But what’s so darn great about a chef’s knife? With its large wide blade, pointed tip, and heavy rear, it’s truly all-purpose. You can use it for the obvious things like slicing, chopping, and mincing. You can use the tip for smaller jobs (like dicing a shallot) and the back of the knife like a cleaver for hacking through bones. And with the wide side of the blade, you can smash garlic, scoop up diced veggies to transfer them to a pot, or whack chicken breasts to flatten them into cutlets. You get the point, right? (Pun intended.)
Whether you are a new cook or an experienced one, a smart, sharp, effective chef’s knife is an absolute must-have. Ideally, a good chef’s knife. . . or even the best chef’s knife. And that doesn’t mean you have to spend a lot of money, either. In fact, some of the best chef’s knives out there are still very affordable. Let’s take a look.
What Size Chef’s Knife Should You Get?
The most important thing about a chef’s knife (aka cook’s knife or French knife) is that it feels comfortable when you hold it. Blade sizes range from six to 14 inches — although most people find an eight-inch blade is both versatile and manageable. Any shorter and you can’t cover as much ground; any longer and you may find it unwieldy. For most home cooks, an eight-inch blade is just right.
What We Look for in a Chef’s Knife
When it comes to chef’s knives, there are five areas we consider when deciding what makes a great pick:
Below, we rounded up some of the best chef’s knives on the market today that hit all of these criteria and then some, including some long-standing favorites of the team here at The Kitchn, as well as reader favorites you all can’t get enough of.
Do you have a chef’s knife you swear by that didn’t make this list? We want to hear all about it. Tell us about your favorite finds in the comments below!
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