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A chef knife is also called a cook’s knife, is a cutting tool used in food preparation in cooking. Besides, this Chef’s knife is initially designed to make significant cuts and slice and disjoint the pieces of beef, dicing common vegetables, chopping nuts and herbs. As it is a primary tool and general utility knife for most western cooks. In other words, a chef knife is a multipurpose kitchen knife with a wide blade usually 8 to 10 inches long and pointed from the edge used by cooking experts.
Further, the Chef’s knife typically has a broad blade pointed upward, allowing it to move back and forth for quick mincing. However, the size of the chef’s knife depends on the size of the Chef’s hand and is often 12 inches long.
Best Chef knife under 100 [Collection of Knife] Buying Guide
Every kitchen and expert needs a professional set of tools and knives from carving, pairing, dicing, and slicing. Whether you plan to add a Japanese-made collection to your kitchen or search for standard tools, this buying guide, including reviews, will help you a lot in making the right decision.
Since there are several types of kitchen knives, they match with the proper one for your tasks done in your kitchens and might be confusing for you.
To start with the details, we will discuss the best Chef knives in terms of their lengths, functionality, product descriptions, pros cons, essential features, and their uses based on the experiences of the experts.
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- Essential Features: Made in Spain, made from high quality German stainless steel, fully forged construction, Satin finished blade, traditional rivet handle, ergonomic, dishwasher safe, entire bolster body, and made from stain-resistant carbon body.
- Essential Features: High carbon stainless steel blade, Ergonomic handle, Ultra-sharp edge, made from advanced German engineering, Glossy finish, quite sharp, comes with Rock well hardness scale and is considered to be the multifunctional knife
- Essential Features: High carbon, 2 mm blade, better edge retention, pakka wood handle, the blade is made of steel, caused from the bolster where the blade and handle meet
- Essential Features: Handcrafted in Japan, made from composite blade technology, V.G. 10 san Mai cutting core, traditional Japanese handle, double–bevel blade, precise heat treatment, and steel are permanently joined.
- Essential Features:High carbon and keeps the edge for a longer time, Pakka wood handle, made in Japan, Original Molybdenum steel, made with sub-zero tempered steel
- Essential Features: Gladiator series, high carbon German steel, Full tang, Black G10 handle, w/ sheath, NSF certified. Alloy steel, Outstanding craftsmanship, cutting edge technology, premium materials, and stunning design.
- Essential Features: Ergonomic design, soft Santoprene handle, German no stainless steel blade, thick bolster, limited lifetime warranty, available with 6, 8 10 inches’ blade sizes
- Essential Features: Precision forged full tang, full bolster and finger guard, contoured handle for optimal comfort, hand-honed, and razor-like sharpness, tempered to 58 rockwell, limited lifetime warranty.
- Essential Features: High precision, perfect geometry, forged construction, laser control edge., Super bolster, Full visible tang construction, high carbon no-stain steel, precise horn, triple-riveted Novodur handles, Dishwasher safe, and comes with full warranty.
- Essential Features: Precisely balanced 7-inch chef knife, lightweight. The blade is made from high technology molybdenum stainless steel, a Handle made of stainless steel and dimples on it for easy grip, and a lifetime warranty for breakage and defects.
1 – J.A. Henckels International Classic Che Knife, 8-inch chef knife, kitchen knife, professional chef knife
Zwilling J.A. Henckels introduced the Henckels knife in 1895; this well-known brand offers the guaranteed durability, design, and ease in its use. The Henckels chef knife is made from a fine-edged blade and increases the precision in cutting; and is considered the best tool for chopping potatoes, dicing apples, mincing shallots, and slicing the salmon without effort.
This knife acts as a workhorse for almost every type of task in the kitchen. The blade makes the essential kitchen tools fulfill the needs of chefs’ needs. From spatulas to steak knives, every product offers high-quality, exceptional value. It would help if you equipped your kitchen with the Henckels international brand, as it is a good chef knife to act as a daily kitchen companion.
Product Specifications:
- Longlisting sharpness
- Dishwasher safe
- Large size
- Durable
- Ensures safety
- Easy to hold
- Handles without rivets
Key features of J.A HENCKELS International classic chef knife
Seamless construction: This traditional knife is made from high-quality stainless steel. Besides, it is a Spanish-made knife and strengthens its durability, with the seamless transition from blade to handle. Additionally, this knife offers a gorged construction that enhances the balance due to its traditional triple-handle for tireless cutting.
Affordable price: This knife has a low price offered by Henckels and a great value, are excellent quality knives with the standard lifetime warranty. Also, the regular sharpening makes the stainless steel razor-sharp and makes it flexible too for cutting every item.
Sound balance: The property of good balance lies in these knives as their handles are a bit heavier than the other lines, which all experts and cooks like to prefer. Moreover, it has multipurpose uses because its 8-inch long blade is most practical for cutting turnips, potatoes, and meat. It can also be used to mince onions and prepare steaks from every type of meat.
2 – Imarkoo Chef knife- Pro kitchen knife 8-inch High Carbon German Stainless steel
The Imarkoo Chef knife is specially designed for culinary experts, food caterers, professionals in cooking, experts of hotels, and ordinary people. This knife serves multipurpose and is suitable for several tasks like chopping, dicing, slicing, and cutting vegetables, fish, meat, fruits, and other items. The knife exposes the craftsmanship of German engineering and offers a rigid stainless steel blade with a measurement of 8 inches.
It is also an ideal knife for removing flesh from bones and smashing and pounding garlic. Its 2.3 thick blade contains 0.6% to 0.75 carbon that adds durability and strength in its working. The overall length of the knife becomes 13 inches due to the 5-inch length of the handle. The blade is made from 16 to 18 chrome materials with steel to prevent the knife’s body from rust and corrosion.
Moreover, cleaning this knife is super easy; you can clean it by washing it with regular soap or detergent and water.
Product Specifications:
- Well balanced
- Well made
- Super sharp
- Easy to use
- Easy to hold
- Ergonomic
- Durable
- Best quality
- Not ideal for cutting frozen foods
Key features of Imarkoo Chef Knife –pro kitchen knife
Well-built and comfortable: The combination of German technology and the best quality material used in these knives makes them ideal and reliable for various domestic and commercial kitchens. Besides, the quality is increased by adding a Pakka handle, which is very comfortable handling and does not slip easily.
Durable and robust: This German-made Chef knife is made from highly durable and robust material for demanding tasks. However, the material used in the blade makes its functionality and hardness long-lasting. Therefore, you can use it for all types of items but don’t use it for frozen foods because it might lose its sharpness.
User friendly and Ergonomic: Thirdly, a user of this knife doesn’t feel bogged down due to its balanced weight and size. It offers an excellent ergonomic design that reduces the risk of experiencing cramps and aches on the fingers, especially after prolonged use.
Classy and versatile: The Imarkoo multifunctional chef knife is ideal for cutting and slicing various meat, vegetables, and fruits. Additionally, it is a multifunctional knife used in domestic kitchens and liked by professional chefs. While, it offers a classy look due to its chrome finish and elegant design.
3 – Mac knife Series Hollow Edge Chef’s Knife, 8-inch, 8 inches, Silver
A Mac chef knife with dimples and teeth on its edges can use for slicing many vegetables and meats. Mac Knives are considered one of the sharpest knives, as they have razor-like edges for quick cutting and effortless slicing. They are tough, so they remain awake for longer times. Once you have experienced using this knife, you will know the new definition of sharpness, balanced and good value.
The Professional series of Mac knives made from Superior steel has an additional processing step known as sub-zero tempering for better edge retention than original steel. It also has original molybdenum steel and a smooth transition from blade to handle. The bolster in it gives a comfortable and balanced feel to the user.
Product Specifications:
- Lightweight
- Comfort
- Durable
- Extremely sharp
- Honing rod
- Super thin blade
Key features of Mac knife series Hollow Edge Chef knife
Affordable price: When it comes to the cost of Japanese style chef knife, it lies on the top of the list of best chef knives because it is an ideal and fantastic tool for domestic and professional uses, for cutting, slicing, and chopping vegetables, fruits and all types of meat.
Super sharp: Mac knife is super sharp as it slides smoothly through tomatoes without tearing any more. Besides, its blades are super thin compared to other heavier knives like Wusthof’s that makes the slicing even for vegetables like carrots and gives you a feel of cutting a ripped banana with the butter knife.
Perfectly balanced: It is a perfectly sharp super chef knife perfectly balanced, never losing control over the blade. Moreover, its belly is made in a rounded shape to offer you comfort that helps in rocking motion, and you feel natural while mincing meat.
4 – Shun Sora 8″ chef knife
Shun refers to the concept of heart in Japanese cuisine, as it is the word used for local and seasonal foods when it comes to the peak of its flavor and freshness at the top of its perfection. Shun products are famous for their extra beauty and ultra-high performance. Shun tools are as beautiful as they are from outside and perform in your kitchens well.
Shun cutlery sets, including knives, maintain their ancient tradition by doing the unique craftsmanship in the City Seki. Every piece of this brand goes through the 100 individual steps of manufacturing. When we promise to maintain the ancient tradition of the best handicraft technology, we also ensure the benefit of modern and premium materials used by millions of professional chefs and experts.
Product Specifications:
- Easy to use
- Comfort
- Lightweight
- no con
Key features of Shun Sora 8″ Chef knife
Quality and performance: Shun knives are ideal for those fruits when they reach a high level of ripeness, when the vegetables are at their best, and when the meat is at its full taste and flavor. Despite this, Domestic cooks and professional experts opt to shun products with celebrations and wait to serve every ingredient properly.
Composite blade technology: Shun Sora knife composite blade technology offers V.G. 10 three-layer san mai cutting edge with the upper side of 420 J stainless steel. Besides, this knife has two blades with laser cut that can fit together like a jigsaw—the attractive wavy pattern on the joints is similar to the traditional Japanese sword.
Layered steel: This product is made with VG10 clad with a layer of stainless steel on both sides of the knife to protect and support, and hand sharpened with 16 degrees on each side. And the company offers a warranty to sharpen your knives for free as long as you own our products.
5 – Mac TH-80 Hollow Edge 8 Chef knife
This chef knife contains dimples on it and can be used for cutting and slicing meat and vegetables, as they are well known for their sharpness in every aspect. They offer razor-like blades and edges for slicing without effort. The advantages are complicated, so they stay sharp for a longer time. When you slice with Mac knives, you will know the new definition of nicely balanced sharpness and it’s worth it.
This knife is very well known for everyday use, as its 8-inch length is very commonly used in home and professional kitchens. The professional series of these knives has standard features like a thin 2.5 mm blade and bolster that offers this knife to chop, slice, cut, and dice almost every kind of food. The addition of dimples permits the tool to slip from sticky foods like apples, potatoes, and summer juices.
Product Specifications:
- Exceptionally sharp
- Rust resistant
- Comfortable
- Lightweight
- Durable
- no con
Key features of Mac Hollow Edge 8 Chef Knife
Thin knife: It is a delicate and magnificent knife you can cut even slice of paper with. The professional experts and chefs highly recommend it as it cuts all types of items like a dream. Its sharpness lasts for many years, so you should be careful while using it. This knife is sharp enough to cut the grains of meat and is also easy to resharpen.
Well-balanced and lightweight: Mac supreme-grade kitchen knives are super sharp and better flat and lighter than any other blades. They are comfortable to hold while cutting the meat from bones even, as it is sharp enough with perfect height and made with the best quality material.
6 – Dalstrong Chef knife -6- Gladiator series –Forged T ThyssenKrupp High Carbon German Steel- Full tang
The Products of Gladiator series are precision-forged from an imported premium quality material. High carbon German steel offers an ultra-sharp edge with excellent shape and stain resistance. This chef knife works as a kitchen horse, ensuring the best dicing with minimum effort and ultra-thin slicing of fruits and vegetables with no extra maintenance and cleaning required.
It has an extensive blade that allows for easy knuckle clearance and puts chopped food from the cutting board into a pan or pot. It offers an ergonomic, beautiful, and ambidextrous handle made from G-10 Garolite, a solid military, and non-porous fiberglass material. This knife is nicely weighed, well balanced, and sharp in its work. We can say, it is one of the best chef knife under 100.
Product Specifications:
- Easy to clean
- Easy to hold
- Durable
- Ergonomic
- Maneuverability
- Sharp razor
- Heavyweight
Key features of Dalstrong large chef knife
Highly resistant: This product is highly resistant to moisture and heat with long-lasting durability. Also, it has a BPA-free protective Dalstrong Perfect Fit sheath which makes it greatly stain and water-resistant. Besides, it is a bit heavy to hold in hand but has an excellent value for an excellent option for starting chefs at home at an affordable price.
Perfectly weighted: While holding this perfect knife, you will be pleased to see its features that have perfectly engineered balance with the satisfying presence and heft. Therefore, you can make heavy and thicker cuts, and can make detailed work with this knife very quickly. As it is hand polished, that adds in counterweight and provides finger protection.
Super packaging: This knife comes with superb packaging that makes this knife a great feel. Despite this, it also has the instructions for its care and uses a polishing cloth and a great key chain with its logo in the box. Furthermore, it has a good quality blade with a solid handle, a stunning look, and a more excellent feel in hand.
7 – Mercer Culinary Genesis 10 Forged Chef Knife with Full Tang Blade
Mercer culinary forged Chef knife brings the professional quality that you have come to expect from this brand. This chef knife features an ergonomic handle design consisting of Santropene, high-performance material that feels comfortable and soft to hold. Its handle is strong enough to hold and will not break if exposed to kitchen oils and resistant to hot and cold temperatures. In addition, it offers a non-slip grip if you want to use it for a long time.
This knife is fantastic as it is ideal for chopping everything and is an excellent choice for preparing foods that need to be cut. NSF listed items and meets NSF International’s standards, emphasizing public safety, environment, and health. To maintain its quality, this product is only hand washed and sanitized.
Product Specifications:
- Easy to grip
- Easy to handle
- Affordable price
- Non-slip handles
- Needs electronic sharpener
Key features of Mercer culinary Genesis 10 Chef knife
Versatile design: First of all, this chef knife offers a universal design that provides excellent control while chopping, mincing, dicing, cutting vegetables, fruits and meats. Equally important, it is a perfect addition to your kitchen as it ensures you and your staff have the accurate tool to prepare your food tasks efficiently and effectively.
Sharp-edged blade: The blade of this knife is made of high carbon, traditional German no-stain steel, and hand-polished edges that are taper ground to offer superior stability, long-lasting sharpness, and easy horning. Also, it is designed to resist rusting and corrosion, but it also has a thick bolster that gives strength, ensures optimal balance, and adds durability for a firm grip.
Multifunctional: Despite all of the above, this Chef knife is fantastic, as it is an easy, comfortable, and well-balanced knife for home and commercial use. Besides, it is sharp and seemingly solid, comfortable to grip, easy to handle, and perfect for big jobs. Also, it has a great solid constructed blade with complete tang construction and forged steel made it strong enough to hold all uses in kitchens.
8 – Wusthof Classic 8- inch Chef Knife
Wusthof Classic Chef Knife is an essential tool for preparing any meal. This all-purpose Chef’s knife is used for chopping, cutting, mincing, slicing, dicing vegetables, fruits, and all types of meats. The full tang, triple-riveted handles of the classic line provide a vast cutlery range that can satisfy both home and professional chefs. The Wusthof products of classic series had been bestselling ranking for generations of all time.
Wusthof’s forged knives offer the famous Trident logo and are manufactured at three production plants in Solingen, known as the “city of blades.” Due to its well-balanced weight, it is a perfect tool for heavy-duty tasks such as cutting thick vegetables and meat. Instead of making the complicated chopping motion downward, if you glide through the food in the forward glide type motion, this knife is effortless.
Product Specifications:
- Well balanced
- Sturdiness
- Craftsmanship
- Affordable
- Pretty expensive
Key features of Wusthof forged chef knife
Precise edged technology: Firstly, the precision-edged technology in the blade of this knife ensures a 20 % sharpest blade with twice the edge retention, and precision-forged offers a high carbon stainless steel that is resistant to rust and corrosion.
Highly durable: Secondly, Triple Riveted handle with the full tang of this knife is known for the polymer handle, offers exceptional durability, is seamless, and is considered the perfect hygienic fit. In addition to this property, this knife features a full bolster and finger guard for extra safety, comfort, and control. This is the best knife from top to bottom as it has a reasonable price.
Perfectly balanced: Moreover, this brand offers all the products related to cutlery with perfectly balanced properties between handle and blade. Also, it has a heel to protect your fingers, making you feel safer from injuries. One of the best characteristics of comfort it offers while cutting chicken is because it requires many cuts across its skin, fat, and cartilage.
9 – Wusthof Classic 8- inch Chef Knife
Zwilling J A Henckels knife is manufactured by the most skilled artisans, as the blades are made from incredibly sharp, laser-controlled edges. The sturdy bolster in it offers the right balance and protects your fingers. It is made from precision forged and a single piece of solid steel; these three rivets handle knives to provide you optimum balance and safety in handling.
Professional chefs and experts of cooking rely on the tradition and quality of these impressive and unique knives worldwide. This French knife is classic because it is the best knife with a wide blade and a curved cutting edge for going through the cutting and chopping task of vegetables, fruits, and different types of meat.
Product Specifications:
- Easy to hold
- Comfort
- Craftsmanship
- Well-balanced
- High quality
- No cons
Key features of Zwilling J A Henckels Pro Chef knife
Reliable construction: Henckel’s product designs with an exclusive formula, high carbon, and no-stain steel technology with all new Sigma forge technology. As a result of this quality, these knives have quality consistency, perfect geometry, and long-lasting sharpness. Moreover, it also offers improved stability and high precision in the blade and steel structure, thus improving the working in sharpness.
Trust-worthy quality: This brand has a classic styling and trustworthy quality in all its products, including knives. It is a set of knives appreciated by both domestic and professional chefs at all times. Besides, it can work for all tasks like bread, parer, peeling, utility, carving, steak, and an edge slicer. It is available in a range of gift sets and block sets.
10 – G 4 7 Oriental Chef knife
You can easily slice and cut from zucchini to chicken breast with the Global oriental knife. The top-quality CROMOVA 18 stainless steel manufactures this knife. You can make tasty potato fries with their ice-hardened convex edge because they can hold the sharp edge for a longer time. This knife falls between the vegetable and chef knife category and makes a valuable addition to your kitchens.
Its handle is ergonomic, with the patterns of dimples on it, thus makes it comfortable and slip-resistant, and you can use it for repeated slicing. For ideal balance, its handle has been achieved with perfect weight because it is filled with sand. Its lightweight makes a vast difference from other knives while working in domestic and professional kitchens.
Product Specifications:
- Lightweight
- Easy to hold
- Comfortable
- Easy to clean
- Sharp razor
- No cons
Key features of Global G 4 7 Oriental chef knife
Functional design: First, Global has been considered one of the most successful brands for domestic and professional kitchens. Due to its available methods, it has ruled over the world for years and won various awards. These knives are made according to extremely high and top standards.
Multipurpose knives: Secondly, these knives are multipurpose as they are the choice of home and professional chefs. Yet, the knife is extremely lightweight and very sharp blade like a razor that helps to reduce pain in the hands while cutting. Moreover, the Global products hold their edge for a long time compared to any other company products in the competitive market.
Buying guide for Best Chef Knives
A chef knife is an essential tool for the kitchen without which you cannot think but even can’t live. It is the soul of your kitchen, as it helps a lot in the preparation of your food. So if you plan to buy the best chef knife, it is necessary to keep in mind the following factors.
The right knife material
The most important factor for buying chef knives is the material from which it is made. Also, the best and quality knives are available with one of these three materials, such as high carbon steel, stainless steel, a combination of both. Moreover, the High carbon steel material has a sharp edge but does not resist rust and corrosion. Stainless steel does not have a short advantage, but it is easy to clean and care for it. The composite material is best in the sense that it holds both of these properties. But if you are on the proper budget, you should not underestimate the ceramic knives, which are more affordable.
The feel factor: weight and handle
Most of the experts and chefs prefer those knives which have an exact weight between handle and blade. On the other hand, others like the handle’s weight more than its blade, and you can’t be sure that your Chef will like which one at the time of cooking.
Likewise, three different types of knives are available in the market: German-style, Japanese style, and hybrid. Further, the German-style blade is heavier and thicker, the Japanese style is thinner and lighter, and the combinations are similar to the Japanese style.
Therefore, you should opt for those knives which are easy to use, hold, give you comfort and protect you from injury. Heckles and Wusthof are examples of this kind that have smooth look handles and have more grip.
One size does not fit all.
The design factor is worth thinking about when buying the best chef knives. However, the length of the blade you should use should be comfortable to feel with and opt for those products that can go with various tasks like cutting, chopping, dicing vegetables, fruits, and meats. Also, it depends on your hand size; if you have large hands, a wide blade will ensure the cutting task is easy. On the other hand, if you are not sure about the length of the knife, then you should use the standard size chef knife.
Long-lasting sharpness
So. Here are the criteria for the best knife; how sharp is it? The good ones are those while cutting on the metal or glass. Another, it should retain its sharpness and be sharp after using it for years. Yet, the quality for good ones also includes their capacity to hold its edge, strength, and durability, and these all characteristics depend on the quality of steel it is made of.
However, if the knife manufacturer is from low-quality steel and any other metal, it will bend, become rusted, and break over time. Therefore, when you are buying chef knives, you should keep in mind all the factors mentioned earlier.
Strength of knives
The knives you use regularly or on your occasions should be strong enough to hold the heavy tasks of the domestic or professional kitchens. The strength of the knife depends on the blade’s material and construction. The hand-forged knives are tremendous and robust due to their heated treatment. The less expensive knives do not go through this process, so they damage very soon. These knives are not in most people’s everyday use because they are costlier and are made from better quality material.
Cost of the knife
The long-lasting knives are not cheap, and they are like an investment. The blade with the best quality material will last for many years and cost more than more affordable knives. As they manufacture with high-quality metal, Proto adds in it, while the cheaper ones are made from less quality metal, so they damage faster and become rusted. That is why Precuts suggests that you should not compromise on the quality of the knives if you want to use them for a longer time.
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