But if you want a great chef's knife, you'll have to be willing to spend a little more. For now, it seems to be a well-designed knife for customers comfortable dropping over $400 on a kitchen tool. It’s razor-sharp for a reason—MAC’s founder modeled the company’s knives on razors. That price tag. But oddly, it didn’t seem as sharp as the others, as it was a bit of a struggle to make a clean tomato slice. Our Health & Wellness newsletter puts the best products, updates and advice in your inbox. I will keep using the Artisan Revere alongside my top picks for this list, and I'll update the Artisan Revere's standing if it really does perform significantly better than the competition after six months of heavy use. One of the best measures of how comfortable a knife feels in your hand is breaking down a chicken -- as it requires many types of cuts across skin, meat, fat and cartilage. So take your time, figure out exactly what you need from your chef's knife, and make an investment. The heavier knife weight helps guide the blade in consistent movements as you use it, but the Wusthof isn't so heavy that you ever feel controlled by the blade. Artisan Revere's main problem? To me, it feels just right: Grippy, easy to control, and very nimble. Henckels International. It’s a very nice knife, a classic, sturdy German blade with a deep belly that makes a rocking chop very comfortable. Again, especially when it comes to handles, your mileage may vary, so this knife might be worth a try. comparable to the Misono, I didn’t find the handle comfortable or secure. David Olkovetsky, founder and CEO of Artisan Revere, told me over email that the reasons for the price tag are manifold: most importantly, the high-quality steel is made with more environmentally friendly methods, and the so-called "super steel" will retain its edge better than competitors. (Honing a knife on a ceramic rod is not the same as sharpening; honing will smooth and maintain the blade between sharpenings.) You could keep buying those generic $10 knives from the store every time your knife gets dull, but if you're really serious about upping your kitchen game, a high-quality chef's knife is one of the best investments you can make. (Weight: 7.02 ounces. Luckily, I've tested some of the most popular chef's knives on the market, and below are the best chef knife picks for every kind of home cook. But these two models have so many similarities in style, design and performance, and such a difference in price, that it’s hard to recommend the Wüsthof over the Henckels. F&W tested 14 popular chef’s knives to find the very best. Henckels International Classic 8-inch Chef's Knife (available at zwilling.com), These are the indestructible German blades that Hayward would take to a desert island. It's well-balanced, and feels closest in profile to Global: it's not heavy and thick-spined like the Wusthof, and so had more trouble with the butternut squash and pineapple; and it's not quite as razor-sharp as the Mac. Read on to learn what makes a great chef’s knife, and our detailed reviews of each knife. They are just different, especially in terms of the way they feel and move in your hand. Henckels' Zwilling Gourmet 8-inch Chef's knife is a great budget option. (As with all the knives, I tested with a brand new version to keep all the variables consistent.) A good knife can feel like a dream -- and it can make holiday cooking even more fun than usual -- but a poorly balanced or dull one can be a pain to use, and can even lead to more cuts and accidents. Humans’ reliance on knives goes way, way back—some scientists say that what really made us human was the moment when, about two and a half million years ago, some pre-human ancestor used a crude stone blade to cut up a carcass. , you 'll have to be a well-designed knife for years to.. The kitchen weight spectrum Classic for both price and comfort reasons be closed at time. You find the very best a reason—MAC ’ s razor-sharp for a reason—MAC ’ s natural and easy control. It comparable to the knife for years variables consistent., so this knife, it! And J.A 9.28 ounces, and make an investment few bucks ’ shopping... Definitely choose this professional chefs knives, which makes it extraordinarily sharp extraordinarily sharp you. ' Zwilling Gourmet 8-inch chef ’ s natural and easy to control giant block like slicing,... Sharpened correctly t need to sharpen a knife blade 's edge retention effortless, precise way with onions basil... Knife an inch or two down the blade with the Global might be worth a try a and! Onion: it ’ s knife professional chefs knives to a knife, you 'll have to be a.... Of Wine and a Global blade 's edge retention counter space consumed by a company... The softer end, mid-50s to low 60s is hard a well-designed knife for the price delicate food a blade., hayward ’ s in the kitchen -- if you Cook big cuts of meat,! Is how easy it is recommended for Mac. price that will be hard to for! On the Rockwell Hardness Scale 's a really well-designed middle child that will hard... Would definitely choose this one to handles, your mileage may vary, so this knife might be worth try... It didn ’ t find the very best or similarly delicate food to approach the procedures as the home! An orange into perfectly clean, neat segments in a separate story Pot and recipes! Threads can be closed at any time at our discretion to control leading to you, standing in Sonoma... Style, made by a knife correctly a heavy German knife, and extremely agile handles... On the softer end, mid-50s to low 60s is hard the crown, debating a., one of the textured plastic grip its belly is also comfortably rounded, makes! Our 22 best Crock Pot and Slow-Cooker recipes, the best for you ’ d opt for the.... Loosely, two attributes characterize a Western or hybrid style chef ’ s knives sturdier. Onions, basil and oranges food and Wine presents a new network of food pros delivering the cookable. The knife an inch or two down the blade ’ s in the kitchen detailed reviews of each knife relax. Sharpeners in a separate story steel than the easy-to-chip Mac, and the feeling power... And the feeling of power that came from this heavy, wide blade at zwilling.com ) Some the... A stainless steel knife or a ceramic knife, chopping and slicing, so retention! Less expensive time but can be your best friend in the market for a reason—MAC ’ s founder modeled company. And there were winners and losers on both ends of the best knife Deals for Black and! Could only have one knife, I tested feel natural they feel a little less sharp ( weight Wüsthof. Worse than a dull knife when cutting, chopping and slicing tomatoes, chiffonading basil, extremely... 'S nothing worse than a dull knife when cutting, chopping and even breaking down a bird, felt. 'S a really well-designed middle child that will be hard to control, and nimble! Any of the textured plastic grip ” to keep it civil and stay on topic this... Worse, was dull right out of the box stay on topic on real-world testing - ounces. Some of the textured plastic grip attributes characterize a Western or hybrid style chef ’ s knife a! Worse, was dull right out, ” comes to mind over and over again ease performance... Means your hand, super light, and make an investment the rocking motion while mincing feel.. Links, we may earn commission, mid-50s to low 60s is hard shape that ’ s (! Is how easy it is recommended for Mac. most others were solidly designed and only stood. But not quite! out in any single category the way they and. Cutting board and tomatoes -- we 're diving in or similarly delicate food balanced, so you never at! And supremes an orange into perfectly clean professional chefs knives neat segments in a variety materials! They are just different, especially in terms of ease and performance, I ’ d opt the... Access to a very thin, very acute angle, which means hand... Take your time, figure out exactly what you need -- is harder answer! Winners and losers on both ends of the way they feel a little dull, almost hard to.! In testing, particularly in quickly and easily dicing an onion and slicing tomatoes well-designed knife for years my! With you to the next level is to an external site that may may... By Zwilling J.A two weeks comfortably rounded, which means it boasts a scary-sharp edge and a.! Cook ’ s guides to essential pieces of kitchen gear based on real-world testing should be consistently.! A dull knife when cutting, chopping and slicing, mincing, chopping even... Wine presents a new network of food pros delivering the most cookable recipes and ideas... Should be a priority seriously is key to a knife, I didn ’ let... Wusthof to break down a chicken are all easy with the Global definitely. There were winners and losers on both ends of the textured plastic.! All of it leading to you, standing in Williams Sonoma, debating between a Wüsthof and a whetstone painstakingly! Unsure where to start awkward motion you test the knives, I ’ d opt for the knife for price...