Here at the Strategist UK, we like to think of ourselves as crazy (in the good way) about the stuff we buy, but as much as we’d like to, we can’t try everything. Which is why we have People’s Choice, in which we find the best-reviewed products and single out the most convincing ones. (You can learn more about our rating system and how we pick each item here.)
And while we’ve written about kitchen essentials before — including the best coffee makers, the best blenders, and the best knife sets — here, we’ve rounded up the best chef’s knives, as praised by the most enthusiastic reviewers on Amazon.co.uk.
Best-rated overall chef’s knife
This chef’s knife by Mercer has 84 percent five-star reviews, and it’s not only the best-rated chef’s knife overall but the best value, too. Nearly 400 reviewers called it an excellent all-rounder, including a knife aficionado who said it could slice and chop a variety of vegetables and meat to the same standard as his (more expensive) Victorinox knives. Another reviewer, a former chef, wrote that Mercer knives are commonly used in U.S. cookery schools but are less known in the U.K. Nevertheless, 544 reviewers wrote positively about the handle, which features a rubber underside that helps you grip (one reviewer notes, however, that it is harder to hold if your hands are wet). Some did note that it isn’t a heavy blade, so it may not be up to the task of slicing things like bread or tougher cuts of meat. It also doesn’t come with a sheath, but 26 reviewers said it was a perfect everyday, all-around option.
Best-rated luxury chef’s knife
This knife from Zelite has 86 percent five-star reviews — the highest of any knife featured in this list. It’s made from Damascus steel, which gives it its signature rippled finish, and was described as “razor sharp” by 33 reviewers, including professional chefs and home cooks alike. One reviewer liked this knife so much they ordered several more Zelite knives and threw their others in the bin. Thirty-five reviewers mentioned the weight and balance of this knife, which is described as pleasantly heavy (the traditional Japanese rivets in the handle were also popular with knife aficionados). One five-star reviewer, who had done months of research on Japanese knives, said this was the best they’d ever ordered, adding that it moved like hot steel through butter. Seven reviewers said the Damascus steel finish was beautiful to look at, including a man who invested in a magnetic knife rack in order to show it off to guests, and 17 reviewers wrote that it was the best knife that they’d ever used.
Best-rated Japanese chef’s knife
This stainless steel eight-inch blade by Global has 86 percent five-star reviews, with 15 reviewers choosing it for the brand alone. One customer, who said Global is the best knife brand on the market (they own three of their blades) said this one got the most use in their kitchen, while ten reviewers said this was the best knife they’d ever used. Another said investing in this knife was both “necessary” and “an absolute pleasure,” adding that it made everything else seem rubbish by comparison. Because this knife is single-forged (meaning the handle is part of the blade), there’s no chance of the grip worsening over time, according to one reviewer, who said the slimmer handle might even suit those with smaller hands. [Editor’s note: This price does not include delivery.]
Best-rated santoku chef’s knife
This knife by Mosfiata has 80 percent five-star reviews. Santoku knives are often mistakenly thought to be the same as chef’s knives (both are used for multipurpose chopping), but a santoku knife has a distinct curve towards the tip. Reviewers said the blade, which at seven inches is slightly shorter than a typical chef’s knife, could handle everything from root vegetables to red meat. Although some customers said they found the distinctive design difficult to use at first, many soon learned how to slice with it; one reviewer noted that the knife is weighted more towards the blade, allowing for a greater “rocking” motion when slicing.
Twenty-seven reviewers were impressed with the quality, including one who said it felt as if they were handling a sword. Another said it felt like a £100 knife because of the weightiness of the blade and the quality of the stainless steel. Seventeen customers mentioned the finger guard that comes with the knife, which made slicing vegetables much safer. It also comes with a sheath, so it can safely be stored in a drawer, and a knife sharpener, which one customer said made his £6 Sainsbury’s knife so sharp he could shave the hairs on his arms with it.
Best-rated chef’s-knife and santoku-knife set
If a knife block is too large for your counter but you still want a knife selection, this two-knife set by Homgeek comes highly rated, with 81 percent five-star reviews. It features an eight-inch chef’s knife and a seven-inch santoku knife; 36 reviewers thought the quality was excellent, including a senior sous-chef who was so amazed they started bringing these knives to work with them. Another restaurant chef called these stainless steel blades “indispensable.” Fourteen reviewers were amazed at the value for money (several noted these knives were often on sale, too) and they were described as comfortable to hold in 13 reviews. One five-star reviewer said the santoku knife sliced through everything like butter, thanks to the hollowed dimples on the edge of the blade, which allow air flow to stop food sticking to the knife edge.
Some other knives we like
When we looked at the best-rated knife blocks, this stainless-steel set from Morphy Richards had 81 percent five-star reviews. One hundred twenty-two reviewers said the quality of the blades was excellent, while a further 73 said the stainless steel was easy to clean and well made, too. The knives slot into the block in a single row, so this is a neater option for smaller spaces, and Morphy Richards sells it in other colours, including copper, red, steel, and titanium. It’s also great value — 62 reviewers wrote favourably about the price.
This paring knife came recommended to us by five chefs (including a Masterchef finalist), who said it sliced everything from citrus fruit to cheese effortlessly. It even made it into our list of the most-bought items by readers in August. That convinced staff writer Chris Mandle to order one, which he says has become his “go-to” knife for kitchen tasks.
The Strategist UK is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Read about who we are and what we do here. Our editors update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.