Kitchen Knives : Best Kitchen Knives Review

Preparing a meal for yourself or your loved ones can quickly go from a task you enjoy to a chore you dread if you have a dull, awkward to use a knife. If you start to dread cooking, it may be time for a new chef’s knife.

Most kitchen tasks can be handled with your typical 8-inch Chef’s knife, and below, Best Kitchen Knives Reviewed looks at the best of the best of these.

Best Kitchen Knives – Japanese

Japanese kitchen knives are lighter and are therefore less versatile than traditional Chef’s knives. They are ideal for chopping vegetables, but I wouldn’t use them to chop through bone. If you are used to the classic French-style knives, Japanese knives will take some getting used to.

Don’t immediately dismiss them, though. Japanese kitchen knives are excellent choices in the kitchen due to their light feel and extremely sharp beveled edge. Not only is their advantage decisive, but it stays sharp for much longer than other Japanese knives. So much so that reviewers gave safety warnings about the knives cutting through dish rags while cleaning. Two knives battle it out for the top spot in this class, the Global Chef Knife G-2 and the Shun Classic Santoku chef knife.

If you know that a Japanese-style knife is for you, the choice comes down to weight and grip, as both of the blades above are razor sharp. Although lighter than the traditional Chef’s knives, the Shun is far heavier than the Global. Therefore, Shun knives can be used to break down a chicken. Global knives probably would not give you the power you need for this job.

The Global knife’s handle is made of stainless steel with dimples for a safe grip; however, many reviewers report that the handle can become very slippery, especially when wet. The Shun’s handle is made of Pakkawood in a D-shape. For some, this is a very comfortable handle, but for other, more petite reviewers, this handle can become uncomfortable when prepping a lot of food.

Both knives are exceptional. The choice comes down to each user’s preference.

Best Kitchen Knives – Traditional Chef’s Knives

Traditional Chef’s knives are heavier and longer than Santoku chef knives. The two most popular high-end knives are the Wusthof Classic Chef Knife and the J.A. Henckels Pro S Chef’s knife. Just like the aforementioned Japanese knives, both of these knives are exceptional. It all comes down to the user’s preference.

One thing to mention is that these traditional knives do not come out of the box as sharp as possible. Give them a little love, sharpen them, and you will see their true potential. They will never be as strong as the Japanese knives, but they can come close. And once they are sharp, they will stay sharp for far longer than Japanese knives. Let’s look at these two in a little more detail.

The Wusthof knives have a forged blade made from high carbon stainless steel with a bolster and a polypropylene handle riveted to the full tang. Some with larger hands find the handle too thin; others adore it. The blade is thicker than that of other traditional knives. This knife is weighty, durable, and well-balanced. The Wusthof Classic can handle almost any job you throw at it.

The popular Henckels Pro S also has a forged blade of high carbon stainless steel with a full tang, but the edge is welded to the handle instead of the entire knife being developed at once. J.A. Henckels knives are sometimes criticized for this, but the weld is invisible, and the company claims that the welds are more robust than steel. The blade features Henckels popular triple-riveted Novodur handles and feels surprisingly light for the knife’s amount of power.

Best Kitchen Knives – The Budget Buy

Victorinox kitchen knives, mainly the R.H. Forschner, are the top chef knife in the under $40 range. Don’t let the price turn you off. Some reviewers state that they rather reach for this knife instead of other expensive knives in their block.

Most think that the best chef knives are forged, but this knife is the exception. Forschner knives, made by Swiss craftsmen, are made from stamped, high-carbon stainless steel with no bolster. The Victorinox’s handles are made from slip-resistant Fibrox fiber and are ergonomically designed for balance.

The knife cuts well and keeps a good edge, but some miss the heft in the higher-end forged knives. The R.H. Forschner Chef’s Knife is dishwasher safe. Really. Many higher-end knives discussed above also claim to be dishwasher safe, but I wouldn’t recommend them. My Forschner goes in the dishwasher every time, and it is okay.

So… What’s the Verdict?

Yes, they all sound great, and they all have their drawbacks. How are you supposed to choose?

The most important thing is finding a comfortable knife in your hand that fits your needs. All knives reviewed on Best Kitchen Knives Reviewed are the best of the best and will not disappoint.