5 Best Chef Knives – 2022 Reviews

The chef knife is the most versatile knife in the kitchen and a chef’s best friend. Choosing a quality knife that fits your specific needs and preferences will ensure years of safe, enjoyable use.

In addition to our detailed chef knife buying guide, which we recommend you check out, here are five of our favorite knives currently on the market.

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Top 5 Chef Knives

Best Chef Knives	Check Price	Warranty	Balance	Brand	Manufacturing Country
#1. Victorinox Fibrox Pro, 8 Inch Chef's Knife Editor's Choice	Price	Lifetime	Balanced	Victorinox	Switzerland
#2. Imarku 8 Inch Chef Knife	Price	Lifetime	Well Balanced	Imarku	China
#3. Mercer Culinary 8'' Forged Knife	Price	LIMITED LIFETIME	Well Balanced	Mercer Culinary	Taiwan
#4. Imarku 7 inch Santoku Knife	Price	1-year	Well Balanced	Imarku	China
#5. J.A. Henckels International Classic 8''	Price	LIMITED LIFETIME	Balanced	J.A Henckels International (Zwilling)	Spain

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

An all-rounder with some of the best reviews and rankings – and a surprisingly modest price tag.

General
Brand	Victorinox
Price Range	$35-$60
Balance	Balanced
Manufacturing Country	Switzerland
Warranty	Lifetime warranty against defects in material and workmanship
Most suitable for	All-around use – from carving meats to dicing vegetables and herbs
Dimensions
Total Knife Length (In/cm)	17/43.18
Cleaver Weight (Oz/Gr)	7.5/212.62
Blade Length (Inches)	7.9
Blade Height (Inches)	1.25
The Blade
Forged/stamped	Stamped
Blade Material	Stainless Steel
Blade Flexibility	Not very Flexible
Tang	Partial Tang
Blade Edge	Double Bevel
Straight/Serrated	Straight
Blade angle	19 degrees.
HRC (Rockwell Hardness)	55-56
The Handle
Handle Feel	Ergonomic, Non-slip
Handle Material	Thermoplastic Elastomers (Plastic)
Handle Color	Black

2. Imarku 8 Inch Chef Knife

A sleek and stylish all-purpose option. Razor-sharp and comfortable.

3. Mercer Culinary 8-Inch Forged Chef’s Knife

A classic functional design for sturdy and reliable performance.

General
Brand	Mercer Culinary
Price Range	$55-$70
Balance	Well Balanced
Manufacturing Country	Taiwan
Warranty	Limited Lifetime Warranty
Most suitable for	All-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/stamped	Forged
Blade Material	High-carbon stainless steel
Blade Flexibility	Unknown
Tang	Full Tang
Blade Edge	Double Bevel
Straight/Serrated	Straight
Blade angle	15 degrees on each side
HRC (Rockwell Hardness)	56+/-1
The Handle
Handle Feel	Ergonomic
Handle Material	Delrin
Handle Color	Black

4. Imarku 7 inch Santoku Knife

Japanese-style chef knife in German steel for the best of both worlds.

General
Brand	Imarku
Price Range	$35 - $50
Balance	Well Balanced
Manufacturing Country	China
Warranty	1-year Warranty
Most suitable for	All-around
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/stamped	Forged
Blade Material	German High-carbon stainless steel
Blade Flexibility	Flexible
Tang	Full Tang
Blade Edge	Hollow
Straight/Serrated	Straight
Blade angle	15-18
HRC (Rockwell Hardness)	57+1
The Handle
Handle Feel	Ergonomic
Handle Material	PakkaWood
Handle Color	Brown and silver

The Imarku Santoku is a wonderful option for those looking to branch out into Japanese-style chef knives. This all-purpose knife comes with a comfy Pakkawood handle and a dimpled Granton edge to prevent adhesion while chopping. At 7”, it’s slightly shorter than the other models on this list, but more than makes up for it with its keen edge and ease of use.

5. J.A. Henckels International Classic 8 Inch Chef Knife

An affordable precision product from a world-leading brand.

General
Brand	J.A Henckels International (Zwilling)
Price Range	$65-$110
Balance	Balanced
Manufacturing Country	Spain
Warranty	Limited Lifetime Warranty
Most suitable for	All-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/stamped	Forged
Blade Material	German stainless steel
Blade Flexibility	Not very Flexible
Tang	Full Tang
Blade Edge	V-edge
Straight/Serrated	Straight
Blade angle	15 degrees on each side
HRC (Rockwell Hardness)	55-58
The Handle
Handle Feel	Ergonomic
Handle Material	Plastic
Handle Color	Black

There’s no mistaking a Henckels chef knife. If you’re looking to spend just a little more but get a lot more, this classic 8” chef knife from Henckels is a good place to start. Forged in Spain from German-sourced steel, it features a stiff blade with a V-edge, providing all the function and comfort we’ve come to expect from one of the world’s top cutlery brands.

Maintenance

How to Clean? Either hand-wash with warm soapy water and then dry, or use in a dishwasher.
Is the knife dishwasher safe? Yes

Conclusion

The market for chef knives is immense, and the models covered here don’t even begin to cover everything that is available – but they will start you off nicely without breaking the bank. Buy a knife that’s right for you, depending on your preference and what you intend to use it for, and you can’t go far wrong. We also recommend you check out our list of chef knives under $100.