Save
New year, new chef's knife? If you want to upgrade your all-important chef's knife this year, it's worth knowing about some of this year's tried and tested favourites deserving of a lifetime on the chopping board.
Here are a few of the blades that made the cut in a round-up of the top chef knives 2021, as tried and tested across various websites, with one show-stopper that needs no introduction.
Best Chef Knives 2021
1. Mac Mighty MTH-80 - $145
The New York Times named the Mac Mighty MTH-80 chef's knife the best-in-class after putting in 150 hours of research into the chopping power of a total of 23 knives.
This knife has been impressing them as far back as 2013 and continues to do so. "With its super-sharp edge, sleek tapered shape, and comfortable handle, this knife will make your everyday dicing and slicing tasks smoother and quicker," the team says.
2. Tojiro DP-F808 - $85
The New York Times runner-up award goes to this affordable Japanese knife, the Tojiro DP F-808. "This extremely sharp Japanese knife is one of the best deals we’ve found in cutlery. But it has a slightly less durable blade, and the handle doesn’t provide as much knuckle clearance," the testing team reports.
3. Global G-2 Classic 8-inch Chef's Knife - $159
CNet named the Global G-2 Classic 8-inch Chef's Knife their best all-rounder for 2021. It's a lightweight kitchen knife, which they say "boasts a scary-sharp edge and a nimble-feeling lightweight body".
4. Tokiro DP Gyuto - $85
Tojiro DP Cobalt Gyuto Japanese Chef's Knife from Japanny on Vimeo.
Gear Patrol has named the Tojiro DP Gyuto knife as their favourite with its best qualities being that it's incredibly sharp, stain and rust resistant, and has a balanced weight (not overly light like many Japanese blades.). Though they do note that knuckle clearance may be a problem for those with larger hands.
5. Wüsthof Classic Cook's Knife, 20cm - $180
A popular choice, this German classic was the top pick for 2021 among various sites, and commended for its all-round abilities.
British newspaper The Telegraph named this chef knife their best all-rounder, calling it "a real workhorse". Knife Guides compliments the forged high-carbon stainless steel blade "honed by hand for ensuring superior sharpness". The team at The Kitchn also includes this "trusty" knife in their top for 2021.
6. Zwilling Pro 8-Inch - $149.99
As voted for by Reviewed: "The Henckels Zwilling Pro is a serious workhorse, pulling ahead of the pack in nearly every one of our tests and earning the top spot as Best Overall Chef’s Knife."
7. Pegasus 10" Chef's Knife - $50,000
And last, but by no means least, this knife speaks for itself. Kramer Knives' new release from November 2020 comes in at a sweet $50,000 (currently sold out). The groundbreaking team say they have "pushed the boundaries of traditional bladesmithing to bring you our interpretation of a tessellation in steel while demonstrating the limits of forge welding to date. The blade is made from high nickel and shop-made Damascus, hardened to 62 HRC.
The blade depicts Escher’s Pegasus tessellation and comes complete with a museum quality display stand made from ebony. Discover more about The Pegasus.
Listen to our fascinating podcast with Bob Kramer, as he reveals how he went "from circus to steel".
