Best Chef’s Knives [2023] – Personally Tested & Reviewed

Chef knife is the most important ingredient and best friend of chefs in the kitchen. Selecting the best chef knife which will fulfill all your needs and preferences and make sure that you will enjoy it for many years. Furthermore, a chef knife buying guide is also recommended for you. Now in this article, we are describing our favorite chef knives available in the current market.

Top 5 Chef Knife

Best Chef KnivesPriceWarrantyBalanceBrandManufacturing Country
Victorinox Fibrox Pro, 8 Inch Chef’s Knife
Victorinox Fibrox Pro, 8 Inch Chef's Knife
Check PriceLifetimeBalancedVictorinoxSwitzerland
Imarku 8 Inch ChefImarku 8 Inch Chef KnifeCheck PriceLifetimeWell BalancedImarkuChina
Mercer Culinary 8” Forged KnifeMercer Culinary 8'' Forged KnifeCheck PriceLifetimeWell BalancedMercer CulinaryTaiwan
Imarku 7 inch Santoku KnifeImarku 7 inch Santoku KnifeCheck Price1-yearWell BalancedImarkuChina
J.A. 8” Henckels International Classic J.A. Henckels International Classic 8Check PriceLifetimeBalancedJ.A Henckels International (Zwilling)Spain

Victorinox Fibrox Pro, 8 Inch Chef’s Knife – Editor’s Choice

The best all rounder knife having some best reviews and ranking at mid range price tag.

Victorinox-Fibrox-Pro-8-Inch-Chefs-Knife

General
BrandVictorinox
Price Range$35-$60
BalanceBalanced
Manufacturing CountrySwitzerland
WarrantyLifetime warranty against defects in material and workmanship
Most suitable forAll-around use – from carving meats to dicing vegetables and herbs
Dimensions
Total Knife Length (In/cm)17/43.18
Knife Weight (Oz/Gr)7.5/212.62
Blade Length (Inches)7.9
Blade Height (Inches)1.25
The Blade
Forged/stampedStamped
Blade MaterialStainless Steel
Blade FlexibilityNot very Flexible
TangPartial Tang
Blade EdgeDouble Bevel
Straight/SerratedStraight
Blade angle19 degrees.
HRC (Rockwell Hardness)55-56
The Handle
Handle FeelErgonomic, Non-slip
Handle MaterialThermoplastic Elastomers (Plastic)
Handle ColorBlack

Victorinox Fibrox Pro, 8 Inch Chef’s Knife will be the best choice for those who are looking for a solid and general purpose knife, You can’t go far wrong with the Fibrox Pro 8″ from Victorinox. It has an ergonomic non-slip TPE handle and more extensive blade which enable the users for easy and efficient use. Most people like to use the double bevel edge which protects the knife’s blade from cracking and bending and retain their sharpness for a long duration.

Maintenance You can maintain your victorinox f ibrox chef knife by washing immediately once you apply soap and water on it. It is also dishwasher safe.

Pros

  • Comes with wide blade
  • Comfortable handle for long time use
  • Versatile and all rounder

Cons

  • Exceptionally lightweight construction – not recommended for those who prefer heavier knives.
  • Need continuing sharpening

Imarku 8 Inch Chef Knife

Imarku-8-Inch-Chef-Knife

 It’s a gleaming, stylish and all purpose knife which comes with a sharp razor and comfortable handle.

General
BrandImarku
Price Range$40 – $50
BalanceBalanced
Manufacturing CountryChina
WarrantyLifetime Warranty from Manufacturer
Most suitable forAll-around
Dimensions
Total Knife Length (In/cm)13/33.02
Knife Weight (Oz/Gr)12.8/362.87
Blade Length (Inches)8
Blade Height (Inches)1.7
Blade thickness/width (Inches)0.1
The Blade
Forged/stampedStamped
Blade MaterialGerman High-carbon stainless steel
Blade FlexibilityNot Flexible
TangFull Tang
Blade EdgeDouble Bevel
Straight/SerratedStraight
Blade angle23-25
HRC (Rockwell Hardness)56-58
The Handle
Handle FeelErgonomic
Handle MaterialPakkawood
Handle ColorBrown and silver

Imarku 8 Inch Chef Knife is a multipurpose having high carbon stainless steel blade and Pakkawood handle for smoother grip. If you have a budget issue but you need a well balanced knife with good performance then Imarku 8” will be the best option for you. The double bevel edge and hardened blade (56-58 HRC) offer a combination of sharpness and durability, ideal for the beginner chef.

Maintenance You can wash it with warm, soapy water and dry it promptly after use but don’t put it in the dishwasher otherwise it will get corrosion. Always wash it with your hands.

Pros

  • Equitable adequate
  • Well sharpened when coming out of the box

Cons

  • Some people complain that their edges dull fastly and need constant sharpening.

Mercer Culinary 8 Inches Forged Chef’s Knife

A chef knife comes with a traditional useful design for solid and genuine performance.

General
BrandMercer Culinary
Price Range$55-$70
BalanceWell Balanced
Manufacturing CountryTaiwan
WarrantyLimited Lifetime Warranty
Most suitable forAll-around – slicing and dicing meat, vegetables, fruits, and herbs
Dimensions
Total Knife Length (In/cm)15/38.10
Cleaver Weight (Oz/Gr)9.1/257.98
Blade Length (Inches)8
Blade Height (Inches)1.9375
The Blade
Forged/stampedForged
Blade MaterialHigh-carbon stainless steel
Blade FlexibilityUnknown
TangFull Tang
Blade EdgeDouble Bevel
Straight/SerratedStraight
Blade angle15 degrees on each side
HRC (Rockwell Hardness)56+/-1
The Handle
Handle FeelErgonomic
Handle MaterialDelrin
Handle ColorBlack

Mercer culinary 8” forged chef’s knife is the part of mercer’s renaissance line of product, it is the best chef knife having modern exhibits of classic features like full tang, taper ground edge and ergonomic handle in black delrin. With good care (hand cleaning and drying the knife after each use), the Mercer Renaissance 8″ will give you years of enjoyable use.

Maintenance How to clean Mercer culinary chef knife? You should hand wash it with warm water and soap and then dry it instantly after use. And it is not a dishwasher safe knife.

Pros:

  • A one-piece taper ground blade provides good steadiness and a long-lasting edge.

Cons:

  • We notice on the behalf of reviewers from amazon than slightly stain build up regardless of the stainless steel

Imarku 7 Inches Santoku Knife

Imarku-7-inch-Santoku-Knife

The japanese style chef knife comes in german steel and is good for both worlds.

General
BrandImarku
Price Range$35 – $50
BalanceWell Balanced
Manufacturing CountryChina
Warranty1-year Warranty
Most suitable forThose on a budget who need a fantastic all-rounder.
Dimensions
Total Knife Length (In/cm)12/30.48
Knife Weight (Oz/Gr)6.9/195.61
Blade Length (Inches)7
Blade Height (Inches)1.7
Blade thickness/width (Inches)0.1
The Blade
Forged/stampedForged
Blade MaterialGerman High-carbon stainless steel
Blade FlexibilityFlexible
TangFull Tang
Blade EdgeHollow
Straight/SerratedStraight
Blade angle15-18
HRC (Rockwell Hardness)57+1
The Handle
Handle FeelErgonomic
Handle MaterialPakkaWood
Handle ColorBrown and silver

The imarku santoku is the best option for those who are looking for japanese style chef knives. It is a multi purpose knife that has a comfortable pakkawood handle and dimple granton edge for protecting sticking while chopping. With their 7 inches size, it looks a little bit short as compared to other models, but it more than makes up for it with its benefits and ease of use.

Maintenance How to clean? Wash hands with warm soapy water and then dry immediately after use. Are knife dishwashers safe? no

Pros:

  • Perfect balance
  • Easy to use handle for both large and small handles

Cons:

  • Require frequent sharpening
  • Need much care to prevent from staining or rust

J.A Henckels International Classic 8 Inches Chef Knife

An economical accurate chef knife from a world leading brand J.A Henckels International.

J.A Henckels International classic 8 inches chef knife

General
BrandJ.A Henckels International (Zwilling)
Price Range$65-$110
BalanceBalanced
Manufacturing CountrySpain
WarrantyLimited Lifetime Warranty
Most suitable forAll-around – chopping, dicing and mincing anything from potatoes and apples to salmon and shallots
Dimensions
Total Knife Length (In/cm)13.39/34.01
Cleaver Weight (Oz/Gr)11.20/317.51
Blade Length (Inches)7.87
Blade Height (Inches)1.81
The Blade
Forged/stampedForged
Blade MaterialGerman stainless steel
Blade FlexibilityNot very Flexible
TangFull Tang
Blade EdgeV-edge
Straight/SerratedStraight
Blade angle15 degrees on each side
HRC (Rockwell Hardness)55-58
The Handle
Handle FeelErgonomic
Handle MaterialPlastic
Handle ColorBlack

You won’t find a single flaw in a Henckels chef knife. If you want to spend a little more but get a lot, this classic 8” chef’s knife from Henckels is a good place to start. Made in Spain with German-sourced steel, it features a tempered blade with a V-edge, providing all the functionality and comfort we look for in one of the world’s best cutlery brands.

Maintenance You have both options, you can wash it with your hand or you can use the dishwasher method as well and then dry it immediately.

Pros:

  • A fully forged knife for perfect balance and performance
  • Come with ergonomic handle

Cons:

  • Some critics consider the blade to be too flexible.

Conclusion

The market of chef knives is very vast and the samples covered here don’t even start to cover everything that’s available. Although they will give you a great start without spending a lot of money. What you have to do is, simply buy the best chef knife according to your requirements and focus on your intent. We will also recommend some more chef knives under $100.

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