If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation.

9 Kitchen Knives Serious Eats Editors Swear By, Including One That’s Lasted Since Culinary School

Our picks include the best chef’s knife and nakiri knife.

By
An Uong
An Uong Bio photo
An Uong
Writer

An Uong is a writer specializing in kitchen product reviews at Serious Eats.

Learn about Serious Eats' Editorial Process
Published April 08, 2025 04:30AM EDT
Hands slicing a piece of paper with a Misono UX10 8.2-Inch Gyutou

Serious Eats

Serious Eats editors know a thing or two about knives. Whether they’ve worked in restaurant settings or have tested kitchen gear for years, they all have favorites that they turn to every day for tasks big and small. We asked our fellow editors about the knives they use in their home kitchens, and their answers were, unsurprisingly, detailed and opinionated. We recommend you take inspiration from their blade collections, whether you’re on the lookout for a new nakiri knife or petty knife. Their picks span chef’s knives, paring knives, bread knives, and much more. 

Editor-Recommended Kitchen Knives at a Glance

  • Mercer Culinary Genesis 8-Inch Chef's Knife

    Mercer Culinary M21078 Genesis 8-Inch Short Bolster Chef's Knife

    Amazon

    I’ve likely spent more time using, testing, and writing about knives than most people on Earth (wild, right?), and I have many knives I love. But if I had to call out just one, it might be this very affordable chef's knife from Mercer. The quality-to-price ratio is so good on this thing that I have yet to find another chef's knife that rivals it. And I can back that up with years of use: I've owned this knife since 2018 and it’s the go-to knife in my home kitchen for all our cooking. It feels good in my hand, I'm able to put a good fresh edge on it whenever it needs it, and it shows no signs of any wear and tear. Honestly, Mercer should get a lot more recognition in the cooking world; they make a quality product and charge a very reasonable price for it. — Daniel Gritzer, editorial director

    Chef's Knives

    Serious Eats

  • Mercer Culinary Renaissance 8-Inch Chef's Knife

    Mercer Culinary M23510 Renaissance, 8-Inch Chef's Knife

    Amazon

    My go-to is my Mercer Renaissance 8-inch chef's knife. I've had this knife since culinary school and it can handle all the daily wear and tear that I throw its way. — Leah Colins, senior culinary editor

  • Misen 5.5-Inch Utility Knife

    Misen 5.5 Inch Utility Knife

    Amazon

    This petty knife didn't win our review because of the hefty, heavy handle—but that's actually what I love about it. It's well-balanced in my hand, which makes me feel more confident using it. I use it just as often as my 8-inch chef's knife. — Rochelle Bilow, editor

    the lineup of petty knives we tested on a marble countertop

    Serious Eats

  • Misono UX10 Chef's Knife

    Misono UX10 8.2-Inch Gyutou

    Amazon

    I love this chef's knife so much that I wrote a whole love letter to it. It's the perfect length, super sharp, and glides through every prep task like a kite on a breeze—which is to say, lightly and with ease. — Grace Kelly, editor

    a person using the misono ux10 to dice an onion

    Serious Eats

  • Tojiro Japan Bread Knife

    Tojiro Japan Hand Made Bread Knife Slicer Cutter

    Amazon

    This is simply the best bread knife. Its slim blade smoothly slices through crusty boules, soft sandwich bread, and juicy tomatoes. The blade is flexible, too, so I even use it to peel butternut squash. It's been our top pick for years, and I can't recommend it enough. — Riddley Gemperlein-Schirm, associate editorial director

    A person using a bread knife to peel butternut squash

    Serious Eats

  • Victorinox Swiss Classic 4-Inch Spear Tip

    Victorinox Swiss Classic 4-Inch Spear Tip

    Amazon

    Is it silly to recommend a tiny serrated knife? This serrated paring knife makes peeling and slicing small produce a breeze. It's especially great for ripe, juicy cherry or plum tomatoes! — Genevieve Yam, culinary editor

    The Victorinox paring knife being used to segment citrus.

    Serious Eats

  • Global 7-Inch Vegetable Knife

    Global 7" Vegetable Knife

    Amazon

    Over the years, I’ve received some pretty fancy knives—but expensive doesn’t always mean better. And if your hands are on the smaller side (like mine are), those large chef’s knives designed with men in mind just won’t cut it. That’s why I love my Global nakiri knife. I use it almost every day. It’s lightweight, perfectly balanced, and forged from a single piece of metal, so the handle and blade are one seamless unit. — Kelli Solomon, senior social media editor

    global nakiri on a wooden cutting board

    Serious Eats

  • Shun Nakiri Knife

    Shun Classic 6.5 Nakiri Knife

    Amazon

    This is my first and only nakiri knife. My partner gifted it to me years ago, yet it’s still just as sharp as the day I got it. As a vegetarian, I’m always slicing or chopping vegetables, and this knife’s squared-off tip helps me glide through thick sweet potatoes or sinewy stalks of celery. — An Uong, writer

  • Opinel No.08 Stainless Steel Folding Knife

    Opinel No.08 Stainless Steel Folding Knife with Beechwood Handle

    Amazon

    As the weather warms up, I already have my mind set on beach days and camping trips. For both types of adventures, I always pack my Opinel folding knife. It folds up to the length of an iPhone and has a sharp blade for conveniently slicing cheese, fruit, and other snacks on the go. — An

    I Keep This Folding Knife in My Bag at All Times for Picnics, Camping, and Snack Time

    Serious Eats

Why We’re the Experts

  • An Uong is a writer for Serious Eats.
  • An has been testing kitchen gear for Serious Eats for over two years.
  • She especially enjoys testing knives and has a soft spot for her Shun nakiri knife.

More Serious Eats Recipes