The best kitchen knives of 2019: Wüsthof, Victorinox, Henckel & more

A sturdy and dependable workhorse, the German-made Wüsthof Classic 8-Inch Cook’s Knife is an ideal and efficient culinary cutting tool.

I’ve used my Wüsthof Classic 8-Inch Cook’s Knife almost daily for nearly two decades to prepare both Chinese and Western dishes. I’ve chopped, cut, sliced, and diced countless ingredients (vegetables, fruits, meats, tofu) of different thicknesses and textures with ease.

Constructed of high-carbon stainless steel, the knife’s blade has a slightly rounded belly for efficiently rocking it back and forth while cutting. The honed, extremely hard metal creates a sharp cutting edge that retains its sharpness well. The 5-inch-long handle is made of very durable engineered thermoplastic. This forged knife has a full tang that’s riveted to the handle in three places.

I find the handle very comfortable, even when I’m chopping thick, hard ingredients like melons and carrots for a long time, and balanced in weight with the blade. Also, I really like that this 8.5-ounce knife is heavy and heavy duty. It’s not too heavy to cause fatigue but hefty enough to help enormously with cutting. You get both force and control.

In my experience, the versatile Wüsthof Classic 8-Inch Cook’s Knife is excellent for working on diverse ingredients. Good Housekeeping used it to slice tomatoes, chop onions, debone a chicken, and even shred basil into fine ribbons. For that last task, I admit that I employ a smaller, lighter utility knife, and like me, testers at Food & Wine found that “the delicate leaves get ever-so-slightly bruised on the edges” from this chef’s knife.

Although advertised as dishwasher safe, I urge hand washing and drying the Wüsthof Classic 8-Inch Cook’s Knife. Good Housekeeping named this knife “Best Overall Chef Knife” and “Top Lab Pick.” Food & Wine dubbed it the “Best Tough Workhorse,” and former international culinary professional Daniel Gritzer of Serious Eats chose it as the “Favorite High-End Western Chef’s Knife.”

Pros: Sturdy, heavy duty, versatile, well-constructed, sharp

Cons: Not inexpensive, less nimble than lighter knives