10 Best Knives for Home Chefs
Whether you're paring apples or carving your holiday roast, you need a kitchen knife that's a cut above the rest.
A well-crafted knife is a must-have for any kitchen. With exceedingly sharp edges, steel blades and comfortable grips, these kitchen knives are truly a cut above the rest. We researched the top-rated kitchen knives in terms of sharpness, grip and ease of use and found the top 10 picks across a range of prices — from $15 to $150. Shop our top picks, and start slicing, dicing and chopping like a pro.
This set is an unbelievable value and has more than 4,800 positive Amazon reviews with an average 4.7-star rating. It includes a chef, paring, serrated, utility, santoku and peeling knife, each with a heavy-duty steel blade and matching sheath.
The eight-inch Zyliss Control Chef's Knife has safety touchpoints on top of the blade that offers more control when you "rock" it to chop, mince, dice or slice. Unlike most other brands, it features an antibacterial handle, is dishwasher safe and has a lifetime warranty.
Iron Chef and Food Network celebrity chef Alex Guarnaschelli says Sabatier's lightweight, easy-to-hold paring knife is one of her kitchen essentials. This one is three-and-a-half inches long and comes with a sleeve with a built-in sharpener.
J.A. Henckels Gourmet Chef's Knife is the go-to knife for home chefs eager for their everyday knife to be exceptional. The single-piece, precision-stamped blade construction is lighter than forged knives, allowing for maximum maneuverability.
Choose a blue, black or gray handle on the Misen Chef's knife. Its eight-inch blade is made from Japanese steel and has a 15-degree angle — instead of the 25-degree angle on most Western-style knives — for sharper cuts.
Miyabi's Evolution knives feature high-carbon, stainless-steel blades in precision-balanced handles. Each full-tang blade is hand-honed in Japan, polished to a mirror-like finish and given a sand-blasted, katana edge. It's available with eight- or nine-and-a-half-inch blades.
The hand-hammered look of this paring knife isn't just reminiscent of Japanese handicrafts; it also helps keep foods from sticking to the stainless-steel blade. The handle is made of pakka wood (an engineered wood and plastic composite) that nestles comfortably in the hand.
Carve a roast, ham, turkey or brisket with ease and precision with this slicing knife. The core of the blade is made from high-carbon Japanese steel; it's finished with more than 60 layers of Damascus cladding (a type of Indian or Persian steel) and comes with a protective sheath. At 12 inches long, it slices through breads, cakes, large meats, fruits and vegetables.
Slice neatly through everything from fresh parsley to strawberries to carrots with this classic set that comes with a paring knife and chef's knife. The chef's knife has a heavy, six-inch blade made of high-carbon stainless steel that's hand-honed for razor-sharpness.
A popular knife for daily use, this eight-inch blade has dimples to help it glide easily through most vegetables and meats. It's made in Japan and has a lightweight, balanced feel. The handle is made of engineered wood and plastic composite material.
