9 Best Kitchen Knives to Elevate Everyday Cooking Tasks

This Amazon’s Choice product has 3,600-plus 5-star reviews. But don’t just take Amazon reviewers’ word for it; take the fact that this trusty knife survived nearly a year in culinary school and a fast-paced restaurant internship in 2015, and continues to be my go-to knife to this day. (It's racked up countless matchstick carrots, diced onions, and cubed tofu on this cutting board I also can’t live without, thanks to its detailed measurements for slicing and dicing cuts.)

Made with rust-resistant, high-carbon forged steel, it’s stable, has a safe grip, and a full tang design (this is when a single piece of metal runs from the blade into the handle) for great balance. Another feature we love? The taper-ground edge means the knife stays sharper for longer, and you can be more efficient with prep work.

Last but not least, even people with arthritis call this knife “a life-saver for older hands,” so if you do a lot of cooking and/or suffer from joint pain, rest assured that this knife does a great job of making kitchen tasks as comfortable as possible.

P.S. If you prefer a short bolster — the band that connects the knife’s blade to the handle — check out Mercer’s 8-inch short bolster chef’s knife.

You know a chef’s knife is good when people raise more than $1 million on Kickstarter for it. Since that took place in 2015, the Misen Chef's Knife has gone on to earn 4.9 stars out of 8,350 reviews and counting. Constructed with AICHI AUS-10 steel, the super-sharp blade has great longevity, even compared to some ultra-high-end brands.

This knife melds elements of traditional European and Japanese chef’s knives, with a sloped bolster that offers two standout qualities: One, it encourages the proper grip to keep your hands happy, and two, you have better use of the full length of the blade while you work.

As one recent review puts it, “Best Knife Ever! I’ve been cooking for over 40 years and this knife does it all to perfection. Lightweight, well-balanced, [and a] perfect size of the blade gets it all done easily. It’s my new favorite knife.” It may very well be your new favorite, too.

This 7-inch, high-carbon, German stainless steel pick offers great value for a high-quality santoku (all-purpose) knife. With an uber-comfy grip, it also features a full tang construction, rare for knives in this price range.

FYI: You’ll find that santoku knives serve most of the same functions as chef's knives, but are a touch easier to move around and execute precision cuts. Each Master Maison knife includes a sharpener.

This super sharp paring knife simply knocks its competition out of the park. Whether you’re mincing garlic or doing intricate work — like removing the ribs from peppers or etching designs into the surface of food — this high-carbon stainless steel paring knife is a winner. 

Not only does it have a patented ergonomic handle for comfort and ease of use, but it’s also ice-hardened to ensure the durability of the cutting edge, so you don’t need to worry about it going dull on you in a few months’ time.

“This knife is excellent and should be a staple in the kitchen of every good cook!” writes one satisfied Amazon customer. “It cuts beautifully, and I don’t spend unnecessary time trying to cut through my veggies, meats, cheeses, or whatever I’m preparing.” Hear, hear.

We mean, we’ll never argue with a colorful kitchen accessory. One that’s actually incredible at its task? All the better.

Here, this chef favorite and multiple-time “best paring knife” award winner gets the job done with a very sharp Japanese stainless steel blade that also has a nonstick coating for easy food release. The lightweight handle boasts ergonomic construction, and the matching sheath makes storage and transport of this knife (park picnic, please) a breeze. 

This paring knife is available in 15 colors and 10 fun prints, such as avocado and florals.

Oh bread, how we love thee. How we love thee even more when we’re cutting that crusty baguette or spongy roll with a knife that actually works. Made with German stainless steel for longevity and edge retention, the supremely comfy design of the patented Schmidt Brothers Curve means not only an easy-to-hold grip but also reduced slippage. Now, back to that platter o’ carbs we go ...

In the market for a knife set? This is our absolute favorite, with a wonderful assortment of stainless steel knives — an 8-inch chef’s knife, 8-inch bread knife, 5-inch santoku knife, 5-inch boning knife, 5-inch utility knife, 3.5-inch paring knife, six steak knives, and shears — all housed in a knife block that uses a stone sharpening wheel designed to restore and preserve your blade’s sharpness with a few swipes. 

When you use and maintain the knives as directed, they’re said to stay razor-sharp for more than a decade. That’s a lot of onions, friends.

Beloved by professional chefs, this recently launched brand of cutlery makes one heck of a steak knife. 

This set of six steak knives with 5-inch blades comes with two magnetic acacia-wood knife blocks for steaks and works well on all types of meats and meat alternatives. With a serrated blade, smaller exposed edges help the knife stay sharper for longer. Free shipping is included for all orders in the U.S. and Canada.

If you’re cooking a lot, this is for you. Also a nice gift option for the home cook in your life, this subscription service sends members a santoku and a paring knife, replacing them every two months with a freshly sharpened set (necessary packaging and return labels are also sent your way to make the swap process from used knives to a new set a breeze). 

Both knives are made from durable VG-10 steel and sharpened by hand. What apple galette or grilled veggies recipe will you tackle first to put your knives to good use?