The Best Chef’s Knives
We looked at the top 10 Chef's Knives and dug through the reviews from 42 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best Chef's Knives.
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Our Picks For The Top Chef's Knives
- The Best Chef Knife
- 1. Mac Knife Professional Hollow Edge Chef Knife, 8-Inch
- 2. Victorinox Fibrox Pro 8-In Chef’s Knife
- 3. Cangshan D Series 8-In Chef’s Knife
- 4. Shun Classic 8-In Chef’s Knife
- 5. Tojiro DP Gyutou 8-In Chef’s Knife
- 6. Global 8-In Chef’s Knife
- 7. Imarku Pro Kitchen 8-In Chef’s Knife
- 8. Wusthof Classic IKON 8-In Cook’s Knife
- 9. J.A. Henckels International Classic 8-In Chef’s Knife
- 10. Wusthof Pro Cook´s 8-In Chef Knife
Handy KnifeThe Mac Knife Hollow Edge 8-In Chef's Knife is very lightweight, easy to use and an attractive addition to any kitchen.
Affordable PickThe Victorinox Fibrox Pro 8-In Chef's Knife won't break the bank but does a great job in the kitchen.
Useful ToolThe Cangshan D Series 8-In Chef's Knife will help you accomplish a lot in the kitchen, thanks to its German steel blade.
All-Around Star KnifeThe Shun Classic 8-In Chef's Knife is great for beginners and pros alike.
Why we recommend these chef's knives?
Products Considered
Products Analyzed
Expert Reviews Included
User Opinions Analyzed
Our experts reviewed the top 10 Chef's Knives and also dug through the reviews from 42 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best of the best Chef's Knives.
DWYM is your trusted roduct review source. Our team reviews thousands of product reviews from the trusted top experts and combines them into one easy-to-understand score. Learn more.
The Best Overall
Mac Knife Professional Hollow Edge Chef Knife, 8-Inch
Our Take
You won't have issues cutting through sticky foods when you use the Mac Knife Hollow Edge 8-In Chef's Knife, which features specially designed dimples. This No. 1 chef's knife is lightweight and easy to use with an attractive steel blade and solid Pakka wood handle. Always hand wash this knife, as it could suffer damage from the heat of a dishwasher.
What other experts liked
What other experts didn't like
The Best Bang For Your Buck
Victorinox Fibrox Pro 8-In Chef’s Knife
Our Take
Even though the Victorinox Fibrox Pro 8-In Chef's Knife is budget-friendly, it's made of such high-quality materials that it comes with a lifetime guarantee. The ergonomic handle consists of a non-slip thermoplastic Elastomer (TPE). That means you won't have to stop and dry your hands before continuing on with the task at hand. The blade has a thin edge that cuts through everything from fruits to meats. However, it may need sharpening more often than other knives.
What other experts liked
What other experts didn't like
Our Chef Knife Findings
Mac Knife Professional Hollow Edge Chef Knife, 8-Inch
What We Liked: You won’t have issues cutting through sticky foods when you use the Mac Knife Hollow Edge 8-In Chef’s Knife, which features specially designed dimples. This No. 1 chef’s knife is lightweight and easy to use with an attractive steel blade and solid Pakka wood handle. Always hand wash this knife, as it could suffer damage from the heat of a dishwasher.
Victorinox Fibrox Pro 8-In Chef’s Knife
What We Liked: Even though the Victorinox Fibrox Pro 8-In Chef’s Knife is budget-friendly, it’s made of such high-quality materials that it comes with a lifetime guarantee. The ergonomic handle consists of a non-slip thermoplastic Elastomer (TPE). That means you won’t have to stop and dry your hands before continuing on with the task at hand. The blade has a thin edge that cuts through everything from fruits to meats. However, it may need sharpening more often than other knives.
Cangshan D Series 8-In Chef’s Knife
What We Liked: The Cangshan D Series 8-In Chef’s Knife has the approval of the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF). So, users can be sure the knife meets important industry qualifications. In fact, the blade consists of German Steel with a Rockwell Hardness Scale rating of 58 +/- 2. Its Initial Cutting Performance and Total Card Cut are also in the excellent range.
Shun Classic 8-In Chef’s Knife
What We Liked: Professional and home chefs will appreciate the Shun Classic 8-In Chef’s Knife’s durability and water-resistant finish. The specially formulated VG-MAX steel blade is especially impressive with a sharp edge that quickly dices onions and chops peppers. It’s important to note that while the handle is sturdy and easy to hold, it’s quite short. This may be an issue for cooks with shorter hands.
Our Expert Consultant
Culinary Expert
Julie Chernoff is a long-time member of Les Dames d’Escoffier (past president of the Chicago Chapter, and current co-chair of the LDEI Legacy Awards Committee), the Association of Food Journalists (AFJ) and the International Association of Culinary Professionals.
Chernoff is the dining editor of Better, a lifestyle website and print magazine. Her journalism started in the test kitchens of Weight Watchers Magazine. She holds a BA in English from Yale University and is a graduate of the California Culinary Academy. She has spent the last few decades styling, photographing, teaching, developing recipes, editing, thinking and writing about food.
Our Chef Knife Buying Guide
Whether you make your living as a professional chef, or you simply love spending time in the kitchen cooking up delicious meals for friends and family, you’ll need a good quality set of chef’s knives. These knives are designed to make chopping fruits and veggies a breeze and slicing meats smooth and painless. Before choosing a chef’s knife, there are a few things you’ll want to consider.
“A chef’s knife is like an extension of you,” says Julie Chernoff, food journalist, dining editor of Better magazine and member of Les Dames d’Escoffier. “It must feel comfortable in your hand and be well-balanced, which makes buying one online a little troublesome. Ideally, you should go to a kitchen store where you can actually test it out in person.”
To start with, there’s size. An 8-inch knife suits most cooks better than the larger 10-inch, which is too large for many domestic kitchen chores, or a 6-inch, which is too small.
First, examine the blade of the knife. You need a knife made of steel, like the Shun Classic 8-In Chef’s Knife. This knife features a specially formulated VG-MAX steel blade that has extra tungsten. The blade is sharper, less susceptible to rust and strong enough to slice through tough cuts of meat.
You may also want to purchase a blade based on the types of food you plan to prepare. The Mac Knife Hollow Edge 8-In Chef’s Knife has dimples across the bottom of the blade that make slicing stickier fruits and vegetables much easier.
While you’re examining the blade, look for how the sharpness of the knife’s blade measures up against industry standards. The Cangshan D Series 8-In Chef’s Knife, for example, has an Initial Cutting Performance (ICP) of 130 (anything above 110 is considered excellent) and a Total Card Cut (TCC) of 601 (anything above 550 is considered excellent).
“The blade should be curved from its tip to the heel, which allows a gentle rocking of the blade when cutting without losing contact with the cutting board,” explains Chernoff. “I also prefer a full-tang knife, meaning the knife is one solid piece of mental from the blade tip to the end of the handle. The handle pieces are attached to either side with pins — this adds both strength and durability to the chef’s knife, although it does make the knife heavier.”
Of course, you’ll want your chef’s knife to have a solid handle. You may opt for a traditional wood handle, or a uniquely designed plastic handle like that of the Victorinox Fibrox Pro 8-In Chef’s Knife. Not only does this thermoplastic Elastomer (TPE) handle keep your hands from slipping as you repeatedly cut through produce, but its ergonomic shape also works to reduce hand and wrist fatigue, which is a lifesaver when you’re cooking for a large group.
“I like a handle that is easily gripped and has a good solid bolster — the thick part of the blade above the handle — to protect my fingers and add stability,” Chernoff notes.
Finally, hold the knife in your hand and see how it feels. Do you prefer a lightweight and thin model, or one that is more heavy and wide? Are you looking for a classic style, or does a modern style suit you better? Sometimes choosing a chef’s knife comes down to your personal preferences.
But remember: you’ll get the most out of your knife if you take good care of it.
“Most importantly, respect your knife,” Chernoff says. “Keep it sharp and keep it clean. Never put a quality knife in the dishwasher; it will dull.”
DWYM Fun Fact
While some form of cutting has existed since the beginning of time, the Egyptians were among the first to construct a type of chef’s knife with a stone blade and a bone handle. Later, citizens of Southwest Asia began to use copper and tin to make blades for their knives. Today, our chef’s knives are mostly manufactured using steel blades and wooden handles.
As an interesting side note, one of King Louis XIV’s advisers reported that kitchen knives were being used to commit acts of violence in 1669. As a result, the king commissioned an order that required all table knives to have blunted tips.
The Chef Knife Tips and Advice
- Take care when cleaning your chef’s knives. Many brands are not listed as safe to put in a dishwasher. Instead, you’ll need to wash them by hand with traditional dish soap and hot water. Dry them afterward with a lint-free towel to prevent the possibility of rust, which can occur on certain types of steel blades.
- Store your knives in a knife block, or cover them with a plastic sheath to protect the blades.
- Keep the chef’s knives out of the reach of small children. As you teach your older children how to safely use knives for food preparation, you’ll want to supervise them at all times. Every knife should be viewed as a dangerous tool that could cause harm when not used carefully, especially when used by pre-teens and teens that may not fully understand how sharp the knives are.
- Always place a cutting board under the food you’re slicing with your chef’s knife. This reduces the wear and tear on the blade of the knife that happens when you cut on other surfaces, like granite and marble.
- Check to see whether the knife you’re interested in has any accolades or awards that further reinforce that the utensil is top-quality. For example, if you see “National Sanitary Foundation (NSF) approved” on the packaging label, you can feel confident that the knife was tested and successfully met a set of strict requirements to earn that NSF certification.
- When shopping for the best chef’s knives, you’ll want to compare prices of knives that are of similar length. When it comes to 8-inch knives, you’ll find the Mac Knife Hollow Edge 8-In Chef’s Knife and the Shun Classic 8-In Chef’s Knife are on the higher end with a price tag of about $150. The Victorinox Fibrox Pro 8-In Chef’s Knife and the Cangshan D Series 8-In Chef’s Knife are priced much lower at approximately $35.
About The Author
Alicia Bodine is a New Jersey-based writer that is always on the hunt for kitchen gadgets that can help save time and money, especially with two food-loving daughters at home. With more than 15 years of experience, her work has appeared in sites like on leading food and drink publications. When she's not writing, you'll find her gardening, spending time with her kids, cooking in the kitchen or playing with her two kitties, Flitter and Otter. Alicia loves researching the latest and greatest gadgets, products and items that help simplify her life.
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