What Are the Best Professional Chef's Knives?

When buying a new chef’s knife, there is an almost overwhelming amount of options to consider from the culinary world’s leading brands. Differences in the design, blade material, handle, and other attributes can have a significant impact on how a knife performs. Depending on the food prep you typically do, certain knives may be preferable to others.

Before taking a look at several of the best professional chef’s knives currently available, let’s review some key factors to keep in mind when deciding on a knife to suit your culinary needs.

Stainless Steel vs. Carbon Steel

Most chef’s knives are made from stainless steel or carbon steel. (You may also see knives referred to as “high-carbon stainless steel,” but these are essentially the same as stainless steel.) The primary difference is that stainless steel contains much more chromium than carbon steel. Chromium helps protect the blade against corrosion, meaning carbon steel knives will rust far more quickly than their stainless steel counterparts. However, carbon steel knives are generally more resistant to wear and retain their sharpness better than stainless steel. Deciding on one or the other may largely depend on whether you prefer sharpening your knife or removing rust from its blade.

German vs. Japanese Chef’s Knives

Chef’s knives typically belong to either the German or Japanese knifemaking tradition. Aside from their country of origin, these knives have a few main distinctions. German chef’s knives are thicker and heavier than Japanese knives. This makes them well-suited to a wider range of tasks. If you’re looking for the workhorse of your kitchen, a German knife is the way to go.

Japanese knives, on the other hand, are thinner and lighter. When you need to slice through food more quickly and precisely, you’ll want a Japanese knife. They’re also made from harder steel. This means they’ll hold their edge longer than other knives, but may be more prone to chipping or breaking.

With these differences in mind, here are our recommendations for a few of the best professional chef’s knives you can buy:

Wusthof 8-Inch Classic Chef’s Knife

The Wusthof 8-Inch Classic Chef’s Knife is the perfect all-around cutting tool for your kitchen. This knife is precision-forged from high-carbon stainless steel and can chop, mince, slice, and dice a variety of foods with ease. It features a full tang that is triple-riveted to the handle and a precision bolster for excellent balance and control. The ergonomic handle fits comfortably in your hand and is made from highly durable polyoxymethylene (POM). It’s even dishwasher-safe, though you should wash it by hand to avoid unnecessary wear or damage. Whether you’re an experienced chef or a beginner just buying your first knife, you’ll want this classic from Wusthof in your collection. While preparing meat, vegetables, fruit, and more, it’s extremely versatile and you’ll almost certainly get use out of it every day.

Henckels 8-Inch Classic Chef’s Knife

If you’re looking for an all-purpose kitchen knife at a great value, consider the J.A. Henckels 8-Inch Classic Chef’s Knife. It offers many of the same features and benefits as the Wusthof classic knife with a price tag well under $100. The German-made, high-carbon stainless steel blade is resistant to corrosion and will make quick work of slicing, dicing, chopping, and mincing tasks. The full tang is securely riveted to the polypropylene handle, providing a balanced cutting experience and ensuring you maintain complete control over the razor-sharp blade.

Victorinox Fibrox 8-Inch Chef’s Knife

This Victorinox 8-Inch Chef’s Knife combines world-renowned Swiss quality with a well-balanced, ergonomic design. This is an excellent carving knife that’s perfect for working with all types of meats. The handle is made of patented Fibrox texturized nylon, providing a durable, comfortable grip that won’t slip out of your hand. The super-sharp stainless steel blade does not dull easily, so you don’t need to worry about sharpening it very often. This knife is robust enough to handle large food items but still light enough to work quickly and effortlessly in a fast-paced kitchen.

Mac Hollow Edge 8-Inch Chef’s Knife

Mac knives are well-known for being made from a custom high-carbon, stain-resistant steel forged to a 60 rating on the Rockwell scale. The Mac MTH-80 Hollow Edge 8-Inch Chef’s Knife is no exception. Like other Mac knives, the edge of the blade is a hybrid between the single bevel chiseled edge favored by the Japanese and the traditional Western V-shaped edge. This makes the blade highly versatile for both thin slicing and straight cuts. This knife’s other noticeable feature is its granton edge, or the dimples along the side of the blade. These dimples prevent sticky foods like cheese, carrots, and squash from sticking to the knife. If you’re looking for a great balance between sharpness and sturdiness, this knife from Mac is a fine choice.

Global 9.5-Inch Professional Chef’s Knife

The Global 9.5-Inch Professional Chef’s Knife is made of a stainless steel called Cromova 18 designed exclusively for the Global brand. It’s a blend of chromium, molybdenum, and vanadium ice tempered and hardened to retain a razor-sharp edge. The blade is constructed of a single piece of steel with a unique convex edge for unparalleled slicing capability. You’ll also likely notice this knife’s signature dimpled stainless steel handle. It offers a sleeker look than a plastic handle, but the ergonomic design and dimple pattern makes it more comfortable to hold and less likely to slip out of your hand than most other metal handles. At 9.5 inches long, this knife is good for tackling larger food items a traditional 8-inch chef’s knife can’t quite handle. However, it’s still perfectly balanced and easy to use.

A Cut Above the Rest

Today’s chef is always multitasking, so they need a knife that can do it all at a moment’s notice. You truly can’t overstate the value of a high-quality chef’s knife in a restaurant or other professional setting and what an important investment it is in your culinary career or business. We’ve shared several of our top options, but you can find a wide selection of other professional cutlery from the best brands here at JB Prince. You can even complement your knife purchase with must-have accessories like knife bags and carriers, knife guards, sharpening tools, and cutting boards.