The 5 Best Chef Knives Under $100 (Review)

Do you know that more than 80% of chefs have their favorite knives and are so specific that never cook with other knives than their own?  Knives are one of the primary kitchen tools that are used by chefs. The kitchen is no less than a battlefield in case you do not have adequate tools for the basic purposes of cutting, peeling, chopping, etc.

The best knife for you may not be the same as used by any other person. You have to choose your best based on the material of knife, the size of knife, ease to hold, and its versatility. You may not like a dozen of knives in your kitchen for different purposes.

Sadly, the same is understood by our knife manufacturers. You have a lot of options in chef knives but no idea that which one is best for you. Just like all that glitters is not gold, all costly knives are not excellent at work.

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Best Chef Knives Under $100

We thus bring to you the best chef knives for multipurpose use that are specifically under $100. Have a look at our 5 best picks for you:

1. Chef Knife, 8-inch Kitchen Knife Professional

Going by their promise, Sky Light delivers the old craftsmanship in the kitchen with advanced modern technology. It can be perfectly termed as an all-rounder chef knife. It easily beats other competitors in chopping, dicing, and slicing. Whether you are working on fruits, vegetables, or meat this professional chef knife delivers high-end results.

The secret of performance lies in the design of the knife. The edges of the knife are sharpened at a 15-degree angle on each side. The seasoned craftsman takes around 60 days to hand polish the knife. It is adequately forged with splendid quality stainless steel X50CrMoV15 having 58+ Rockwell hardness rating.  It is nitrogen cooled to ensure flexibility, corrosion resistance, and hardness in every cut of the knife.

The handle of the knife is carefully designed with a high-grade military polymer that makes it resistant to cold, moisture, and heat. It has an ergonomic design to ensure a combination of ultimate comfort, best manipulation, and perfect balance.

It thus has ultra sharpness and a comfortable grip at the same time. It is practically resistant to wear due to use. This chef knife is FDA certified as well.

You do not need to buy any expensive cutlery when you have Sky Light’s chef knife at your service. If you are still not impressed and want to have a practical, take an onion and see its performance. Customers verify that it cuts effortlessly.

If you are looking for a durable, comfortable, and yet economical chef knife for you, this is the best option without a doubt. It has exemplary sharpness, comfort to work with, and has prolonged work life.

Pros:

• It is FDA certified
• It is made up of superior quality materials and processes
• It is comfortable for use and is well-balanced
• It has sharp edges and is precise in cutting

Cons:

• It becomes sticky and is difficult to clean

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2. Mercer Culinary 7-inch Knife

Mercer Culinary presents a perfect blend of modern technology and classic craftsmanship with its Genesis Forged Santoku Knife. It is certified by NSF for meeting the standards of safety, performance, and quality. It is specifically designed after collaborating with master chefs and kitchen enthusiasts.

It is rectangular and the single-piece blade is made up of precision forged German steel. X50CrMoV15 is a high carbon no-stain steel that is resistant to discoloration, rust, and corrosion. The strength and durability of the knife are credited to the forged construction only.

It has Granton edges, a series of ground shallows that creates tiny air pockets so that the thin slices can effortlessly release from the blade. The tapered edges help in easy honing, stability, and efficiency at chopping and cutting operations.

The bolster is provided between the blade and the handle that is responsible for the superior balance of the knife. It adds strength and durability during cutting operations. You can choose from different lengths of bolsters available in the same product.

The handle of the knife has an ergonomic design and is made up of Santoprene. It is resistant to damages due to kitchen oils. A full tang runs the entire length of the handle thus providing superior balance to the knife.

Don’t worry about slipping knives as Mercer Culinary takes the charge of true non-grip even with wet hands. Also don’t worry about keeping knife at weird places as it can easily withstand hot and cold temperatures without affecting performance or durability. A professional Eastern style chef knife at economical prices that are best for amateurs and experienced cooks.

Pros:

• It has bolster to provide stability and increase durability
• The handle is made up of Santoprene
• It is easy to hold and is well balanced
• It is resistant to damages and temperatures

Cons:

• Needs special care for cleaning

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3. Victorinox Fibrox Pro Chef’s Knife

Who else has the strongest knives apart from the butchers? Here comes the chef knife the house of the manufacturers of butcher scales. The Victorinox had been in the culinary line since 1937. They provide NSF certified knives that guarantee adherence to quality and performance compliances.

The extra-wide blade of this knife is made up of stainless steel material and is 7.9 inches in length. It is dishwasher safe and can be cleaned easily without any hassles. It is made using Swiss technology and has straight edges. It is razor-sharp and is laser tested for optimum performance in mincing, chopping, dicing, and slicing. 

The ergonomic handle of the knife is made up of thermoplastic Elastomer (TPE). The weight of the knife is perfectly balanced to facilitate the fastest kitchen operations. It is best if you are prone to knife injuries while using wet hands. The grip of the handle performs exemplary even with wet hands.

A breathtaking knife that is capable of satisfying the needs of home chefs and professionals. It is expertly crafted using the best materials for blade and handle. The technology used in the manufacturing of the blade is trusted for years.

Victorinox Fibrox Pro chef’s knifeis ideal for carving all types of meat. It promises ease and efficiency in any type of kitchen function. Whether you want to chop, dice or mince, this little piece of craft takes the charge and performs effortlessly.

This knife covers all of the major requirements of ease in holding, superior grip with ergonomic design, sharp blade with high efficiency in performance. You will surely have a love-affair with this knife once it enters your kitchen.

Pros:

• It has a razor-sharp blade made up of stainless steel
• It has a non-slip handle made up to thermoplastic Elastomer (TPE)
• It is manufactured using Swiss technology
• It has a great reputation among chefs

Cons:

• It has a very basic design

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4. J.A. Henckels International 31161-201 CLASSIC Chef’s Knife

J.A. Henckels has perfectly understood the need for the perfect daily kitchen companion.

The blade of the knife is made up of a single piece of high-quality stainless steel from Germany. It has a satin finish for professional cutting. The blade is finely honed for precision cutting and long lasted sharpness and is manufactured in Spain.

If you long for a classic piece at your kitchen, the shape of the handle will mesmerize you. It has traditional triple rivets and has a full tang design with a length of 4.72 inches. It is made using a much trusted ergonomic style to ensure comfort and balance while using. The credit of tireless cutting is credited to the handle only.

The Henckels International CLASSIC chef knife is manufactured with advanced technology that gives it a forged construction for extended durability. The transition of the blade to handle of the knife is seamless.

The actual magic here is that unlike its competitors, this chef knife is dishwasher safe. There is no need for specific cleaning. It has a perfect weight balance with a sharp knife to cater tirelessly to the needs of any kitchen. Whether you have to dice apples, require mincing shallots, or want to chop potatoes, it works effortlessly.

Guess what is the favorite knife of famous chef Gordan Ramsey? There are Henckels International CLASSIC chef knives that have a trusted image among kitchen magicians. You will rarely grab any other knife in the kitchen if you have this product at your place.

It has a perfect combination of sharpness and design to fasten your kitchen work. You do not need to worry about kitchen accidents when you can trust the safety of the Henckels International CLASSIC chef knife.

Pros:

• It has high quality blade and traditional riveted handle
• It is dishwasher safe
• It is trusted by top chefs
• It is multipurpose knife

Cons:

• It is not comfortable for longer usage

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5. Cangshan D Series 59120 Chef Knife

Essentially going by their tagline of providing knife for every need, Cangshan delivers both Western and Eastern styles of cutlery. Cangshan D Series 53120 chef knives are simple and modern. They elegantly pass the traditional design and create a strong place for themselves.

The blade of the Cangshan chef knife is made from X50CrMoV15 which is high-alloy steel from Germany. It has a 52+ hardness rating on the Rockwell hardness scale. The blade is manufactured using forged technology and undergoes multistep ULTRA6 heat treatment. It is polished and sharpened by hands only, all thanks to the skilled and passionate artisans.

If you don’t want to bother about the sharpening of knives, Cangshan has made it easy for you by adopting ice-hardened treatment for their blades to make them long-lasting sharp. After such a successful heat treatment, the blade is still flexible to take a sharp 16-degree edge. The resultant is a sharp and highly stain-resistant working part of a chef knife.

The handle ensures a secure and comfortable hold due to the presence of cleverly created curves and angles on it. It is well-balanced and works well for heavy kitchen use as well. It has a full-length tang with Asian style cutting edge.

The redesigned classic handle never tries to score on its aesthetics only. You can easily use it for a longer duration of time while preparing food or cooking.

The handcrafted knives proudly perform while flaunting the premier materials used in manufacturing and the high-end processes as well. Customers term Cangshan knives as an ideal combination of style and performance while staying light on the budget. It is smartly designed with perfect use of tested technologies and handcrafted artisans. 

Pros:

• It is available in different sizes
• It is made using advanced technical methods
• It has long-lasting sharpness
• It can be used for long durations

Cons:

• It is not comfortable for use by different persons

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Buyer’s Guide:

Let us have a look at the quick buyer’s guide before you buy a chef knife under $100 for you:

• The material of the blade:

The best chef knives are made up of a single piece of stainless steel. It is manufactured using advanced technology and often has to taper at edges to facilitate cutting.

You can look for the quality of the stainless steel that is used in the manufacturing of the blade. It must be corrosion resistant and should not lose sharpness easily.

• The material of the handle:

The handle of the chef knife needs to have a solid grip in wet conditions as well. It should be resistant to corrosion due to temperature and kitchen oils. The trusted materials are high grades plastics and solid rubbers.

Most of the handles of chef knives have an ergonomic design to facilitate grip and functionality. You never want the handle to slip while working.

• The size of the chef knife:

The size of the knife is another important point to consider when you are choosing the best chef knife for you. Have a look at the size of blade and the size of the handle.

A sword is not required when you only need to do the chopping and likewise, a small knife cannot do proper mincing. The size of the knife is relative to the type of kitchen operations.

• The design of chef knife:

You can go for any of the design options of chef knives available in the market. The manufactures provide various designs of knives to match your choice.

You may choose from classic design or Santoku design depending on your favorite. The uses of chef knives are multidimensional and so are their styles. You can define your kitchen style quotient with a matching chef knife.

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FAQ’s:

• Can I wash my chef knife in the dishwasher?

You have to check for your chef knife as all of the chef knives are not dishwasher-friendly.

• What is the best material for the chef knife?

The most trusted chef knives are made of stainless steel and have solid handles for better grip and support.

• How soon should I sharpen my chef knife?

You have to sharpen your chef knife after 2-3 months of use and it entirely depends on the usage rate.

• What is the ideal size of a chef knife?

Most of the chef knives are available in different sizes and you can choose for any variant between 7-inches to 9-inches according to your comfort.

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Conclusion:

The best chef knives under $100 solve the basic problems of all of the kitchens to much extent.  Why spend more when the high-performing chef knives made with best-in-class materials and advanced technology are available?  The design and aesthetics of the chef knife give it a new definition and raises its scope from being a useful kitchen partner only.

You can buy one for you or can simply gift it to someone fond of cooking. These are unapologetically harsh on kitchen functions like cutting, mincing, chopping, etc. while easy at your pocket.