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In the culinary world, a chef's most trusty tool is undoubtedly their knife. A quality chef's knife is essential for simplifying the cooking process, enhancing precision, and efficiency. There are tons of options available, but three standout brands - Wusthof, Global, and Shun - consistently deliver exceptional knives. As a team of current and former chefs in the New York City hospitality industry, we've used a lot of knives and have strong opinions about which are the best. We will include both budget, affordable options as well as more expensive, luxury options. Today we’ll cover the most popular and classic size, the 8-inch.
Without further ado, here is our list of the top 5 8-inch chef knives ordered from #5 to #1 (saving best for last):
5. Victorinox Fibrox Pro 8-Inch Chef's Knife
Price: $
If you’re on a tight budget, the Victorinox Fibrox Pro 8-Inch Chef's Knife might be the best value option. This Swiss-made knife features a high-carbon stainless steel blade and slip-resistant Fibrox handle. It's very versatile and suitable for many different cutting methods.
4. Miyabi Evolution 8-Inch Chef's Knife (by Zwilling J.A. Henckels)
Price: $$$$
The Miyabi Evolution 8-Inch Chef's Knife is an excellent representation of Japanese craftsmanship. Handcrafted in Japan, it provides a sturdy and insanely sharp blade made with VG10 steel. Also, its beautiful Pakkawood handle provides both function and a classic style. One reason why this knife is lower on our list is because of the high price tag, but you may be able to find it discounted.
3. Shun Classic 8-Inch Chef's Knife
Price: $$$
Shun's Classic 8-Inch Chef's Knife is another Japanese knife with a good mixture of both tradition and modernity. It boasts a Damascus-clad blade with 32 layers of stainless steel, creating a unique wavy pattern. With the knife's D-shaped handle, you’ll get a comfortable and secure grip. This is an excellent blade, but the next Japanese knife on our list has a slight edge for us.
2. Global G-2 8-Inch Chef's Knife
Price: $$$$
The Global G-2 8-Inch Chef's Knife is also made in Japan and is renowned for its razor-sharp blade and modern style. It's made from a single piece of stainless steel that offers excellent edge retention and superior sharpness. This knife is perfect for precision slicing and dicing, such as for fish or sushi. This is a fan-favorite Japanese blade among our team.
1. Wusthof Classic 8-Inch Chef's Knife
Price: $$$
The Wusthof Classic 8-Inch Chef's Knife is a perennial masterpiece. This German-crafted blade boasts a full tang, finely crafted blade that guarantees ridiculously good balance and durability. The grip is ergonomic and comfortable, making it a favorite among both professional chefs and home cooks. With its pleasing weight and versatile design, there‘s nothing you can’t do with an 8” Wusthof. This is the fan-favorite German blade and overall pick of our team.
A good chef’s knife is an essential piece of any chef’s collection of tools. The world of chef's knives offers a diverse range of options, so it can be hard to find the right quality for a decent price. However, these top 5 selections from our team of current and former chefs in the NYC hospitality industry are sure to help you find the perfect knife for you, whether you’re a professional chef or an eager home cook. The criteria to keep in mind are price, weight, sharpness, and grip. The perfect knife for you will depend on your budget, cooking style, and stylistic preferences. Just always remember to keep it sharpened!
Along with a high-quality chef’s knife, a chef needs a good way to take inventory, place orders, and do other back-office management tasks efficiently. Just like a good knife, a good back-office management tool can save you lots of headache.
The Hospitality Innovations web/mobile app saves you loads of time and money by streamlining and automating your inventory, ordering, and reporting processes, so you can spend more time on your craft testing out those knives. Learn more about us here.
And if you’re interested, feel free to schedule a free 1-on-1 demo here!
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