Choose your next knife carefully, and it will save you hundreds of dollars down the line.

When it comes to the most versatile kitchen knives, you wouldn’t settle for something just okay, right? You would look for quality, excellence, and guaranteed performance.

Nothing beats a multipurpose chef knife for its indispensability in the kitchen.

We’ve listed three of our favorite models here—some of the best you can find on the market today.

Choose your bet wisely by reading this buyer’s guide, first.

In a hurry? Check our top picks!

Buyer’s guide to choose a chef knife

German VS Gyuto

Gyuto chef knife

• More suitable for push-and-pull motion of cutting.
• If you want a sharper tip, you can choose this knife.
• It has a flatter belly than the German knife, allowing you to have more control.
• You can easily sharpen the blades, as Gyuto knives don’t have full bolsters that extend to the edge.
• Since high- carbon steel blades are thinner, they have acute bevel angles.
• They stay sharp longer than German knives, given that you maintain them regularly.

German chef knife

• More suitable for rocking motion of cutting.
• These are also heavier, having full bolsters that extend to the edge.
• With an even bevel, they don’t develop chips easily; however, they tend to lose their edge quickly.
• German knives have thicker blades, making them ideal for heavy-duty tasks that involve cutting bones or tough cartilages.

Size and Weight

Size

Your choice of size basically depends on your preference. However, the ideal size is 8 inches, both for home cooks and experts. Still, you can choose anywhere from 6 to 14 inches.

Weight

Like size, choosing the right weight for a knife can be subjective.

Do you want to cut through tough flesh? You might want to use a heavier knife, as it can fall heavily and cut the meat right away.

Alternatively, you might want a lighter knife if you move fast and use knives for longer periods.

The ideal chef knife weighs a little over 7 ounces.

Balance and Comfort

Balance

You can test a knife’s balance by gripping its handle.

Either of the handle and the blade shouldn’t be heavier than the other. If the grip feels awkward, then it’s not worth it.

Comfort

Maximum comfort is achieved when you feel like your hand and the knife are one.

A knife should also have a knuckle clearance. Nothing can be peskier than your knuckles repeatedly bumping into the wooden board!

Full Tang or Partial Tang

It’s always better to choose a full tang blade, as it provides more balance to the knife. Also, with a full tang, you can put more force through the handle against any tough meat or bones.

Stainless Steel VS High-Carbon Stainless Steel VS Carbon Steel

Stainless Steel

Stainless steel knives are what you can call “second options”. They are next to the carbon steel knives in almost everything. Their only aces against carbon steel knives are durability and rust resistance.

Carbon Steel

Carbon steel knives are miles better than stainless steel knives. They’re also sharper than the latter. You should only worry about their high demand for maintenance.

High-Carbon Stainless Steel

Needless to say, these knives have the best of both worlds. They mop the floor when it comes to edge retention, balance, comfort, and, of course, sharpness. Most of these knives are also forged, which guarantees excellent-quality steel blades.

Superstar brands of chef’s knives you will love

1. ZELITE INFINITY Chef Knife 8 Inch – Alpha-Royal Series – Our premium pick for chefs

Product Description

This premium chef knife boasts of excellent function and form in every inch.

It has beautiful intricate details etched on its blade. Its highly thoughtful handle will please seasoned chefs and home cooks.

Every glide through meats, fruit slices, or greens left us with gasps. Breathtaking knife, really.

It’s one of the best kitchen knives for the money that you will not regret buying.

2. Shun DM0706 Classic 8-Inch Chef’s Knife – Best for experienced chefs

Product Description

The Shun chef’s knife is the classic, high-performing knife as you know it. But don’t get it twisted—classic doesn’t equate to plain and predictable.

At 7.13 ounces, this knife is lightweight, minimalist and treat filled with premium features.

It’s easily one of those best chef knives we have confirmed by only trying it once.

With a feature-packed commercial design, this knife will fill the hearts of seasoned chefs with joy.

3. Imarku Pro Kitchen 8 Inch Chef’s Knife – Most Popular Budget Option

Product Description

This chef’s knife by Imarku Pro Kitchen is revered for its strength and sharpness. It’s no surprise, given that it’s crafted using German engineering techniques.

On top of that, the handle’s rounded shape is gentle for the hands, so it’s ideal for long periods of cutting.

It iss truly designed for busy professionals.

Chef’s Knives 101

How to use them

• First, learn the pinch grip. Once you master it, you can avoid hurting your fingers and have more control.
• Learn two slicing techniques with a chef’s knife: the rocking motion and the push-pull motion.
• With the rocking motion, the blade’s tip never leaves the chopping board. Meanwhile, with the push-pull motion, the whole knife leaves the board with each slice.
• For rocking motion, use German chef’s knives. Since the blades are curved, it complements the movement better, making it seamless and fast.
• For the push-pull motion, use the Japanese chef’s knives. Since the blades are straight-edged, it will be easier to lift the knife during slicing.

How to care for your chef’s knife

1. Hand-wash your knife after every use.
2. Make sure it dries thoroughly.
3. Realign the microscopic teeth using a ceramic honing rod.
4. Sharpen your chef’s knife blade using a Japanese whetstone.
5. If you’re a seasoned chef, store your knife properly by mounting them to a magnetic strip on the wall. This is also highly sanitary.
6. If you’re a home cook and have kids, you can safely store them under your kitchen cabinet or in any of your drawer docks. To be safer, you can childproof your cabinet and drawers as well.

Chef’s Knife VS Santoku Knife

The chef’s knife is better suited for preparing vegetables, as it’s faster using the rocking motion. Well, pretty much, the chef’s knife can do anything.

Therefore, if you have diversified high-power cooking tasks, you can choose the chef’s knife.

Meanwhile, the Santoku knife is best for slicing boneless meats, mincing herbs, or slicing fruits and cheese.

If you work at a small cafe or cook stews at home for your kids, you can opt for the Santoku knife.

Chef’s knife VS Vegetable knife

If you need a versatile knife in the kitchen, you should invest in a good chef’s knife.

The chef’s knife is all-around—it can slice and dice vegetables, cut meat, tear through cartilages, mince herbs, and even fillet fish.

That’s why if you work with a diverse set of cooking tasks, it would be a better investment.

However, if you truly desire an excellent knife for greens, carrots, or potatoes, always choose the vegetable knife.

The vegetable knife’s design is specifically dedicated for peeling, slicing, mincing, or dicing vegetables. You won’t be disappointed with its design.

If you have a plant-based lifestyle or work at a vegan restaurant, the vegetable knife should be a staple in your kitchen counter. Check our complete vegetables knives buyer’s guide.

Why do some chef’s knives have holes in the blade?

• Blades have holes so you can easily push them down with your thumb.
• The holes are for reducing the friction on the blade’s side.
• The holes help prevent the slices from sticking to the blade.
• Some cleavers also have holes, so you can hang them on the meat hook.

Are chef’s knives with dimples worth it?

They will be worth it if you mostly work with moist, sticky, or wet food.

For instance, if you always slice cheese, liver, or any soft meat, you can invest in knifes with dimples. You can also coin carrots or cucumbers better with these blades.

But in general, the dimples or kullens typically have no ground-breaking purpose.

Slicing vegetables will only be an art if you use a high quality knife suitable for the task.

And to make true works of art, your skills deserve the perfect partners — top-caliber vegetable knives.

The sound of steel hammering on the wooden board — doesn’t it give you a thrill?

Check out which of these models is ideal for you.

Best Seller: Mercer Culinary Genesis Forged Nakiri Vegetable Knife

Buyer’s guide

What makes a good knife for cutting vegetables?

• Easy to sharpen. Straight edges for sharp cuts and easy maintenance.
• Intelligent handle design. Left- and right-handed chefs can firmly grip the handle without fatigue.
• Perfect size of the blade. Wide enough for scooping dices and strips of vegetables.
• Guaranteed full tang. The knife’s blade should extend to the tip of its handle, for optimal balance and weight.

What are they used for?

Vegetable knife is best used for preparing vegetables. It’s for chopping, shredding, and dicing — whether they are small or big pieces of greens and produce. However, you shouldn’t use it for filleting fish or chopping blocks of meat.

Vegetable knives vs Chef knives

The main difference lies in the exclusivity of their purpose.

The vegetable knives are exclusively for cutting vegetables, while the chef knives are for multiple slicing and cutting tasks.

You can use chef knives to dice vegetables, but you can’t use vegetable knives to cut meat. In fact, the only knife in our list that meet that criteria is the TUO Cutlery Vegetable Meat Cleaver Knife, which can be used to cut both vegetables and meat.

Nevertheless, both are not ideal for slicing bread and cleaving meat.

Top 5 Best Vegetable Knives Review

1. DALSTRONG Nakiri Asian Vegetable Knife

Product Description

Next on our list is the battle-ready Dalstrong Nakiri knife of the Gladiator series.

This vegetable knife has a badass aesthetic and a powerful function to match. The ultra-sharp high-carbon blade shreds greens flawlessly.

Dalstrong Nagiri knife’s blade is sharpened 14-16° per side, which provides you with both durability and razor-sharp cuts.

2. Mercer Culinary Genesis Forged Nakiri Vegetable Knife

Product Description

The Mercer Culinary Genesis is a lightweight Nakiri wonder.

Its blade has the perfect width for scooping the cloves or shreds of greens. The blade’s extremely slim width gets you those ultra-thin slices.

Meanwhile, its angled heel protects your knuckles as you’re chopping cucumbers nonstop.

Undoubtedly, it’s one of the best knives for vegetable cutting.

3. TUO Cutlery Vegetable Meat Cleaver Knife

Product Description

Beautiful and extremely sharp, it’s like the lady you’ve been dreaming of dating.

The gentle curve of the handle is the cornerstone of its advanced ergonomics. The wood grain of the Pakkawood handle is a treat for the eyes.

The high-carbon German steel, with its sharp, hand-polished edge, bows to no tough cucumber.

4. Kyocera Advanced Ceramic Revolution Series Nakiri Vegetable Cleaver

Product Description

The Kyocera Ceramic Nakiri knife is a powerful beast that calls for the utmost care.

Its Ceramic blade’s razor-sharp edge doesn’t disappoint — every cut is smooth. The slim Ceramic blade is highly reliable for making precise Juliennes. And, even if it’s a vegetable cleaver, you can use it to slice piles of boneless meat.

5. DALSTRONG Nakiri Vegetable Knife – Shogun Series X

Product Description

The performance of Dalstrong Shogun series Nakiri knife precedes its aesthetic.

Its gorgeous and intricate markings stand out from the rest. Its thoroughly processed blade can dice small vegetables and large vegetables.

The G-10 handle also provides comfort and ease with its smooth surface.

Vegetable Knives 101

How do chefs keep vegetables from sticking to their knives when chopping?

It’s not a problem for most chefs unless the food is excessively sticking to the knife.

Also, it’s dangerous if the food is acidic. If this is true in your case, you need to clean your knife at all times.

The key here is to invest in a knife with scalloping (small dimples), so the food won’t stick.

Other Japanese knives also have concave backsides, so the food separates cleanly. This is also known as Urasuki.

In addition, watch out for poor-quality knives that are grounded at an angle. This allows the food to stick more to the blade.

How the right knife can increase nutrients

Did you know that slicing your veggies boosts its antioxidant level?

Chopping your leafy greens like spinach or celery will increase the polyphenol content.

When you cut greens, it wounds the leaves causing it to release more polyphenol.

Since antioxidants consist mostly of high polyphenol levels, it will be good to consume food that has more of the latter.

However, you definitely need a great vegetable cleaver to shred greens better.

Cutting them with a sharp knife will cause less damage to their cells, leaving your veggies with high polyphenol content.

In a nutshell…

Slicing vegetables is an art of accuracy, precision, and timing.

That is why you should invest in a high quality knife to sustain your mastery.

We understand how you feel. Every day, as you contemplate the blue sky (unless you leave in Seattle of course), two existential questions plague your mind.

1. Is Fidget Spinner dead already?
2. What is the most expensive sushi knife in the world?

To answer your first question: though Wyoming offers a slight resistance, Fidget Spinner is steadily becoming a corpse, as people are losing interest over time. Yay!

But let’s get down to business. You never miss an opportunity to show off your ninja cooking skills, so why not add some curious anecdotes to throw at your peasant friends while slicing that fish?

Types of Sushi Knives

Since there are many types of Japanese knives, and more specifically sushi knives, here we will only focus on the most expensive knife to slice fish.

Actually, there are three main types of knives to handle sushi:

• Yanagiba (Willow Blade): prepare ye, raw fish!
• Deba bōchō (Pointed Carving Knife): ideal to fillet fish and cut through bone.
• Usuba bōchō (Thin Knife): suitable for preparing vegetables.

The most popular sashimi knife is the Yanagiba, used to slice raw fish. Loved by both professional and budding chefs around the world, it will probably be the only one you will ever need in your kitchen anyway.

The type of knife that we have chosen and we will show you in a moment it’s called Yanagi Kiritsuke (Sashimi Knife). Kiritsuke combines the functionality of both the Usuba and Yanagiba knife.

Most expensive Sashimi Knife

The most lethal sashimi knife to get revenge on your enemies is called Yoshihiro Aoko Blue Steel #1 Mizu Yaki Water Quenched Honyaki Mirror-Finished Yanagi Kiritsuke with Mt.Fuji under a Full Moon Hamon Blade Line. If the name didn’t throw you off, the price may, as this little beauty can cost more than 5.000 dollars.

As the legend goes, ancient samurai Michel Courtemanche used it to castrate a mosquito possessed by an evil demon. The strike is so fast you can barely see the blade.

Why is the knife so expensive?

The question is relative. Expensive for who? Why some pieces of art are so expensive?

At first glance, the price may throw you off, but let’s learn a little bit more about it.

The technique for forging this knife is known as Honyaki, which is the application of the Japanese swordsmithing tradition to create the most refined work of the craftsman.

The artisan is Genkai Masakuni, a very popular Smith specialized in Mizu Honyaki (water quench), a process intended to produce a sharper, long-lasting blade.

The Hamon (which is literally the blade pattern) is the visual effect you can appreciate on the blade and represents Mount Fuji (the highest mountain of Japan) under a fool moon.

All the little details add to the price of the blade, which is obviously not intended for the average consumer.

Do you love sushi? Now you know which gift you should ask your partner for your next birthday.

What do you think? Would you invest in this knife if you had the money?

What are the best Sushi knives you can buy today?

They say it doesn’t matter what tool you use as long as you’re skilled. In the world of Sushi, that’s rarely true.

Sure, you can rest on your expert skills — but you deserve the best weapons.

Best Seller: Hiroshi 4 Pieces Sushi Knife Set

Price and quality — don’t you wish you can find these two on one product?

After thorough research, we’ve found our ultimate favorite: the Hiroshi 4 Pieces Sushi Knife set.

Why did we pick this best-seller set as the best?

You still have to prioritize your preferences, though. Not all of us have the same tastes. Will these knives fit your needs?

Read on to make an informed buying decision.

Buyer’s Guide: How to choose a Sushi knife

Find out if buying the Hiroshi knives set is a stellar idea.

What are Sushi knives?

Sushi knives are utensils exclusively designed for cutting fish, vegetables, and rolls.

Types

1. Deba-bocho knives. Professional chefs use these cleavers to fillet the fish and chop the head.
2. Usuba-bocho knives. With their thin blades and single-beveled side, you can use these knives for peeling and slicing vegetables.
3. Yamagiba knives. These have similar features to the Usuba, but Yamagiba knives are best for cutting fish fillets and fish.

Length

Among the three, the Deba-bocho knives are the shortest, while the Yamagiba knives are the longest.

Today, you can find Yamagiba knives that span from 8 to 12 inches. Whichever fits your personal preferences is the best length.

Blade material

• Stainless steel. These knives don’t easily rust, but they are not particularly sharp.
• Carbon steel. The best types of knives if you want an extremely sharp edge. The blade needs regular maintenance to prevent rust.
• Composite steel. These knives are quite pricey but definitely sharper and more resistant to rust.

Handle Material

The Japanese knives have wooden handles with plastic caps, while the Western knives have shiny rivets holding the blade.

It’s best to choose knives with lightweight, wooden handles so you can cut and shove with ease.

Top 5 Best Sushi Knives Review

By owning premium knives, you can cut anything to perfection. Here are our top picks.

1. Hiroshi 4 Pieces Sushi Knife Set

The Hiroshi 4-piece knife set includes the following blades:

• 1 x 8-inch Gyutou knife, the Chef’s knife
• 1 x 7-inch Nakiri knife, the Usuba knife or the vegetable-chopping knife
• 1 x 6.5-inch Santoku Deba knife or the multi-purpose knife
• 1 x 4.5-inch Petty knife, for slicing delicate Sashimi

Product Description

The Hiroshi knives have extremely sharp beveled edges, enabling users to cut through the thickest meats and fish like butter.

Buyers swear they are worth every penny spent.

The four blades slice through chunks and blocks of fish smoothly. The lightweight Beechwood handles making slicing a breeze.

Overall, the four knives deliver beyond quality, giving guaranteed satisfaction.

2. Traditional Japanese Professional Gyuto Sushi Knife

Product Description

Settle for nothing but the best.

For that, you can check out the Gyuto knife by Simple Song.

The Gyuto Sushi knife is perfect for expert Sushi masters or learning chefs who have no time for games. They only use the finest steel core to cut tough cartilages and heavy blocks of Tuna.

Its single-bevel knife will cut through anything, while its full-tang rosewood handle will endure intense cutting efforts from the user.

3. Yoshihiro VGYA270SH Stainless Hongasumi Yanagi Sushi Knife

Product Description

Another Sashimi knife that takes the cake is the Yoshihiro VGYA270SH Stainless Hongasumi Yanagi Sushi Knife by Yoshihiro Cutlery.

Its high carbon and VG stainless steel blade, in particular, is treated with heat to ensure premium quality.

With thorough and consistent Whetstone sharpening, you can count on this knife for a lifetime.

4. Yoshihiro Shiroko High Carbon Steel Kasumi Yanagi Sushi Knife

Product Description

The Yoshihiro Shiroko knife is a manifestation of excellent Japanese craftsmanship.

The Shitan Rosewood handle is gorgeous and functional, a knife that is not heavy for the hardworking hands.

With four different blade lengths available, you can choose one that best suits your taste.

5. Yoshihiro High Carbon Blue Steel1 Dragon Namiuchi Yanagi Kiritsuke Sushi Knife

Product Description

The expertly crafted Yanagi is the best in the field.

Blue steel knives are known for being the badasses of cutlery.

This knife by Yoshihiro, in particular, never falls short in power and finesse.

Its high-grade carbon steel is graded 64 at the Hardness Rockwell C scale. Its blade, wave-forged by masterful artisans, flaunts an exquisite form and shine.

Any piece of food won’t stick to the single-edge blade — this is ideal for the hectic chefs who want to perform flawlessly in the kitchen.

Sushi Knives 101

How to sharpen Sushi knives?

1. Prepare the Whetstone, knife, and clothing.
2. Start sharpening the front side’s tip, with your hand slightly raised to prevent contact.
3. Change angles often, so the tip can touch the Whetstone.
4. Next, sharpen the whole blade, from the heel to the tip.
5. To remove the burr, start sharpening the back or flat side.
6. Make sure to wipe the knife clean and air-dry it.

Why are Sushi knives one-sided?

Sushi knives are single-beveled so that their other side is flat. A flat side or edge will prevent the fish or meat from sticking to it.

Why are Sushi knives so expensive?

• They are handcrafted and hand forged by blade masters who have trained and perfected their craft.
• A single blade takes more than 4 weeks to complete, with the minimum time being 2 weeks.
• The Japanese craftsmen treat Sushi knives as art and not just a tool. If you are buying a knife from them, you’re not buying a simple utensil but a collectible.

What makes the best Sushi knives?

• Hardness – The knife must be able to endure any type of stress.
• Toughness – The steel must not crack easily.
• Edge retention – The blade’s edge must be sharp for a long period of time.
• Resistance to wear – The blade must resist damage from abrasive wear and adhesive wear.

Washing / Caring Requirements

• Soak a soft cloth in soapy water to clean the blades.
• Clean your knives as you cook in the kitchen.
• Act quickly and clean your knives immediately if you’re dealing with acidic food.
• Invest in a good maintenance kit, such as the Whetstone, oil, rust eraser, or sheath.
• To preserve the quality even longer, learn the Kobatsuke process. Seasoned chefs use this technique, so take your time to learn it.

Make yourself a gift. Invest in something that complements your passion for Sushi.

Are you craving for more information on perfect knives to add to your collection? You may be interested in checking our buyer’s guide to the best ceramic knives and electric knives available today.

An electric knife is a great addition to your kitchen cutlery set, especially if you slice and dice a lot when you cook. In a way, electric knives will make cooking a lot easier and faster.

There are dozens of electric knives available on the market today — you might have a hard time finding the best one. Therefore, you need to consider a few factors, like corded or cordless, control features, blade versatility, and others.

To avoid the confusion, we will help you narrow your list down to the best models available today.

Best Seller: Cuisinart CEK-40 Electric Knife

Are you in a hurry? With more than 1.000 satisfied customers reviews and even more sales, this fantastic electric knife from Cuisinart is used in many homes and restaurants around the world, as it can cut or slice a wide variety of food efficiently.

The Cuisinart CEK-40 has two stainless steel detachable blades: the bread and carving blades. Its handle sports fantastic features to optimize control upon use, thus helping you make clean cuts without any hassles.

If you’re tired of manually cutting roasted meat, bread, fruits, vegetables, and some other food ingredients, then you should check out this model.

Top 5 Electric Knife Review

1. Cuisinart CEK-50 Cordless Electric Knife

The Cuisinart CEK-50, is a cordless electric knife with dual functions. It features two detachable blades and has an electric motor that runs on two lithium batteries.

Its two detachable blades — the serrated and the straight-edge — have different but superior purposes. The serrated blade can easily cut through tough meats and pastries, whilst the straight-edge blade cuts softer fruits and vegetables.

Since it’s battery-powered, you can use it anywhere, especially in places without power outlets. It can run for 20 minutes on a full charge and takes only 30 minutes to recharge.

In addition, the Cuisinart CEK-50 comes with a compact storage case, which will let you keep and carry it around without any problem.

2. Cuisinart CEK-40 Electric Knife

The Cuisinart CEK-40 is a well-crafted electric knife that can cut or slice a wide range of ingredients. It can cleanly cut meat, vegetables, fruits, bread, and some other stuff without much effort, making it a fantastic choice for a knife in the kitchen.

It features a quality handle you can efficiently hold in either hand, giving you a good grip upon use. Its safety lock keeps the blade in place, lessening the risk of cutting yourself while handling it.

The Cuisinart CEK-40 also comes with two detachable stainless steel blades, which are the carving and bread blades. You can use the bread blade for slicing bread, while the carving blade for various meats, fruits, vegetables, and other food ingredients.

After using it, you just have to keep this electric knife in its wood butcher block storage, which you can place on your countertop.

3. Hamilton Beach 74250 Carve ‘n Set Electric Knife

Another thrilling electric knife you can buy is the Hamilton Beach 74250. Never worry again about imperfect cuts of meat, bread, or cheese. With its mechanism, you can cut perfectly shaped slices of meat, bread, cheese, and other food ingredients with ease.

It sports a 100-watt electric motor that oscillates its sharp stainless steel blades, thus making it easy for you to cut various types of food. Both left and right-handed users can also get to enjoy its efficiency.

The Hamilton Beach 74250 also comes with a stainless steel fork to hold down the piece, making slicing even easier. Both the blades and the fork are easy to clean and everything can be placed in a safety case with ease.

4. American Angler PRO Professional Grade Electric Fillet Knife

Made by fishermen for fishermen, the American Angler PRO is designed to make precise cuts and slices on large, scaly fishes you just caught. Its blades will let you cut any type of fish the bones, with its 110-volt electric motor giving you enough power for a smoother and faster process.

Also, this electric knife comes with five different blades, letting you choose the best one for a certain fish. You can start with a simple saltwater blade or opt for the heavy-duty shark blade, depending on what you need.

To top it all off, you can carry this knife in a convenient carrying bag. It’s well-ventilated, so the fishy odor won’t stick to it.

5. Waring Commercial WEK200 Cordless Electric Knife

The Waring Commercial WEK200 is a portable electric knife that comes with two blades, the carving, and the bread blades. You can also rely on its ergonomic handle design for efficient grip and on its power switch for preventing accidental activation.

Moreover, it has a powerful electric motor running on a rechargeable lithium battery that lets you do efficient and smooth slices.

What’s unique about the Waring Commercial WEK200 is the LED light that makes it easy for you to work on dimly lit environments. And, catch this: it comes with a slicing guide to precise cuts.

A hard case is also included in the package for easy storage. It’s equipped with a nice handle so you can carry the knife set anywhere comfortably.

Are you looking to buy a ceramic knife to add to your collection but are not quite sure which one to pick?

Ceramic knives offer many advantages over steel ones but are not suited for every task.

But don’t despair! In this detailed review, we will tell you all you need to know to choose the ceramic knife that best suits your needs. What kind of food can you use them with? Can I pair them up with any cutting board? Can I sharpen my ceramic knife?

Continue reading and let us show you 5 of the best models available today.

Best Seller: Cuisinart C55-12PCKSAM 12 Piece Color Knife Set

Are you in a hurry? With more than 900 satisfied customer reviews, you can’t go wrong with this popular Cuisinart set.

Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose a Ceramic Knife

What are ceramic knives?

The blade of a ceramic knife is usually made of zirconia (zirconium dioxide). If you need more technical information about this material and the production of ceramic knives, I suggest you read the dedicated Wikipedia entry, but let’s get to business. What benefits do you get buy buying a knife with a blade of ceramic instead of a metal one?

Why should you buy a ceramic knife?

• Lighter than metal knives.
• The ceramic blade will stay sharper up to 10 times longer than a steel blade.
• The blade is harder than a metal one.
• They are impervious to rust
• More resistant to acids and bacteria accumulation. Don’t contaminate food.
• Food won’t stick on them so easily.

Why shouldn’t you buy a ceramic knife?

• Even if the blade is harder, is not as tough as metal, so these knives are prone to cracks or chipping if mishandled or dropped.

Intended Use

Ceramic knives are ideal for cutting and slicing delicate foods such as:

• Fruits.
• Vegetables.
• Boneless meats
• Soft cheese and butter.
• Soft bread (if they have a serrated blade)

They are not suitable for carving, prying or cutting and slicing hard food such as:

• Frozen food.
• Meat with bones.
• Hard skin fruits.

Blade Color: Black VS White

Black blades will usually be harder than white ones because they endured a process called isostatic pressing, which gives the material more strength.

What about colored blades?

Ceramic knives with colored blades are not usually made of pure ceramic (powdered zirconia) but are instead made of stainless steel with a ceramic coating.

Ceramic VS Ceramic Coating

Are ceramic knives and ceramic coating knives the same? Which one should you choose?

Ceramic coating knives with stainless steel blades usually share some of the benefits of the ceramic ones, like:

• The blade stays sharper longer.
• Food won’t stick on it so easily.
• More resistant to acids and bacteria accumulation.

With the added benefit that the blade won’t break so easily if the knife is mishandled or dropped and they are also usually dishwater safe (not all ceramic blades are suitable for the dishwasher).

If you are looking for greater durability and you are sure you will care for your knife set, we may suggest to try pure ceramic knives sets like the WACOOL 3 pieces sets. If you are worried that your knife may deteriorate easily but still want to get most benefits that ceramic knives offer, then you can’t go wrong with the popular Cuisinart C55-12PCKSAM 12 Piece Color Set.

Top 5 Best Ceramic Knives

5. Cuisinart C55-12PCKSAM 12 Piece Color Knife Set

When we talk about the best brands that offer essential kitchen utensils, it’s impossible to not find at least a Cuisinart product between them.

This model is one of the most popular in the ceramic knives category, but beware that the blades are made of stainless steel coated in ceramic, not powdered zirconia.

If you are not really sure what model to buy even after reading the information we provide in this guide and have no particular needs, then we suggest you stick to the most popular product and try this complete set, available at a very competitive price.

4. WACOOL Ceramic Knife 3 Pieces Set

Would you like to try your first ceramic knife set without investing too much money? Then this popular WACOOL 3 pieces set is the second best choice for you.

It provides a very basic set with the bare minimum you need to handle yourself in the kitchen:

• 6” Chef Knife
• 5” Utility Knife
• 4” Slicing Paring Knife
• 3 Sheaths, one for each blade.

3. QUELLANCE Ceramic Knife 3 Pieces Set

If you are willing to spend a little more without overdoing it, this set provides excellent quality at a very fair price.

Includes a standard set of 3 knives for most basic needs:

• 6” Chef Knife
• 4” Utility Knife
• 3” Ceramic Paring Knife

The set also includes a ceramic vegetable and fruit peeler. Finally, the elegant package makes the QUELLANCE Ceramic Knife set an ideal choice for a gift.

2. Kyocera Advanced Ceramic Revolution Series 4.5-inch Utility Knife

This one-knife only option cost pretty much the same as an entire QUELLANCE 3 pieces set, but don’t let the price draws you back. Kyocera is a high-quality ceramic knife crafted with a proprietary zirconia material produced in Japan.

With this little gem, you’ll be able to handle the most basic task in the kitchen that involves soft food. You can slice vegetables, fruits, and boneless fish and meats.

Not all ceramic knives are suitable for dishwasher, but Kyocera is dishwater safe, provided you place it in the top rack, separated from other utensils.

If money is not a problem and you are looking for a high-quality ceramic knife at a great price, we suggest you try it.

1. Kyocera KTN-180-HIP Advanced Ceramic Premier Elite Series Knife

If you are a professional, looking for excellent quality gear but don’t want to invest more than $400 on a, let’s say, Nesmuk knife, then the Kyocera KTN-180-HIP is a very suitable choice.

See that little HIP acronym in the name? When we talked about choosing a ceramic knife, we said that black blades are tougher than white ones. HIP is basically the name of the process that strengthens the blade. In conclusion, this blade is one of the toughest and durable you can find in a ceramic knife.

F.A.Q

How to care and store ceramic knives?

Ceramic knives are much harder than metal ones, but the blade is not as tough or flexible. That means that the blade sharpness will last longer, provided you don’t drop it or mishandle it.

Here are some suggestions to care for your ceramic knife:

• Wash by hand with hot water and detergent after every use. Some sets are dishwater safe (we suggest you read the manufacturer instructions), provided you use the top rack and don’t mix them with other utensils.
• Don’t throw them in a drawer mixed with other utensils. Ceramic blades should be handled with great care as to avoid cracking them. Try to always buy a set that provides covers. If you don’t have covers, a wooden knife block is preferable over other materials.
• Don’t use them to cut hard foods (meats with bone, frozen foods, hard bread and cheese, hard skin fruits, etc.). Ceramic blades are sharper than metal ones, but only intended for slicing, not carving or prying.
• Use only wood or plastic cutting boards to slice food. Avoid glass or marble, as the surface may damage your knife blade. Wood is always preferable over plastic, as the latter accumulate more bacteria. You may want to check our buyer’s guide about maple cutting boards.

How to sharpen ceramic knives?

Quality ceramic blades can last up to 10 times longer than metal ones. You won’t need to sharpen them as often, but you may want to know if it’s possible to do it.

Truth is, being the material much harder, you won’t be able to sharpen ceramic blades by traditional means or with the same accessories that you would use with a metal blade.

Fortunately enough, you can buy all you need to do it yourself at a reasonable price. Just be sure that you are buying a knife sharpener suitable for ceramic knives.

How long do ceramic knives last?

A study shows that ceramic blades last up to 10 times longer than a normal steel blade. The mohs scale of mineral hardness is a very old method for roughly comparing the hardness of different materials. The following graph shows how ceramics fare against steel on the mohs scale.

Can ceramic knives go in the dishwasher?

Not all models. Ceramic blades should be treated with great care and you should always follow the instructions of the manufacturer. Some of them are marked as dishwater safe, as long as you use the top rack and don’t mix them with other metal utensils.

In our buyer’s guide, both the Kyocera Advanced Ceramic Revolution Utility Knife and the Cuisinart C55-12PCKSAM 12 Piece are dishwater safe.

Can metal detectors detect ceramic knives?

Let me tell you right away that it is not a good idea to carry any kind of blunt weapon on your pockets or carry-on luggage. If you are wondering if someone would be able to smuggle ceramic knives on a plane undetected, the answer is, it depends.

Most knives will contain metal to some degree, if not in the blade it may be in the handle or the screws. If the knife does not contain metals parts, it will probably be detected by non-metal scanners, x-ray or human controls.

Are ceramic knives better than steel knives?

Ceramic knives cannot completely replace a reliable multi-purpose professional steel chef knife. It’s a good idea to include ceramic knives on your arsenal, as their blade is harder, sharper, and will last longer, but it’s not suitable to handle hard foods (bones, hard skins, hard bread, etc.).

Apart from that, ceramic knives certainly have many other advantages over steel ones:

• Rust-proof.
• Resistant to acids and bacteria.
• The surface prevents food from sticking on the blade.