You Only Need 3 Kitchen Knives — These Are the Best Chef's, Paring, and Santoku Knives We Tested

Mar. 15, 2025

In This ArticleView AllIn This ArticleBest Chef’s KnivesBest Paring KnivesBest Santoku KnivesOthers We TriedWhat to KnowBehind the ScenesWhy Trust PEOPLE?What Is PEOPLE Tested?

In This ArticleView All

View All

In This Article

Best Chef’s Knives

Best Paring Knives

Best Santoku Knives

Others We Tried

What to Know

Behind the Scenes

Why Trust PEOPLE?

What Is PEOPLE Tested?

Photo:People / Russell Kilgore

People / Russell Kilgore

Having a sharp, high-quality chef’s knife, santoku knife, and paring knife will set you up for success in the kitchen, even if your culinary repertoire is limited to pasta and avocado toast.

Our expert testers spent a total of 24 hours testing 15 of the most popularkitchen knivesin each category. We sliced through pieces of paper, mountains of onions (tears and all), taut-skinned tomatoes, and fibrous sweet potatoes. We considered weight and comfort, ease of use, blade sharpness, maintenance, and overall aesthetics to find the best kitchen knives for every cook and budget.

Read on for how to find the best paring, chef’s, and santoku knives for your kitchen, including our top-scoring picks.

Our Top Picks

Best Chef’s Knife Overall: Hedley & Bennett Chef’s Knife

$115 at Amazon$115 at Hedleyandbennett.com

Star QualitiesBeautiful knife with five color optionsWell-balanced and comfortableSafe, extremely sharp bladeRed FlagsNone!

Star QualitiesBeautiful knife with five color optionsWell-balanced and comfortableSafe, extremely sharp blade

Beautiful knife with five color options

Well-balanced and comfortable

Safe, extremely sharp blade

Red FlagsNone!

None!

This knife impressed us with its extremely sharp, durable blade, comfortable handle, and attractive looks. The blade is made from triple-layer Japanese steel with a Rockwell hardness rating of 60. The knife sliced through multiple sheets of paper and smashed garlic without threatening our fingertips. It even “sliced through onions like butter,” according to our tester. It also made quick work of hardy sweet potatoes.

It’s also incredibly well-designed. Aside from the cute colors and aesthetically curved handle, this knife is well-balanced and comfortable for most hand shapes and sizes. Even people with larger hands found the knife nimble and easy to maneuver, with no knuckles knocking on the cutting board as they worked. Though this knife is not dishwasher-safe, no knife that you care about should be exposed to the turmoil of a dishwasher.

Testers Say“The slender blade on the Hedley & Bennett knife allows for precision and comfort when chopping or slicing larger quantities. It sliced through the tomato skin with ease, with no bruising or bending.”

Testers Say

“The slender blade on the Hedley & Bennett knife allows for precision and comfort when chopping or slicing larger quantities. It sliced through the tomato skin with ease, with no bruising or bending.”

Blade Length:8 inches |Handle Material:Not listed |Weight:0.4 pounds |Blade Material:Three-layer Japanese steel

PHOTO: People / Russell KilgorePHOTO: People / Russell KilgorePHOTO: People / Russell KilgorePHOTO: People / Russell KilgorePHOTO: People / Russell Kilgore

Best Budget Chef’s Knife: Victorinox Fibrox Pro Chef’s Knife

$48$42 at Amazon

Star QualitiesWell-balanced, ergonomic handleGreat valueUtilitarian designRed FlagsRelatively quick dullingHandle material feels slightly gritty

Star QualitiesWell-balanced, ergonomic handleGreat valueUtilitarian design

Well-balanced, ergonomic handle

Great value

Utilitarian design

Red FlagsRelatively quick dullingHandle material feels slightly gritty

Relatively quick dulling

Handle material feels slightly gritty

The Victorinox chef’s knife is a familiar-looking, simply designed tool with a budget-friendly price. It’s one of the lightest knives we tested but is still well-balanced and has an ergonomic handle that’s gritty and grippy, making it a potentially safer choice for beginner cooks.

Blade Length:8 inches |Handle Material:Plastic |Weight:6.1 oz. |Blade Material:Stainless steel

Best Chef’s Knife for Beginners: Mercer Culinary Genesis Short Bolster Chef’s Knife

$60$40 at Amazon

Star QualitiesExcellent sharpnessErgonomic utilitarian designGreat valueRed FlagsSlightly heavier handle weight than other options

Star QualitiesExcellent sharpnessErgonomic utilitarian designGreat value

Excellent sharpness

Ergonomic utilitarian design

Red FlagsSlightly heavier handle weight than other options

Slightly heavier handle weight than other options

This Mercer chef’s knife feels heftier than the Hedley & Bennett knife. It has a smooth handle with a slightly rounded blade that gives it a sleek look. The handle, though heavier than some other knives we tested, felt comfortable to testers with both large and smaller hands. The blade stayed razor-sharp throughout testing and was precise when cutting delicate green onions.

The knife has a simple, utilitarian design that makes it a great choice for any kitchen. It’s straightforward to use and there’s a reason that you’ll find Mercer knives in professional kitchens, culinary schools, and the homes of experienced home cooks alike. Though our tester noted that the heavier handle may get tiresome for large chopping projects, at less than $40, this knife is an excellent deal.

Experts SayAccording to food stylistMary Claire Britton, the extra weight makes a knife more precise for cutting delicate items like green onions and tomatoes without bruising.

Experts Say

According to food stylistMary Claire Britton, the extra weight makes a knife more precise for cutting delicate items like green onions and tomatoes without bruising.

Blade Length:8 inches |Handle Material:Santoprene |Weight:8.47 oz. |Blade Material:High-carbon German steel

Most Versatile Chef’s Knife: Wüsthof Classic 8-Inch Chef’s Knife

$150$140 at Amazon$170 at Williams-Sonoma

Star QualitiesBalanced for comfort and precisionExtremely sharpTime-tested and trusted brand nameRed FlagsPricier than other options

Star QualitiesBalanced for comfort and precisionExtremely sharpTime-tested and trusted brand name

Balanced for comfort and precision

Extremely sharp

Time-tested and trusted brand name

Red FlagsPricier than other options

Pricier than other options

According to Britton, this chef’s knife is the standard-issue tool for students at Le Cordon Bleu culinary school. And we get why: It’s a highly durable, super-sharp workhorse of a knife that maintains its blade edge impressively well. It has an ergonomically shaped grip and is more weighted towards the handle, which many cooks prefer for more control and leverage over harder items like sweet potatoes and squash.

The weight and balance of this model make it one of the most versatile of the bunch. Of course, these attributes add up to a pricier knife. This was one of the most expensive knives we tested, but if you’re willing to spend a bit more for a quality piece of equipment that will last, it’s worth it.

Testers Say“This is the absolute epitome of a kitchen workhorse. This knife is beautifully balanced, heavy enough for precision, and light enough that you can work continuously for long periods of time.”

“This is the absolute epitome of a kitchen workhorse. This knife is beautifully balanced, heavy enough for precision, and light enough that you can work continuously for long periods of time.”

Blade Length:8 inches |Handle Material:Stainless steel |Weight:8 oz. |Blade Material:Stainless steel

Best Paring Knife Overall: Wüsthof Classic Paring Knife

$95 at Amazon$95 at Williams-Sonoma

Star QualitiesClassic, well-balanced designPerforms precision tasks very wellMaintained sharpness throughout testsRed FlagsMay be uncomfortable for larger hands when used on a cutting board

Star QualitiesClassic, well-balanced designPerforms precision tasks very wellMaintained sharpness throughout tests

Classic, well-balanced design

Performs precision tasks very well

Maintained sharpness throughout tests

Red FlagsMay be uncomfortable for larger hands when used on a cutting board

May be uncomfortable for larger hands when used on a cutting board

This is a classically designed paring knife with a full tang, meaning the German steel blade extends all the way through the knife handle for added durability and power. On top of the blade, there’s a flat resting place for your pointer finger while you do careful paring work such as peeling veggies or sectioning citrus.

It’s a well-balanced, ergonomic little knife that’s easy to control, whether you have larger or smaller hands (though people with bigger hands may find that their knuckles hit the cutting board when chopping). We found this knife to be incredibly sharp out of the box, and it didn’t dull at all during testing, even when used to peel and slice sweet potatoes. The knife is also reasonably priced at under $100.

Blade Length:3.5 inches |Handle Material:Stainless steel |Weight:0.13 pounds |Blade Material:Stainless steel

PHOTO: People / Russell KilgorePHOTO: People / Russell KilgorePHOTO: People / Russell KilgorePHOTO: People / Russell Kilgore

Best Paring Knife (Cheaper): Zyliss Paring Knife with Sheath Cover

$10 at Amazon

Star QualitiesGrippy, ergonomic handleGreat for all hand sizesExcellent valueBlade stays sharpRed FlagsSlightly unbalanced with a heavier handle

Star QualitiesGrippy, ergonomic handleGreat for all hand sizesExcellent valueBlade stays sharp

Grippy, ergonomic handle

Great for all hand sizes

Excellent value

Blade stays sharp

Red FlagsSlightly unbalanced with a heavier handle

Slightly unbalanced with a heavier handle

This knife doesn’t look like your typical paring knife. It’s larger and has a more utilitarian design with a two-toned colored plastic handle. The handle is coated in a grippy texture that feels secure and prevents slips — a useful feature for a knife used to peel watery fruits and veggies. The blade comes to a sharp point that’s good for initiating a cut through something trickly like tomato skin or chicken wing cartilage.

The knife is quite lightweight, weighing less than 2 ounces, but it’s not perfectly balanced. The handle is larger and heavier than the blade, which makes this a better choice for cooks with larger hands. The knife made surprisingly quick work of all our veggies, including the dense sweet potato and delicate green onions. It also comes with a blade sheath, which will help maintain the sharp edge in storage.

Blade Length:3.5 inches |Handle Material:Plastic |Weight:1.9 oz. |Blade Material:Stainless steel

Best Budget Paring Knife: Victorinox Swiss Classic Paring Knife

Star QualitiesCompact and lightweightVery preciseExcellent for peelingTrusted brandRed FlagsNot as comfortable for larger hands

Star QualitiesCompact and lightweightVery preciseExcellent for peelingTrusted brand

Compact and lightweight

Very precise

Excellent for peeling

Trusted brand

Red FlagsNot as comfortable for larger hands

Not as comfortable for larger hands

Despite its light weight, this knife feels balanced and powerful, not flimsy. That said, the blade was a little too flexible to work through a sweet potato cleanly, but it would be a great choice for smaller jobs like slicing berries, cherry tomatoes, or garlic. This is a budget-friendly knife that’s built to withstand some serious work in the kitchen.

Blade Length:3.25 inches |Handle Material:Plastic |Weight:0.7 oz. |Blade Material:Stainless steel

Best Paring Knife Design: Misen Paring Knife

$44 at Amazon$44 at Misen.com

Star QualitiesErgonomic gripAesthetically pleasingPerforms paring tasks easilyRed FlagsPricier than other optionsHandle is heavier than blade

Star QualitiesErgonomic gripAesthetically pleasingPerforms paring tasks easily

Ergonomic grip

Aesthetically pleasing

Performs paring tasks easily

Red FlagsPricier than other optionsHandle is heavier than blade

Handle is heavier than blade

This attractive paring knife has a simple two-rivet design and comes in five colors. The handle is gently curved for a comfortable grip with a dull indentation at the base of the blade for cooks to rest their pointer fingers on for greater control. This knife is slightly less balanced than the Wüsthof model, with a bit more weight in the handle, though this isn’t necessarily a deal-breaker, and some cooks prefer a more handle-heavy paring knife for leverage.

Though you wouldn’t normally use a paring knife to cut a sweet potato, we gave it a try and found that the knife could be used to peel and slice an entire potato into neat, even rounds. This knife didn’t lose its edge and aced all of our cutting tests, from paper to onions. It’s also highly precise. We could core a tomato and slice a garlic clove into delicate, paper-thin slivers with the Misen paring knife.

Blade Length:3.5 inches |Handle Material:Stainless steel coated |Weight:6.7 oz. |Blade Material:Japanese steel

Best Santoku Knife Overall: Shun Classic Santoku Knife

$213$136 at Amazon$170$136 at Williams-Sonoma

Star QualitiesAesthetically pleasingExtremely functionalHighly ergonomic and balancedExcellent craftsmanshipRed FlagsDesigned for right-handed chefs

Star QualitiesAesthetically pleasingExtremely functionalHighly ergonomic and balancedExcellent craftsmanship

Extremely functional

Highly ergonomic and balanced

Excellent craftsmanship

Red FlagsDesigned for right-handed chefs

Designed for right-handed chefs

As with all Shun products, this knife is a stunner. It has a beautifully patterned Damascus steel blade and a Pakkawood handle. Pakkawood is a manufactured combination of natural wood and resin that makes it smooth, shiny, and waterproof. The handle is shaped for right-handed cooks; the side that rests against your palm is flat and smooth and the finger side is slightly rounded to allow for a firmer, more natural grip.

The knife is easy to control and feels “secure and steady,” according to our tester. It accommodates people with larger and smaller hands and there’s no risk of knuckle-knocking on the cutting board. We didn’t have to exert unnecessary arm strength or pressure with the knife; it simply did its job. The blade also didn’t dull during our tests. This knife is on the heavier side though, so it’s not the best choice for cooks who want something super light and nimble.

Blade Length:7 inches |Handle Material:Pakkawood |Weight:4 oz. |Blade Material:Damascus steel

Best Value Santoku Knife: Mercer Culinary Genesis Santoku Knife

$39 at Amazon

Star QualitiesGrippy Santoprene handleComfortable ergonomic holdPerforms great on tough veggiesMaintains sharpness wellRed FlagsHandle is heavier than blade

Star QualitiesGrippy Santoprene handleComfortable ergonomic holdPerforms great on tough veggiesMaintains sharpness well

Grippy Santoprene handle

Comfortable ergonomic hold

Performs great on tough veggies

Maintains sharpness well

Red FlagsHandle is heavier than blade

This is a reliable, easy-to-use santoku knife with a strong German steel blade. The handle is made from slightly rough Santoprene, which offers a secure hold, even if wet. Though the knife is lighter than the Shun santoku, the Mercer is a great choice for people with larger hands because of the thick, sturdy handle.

The knife performed great across the board with our chopping and slicing tests, including sweet potatoes, and didn’t lose its sharp edge. That said, it’s not delicate enough for precise jobs like peeling fruits and veggies or butchering complicated poultry. At less than $40, however, this knife is a great deal and can easily become your right-hand tool in the kitchen for years to come, whether you’re a beginner or an experienced cook.

Blade Length:7 inches |Handle Material:Santoprene |Weight:3.2 oz. |Blade Material:German steel

Best Santoku Knife Set: Henckels Santoku Knife Set

$47$25 at Amazon$20 at Walmart

Star QualitiesVersatileComes as a setRed FlagsDulls quicklyNot the most ergonomic

Star QualitiesVersatileComes as a set

Versatile

Comes as a set

Red FlagsDulls quicklyNot the most ergonomic

Dulls quickly

Not the most ergonomic

Get two for the price of one with this double santoku set from Henckels. It includes a 7-inch knife and a 5-inch knife, which offers great versatility if there are multiple cooks in your home with different-sized hands and cooking styles. Both knives are light and well-balanced. They have a unique curved blade and a tapered full-tang handle that we found moderately comfortable.

They performed great in all of our tests and proved to be highly versatile: nimble and precise enough for peeling and finely mincing small products, but sturdy and durable enough to handle larger kitchen tasks as well. The blades stayed sharp and at this price, we think this is a high-value choice for someone looking to fill their knife block with a single purchase.

Blade Length:5 inches, 7 inches |Handle Material:Stainless steel, plastic |Weight:8 oz., 4.8 oz. |Blade Material:Stainless steel

Another Great Santoku Knife: Mac Knife Professional Hollow-Edge Santoku Knife

People/Russell Kilgore

$120 at Amazon

This is a petite santoku knife that’s great for small hands. It feels sturdy, though slightly unbalanced towards the handle. It’s comfortable and has a gently curved design that offers a nice natural resting place for your pinky finger while cutting. The 6.5-inch blade is great for smaller, more precise tasks, especially because this knife is so sharp. For the same reason, however, it’s not the best choice for larger projects like slicing an entire sweet potato or another big piece of produce.

We didn’t notice any dulling during or after our tests, and the knife was easy to use across the board. Though Mac may not be as well-known a brand in the States as other knife makers, there’s no reason it shouldn’t be.

Blade Length:6.5 inches |Handle Material:Alloy steel, plastic |Weight:8.8 oz. |Blade Material:Alloy steel

Other Kitchen Knives We Tried

What to Know About Kitchen Knives

Types of Kitchen Knives

Blade Material

“Most professionals recommend high carbon stainless steel,” says Lewis. He also recommends these knives for home cooks, because they keep their sharp edge well, are easy to sharpen, and resist staining and rusting. They’re also highly durable, so your knife will last longer.

More serious cooks may prefer carbon steel and Damascus. “Carbon steel can create a beautiful, fine, sharp, and strong knife which is easy to sharpen, but it comes with a lot of maintenance because the material is reactive, meaning it will stain and rust if not kept dry between uses,” says Lewis. “Damascus doesn’t have this problem, but it tends to be very expensive.”

Blade Length

The average chef’s knife has an 8-inch blade, but some cooks (and some tasks) prefer a longer blade. If you’re regularly carving roasts or slicing big watermelons, a longer blade can come in handy, but for most of us, an 8-inch knife feels comfortable and versatile.

The standard blade length for a paring knife is 3.5 inches, but smaller blades can be useful for people with smaller hands and especially delicate tasks if you’re into fancy knifework.

Santoku knives come in a range of sizes. In general, shorter knives are great for smaller tasks that require more precision. Larger blades will be heavier and generally have a larger handle, which people with big hands may prefer.

Kitchen Knife Care

To maintain your blade edge and quality, never put your knives in the dishwasher. Use hot, soapy water and a brush or sponge. “Wash with the edge away from your hand, and try not to allow food to dry on a dirty knife,” says Lewis. “Applying force when washing a knife can be a bit dangerous, and if it’s a nice knife, scrubbing stuck on food can scratch a well-polished surface.”

Keeping Kitchen Knives Sharp

How often you sharpen your kitchen knife depends on how regularly you use your knife, the surface you cut on, and what you’re using it for. If you regularly run your blade over a knife honer, you may never need to sharpen it, says Lewis. But that’s not typical for most home cooks. He says to look for signs of noticeable dullness, for example, if you have to apply more pressure than usual to complete a chopping task, or if the knife slips or smushes surfaces like tomato skin, it’s time to sharpen the blade.

Price Range

Knives range pretty widely in price. The priciest model on our list, theShun Classic Santoku Knife,is worth it for its incredible sharpness and durability — this is a knife you can keep for decades. On the cheaper end of the spectrum, theVictorinox Paring Knifedoesn’t offer the same level of durability, and you may end up buying a new knife when it dulls, rather than spending the time to sharpen it. There are plenty of other high-value, mid-priced knives on this list from Mercer, including theGenesis Chef’s Knifeand theGranton Edge Santoku, both of which cost under $50.

To find the best chef’s, santoku, and paring knives, we selected the highest-rated products from the most trusted brands. We considered customer reviews, product descriptions, and prices to find a selection of knives that would fit most people’s needs. Then we put them to the test.

We used each knife to slice through a taut piece of paper to test its sharpness fresh from the box. Then we sliced, diced, and chopped a range of soft and hardy produce, including onions, green onions, garlic, and sweet potatoes. At the end of our cutting tests, we sliced a second piece of paper to test for dulling. Finally, we hand-washed the knives to test for ease of maintenance.

Ultimately, theHedley & Bennett Chef’s Knife, theShun Santoku Knife, and theWüsthof Classic Paring Knifeperformed the best across our tests.

Lizzy Briskinis a trained chef, food writer, and recipe developer. She was formally the food editor at Real Simple and Food Network Magazines and now contributes food and travel content to publications including Bon Appetit, Self, Delish, The Kitchn, and Wirecutter. She has a culinary degree from Cambridge School of Culinary Arts and has used dozens of knives in her career. She knows what makes a great cutting utensil and how important it is to find your perfect set of knives in the kitchen, regardless of your culinary prowess.

Our Expert PanelRishon Hannersis a food stylist, chef, and recipe developer based in Birmingham, Ala.Mary Claire Brittonis a food stylist, chef, and food writer also based in Birmingham, Ala.Branden Lewis, Ed.D, CEC, is a chef and professor at the Johnson & Wales University College of Food Innovation and Technology.

Our Expert Panel

Rishon Hannersis a food stylist, chef, and recipe developer based in Birmingham, Ala.Mary Claire Brittonis a food stylist, chef, and food writer also based in Birmingham, Ala.Branden Lewis, Ed.D, CEC, is a chef and professor at the Johnson & Wales University College of Food Innovation and Technology.

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In short, PEOPLE Tested provides recommendations you can trust — every day, every purchase.

source: people.com