Do professional chefs use stainless steel knives?

Author: Bernard Fay  |  Last update: Friday, November 7, 2025

Professional cooks love carbon steel knives because they are easy to sharpen and have the potential to get super sharp, but they require a bit more care and attention than stainless steel knives.

What knife do most professional chefs use?

Traditional Japanese knives are typically single bevel (one side is straight while the other is angled), feature thin blades made of carbon steel, and are often used by professional restaurant chefs. Their light weight and hard blades make them best for people who value sharpness and precision over power.

What knife does Gordon Ramsay use?

Gordon Ramsay

Ramsay likes Henckels knives. This is a German brand known for their toughness and bulky blades.

What are the disadvantages of stainless steel knives?

Cons:
  • Dull slightly faster than high carbon knives since stainless is not quite as hard and edge-holding.
  • Require sharpening a bit more often to maintain the same level of sharpness.
  • While durable, heavy choppers may show wear or rolling over time. Touch-ups needed to restore a factory edge.

Why do professional chefs prefer stainless steel?

Stainless provides a better surface to get consistent heat on. Stainless is easy to oil, you want different oils for different foods, it's quick to heat, and easy to clean (I'm looking at you deglaze!). Won't rust, and will last you a long time, even the cheaper ones.

Knifemaker Explains The Difference Between Chef's Knives | Epicurious

What should you not cook in stainless steel?

5 foods you should never cook in stainless steel cookware
  • Tomato sauce. Highly acidic foods and dishes, such as tomato sauce, can react with stainless steel (or, as it is sometimes called, inox) over time, leading to discoloration of the material. ...
  • Eggs. ...
  • Pancakes. ...
  • Steak. ...
  • Fish.

What are the disadvantages of cooking with stainless steel?

Disadvantages of Stainless Steel Cooking Stock Pots
  • Poor Heat Conductivity. On its own, stainless steel is not a great conductor of heat compared to materials like aluminum or copper. ...
  • Heavy. ...
  • Food Sticking. ...
  • Cost.

What knife holds the best edge?

Vanadium carbides are among the hardest that form in steel, and chromium carbides are in between iron carbide and vanadium carbide. Steels with very high vanadium content like Vanadis 8, CPM-10V, K390, CPM-15V, etc. have extremely high edge retention.

Are stainless steel knives hard to sharpen?

And because it is quite difficult to sharpen in comparison, it's hard to get a stainless steel knife to a state where it cuts the way carbon steel knives do. That results in their conclusion that stainless steel is difficult to sharpen and can't cut well, with the context “comparing to carbon steel knives” omitted.

Are ceramic knives better than stainless steel?

Sharpness after use

In this test the ceramic knives perform considerably better than the steel knives. The test proves they do stay sharp for a longer amount of time. In using the knives we have not felt the difference in sharpness between ceramic and steel knives.

Which knife does Bobby Flay use?

The Best Celeb Chef's Knife: Shun Classic Western Chef's Knife. The knife that topped our testing is Bobby Flay's favorite, the Shun Classic Western Chef's Knife. The heft and comfort of the handle, sharpness of the blade, and overall balanced proportions made it stand out against the others.

Is Zwilling better than Henckels?

The vast majority of Zwilling knives are forged, making them longer-lasting and more durable. Zwilling knives usually come with a lifetime warranty whereas Henckels stamped knives will have a limited warranty. Tang: Henckels vs.

What knife did Anthony Bourdain use?

That's how I landed on this golden oldie on Reddit: Anthony Bourdain talking about and using his favorite knife, the Global G-2 Chef's Knife.

What knife does every chef need?

Undoubtedly the best knife to have on hand for your day-to-day cooking, a chef's knife or cook's knife is a go-to for so many vital kitchen tasks. Its long, curved blade allows you to rock the knife back and forth for easy slicing, chopping, mincing, and dicing.

Who makes the best knives in the world?

  • Kikuichi. In addition to being one of the best knife brands in the world, Kikuichi may very well be one of the oldest knife manufacturers in the world. ...
  • Miyabi. ...
  • Zwilling. ...
  • J.A. Henckels. ...
  • Shun. ...
  • Wüsthof. ...
  • Global. ...
  • Victorinox.

How often should I sharpen knives?

A kitchen knife should be sharpened every 1-2 months. Hone every week if you prefer a razor-sharp edge. For your professional chef's knife, you should have your knives professionally sharpened every 1-2 years. However, you might also still choose to sharpen them yourself every 2-3 months.

What are the cons of stainless steel knife blades?

Stainless steel is a softer material that dulls rapidly under typical industrial use. Stainless steel blades are sharpened excessively when they are manufactured in an attempt to extend their useful cutting life. This makes a new stainless steel blade much more likely to cut you, unless you handle it very carefully.

What types of knives cannot be sharpened?

While most cheap serrated knives can be sharpened and made to be as sharp as more expensive serrated knives, micro serrated knives cannot be sharpened. These are recognised by the sharp jagged cutting edge.

Is titanium or stainless steel better for knives?

In summary, titanium steel is lighter, more resistant to corrosion, and handles heat better, while stainless steel is tougher and more affordable.

What knife stays sharp longest?

Carbon steel blades are also well-known for having high wear resistance, which enables them to keep their edges sharp for longer than stainless.

What knife angle is sharpest?

A 17 to 20 degree angle covers most kitchen knives, pocket knives, and outdoor knives. Some knives (typically Japanese manufacturers) will sharpen their knives to roughly 17 degrees. Most western knives are roughly 20 degrees. In fact, a 20 degrees angle is often considered the best sharing point for most knives.

What steel does Leatherman use?

Leatherman uses a variety of steel types in our knife blades including: 420HC steel, CPM MagnaCut, S30V, and 154CM.

What pans to stay away from?

Based on this list, it is best to avoid Teflon and other nonstick pans, especially those made with either PTFE or PFOA, as well as aluminum pots and pans.

Is nickel in stainless steel bad for you?

Unless you're allergic to nickel, using stainless-steel cookware is the last thing you need to worry about. In fact, some studies suggest that our body needs nickel in small amounts for proper functioning.

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