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.
Gordon Ramsay
Ramsay likes Henckels knives. This is a German brand known for their toughness and bulky blades.
For most cooks, the trio of serrated, chef's, and paring knife will tackle pretty much any cutting task. Depending on what you prep frequently, though, you might want to add these other knives to your collection. Boning knife: Useful for cutting up, butterflying, or fileting meat, fish, or poultry.
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.
The last step in sharpening is removing the burr – the hide side of an old leather belt will do, or buy a strop such as this one. A bit of baby oil on the leather will help you get a nice, even covering of the polishing compound. As with most things, you get what you pay for.
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.
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.
Henckels typically get a score of 56-57 on the scale and Wüsthof gets a 58, so technically Wüsthof is a slightly harder steel. This is good because it means Wüsthof knives vs. Henckels will hold their sharpened edge better. On the flip side, a softer Rockwell score means a knife is easier to sharpen.
One of our longtime favorite Western-style chef's knives is the Wüsthof 8-Inch Classic Chef's Knife, which is super-sharp and easy to handle. Invest in it and it will serve you well for years to come. For an editor-favorite, Japanese chef's knife, we recommend the Misono UX10.
Given the quality of the knife, we can't argue with the cost. But what really makes this knife a bargain is that if it ever gets damaged beyond repair, Cutco will replace it.
The Verdict
It's tough to beat the Wüsthof classic chef's knife. Besides being reasonably priced for the quality, the knife feels great to hold, and the blade is sharp and precise. Wüsthof has been producing knives since 1814 — the company knows what it's doing.
If you've ever read a Henckels knife review, you know the Henckels reputation is the epitome of world-class. From paring knives and shears to full chef's blocks, Henckels knives can be found in kitchens around the world. You might even have a few treasured pieces in your own cutlery collection.
Description: Julia Child called this 20-inch-long knife, with its serrated, stainless steel blade and rosewood handle, her “fright” knife. She wielded it in several of her early, televised cooking shows to great comic effect, memorably tapping each of the “Chicken Sisters” with its blade (“Miss Broiler! Miss Fryer!
OJ Simpson's 15-inch Knife
Simpson bought a 15-inch stiletto knife with a stag handle from Ross Cutlery in downtown LA, near where he was filming a movie, the Los Angeles Times reported two weeks after the killings.
Alex Guarnaschelli, of the Food Network's Iron Chef and Chopped has proclaimed our SuperBread as her favorite knife! The SuperBread was one of three NWKW pieces she carries in her everyday knife kit!
According to MasterClass, Ramsay prefers Henckels knives, which are a German style brand. As Acit Group states, German style chef's knives are noted for their bulky blades that are tough enough to handle the likes of chicken bones owing to their extra heft.
Mine are Wüsthof Classic knives. They're an investment, but if you take care of them, they'll last a lifetime!" Ina recommends the Wüsthof Classic eight-inch chef's knife, which is currently on sale on Amazon (it rarely goes on sale!).
Global Knives have graced the illustrious MasterChef counter tops every year since the program began in 2009. Global knives are used extensively by all the contestants in high pressure situations, and therefore they need the best.
It's crucial not to sharpen your knife too frequently or apply excessive pressure, as this can cause the blade to become thin and brittle.