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BEST · Knives

The Best Chef Knives

Edge retention tested on 60 kg of carrots.

By Naomi Park, Kitchen Editor · Published August 5, 2026 · 2 min read

Chef knife and chopped herbs on a wooden board

Photograph: Krzysztof%20Puszczy%u0144ski / StockSnap

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We cut standardised loads and measured edge degradation with a sharpness tester after each kilo.

Steel is a trade-off

Harder Japanese steels hold an edge longer and chip more easily. Softer German steels dull faster and take thirty seconds to bring back on a rod.

Our picks

Independently tested

Chef knife and chopped herbs on a wooden board
Editor's Choice

Wüsthof Classic 8in Chef's Knife

Durable, forgiving and easy to keep sharp at home.

Score
9 / 10
Price band
$150 – $190

Best for: Everyday cooks who want one knife to last

Price band last checked 2026-08-05. Live pricing arrives with our retailer feed.

Methodology

Every product here was tested in a working home against standardised tasks. Scores are the mean of five measured criteria and are never adjusted for commercial reasons. How we test · How we review.

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