Disclaimer Note: This article is based on my experience using different chefs knives and contains affiliate links. At no extra cost to you, I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases.
I will be reviewing and ranking Chefs knives that I have used during my hospitality career so that you can make a wise decision when purchasing a chef knife and save money. The ranking is as follow:
Ranking (Top to bottom)
1. Victorinox 10 inch Chef Knife
Victorinox 10 inch chef knife is on top of my list and has to be the best knife that I have owned. I bought this knife in 2019 for my work and I have been using it till now and almost everywhere from home to work. And, the great thing is it hasn't dulled a bit. It also doesn't need to be sharpened frequently which is what I like the most. I also don't use it lightly. I have been cutting whole chickens and lamb forequarter chops (hitting hard bones and chopping boards with force) this whole time since last 6 years and still there are no bent edges anywhere, which proves its rigidity as well.
Key themes
- Grip: Easier to grip. The length of the steel in the heel is large, so the fingers don't touch the chopping board when cutting things.
- Weight: This knife has a perfectly balanced weight. It is neither heavy like some Japanese chef knives nor light like some branded knives. So, it is good for cutting light things like herbs to heavy things like meat with bones. Due to its balanced weight, it is easy to handle as well.
- Price: Compared to Chefs knives that are available in the market, it is reasonably affordable.
- Durability: Mine has lasted for 7 years and is still going strong and is still sharp. So, there is no question when it comes to durability.
2. Global Chef Knife
I don't own this knife but my colleague has this knife and I have used it a lot. This knife is the second choice knife for me. Although, it is quite popular and expensive, I prefer Victorinox Chef knife over this.
Key themes
- Grip: It has an all metal body and the handle is metal as well. So, I have found this handle to be difficult to grip with wet hands and when cutting hard things.
- Weight: It is very light weight compared to other chef knives. So, it can be difficult to cut bulky and hard items like pumpkin.
- Price: Looking at the weight and quality of the knife, I find it quite expensive.
- Durability: colleague had bought this knife 1 and half year ago and it is still good and it looks like it will last another couple of years. But one issue I found with this knife is that it gets blunt very quickly even after 3 or 4 uses. So, it needs frequent sharpening.
3. Japanese chef knives
I have found Japanese chef knives that are in the price range of $150-$300 to be either hit or a miss. Although, global is also a Japanese knife, I have put it in separate category because it is a well known brand. But for other Japanese knives, which are not very popular they can either be very durable and strong or vice versa. I have seen $250 (not well known brand) Japanese chefs knives break while cutting watermelon because the sharp edges of the knives were to thin and looked like it was only made for coping herbs. Some of them looks great and seems to last a lifetime. So, my suggestion is that if you are going to purchase aJapanes Chef knife, I suggest you to buy it only after physically holding and inspecting the knife and not to do it online. One of the Japanese chef knife with good review on amazon is "MITSUMOTO SAKARI 4PCS Kithcen Knife Set".
Conclusion:
So, my suggestion for you is to buy "Victorinox 10 inch Chef knife" because of its affordable price and durability. On top of this, you don't need to keep it sharpening frequently like other chef knives. It is cheaper than other chef knives, so even if you lose it won't hurt your bank. And, it will most likely last longer than other expensive and branded chef knives.