When it comes to doing prep work when you're cooking, it's important that you have the best tools in your kitchen to help you. Besides, when you're just getting home from a busy day, the last kind of frustration you want are dull kitchen knives hindering you from making that tasty casserole.
Finding the best chef knives to get the job done, can be incredibly frustrating on its own. And, unfortunately, many of these knives come with a hefty price tag. Well, we have just the solution for you with our list of 9 of the best chef's knives under $100. We've researched different brands to find budget-friendly options. So, no need to drop a lot of cash to make sure you are getting the best of the best. Just peruse this list, and carry on with your prep work. Happy chopping!
Misen 8 inch Chef Knife
- HIGH CARBON VERSATILITY: Pro-grade high carbon stainless steel stays sharper longer than most knives thanks to the strenght of carbon. Versatile for everyday tasks like easily slicing vegetables and meats or even harder tasks like filleting fish and slicing soft breads.
- EXCEPTIONAL JAPANESE CRAFTMANSHIP: Made with the premium AICHI AUS-10 steel, this chef knife boasts 2x the carbon content compared to other “premium” knives. Experience superior balance between enduring sharpness and unmatched durability.
- RAZOR SHARP 15 DEGREE BLADE ANGLE: Unlike other premium knives that are set their edge to 20-degrees, Misen has a more acute edge that helps the knife glide effortless through even stubborn foods like squash and onions.
We're starting this list with a Japanese, stainless-steel knife that is incredibly durable and can be used as an every knife for everything from filet mignon to that tasty sourdough.
PAUDIN Chef Knife
- Master Chef's Knife: Ideal for bread, veggies, fillets, and meats. Perfect for home and pro use. Elevate your kitchen skills!
- All-in-One 8″ Chef Knife: Effortlessly chop, slice, mince, and dice fruits, veggies, and meats. A true kitchen multitasker!
- Razor-Sharp Precision: With a 2.5mm thick blade, hand-polished for lasting sharpness, this knife delivers flawless cuts.
With its sleek design and its versatility, this PAUDIN chef's knife is perfect for both a novice in the kitchen or a skilled chef. This knife chops so skillfully, you'll think you are the head chef of your own chicken.
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Global 8″ Chef's Knife
- Lightweight, precisely balanced 8-inch or 20cm chef's knife
- Blade made of high-tech molybdenum/vanadium stainless steel
- Edge retains razor sharpness exceptionally well
If you're newer to the cooking world or just want something that feels a little lighter when you're chopping cucumbers, this chef's knife is the perfect addition.
Mercer Culinary M20608 Genesis 8-Inch Chef's Knife
- QUALITY CONSTRUCTION: Knife is precision-forged with high-carbon German steel for better durability, and taper-ground edge allows for increased efficiency when cutting along with incredible long-lasting sharpness
- SUPERIOR DESIGN: The finest handle in forged cutlery; built to last ergonomic handle offers comfort and a non-slip grip, even with wet hands
- BEST USE: The perfect knife for chopping, mincing, and cutting. Ideal for dicing onions, mincing shallots, chopping herbs, crushing garlic, and shredding cabbage
From crushing garlic to quickly dicing onions, the Mercer Culinary Genesis Chef's Knife is built to last. You'll not only be able to quickly chop, mince, and cut, but you won't have to worry about sharpening this knife too often as it's long-lasting.
Material, The 8″ Japanese Chef's Knife
- THE PERFECT BALANCE: Top-heavy knives cause hand-cramping. Our blade is a full tang: it extends into the handle, so weight is better distributed, and won't break under pressure.
- A knife is only as good as the precision of the cut. In pursuit of enduring sharpness, we were inspired by narrow-tipped Japanese knives and tested numerous angles before landing on a 13degree edge.
- At finishing, each knife is hand-polished, then heat-treated at 300degree F before being cryogenically tempered at a well-beyond freezing -250degrees. This process alters the structure of the steel on a molecular level, making it harder, sharper, and more durable.
This knife is made of carbon staineless-steel and is incredibly sharp, allowing for you to chop vegetables, cut through meat, or shred lettuce with ease.
Victorinox Swiss Classic 8-Inch Chef's Knife
- Superior Kitchen Knife: Because carving should be effortless, we created our Swiss Classic Chef's Knife to ensure smooth, uniform cuts every time
- Premium Kitchen Knife: This cooking knife is ideal for carving a variety of meats, plus fruit and vegetables
- Ergonomic Cutting Knife: The ergonomic handle and balanced design supports absolute stability on the cutting board
The Victorinox brand is known for their finely crafted knives, which means you'll have this knife around for quite a few years. It's Swiss-made and creates the most uniform cuts compared to that of its competitors.
Kai KAI AE2908 Gyuto Knife
- Refreshing sharp edge with 3-step blade
- Triple Processing: Smooth grinding of corners after cutting By reducing the cutting resistance of the ingredients, it achieves an invigorating sharp edge
- Stainless Steel Triple Layer Steel: The blade material is made of high hardness stainless steel and the matching material is made of stainless steel that is easy to sharpen and achieves sharpness
Finely crafted and a stainless-steel layer, this Japanese Gyuto knife has a professional look without costing you a pretty penny. Furthermore, it's completely dishwasher safe, making cleanup a breeze.
HENCKELS Classic Razor-Sharp 8-inch Slicing Knife
- ULTRA-SHARP BLADES: Superior professional-level sharpness that ensures precision cutting.
- STAYS SHARP LONGER: Professional, satin-finished blade boasts precision cutting and is finely honed for long-lasting sharpness.
- EFFORTLESS CUTTING: Enjoy easy meal prep with minimal effort with this lightweight, easy-to-use knife.
With almost 5,000 reviews, the HENCKELS chef's knife is the only one you'll need to get the job done. It comes without all the frills but is still razor sharp for easy chopping.
MOSFiATA 8″ Super Sharp Professional Chef's Knife
- 【High Carbon German Stainless Steel Laser-engraved Pattern(Not Damascus Pattern )】 MOSFiATA 8 inch pro chef's knife is made of premier high carbon German EN1.4116 stainless steel with high strength and increased rigidity. The kitchen knife contains 0.45-0.55% carbon, twice hardness than other knives, which will maintain longer sturdiness function.Laser-engraved pattern on the blade surface for decoration & anti-sticking.(NOTE: Different from Damascus pattern! Don't be confused!)
- 【Razor Sharp Edge & Anti-Corrosion, Anti-Tarnish Blade】Processed with the unique polishing technology and hand sharpened 16°per side, the chef kitchen knife's blade tapers from the spine to the cutting edge, for effortless precision cutting, as well as greater stability and durability. 15% chrome which provides corrosion resistance and an anti-tarnish finish.
- 【Full Tang Construction & Ergonomic Design】 MOSFiATA ergonomic knife handle is made of santoprene for comfort and polypropylene for durability. It features textured finger points that provide slip resistance and a better grip. The solid Micarta handle can minimize wrist tension while providing a secure, comfortable grip no matter the size of your hand or where you are gripping the handle. Triple riveted Micarta handle to the precise forged full tang for extra strength & durability.
The MOSFiATA has it all: German stainless-steel, a sleek design, and highly sturdy. Plus, it comes with its own knife sharpener as well as a finger guard, just in case.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Bruce Peter/Shutterstock.com.