A good selection of knives in the kitchen is a must if you’re serious about cooking. In fact, every kitchen should have at least one quality
We’ve boiled down the entire process to 6 things you should consider before making a decision. Join us as we go over each of these factors in detail.
1. Price and Budget
As you probably know by now, chef knives come in a variety of different flavors. You can choose between all kinds of styles, blade lengths, materials, and more. More importantly, you can find expensive chef knives and those that won’t cost you more than a few bucks. The first thing you need to do is narrow down your search by establishing a budget.
If this is your first chef’s
2. Build Quality
Working in a kitchen quickly teaches you the importance of quality in a
Remember, your chef
We give these knives a quick twirl and review, and then we pass them on to a few lucky home chefs!
3. Handle Design
The handle of a chef’s
Unfortunately, this part of
Aside from comfort, you’ll also want to check the quality of wood used for the handle. In fact, check if it’s real wood at all. Synthetic materials can be as good as wood if done properly, but knowing what your handle is made of will simplify maintenance later on.
4. Balance
We can’t discuss handle design without talking about balance. Balance is an essential trait of a good chef’s
A well-balanced
5. Japanese or German?
Although the world of chef’s knives is rather colorful, there are currently two major schools of thought that most people are adhering to — Japanese and German.
The differences between these are significant. Just like medieval swords, German blades are heavier and designed for chopping while Japanese blades are lighter and designed more for slicing. Additionally, most Japanese blades will have a straight handle, which is considered to be the most neutral handle design you can get.
A light
There is also a difference in steel between these knives. Japanese steel is generally harder while most western knives feature slightly softer steel.
6. Steel
Steel is one of those sensitive subjects in the world of knives as a whole. You can put 10 people in a room, and all of them will have a different idea of what the perfect
Stainless steel has been and still is, the backbone of the
The heavier weight of stainless steel also works great for the German type of knife. With all that said, stainless steel is relatively soft as mentioned before. The addition of chromium that gives its rust-resistant properties also makes stainless steel more malleable.
In comparison, carbon steel knives are a whole different beast. Carbon steels are enriched with carbon, which makes them incredibly strong. These knives hold their edge much longer and are generally easier to sharpen. However, the addition of carbon means that you’ll have to take good care of your knives. Carbon steel will rust and will do so easily.
Start Slow
One of the biggest mistakes that new chefs and cooking enthusiasts make is to buy
It’s a much better idea to invest in a good chef’s
Ryan Leavitt
Hi my name is Ryan Leavitt a Marine Corps Veteran and currently an over the road trucker (Long Haul). I am no expert chef but am enjoying preparing my own meals on the road and testing all the different knives.We give these knives a quick twirl and review, and then we pass them on to a few lucky home chefs!