, but if you follow the care instructions carefully, it should last you for many years even with regular use. While it may not be the cheapest, its versatility and durability make it worth the cost.

Best Ceramic: Kyocera Advanced Ceramic Revolution Series 7-inch Chef's Knife

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Ceramic blades are becoming increasingly popular, and they’re being made better than ever before. While ceramic blades can shatter or break when dropped, they’re completely resistant to acids, salts, or oils, and they’ll never rust or corrode.

The 7-inch black blade on this knife looks professional and it’s precision ground by the manufacturer for a super-hard and extremely sharp edge. To keep that edge, the knife can be sent back to the manufacturer for resharpening. For home maintenance, the Kyocera electric knife sharpener for ceramic blades is recommended.

Since ceramics are lighter than metal and the handle is designed to be ergonomic, this is great for people who fatigue easily.

Best All Metal: Global 8-Inch Chef's Knife

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Unlike knives that have an attached handle, this entire knife is made from stainless steel, with no joints, rivets, or corners where food could accumulate. To provide a better grip, the handle has dimples that create a textured surface.

The knife is designed to be lightweight (despite being made entirely from metal), so it’s easy to wield. Made from molybdenum/vanadium stainless steel, the blade is razor-sharp and will retain its edge. This knife comes with a lifetime warranty against breakage.