Before we begin with recommending specific chef’s knives that fit certain criteria, it’s important to note that they are not all equal in terms of quality. Therefore, finding one that meets your demands is significant before buying one. If you can’t afford top-quality kitchen knives, don’t worry, as reliable options are available at lower prices.
The first thing you need to consider when buying chef’s knives is what they are designed for. Different chef’s knives are designed for other purposes, and knowing the difference between each chef’s knife will help you decide which chef’s knife is best suitable for your needs. Here are some common types of chefs knives available:
French chef’s knives – French chef’s knives were initially made in France but have become popular among most western kitchens throughout the world. They are also known as “French” chef’s knives or just “French” kitchen knives. The main characteristic of a French chef’s knife is that it has a very straight edge with no curve at all, which allows them to perform specific cutting techniques such as slicing and chopping vegetables and carving patterns into meats.
- German chefs knives – chefs knives that are designed for chefs who prefer to use the German chopping motion, which involves holding the chef’s knife over your cutting board with one arm and then using a slicing motion to slice through ingredients, as opposed to traditional chefs knives that require you to rock the chef’s knife from side to side when cutting.
Japanese chef’s knives – Japanese-style chef’s knives have a much more slender design, allowing them to cut ingredients very finely and precisely. They are also lighter weight at the handle end of the chef’s knife, which will enable them to be thrown around effortlessly without tiring out your hands or arms. Most people recommend getting a western-style chef’s knife unless you intend on using it specifically for Japanese cooking.