What Knives Do Chefs Use

What knives do chefs use? Professional chefs rely on a selection of essential knives to handle a variety of kitchen tasks, from slicing and dicing to precise peeling and chopping. The most common types include chef’s knives, paring knives, utility knives, bread knives, and specialty blades designed for specific techniques. Choosing the right combination of these knives helps ensure efficiency and precision in the kitchen, whether you’re preparing everyday meals or working on intricate recipes.

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  • Zwilling J.A. Henckels Pro Chef’s Knife
    $134.95
    (1270)

    Pro chef?s knofe...I love the heft and fit of this knife. I?ll definitely be buying others!...7 inch chef knife...I received this 7 inch chef knife as a gift. I have some of the other knives in this collection but never knew that the 7 inch chef knife...

    Pros: sharpness, versatility, edge retention

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  • Miyabi Kaizen II Chef’s Knife, 8"
    $159.96
    (691)

    This is my first Japanese knife, I get now. Slices like a dream, the blade is thinner than my other chefs knives, which make it cut everything like butter. ...Chef Knife...These are the best knives! I just got my 8" Chef knife and it is spectacular!...

    Pros: sharpness, lightweight, durable

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  • Miyabi Artisan Chef’s Knife, 8"
    $209.96
    (566)

    8in chef knife...Great knife! Bought it to use at work for slicing vegetables....Milano 8" Chefs Knife...Knife is extremely sharp and well made, I love this chefs knife!

    Pros: sharpness, quality, balance

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  • Miyabi Birchwood Chef’s Knife, 9"
    $409.95
    (498)

    Birchwood 8" Chefs Knife...I reccomend this to any Chef as a go to workhorse knife....Excellent Knife...Extremely nice knife! Replaced my old chefs knife and it's like night and day difference.

    Pros: sharpness, balance, lightweight

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  • Miyabi Evolution Chef’s Knife, 8"
    $129.96
    (391)

    Sharp blade, multi-use, what more could you ask for? I love my Miyabi knives....the BEST chef knife...First chefs knife...Miyabi knives here I come.

    Pros: sharpness, quality, weight

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  • Miyabi Kaizen Chef’s Knife, 9½"
    $209.95
    (305)

    Amazingly fun to use...s knife, I got use to it very quickly, I used chefs knife for meat and fish, and santoku for vegetables. ...I love this knife. For years I’ve used low quality knives that would go blunt after a few uses.

    Pros: sharpness, quality, beautiful

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  • Zwilling Pro Slim Chef’s Knife, 7"
    $99.96
    (260)

    7? chefs knife...Perfect size for multiple uses. This is my 4th Zwilling knife. However I noticed that two of my other knives have a crack in the black part of the handle, which does not impact usage....The Goldilocks of Chefs Knives...This knife is...

    Pros: sharpness, balance, durability

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  • Bob Kramer 10" Stainless Damascus Chef’s Knife by Zwilling J.A. Henckels®
    $499.95
    (252)

    The weight and balance of this knife is perfect, especially for the chef who prefers not to use a full length chef knife, but still wants all the power....We decided to pull the trigger on 8" chefs knife and the 3.5" paring knife combo. Both knives are...

    Pros: sharpness, durability, balance

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  • Zwilling J.A. Henckels Gourmet Chef’s Knife, 8"
    $79.96
    (241)

    ZWILLING Gourmet 8-inch Chefs Knife...The gourmet 8-inch Chefs knife had a very nice weight to it. It was very well balanced, and had a superb edge!...The perfect knife...An all around, top performing chef knife! A pleasure to use daily!

    Pros: sharpness, weight, ease of use

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  • Wüsthof Classic Chef’s Knife, 6"
    $135
    (215)

    Best knife you'll ever buy for the money...I'm a professional chef and will only use wusthof classic chefs knife's. ...Perfect size chef knife!...It's my favorite size and I also own three 8" chef knives. I reach for this knife first! Wüsthof also has...

    Pros: sharpness, durability, size

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  • Zwilling J.A. Henckels Four Star Eco Chef's Knife, 6"
    $114.95
    (204)

    This knife now gets more use than our larger chef?s knife. ...Best Chef Knife...Husband and I fighting over it when cooking together so when we found the Zwilling 4 star chef knife at Macy?s, bought it immediately. Both chef knives are the best knives...

    Pros: durable, sharpness, edge retention

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  • Wüsthof Classic Chef's Knife, 8"
    $170
    (200)

    Bought my first chefs knife 17 years ago. Had to send it in to be replaced recently. ...8" Chef Knife...I'm slowly replacing them with Wusthofs. The knives are wonderful and feel good in the hand. I use the 8" Classic Chef knife all of the time, its...

    Pros: durable, sharpness, quality

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  • Zwilling J.A. Henckels Pro Le Blanc Slim Chef’s Knife, 7"
    $99.96
    (192)

    This knife is miles ahead of my butcher block knives set chefs knife in terms of quality and sharpness, would highly recommend....Incredible knives - quality build!...I received this knife as a wedding gift. I?ve wanted a proper chefs knife for a long...

    Pros: sharpness, balance, perfect size

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  • Miyabi Hibana Chef’s Knife
    $169.96
    (190)

    I recently started working at a fine dining restaurant and constantly have to use a knife. This hibana 8in chefs knife is the perfect one for all my chef duties...Beautifully crafted and balanced knife...I use this knife as an all purpose chefs knife...

    Pros: sharpness, comfortable handle, edge retention

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  • Miyabi Koh Chef’s Knife, 9.5"
    $174.95
    (183)

    Excellent Chef's Knife...I have owned Cutco and Wusthof knives and recently purchased the MIYABI Chefs knife, not only is it a very attractive looking knife but it is clearly sharper than the other 2 I mentioned!...8 inch chef...Great knife for professional...

    Pros: sharpness, durable, comfortable handle

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  • Zwilling Pro Chef’s Knife
    $164.95
    (160)

    I find this to be the ideal Chef knife if your tasks involve more slicing/cutting as the tip is noticeably more narrow than your standard chefs knife

    Pros: comfortable, sharpness, quality

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  • Messermeister Oliva Elite Chef's Knife
    $189.95
    (122)

    I found these knives from Olivia Tiedemann and got the chefs knife and love it so much. ...The 8" Oliva has a phenomenally comfortable handle (I use a pinch grip) and a good German-style chef knife for heavier-duty kitchen tasks (I use mine for chopping...

    Pros: balance, sharpness, durable

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  • Miyabi Birchwood Nakiri Knife, 7"
    $324.95
    (112)

    Great Knife!...This is a great chefs knife. Comfortable and lightweight....I mainly use it to chop produce and it is great. Also easily cuts proteins when I am too lazy to reach for my chefs knife.

    Pros: sharpness, aesthetic, balance

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  • Wüsthof Classic Ikon Chef’s Knife, 7"
    $134.99
    (98)

    I love chef knives. I love to cook. I own lots of knives. ...Great knife! Works very well!...Great knife!

    Pros: balance, durability, sharpness

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  • Miyabi Artisan Prep Knife, 5.5"
    $174.95
    (93)

    Prep knife for any prep work...It's larger than a paring but smaller than a chef. The blade is a little wider so you can use it on a cutting board and your knuckles do not hit the board. ...Best knife ever!...The size is perfect - smaller than a chef...

    Pros: sharpness, comfort, versatility

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  • Bob Kramer 8" Carbon Steel Chef’s Knife by Zwilling J.A. Henckels
    $299.96
    (79)

    Kramer' Carbon Steel 8" Chefs knife...He describes it as thr Ferrari of knives. It is a beautiful piece of steel, perfectly balanced. ...It is my favorite knife. I personally have two of the 8" chefs knives and have bought one for each of my adult children....

    Pros: sharpness, durability, quality

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  • Miyabi Artisan Chef’s Knife, 6"
    $194.95
    (72)

    Beautiful Artisan knife...This one was a gift for my husband, last year he received the 8” chefs knife and loved it so we are building his collection of these Artisan knives....Best knives ever!...Got this knife as a Christmas gift. I already have chefs...

    Pros: sharpness, balance, durable

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  • Zwilling J.A. Henckels Four Star Eco Chef's Knife, 8"
    $99.96
    (67)

    For all Chefs...This is the first knife you need for "Chef-ing"...Super sharp chef knife that holds an edge...Excellent chef knife. Makes cutting tomatoes enjoyable.
    Has held an edge for a long time compared to any other knives I've owned.

    Pros: sharpness, durability, quality

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  • Global Chef’s Knife, 8"
    $99.96
    (67)

    This is a serious Chefs chef knife. Amazing sharpness and control for everyday use. ...The perfect chef knife...It?s really a delight to use.

    Pros: sharpness, lightweight, fit

    Add to Bag

What Knives Do Chefs Use

When exploring what knives chefs use in their kitchens, it becomes clear that a handful of essential blades form the foundation of every professional and passionate home cook’s toolkit. The chef’s knife stands out as the versatile centerpiece, trusted for everything from mincing fresh summer herbs to slicing ripe July tomatoes. Its broad, balanced blade makes quick work of chopping, dicing, and julienning, allowing for smooth, efficient prep whether you’re tackling a weeknight stir-fry or a festive weekend cookout. Alongside the chef’s knife, the paring knife offers control for finer tasks—think peeling peaches for a cobbler or trimming the stems from a handful of berries. For bakers and sandwich-makers, a serrated knife is indispensable, gliding through crusty loaves and delicate cakes without crushing them, while a boning knife’s flexible blade makes it easy to break down poultry for grilling or prepare fillets for a summer seafood feast. Maintaining these edges is just as important, which is why a honing steel is always close at hand, keeping blades sharp and safe to use.

Choosing the best chef knife or assembling a set of professional knives involves more than just picking up what looks good on the rack. Material matters—many chefs weigh the benefits of stainless steel vs damascus steel, considering factors like edge retention, ease of sharpening, and resistance to rust or staining. Stainless steel knives are known for their durability and low maintenance, making them a practical choice for busy kitchens, while damascus steel knives are prized for their distinctive patterns and exceptional sharpness, often becoming treasured tools for those who cook daily or appreciate craftsmanship. The weight and balance of a knife can change the cooking experience, too; some prefer a heavier blade for confident chopping, while others favor a lighter knife for agility and speed. These considerations make a thoughtfully chosen knife set a memorable gift for weddings, graduations, or anyone setting up a new kitchen, especially in the summer when gatherings and celebrations are in full swing.

Whether you’re a seasoned chef or just starting to explore new recipes, investing in the right knives transforms everyday meal prep into a pleasure. The right tools invite creativity—from slicing garden-fresh vegetables to carving grilled meats at a backyard barbecue. If you’re curious to learn more about which knives belong in a chef’s arsenal and how each one is used, visit our comprehensive guide at What Kind Of Knives Do Chefs Use? for expert insights and tips to help you choose the perfect blades for your cooking style.

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