Have you ever tried to find a quality chef knife, only to discover that the most recommended knives cost hundreds of dollars? While having the right chef knife is essential to your kitchen, there is no need to pay outrageous prices to ensure that you have the best.
We have carefully examined the features, reputation among consumers, and pros and cons of chef knives. By reading through our recommendations, you will be able to identify the chef knives under $100. Let’s get started with our top recommendations!
Best Chef Knives under $100
1. Zelite Infinity Chef Knife 6 Inch – Alpha-Royal Series – Japanese AUS-10
Have you been in the market for an all-purpose chef’s knife that will allow you to prepare a variety of different foods? When looking for a chef’s knife under 100 dollars, this Zelite knife quickly became one of our favorites due to its ability to slice through both soft and hard foods with ease.
Consumers appreciate being able to buy a chef knife for under $100 that can slice through sushi, fruit, and vegetables. They also love being able to use this knife during dinner parties to show off the beautiful design.
Pros
- Smooth handle for easy gripping and greater control
- Arrives out of the box already sharp
Cons
- The blade can chip after a year of continual use
2. imarku Chef Knife – Pro Kitchen Knife Chefs knife High Carbon German Stainless Steel
If you are looking for the Japanese chef knife under 100 dollars, you already know enough about knives to understand that Japanese steel contributes to some of the most highly desired chef knives on the market.
With this Imarku chef knife, you will be receiving that level of quality in a knife that is one of our favorites due to its ability to perform a much greater number of functions than other chef knives.
Consumers who love this knife include chefs, caterers, and busy parents trying to complete a healthy meal at the end of the day. They enjoy the versatility and user-friendly nature of the knife.
Pros
- Priced to sell at under $40
- Effective at cutting, dicing, slicing, chopping, and de-boning meat
Cons
- Should not be used for frozen foods
- Must be kept away from excessively hot foods or flame
3. Orblue Chef Knife, 8-Inch High Carbon German Stainless Steel Kitchen Chef’s Knife for Cutting, Chopping, Dicing, Slicing & Mincing
Looking for high-quality chef knives under $100 is not an easy task. But this Orblue chef knife quickly became one of our favorites thanks to its style and enhanced slicing ability.
Consumers praise the ability of this chef knife to chop, crush, cut, slice, and julienne a variety of produce and meat. They also love the sleek and elegant look that the knife adds to their kitchens.
Pros
- Can be purchased for under $30
- Sharpness lasts for months without needing to be sharpened again
Cons
- Rusts easily
- The steel handle frequently gets cold
4. WÜSTHOF 8″ Gourmet Chef’s Knife
Maybe you are not a professional chef but still want the performance standards out of your knives that a restaurant chef would demand. If that is the case, this chef’s knife is our favorite commercial-quality knife for under $100.
We particularly liked the enhanced safety features and the ability of the knife to withstand rigorous cutting needs in the kitchen.
Consumers report that these knives are sharper than many other knives they have purchased. Although the extra sharpness has been welcome, many amateur chefs were not ready for the experience of taking such a sharp knife out of the box.
When purchasing this knife, consumers urged others to beware of touching the edge of the blade to prevent cutting themselves.
Pros
- Generally costs less than $100
- Can be used to disjoint large meat cuts
Cons
- The stamped blade must be sharpened more often than other types of blade
- Blade chips easily for some consumers
- A weight of more than 10 ounces may make it too heavy for some
5. DALSTRONG Chef Knife – Gladiator Series – Forged ThyssenKrupp High Carbon German Steel
Having an 8-inch chef’s knife in your kitchen gives you increased versatility in the types of foods you can effectively cut.
These highly efficient knives are greatly valued and finding the 8-inch chef knife under $100 can be tough. But this is one of our favorites due to both the price and the workhorse’s ability to cut anything in the kitchen.
Customers love having such a robust 8-inch chef’s knife that is perfect for use on foods daily.
Consumers enjoy the peace of mind that comes with being able to purchase a chef’s knife that has the durability of a tempered steel product with a design that looks professional enough to be in a restaurant kitchen or an elegant personal kitchen.
Pros
- Priced at under $70
- Can be used on both delicate and tough cuts
Cons
- Frequent use may cause discoloration of the blade
- Repeated use will cause the knife to go dull quickly
6. Mercer Culinary Genesis Forged Chef’s Knife, 9 Inch
When compiling a list of good chef knives under 100 dollars, we could not leave off this comfortable Mercer Culinary Genesis knife. The affordability of the product does not interfere with its ability to deliver a razor-sharp cut through meat, fruit, vegetables, and fish.
This knife consistently impresses consumers by being incredibly easy to use, even in kitchens that are full of wet, messy, or foods that are otherwise difficult to cut.
They also love the ability to use this knife on harder foods such as root vegetables and meat to softer foods like tomatoes.
Pros
- Certified by NSF for meeting standards of safety, efficiency, and quality
- Can be purchased for less than $40
Cons
- Cannot be washed in the dishwasher
- Not resistant to rust
7. J.A. Henckels International Classic Chef’s Knife
If you are looking for quality chef knives that have larger blades, this knife is one of the best choices you can make. Although the blade comes from Germany, the knife is made in Spain and quickly became one of our favorite knives for multipurpose chopping.
Consumers love the size of the blade when preparing food. They enjoy being able to use one knife to chop, dice, slice, or mince their dishes.
Pros
- Comes sharp right out of the box
- The price is typically less than $70
Cons
- Rivets on the handle may cut the hand
- A weight of 13.8 ounces may be too heavy for some consumers
8. Victorinox 10 Inch Swiss Classic Chef’s Knife
When we were looking for a nice chef knife under 100 dollars, our standards included knives that had a contemporary look and were lightweight. This knife fits both requirements and is also appropriate for both professional and amateur chefs.
Customers who purchase this knife enjoy being able to purchase a restaurant-quality knife for under $100. They also appreciate the multipurpose nature of the knife that allows them to dice, slice, chop, and mince.
Pros
- Can slice multiple vegetables at once
Cons
- Must be washed by hand
- Handle appears to look “cheap” to some consumers
9. Shun Sora Chef’s Knife, Cutlery Handcrafted in Japan, VB0706
Our search for great chef knives led us to this Shun Sora knife which was handcrafted with the ideals of “Shun” Japanese food in mind.
“Shun” describes local food that is the most flavorful and freshest. Food this important requires a special kind of knife that delivers a contemporary performance in both look and cutting skill.
Consumers love being able to purchase a knife made out of genuine Japanese steel for under 100 dollars. They also love being able to include a name that is synonymous with freshness in their knife collection.
Pros
- Weighs less than 7 ounces and will feel light regardless of how long you are in the kitchen
Cons
- Should only be hand-washed and never placed in a dishwasher
- The blade and handle are separate pieces of metal
10. Wüsthof Cook’s Knife, 6″, Black
This unique chef’s knife is one of our favorites thanks to its bold design. But it is the ability to provide extra sharpness when slicing through our favorite foods that made us place it in our top ten list.
No meat or vegetables will be too big of a challenge for this particular chef’s knife.
The customers who have purchased this knife report being able to hold onto the knife with ease. They also love being able to show off the one-of-a-kind handle during dinner parties or while cooking for their families.
Pros
- Balanced weight makes cutting thicker foods an easier task
- Excels at cutting delicate foods like herbs
- Performs multiple jobs, such as dicing, mincing, and chopping
Cons
- Cannot be put in the dishwasher
Making the Decision
When picking a chef knife under 100 dollars, our top pick is the Imarku Chef Knife – Pro Kitchen Knife 8 Inch Chefs knife High Carbon German Stainless Steel Sharp paring knife with Ergonomic Handle. It gives the best performance for the most affordable price.
If you can afford to spend a little bit more than $30 for a chef’s knife, the NSF-certified Wusthof 4862-7/20 Pro Cook´s knife, 8-inch, Black is less than $50 and offers performance comparable to that of a commercial knife in a professional kitchen.
But when trying to decide what the chef knife under 100 dollars is for you, you will ultimately have to make that decision. Some things you should keep in mind include:
- What types of cutting is the knife suitable for doing? Can it only cut, or can it also chop and mince?
- What types of foods will the knife allow you to cut? Some chef’s knives cut through meat easily but will stall at being asked to cut through a butternut squash.
- How stylish do you need the knife to be to fit your aesthetic? Are you planning on showing it off and need that unique design quality?
Once you know exactly the type of chef’s knife you are looking for, you will be able to decide which knife on our list is right for you. Be honest about your cutting needs, and go buy the chef’s knife that fits your lifestyle best.
