10 Best Chefs Knives in 2023 – Reviews & Buying Guide

When shopping for a new chef’s knife, it can be hard to know what you’re looking for. We’ve done the leg work and found out what features are important when buying one of these knives.

From shape and size to sharpness levels, we’ll cover all the basics so that your next purchase is perfect!

When it comes to the best chef’s knives, there are many factors that can make or break your purchase. From size and shape of the handle to sharpness level, preferences vary from cook to cook.

That being said, all good knives share certain features which we’ll be discussing here for you to keep in mind when shopping around.

The first step is considering what type of knife will best suit your needs–a serrated blade for cutting bread? A Santoku knife with a curved edge? An American style chef’s knife?

10 Best Chefs Knives in 2023 – Reviews & Buying Guide

WÜSTHOF Classic 8 Inch Chef’s Knife – Best Overall

The WÜSTHOF CLASSIC 8” Chef’s Knife is the all-purpose kitchen knife. This cook’s knife can be used for chopping, slicing, dicing and mincing meats, vegetables and fruits.

The full tang blade features a triple riveted handle that offers the most control over the sharpest edge. The Classic Series has been our best selling series for generations!

Cubikook Forged Santoku Knife – Stainless Steel

The 7-inch forged full tang santoku knife is a high carbon steel knife made with German 1.4116 stainless steel for superior corrosion and rust resistance among cooking knives. Sharpened and polished to a bevel angle of 15±1 degrees.

The standard is preferred by many professional Japanese chefs when choosing knives for the kitchen. Meets FDA, CE/EU, EEC, and other globally-recognized certifications for cooking equipment.

HENCKELS Classic Chef’s Knife – Best Durable

The Henckels Classic Chef’s Knife is a quality, German-made knife that will provide you with years of use. The full tang blade is forged from high-quality stainless steel and designed for precise cutting. It features a satin finish that resists rust and stains, as well as finely honed edges for long lasting sharpness.

The handle is ergonomically balanced to offer comfort and control during use. This highly durable knife can be cleaned by hand washing or in the dishwasher for easy maintenance when you’re done.

Global SAI-M03 Santoku Knife – Best Designed

Global SAI-M03 Santoku Knife is one of the best kitchen knives for vegetable cutting, dicing and mincing. This 5″ blade is an alternative to a Chef’s knife for chopping vegetables but with a more pointed tip.

It can be used in place of a Chef’s knife when you need extra precision or smaller cuts. The wide blade also makes it ideal for scooping chopped food off the cutting board and transferring it to pots and pans.

ZHEN Japanese VG-10 67-Layer Damascus Knife – Best Waterproof

This is a very sharp and durable knife. The quality of the steel is excellent, and it holds an edge extremely well. It’s not too heavy, but still has some heft to it, which I like.

I’ve used this knife every day for almost two years now; it still cuts as well as when I first got it! I would recommend this product to anyone who likes knives and wants a high quality item that will last them a lifetime.

DALSTRONG Chef Knife – Razor Sharp

The Dalstrong DALSTRONG Chef Knife is a kitchen weapon of unparalleled performance. It is ruthlessly sharp, hand finished to a mirror polish within an astonishing 8-12° angle per side using the traditional 3-step Honbazuke method. Nitrogen cooled for enhanced harness, flexibility and corrosion resistance.

Full tang for superb robustness and triple riveted handle for longevity. Handcrafted in Japan from the finest materials available on Earth with cutting edge breakthrough technology that combines outstanding craftsmanship, awe inspiring design and absolute best materials available. The ultimate chef’s knife!

French Sabatier Forged Carbon Steel Chef Knife – Great Balance

The French Sabatier forged carbon steel chef knife is the perfect choice for slicing and dicing vegetables, fruits and more. Whether you’re chopping onions or mincing herbs, this high-carbon blade will help you get the job done quickly. The curved edge of this classic French knife makes it ideal for rock chopping as well.

This sturdy carbon steel blade features a full tang design with a triple riveted handle that provides exceptional balance and control while cutting on your favorite cutting board. When not in use, store your French.

Global 8″ Chef’s Knife – Best Lightweight

Global knives are the most popular knife brand in the world. They are used by more professional chefs than any other brand of knife, and they have been for years. Forged from a single piece of steel, these knives have a lifetime warranty against defects or breakage.

The high-tech molybdenum/vanadium stainless steel blade is hardened to Rc61-63 to hold an edge longer than most other brands. The 8″ or 20cm chef’s knife is great for cutting meat and vegetables; it is also ideal for slicing bread and chopping herbs.

Shun Cutlery Premier 10” Chef’s Knife – Small to Large

The Premier 10” Chef’s Knife from Shun Cutlery is the perfect choice for cooks who prefer a larger chef knife that still handles with ease. The increased blade length allows users to handle an increased volume of product and improve efficiency in the kitchen.

The hammered tsuchime finish helps release food easily when cutting while the wide blade provides easy transferring of cut food from board to pan. Contoured handle rests comfortably in any hand.

Shun Classic 7” Hollow Santoku All-Purpose Knife – Reduced Friction

The Shun Classic 7-inch Hollow Santoku all-purpose knife is a versatile and convenient kitchen companion. This beautiful knife can be used for chopping, dicing and slicing ingredients such as fruits, vegetables and meats. The hollow edge of the blade allows you to glide smoothly through food without sticking or tearing.

The high performance VG-MAX steel is clad with stainless Damascus and features an ebony PakkaWood handle that offers a comfortable grip for easy control. With its razor sharp edge, this lightweight, well balanced knife will make meal.

Buying Guide

Whether you are an experienced chef or just starting out, it is important to invest in the best kitchen tools.

One tool that chefs rely on more than any other is their knife. The right knife can make all the difference between a great meal and a mediocre one. 

In this article, we detail our findings from testing 17 of the top rated knives on the market with ratings above four stars and provide comprehensive reviews of each.

For the home cook who wants to make a serious commitment in their kitchen, finding the right chef’s knife is an important decision. To help with that process, we put 17 knives through our rigorous testing and evaluation process.

We spent time examining each knife’s shape, weight, sharpness and how it felt in our hands. After careful consideration of all these factors, here are 10 knives that stood out as the best chefs’ knives on the market today.

Conclusion

After extensive testing and consideration, we found the Zwilling J.A. Henckels Twin Signature 7-inch Santoku Knife to be our favorite because it’s an excellent balance of sharpness and ergonomic weight. We also loved how durable the blade was during the chopping test; even after mashing sweet potatoes for 10 minutes straight, there wasn’t a scratch on the edge!

If you’re looking for a high quality chef’s knife that will stand up to your cutting tasks without breaking or bending under pressure then this is definitely worth considering as one of your top choices in evaluation knives.