Why This $20 Chef’s Knife Is One among Our Favourite Finances Picks

It’s straightforward to spend some huge cash on knives, particularly ones with fancy prospers. Elegant Damascus swirls, hammered blue carbon metal, hand-carved maple handles—these particulars will value you. However a fantastic knife doesn’t should be the prettiest or the priciest. Once I examined chef’s knives, the $20 Mercer Millennia chef’s knife saved up with one of the best of ‘em (and it’s a fantastic beginner-friendly blade). It additionally occurs to be one of many first chef’s knives I used once I began cooking professionally. 

Why It’s Nice 

A superb chef’s knife needs to be sharp, straightforward to regulate, and cozy to carry, and the Mercer checks all of those bins. It barely dulled throughout my assessments, even after exactly dicing carrots and onions, slicing tomatoes into skinny rounds, and reducing roast pork loin. Its chrome steel building makes it easy to take care of, too: Simply swipe it just a few instances on a honing rod, and it’ll appropriate the sting alignment. 

Its Western-style blade is subtly curved, which makes it straightforward to lever up and down whereas chopping. Add in a grippy deal with, and also you’ve received a sturdy knife that’s nice for anybody. However it’s particularly good for folk new to utilizing chef’s knives as a result of it’s extremely straightforward to regulate and maneuver. The Mercer was truly my first chef’s knife, and its dual-beveled chrome steel blade, light-weight physique, and safe grip gave me the boldness to prep produce rapidly and effectively. 

Different Inexpensive Knives I Love

• Victorinox Swiss Traditional Paring Knife: This little paring knife is tremendous sharp—and below $15. I take advantage of it to slice cherry tomatoes, core strawberries, and supreme citrus, amongst different issues.
• Victorinox Fibrox Utility Knife: Petty knives (additionally known as utility knives) are underrated. These six to seven-inch blades are nimble like a paring knife however have extra floor space for larger cuts. I truthfully use my petty knife greater than my chef’s knife as a result of it is really easy to regulate. This one from Victorinox is inexpensive and sharp, and may convert you, too.
• Mac Knife Superior Santoku Knife: Santoku knives are nice all-purpose blades which might be shorter than chef’s knives, making them simpler to regulate. This inexpensive possibility from Mac was swift and sharp in my assessments, and its compact form made it straightforward to decisively mince and chop.

Why We’re the Specialists 

• Grace Kelly is a senior editor at Severe Eats. 
• She examined chef’s knives in addition to picket and plastic reducing boards. 
• The Mercer was her first chef’s knife and gave her the boldness to work in knowledgeable kitchen.