Having a reliable chef’s knife in your kitchen is as important as the ingredients of the food you’re preparing. There are a lot of knives on the market, but the perfect one for you depends on a lot of factors. You have to consider your hand size, expertise level, and the recipes that you most often would be making.
It’s important to remember that not all chef’s knives are created equal. However, if the wealth of choices is making you dizzy, worry not as we’ve done the research for you.
In this article, we look at the best chef’s knives under $200 so you can finally whip up your delicious recipes in no time!
Contents
- Best Chef’s Knife Under $200
- DALSTRONG Gladiator Series Chef Knife
- Victorinox Fibrox Pro 8” Chef’s Knife
- Misen 8” Professional Kitchen Knife
- DALSTRONG Shogun Series Chef Knife
- aisyoko 8” Damascus Steel Professional Chef’s Knife
- BOLESTA 8” Professional Chef’s Knife
- Global 8” Stainless Steel Chef’s Knife
- MOSFiATA 8” Titanium-Plated Chef’s Knife
- Rada Cutlery French Chef Knife
- WUSTHOF CLASSIC IKON 8” Chef’s Knife
- Gude Alpha Olive Series Hand Forged Chef’s Knife
- Best Chef’s Knife Under $200 Buying Guide
- Frequently Asked Questions
Best Chef’s Knife Under $200
DALSTRONG Gladiator Series Chef Knife
The DALSTRONG Gladiator Series Chef is as pleasing to hold as it is to look at. However, it’s not all about the aesthetics for this one.
The blade of this chef’s knife is precision-forged and features an ultra-sharp and wear-resistant single-piece material made from high carbon German steel. The edge of the knife is hand-sharpened to 16-18 degrees per side to maintain a perfect balance between sharpness and resilience.
The handle has an ergonomic grip for maximum maneuverability. Moreover, it is also impervious to heat, cold, and moisture. It is triple-riveted for durability.
This knife is very easy to clean and is quite low maintenance, making it one of our top picks for the best chef’s knife under $200.
Victorinox Fibrox Pro 8” Chef’s Knife
The Fibrox Pro Chef’s Knife by Victorinox is a great knife for people on a budget. It serves as an essential tool for your kitchen at such an affordable price. The Fibrox Pro has a comfortable handle as well as superior weight and balance. It also features a razor-sharp blade made from high-quality European steel that rarely requires re-sharpening.
The handle design of the Fibrox Pro reduces hand and wrist fatigue. This makes it an ideal knife for dicing, mincing, chopping, slicing, and shredding. The flat spine provides you with extra power which greatly helps if you’re slicing through hard-skinned items.
Victorinox is preferred by both home chefs and culinary professionals alike so you won’t go wrong with choosing their products. Their knives are also approved by the National Sanitary Foundation (NSF) and are considered dishwasher-safe.
Misen 8” Professional Kitchen Knife
Another great chef’s knife under $200 is this professional kitchen knife by Misen. The design has a distinctive sloped bolster shape encouraging culinary artists to have proper and safer grip for complete comfort and control.
The knife has an acute 15-degree angle for a sharper cutting experience. The blade is made from AICHI AUS-10 steel that offers long-lasting sharpness and durability. It has twice the carbon content compared to other knives currently out in the market.
The Misen professional kitchen knife combines both Japanese and Western-style blades making it an excellent choice for any cutting task such as slicing, chopping, dicing, and more. The price is reasonable for its value, too.
It’s easy to hold, easy to maneuver, and is sharp enough to cut through the toughest foods.
DALSTRONG Shogun Series Chef Knife
The Shogun Series Chef Knife by DALSTRONG is the 2nd knife from the same manufacturer on our list. This chef’s knife was crafted to take things a step further. The handle is made to limit fatigue, pain, and any discomfort especially when you’re busy working in the kitchen. It has scalpel-like sharpness that’s engineered to effortlessly cut through anything.
The blade is made from premium Japanese Damascus steel and sharpened under the ancient 3-step Honbazuke method to provide excellent resistance and durability.
It is also rust and corrosion-resistant allowing it to last longer compared to other knives. The precise tempering of the blade enhances the overall strength, flexibility, and hardness of this knife.
aisyoko 8” Damascus Steel Professional Chef’s Knife
Not only is the aisyoko professional Chef’s Knife elegant to look at, but it also has a unique and beautiful natural casing texture. The edges of this knife are V-shaped to help easily cut food into thin slices. The blade is made from professional Damascus high-carbon stainless steel that is super sharp and cuts faster than others.
If you’re a beginner, you’ll find this chef’s knife to be welcoming as the balance and design ratio of the blade and handle is 1:1. The handle is ergonomically-designed, non-slip, and is very easy to clean.
This is definitely a nice addition to your kitchen tools. It will also make an excellent gift for your friends and loved ones due to its beautiful Damascus pattern and its affordable price.
BOLESTA 8” Professional Chef’s Knife
The BOLESTA professional Chef’s Knife is made from high-quality German stainless steel. This makes the knife hard and sharp and able to handle various tasks in the kitchen.
The high carbon content prevents the blade from becoming dull. The handle meanwhile utilizes a unique new Micarta material. With an exquisite flower nail decoration, the knife also reduces hand fatigue due to its ergonomic design. It is also non-slip for utmost safety.
This knife is ideal for all kinds of fruits, vegetables, meat, sushi, bread, and more. Buying this product also comes with an exclusive gift box. It’s one of the cheapest professional chef’s knives you can buy right now, making it an ideal gift for your culinary friends and loved ones.
Global 8” Stainless Steel Chef’s Knife
The Global 8” stainless steel Chef’s Knife was designed by designer Komin Yamada who is known for his iconic knives. The Global Chef’s Knife is sharpened on both sides just like any other western-style knife, but the edges are ground steeply to a point at an acute angle.
The edge of this knife is so large and prominent that it can be easily distinguished with the naked eye.
Global’s professional knives are made from Cromova 18 stainless steel. They are created with a special mixture of molybdenum, chromium, and vanadium. This allows the knife to retain its sharpness, while maintaining its softness when being sharpened with a whetstone.
Global provides lifetime warranty against defects and breakage that’s why it’s used by a lot of home and professional chefs worldwide.
MOSFiATA 8” Titanium-Plated Chef’s Knife
The MOSFiATA chef’s knife is a titanium-coated stainless steel knife that can withstand rust, scratches, and fingerprints. It works well as a daily knife for chopping, slicing, dicing, and mincing all kinds of food such as fruits, vegetables, meats, bread, and more.
It’s suitable for home and restaurant use, too. If you are on a budget, this knife is perfect as it is quite affordable!
The thickness of the MOSFiATA blade is 2.5mm. The edges are hand-polished and are 14-16 degrees per side. The knife is sharp, sturdy, and gets the job done with ease.
The handle meanwhile has a comfortable grip and minimizes tension on your wrist and hand no matter your hand size. The handle is secured by a triple-rivet design attaching the handle firmly onto the blade.
Rada Cutlery French Chef Knife
The next knife on our list is the Rada cutlery French Chef’s Knife which is made from surgical grade T420 high carbon stainless steel. The length of the Rada blade is 8.5” which is slightly longer compared to other knives on the list.
The blade is hand-sharpened creating a razor-sharp edge that effortlessly cuts through vegetables, meat, herbs, and more. It’s also a great tool for chopping, dicing, mincing, and slicing to a professional level.
What makes the Rada Chef’s Knife different from the others is that the handle of this knife is permanently cast in solid and brushed aluminum. It’s also offset to keep your knuckles clear of the blade.
Rada knives are proudly made in the USA so it’s somewhat surprising to have a very affordable yet high-quality knife.
WUSTHOF CLASSIC IKON 8” Chef’s Knife
The WUSTHOF CLASSIC IKON Chef’s Knife features a sophisticated black handle with a double bolster for excellent balance, beauty, and a perfect cutting experience. The blade is 8” long and has a professional style heft.
The handle as well as the blade is forged from a single block of high carbon stainless steel that’s 20% sharper and has twice the retention compared to previous WUSTHOF models.
This knife is a great tool for home cooks and professionals alike especially for chopping, mincing, slicing, and dicing. The weight and balance complement your hand really well making it perfect for heavy-duty work like cutting through thicker vegetables and meat.
WUSTHOF also allows custom engraving during your purchase, making it a great gift for your friends and loved ones.
Gude Alpha Olive Series Hand Forged Chef’s Knife
Last on our list of the best chef’s knives you can buy at a price lower than $200 is the Gude Hand-forged Chef’s Knife. The blades of the Olive Series are made from a single piece of specially alloyed Chrome, Vanadium-Moly cutlery steel.
It is hand-forged and went through 40 separate steps in the production process before completion. If that’s not a testament to its quality, we don’t know what is.
The handles come from centuries-old olive wood making it very resistant to moisture. It also exhibits a beautiful grain detail that exudes elegance. The only drawback of the handle is that it’s not dishwasher-safe so you have to take utmost care when cleaning the knife.
Otherwise, it’s a great companion knife for your daily cooking needs whether at home or in the restaurant.
Best Chef’s Knife Under $200 Buying Guide
Material
A lot of high-quality knives usually come in three popular materials. Most knives are made of high carbon steel, stainless steel, or a composite of both. Carbon steel knives are usually the sharpest of the bunch but are more prone to rust.
Stainless steel knives don’t hold an edge making them easier to care for. A combination of both is probably the best among the three due to their versatility.
Size
The most recommended length of a chef’s knife is around 8” to 8.5”. Home cooks and professional culinary artists prefer these types because of their versatility. Longer knives may give you the ability to cut more volume but the weight and balance will definitely pose some difficulty especially for beginners.
A chef’s knife with length as short as 6” offers a bit of dexterity but you’ll definitely fall short when you’re working on larger volume.
Weight and Balance
It is best to try out a few knives before getting one for your kitchen. Some chefs prefer heavier knives because they help deliver more force. Others are keener to use lighter ones because they allow for more freedom of movement. At all times, it is important to find the right balance and comfort.
Price
When looking for the right chef’s knife, try out a wide selection of sample knives and have a feel for them if you can. There are a lot of options at different price points and you’ll almost always find one that works for you that’s really affordable.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a chef’s knife last?
If you’re going to use your chef’s knife daily or professionally, it should last for up to 5-10 years with proper care and maintenance. A high-quality chef’s knife even has the potential to last a lifetime depending on the materials it was built with.
Are ceramic knives better than steel knives?
Ceramic knives are becoming more popular over the years. They’re thin, precise, and incredibly sharp. Some ceramic blades even retain their edge longer than steel. While ceramic knives have their merits, you’ll still need a heftier knife for thicker foods like bones, raw potatoes, or watermelons.
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