The Best Chef’s Knives for $75 or Less

Our longtime favorite chef's knife is sharp, capable, and comfortable to hold. But is it still the best?

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[Lawsuit]

I think it could be good to mention that any knife is going to dull with time, so it could be beneficial to learn how to sharpen and hone a knife yourself.

[jcnikoley]

I bought a Mercer set because it had the exact knives I wanted in it, and no bolster, so easy to keep sharp. They are very good, I can recommend.

[zedicus]

I bought the Victornox on ATC recommendation the 1st time they reviewed years ago. It is my go-to. I have several much more expensive knives given to me over the years, but none compare. I have also probably gifted 10 or 15 over the years to friends. Especially if I am cooking at their house. Always a good gift. Thanks for the review.

[quakerwildcat]

I have some expensive knives including a couple of Wustoff chefs knives, but the one I reach for most often is the Mercer Genesis 8" chefs knife. It's easy to sharpen, beautifully balanced, and it really stays sharp. It's great to see ATK add Mercer to its recommendation list.

[InformationIsTheEdge]

When I first moved out on my own I needed a good set of kitchen knives. It was the first thing I bought for my apartment. I didn't know anything about kitchen knives. Zwilling was what I settled on. They were at the top of my price range and they looked like what I saw a TV chef use so I got them. An 8" chef knife, a 6" vegetable knife and a 3" paring knife. I lucked out because they have been fantastic knives! They have performed every task I have ever attempted for them.

[paulpeterson]

I checked out the link for the "$31" Mercer 8" chef's knife and it was now $56.00. The "$38" Victorinox was $60.00. Gotta love that Amazon price gouging.

[TheBswan]

Victorinox holds its edge really well. It's such a good knife at any price, and the fact it's under $40 is crazy

[Bethany]

I retired my Victorinox in favor of that Misen you had on the board. It's been wonderful. Feels a bit more agile than the Victorinox.

[TheGreatestJuJu]

🧐“It was how it was sharpened at factory”, what? Sure factory sharp is nice on new blade but you lost me on how that matters long term? Every knife will be sharpened at home, doesn’t this matter more than the factory edge because factory is once while home sharpened is MANY times during life of knife.

Very confusing am I alone?

[wreckzc]

Over the past 12 years, I'm on my second Victorinox because it was sharpened to a point of replacement. They are so affordable, you don't mind using them everyday, sharpening them often and wearing them out. I use it way more often than my expensive knives

[b.l.i.]

I watched this or another similar ATK video as I couldn’t find a decent knife for all that I was doing in the kitchen. So, I purchased the Victorinox as shown here. It quickly became my ‘Old Faithful’ for all the same reasons demonstrated in this video. Now somehow or other my Victorianox has multiplied as now every knife I have from paring on up is Victorianox ! Outstanding knives made by a company that produces high quality without demanding suitcases full of cash. I recommend these knives wholeheartedly!

[ajk]

As someone else stated. Out of box sharpness means nothing. Ergonomics and edge retention is all that matters.

[bobkoure]

FWIW, it's super easy to round a knife spine. If you're not doing your own sharpening, ask whoever's doing that for you. Note that if you're right handed, you only really need to have the spine rounded on the right side as that's where the inside of your index finger pushes. And if you're not using a pinch grip 1) you should and 2) a squared off spine doesn't matter as you're not holding the knife there.
BTW/FWIW. Mercer has a stamped-steel chef's knife that's very similar to the Vic. Similar price and performance but I don't find the handle as secure as the fibrox when my hands are super greasy - I use these when breaking down a BBQed pig. Bright side: neither is so expensive that I have to keep an eagle eye on it so it doesn't wander off.

[stephenseay]

I have used Victorinox for a very long time and was perfectly happy with them but then got gifted a set of zwilling pro which I find have a more comfortable weight/feel (albeit more expensive and I cannot say they are better or worse only that I worry more about damaging them).

[TheRange]

I really miss Chris Kimball. 8" is way too short for a chefs knife for me. I like 10 and Wusthof is the only knives I buy or use. Buy once, cry once. Yes, they're expensive, but they'll last for generations, literally.

[bobmccarney]

Thank you for acknowledging Mercer knives. For years, I was a fan of Wursthof knives with rounded, composite handles. (I dislike riveted, wooden handles). Recently, I discovered Mercer knives. They are almost identical to the Wursthof knives in design, weight, feel and material. (They both use X50crmov15 steel). But they are less than half the price.

On the other hand, the Victorinox chef’s knife that you continue to select as your choice is a low-end tool. You never explain the difference between a forged knife and a “stamped” one. The Victorinox is stamped out of proprietary steel. Yes, it cuts…but you could sharpen a license plate and use it to cut. That doesn't mean that I would want it in my kitchen.

I think it’s interesting that, when you do “cooking at home” segments, Julia, Bridget, and Dan all use high-end Japanese or Damascus steel knives in their kitchens. Not the Victorinox Fibrox junk.

[samuelmahoney]

Sorry, commenting as I see the vid. A round handle Does not matter at all if you use a pinch grip which most folks do and they demonstrate because it’s a better way to hold a knife. More control.

[mikev.]

I'm personally not a huge fan of the Victorinox chef, BUT I have two others by them that I could not live without. A 4 inch "boning knife" which for me is really like a large paring. I've had it and and a Victorinox bread knife for probably 25 years. They are awesome.
My personal favorite chef (and really, one should try before they buy) if I had to live with one is the 10 inch Zwilling I got several years ago. I also very much like my 8 inch Wustoff Classic.

[cassafrasslee]

Where are yall getting knives in the $30 range? All your links are almost double the price! Whats the point of posting prices that dont exist.

[jaymeez]

I’m looking all over the place & I can’t find it for $32. Even Amazon has it for $42. Where can I find the best deal?