There are three primary knives that every home cook should have in their kitchen:
1. a chef’s knife
2. a serrated knife
3. a paring knife
With these three knives every cook has the right tools for nearly every kitchen task, from finely chopping carrots to slicing thick cuts of meat.
This article shows you the best-of-the-best knives that won’t break the bank.
Highest rated most reviewed knives on Amazon right now
The Chef Knife
A chef’s knife is a versatile, all-purpose kitchen tool that’s essential for various tasks.
- Slicing, Dicing, and Mincing Vegetables: The chef’s knife excels at slicing through vegetables like onions, bell peppers, and carrots. It’s perfect for dicing and mincing too
- Slicing Meat: Whether you’re cutting through steaks, chicken breasts, or roasts, the chef’s knife makes the job easier
- Breaking Down Whole Poultry or Meat: Use it to separate different cuts from a whole chicken, lamb, etc
- Smashing Garlic: The flat side of the blade is great for crushing garlic cloves
Remember, a chef’s knife is your go-to for many kitchen tasks
Here are the highest rated most reviewed chef knives on Amazon right now.
PAUDIN 8″ Chef Knife
Professional, Ultra Sharp
4.7 9,400 LOW
SHAN ZU 8″ Chef Knife
Japanese Damascus Steel
4.8 3,700 MID
MOSFiATA 8″ Chef Knife
Ultra Sharp +Sheath +Sharpener
4.7 4,000 LOW
The Serrated Knife
A serrated knife is a versatile kitchen tool with a jagged edge, ideal for tasks that involve sawing or slicing through foods with tough exteriors or delicate interiors. Here are some common uses:
- Slicing Bread: Perfect for cutting through crusty loaves without crushing the soft interior
- Tomatoes & Citrus Fruits: Easily slices through the skin without damaging the flesh
- Roast Meats: Suitable for cutting meats with a tough outer layer
- Cheese: Can cut through hard cheese varieties
Serrated knives are not suitable for all tasks, such as making straight cuts on meat or dicing vegetables.
Here are the highest rated most reviewed serrated knives on Amazon right now.
MERCER MILLENNIA 8″
High-carbon Japanese steel
4.7 17,300 LOW
PAUDIN 8″ Bread Knife
Ultra-sharp German steel
4.7 9,500 MID
ZYLISS COMFORT 8″
Japanese Steel +Safety Cover
4.6 3,600 LOW
The Pairing Knife
A paring knife is a small, versatile kitchen tool designed for intricate tasks that demand precision and control. Here are some common uses:
- Peeling Ingredients: Paring knives work well for peeling fruits, vegetables, and even meats.
- Slicing Small Ingredients: Perfect for dicing garlic, removing seeds from fruits, and other delicate slicing tasks
- Deveining Shrimp: Use it to remove the dark vein from shrimp—just make a small incision and pry out the vein with the tip of the blade
A paring knife is your go-to for detail-oriented work.
Here are the highest rated most reviewed pairing knives on Amazon right now.
TEFAL Ice Force 9cm
German Stainless Steel
4.7 6,300 LOW
TUO Black Hawk 9cm
Ultra Sharp
4.6 5,000 MID
VICTORINOX 10cm
Swiss tradition Stainless Steel
4.7 3,600 MID
