Photo: Tatara
Chef knives come in different price and quality classes. So you need extra care when you’re considering a chef knife under $100 because the offers out there are so different.
You’ll need to consider the knife’s length and weight. As well as other characteristics such as blade material and to decide between the European and the Japanese chef knife culture.
In this chef knives under $100 review, you’ll learn what to look out for when choosing a chef knife, plus you’ll additionally get a list of the top chef knives under $100 to make it easier to choose.
In this post:
- 9 Best Chef Knives Under $100 – Review
- 1. Victorinox 45520 – Best Overall Chef Knife
- 2. Newild N414110 – Best Budget Chef Knife
- 3. Dalstrong GS-8inch-Chef – Best Quality German Chef Knife
- 4. Zen Spirit Wisdom Series – Best Santoku Chef Knife
- 5. Global Hollow Edge – Most Stylish Santoku Chef Knife
- 6. Wusthof Ikon Creme – Premium 6-Inch Chef Knife
- 7. Cangshan 59120 – Classic Chef Knife With A Forged Steel Blade
- 8. Imarku SC10-01 9inch – Stylish & Trendy Chef Knife
- 9. Tatara Germanstchefknife8in – Attractively Priced Chef Knife
- The Chef vs. The Santoku Knife
- How to Buy the Best Chef Knife Under $100
- Conclusion
9 Best Chef Knives Under $100 – Review
IMAGE | PRODUCT | FEATURES | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | 1. Victorinox 45520 (Best Overall) |
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 | 2. Newild N414110 (Best Budget) |
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 | 3. Dalstrong GS-8inch-Chef (Best Quality from German) |
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 | 4. Zen Spirit Wisdom Series (Best Santoku Knife) |
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 | 5. Global Hollow Edge (Most Stylish Santoku Knife) |
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 | 6. Wusthof Ikon Creme (Premium 6-Inch Design) |
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 | 7. Cangshan 59120 (Classic Design With Forged Steel Blade) |
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 | 8. Imarku SC10-01 9inch (Stylish & Trendy) |
| |
 | 9. Tatara Germanstchefknife8in (Attractively Priced) |
|
PRODUCT |
|---|
1. Victorinox 45520 (Best Overall)
|
2. Newild N414110 (Best Budget)
|
3. Dalstrong GS-8inch-Chef (Best Quality from German)
|
4. Zen Spirit Wisdom Series (Best Santoku Knife)
|
5. Global Hollow Edge (Most Stylish Santoku Knife)
|
6. Wusthof Ikon Creme (Premium 6-Inch Design)
|
7. Cangshan 59120 (Classic Design With Forged Steel Blade)
|
8. Imarku SC10-01 9inch (Stylish & Trendy)
|
9. Tatara Germanstchefknife8in (Attractively Priced)
|
1. Victorinox 45520 – Best Overall Chef Knife
Photo: Victorinox
- Blade Length: 8 inches
- Blade Material: Stainless steel
- Handle Material: Thermoplastic
- Weight: 0.5 lb
This is the Fibrox Pro, a high-quality chef knife made by Victorinox, the Swiss maker of pocket knives and other impressive products.
It features a lightweight but very good stainless steel blade that comes with a razor-sharp edge that you’ll hardly need to sharpen. This makes it a versatile chef knife for a lot of stuff.
The handle is from thermoplastic elastomers, with a special non-slip feature that works even when it’s wet. This knife is 8 inches long.
For downsides, the blade is stamped steel and not forged. Secondly, the package doesn’t include any accessory.
It’s a lightweight knife, however, offered at a good price, and Victorinox backs it with a lifetime warranty.
Pros:
- Lightweight design for flexible cooking
- Made of high-quality swiss stainless steel at a great price
- Comes with a Thermoplastic non-slip handle
- Victorinox backs it with a lifetime warranty
Cons:
- It does not come with any accessory
- The blade comes from stamped steel
2. Newild N414110 – Best Budget Chef Knife
Photo: Newild
- Blade Length: 8 inches
- Blade Material: Stainless steel
- Handle Material: Pakkawood
- Weight: 0.4 pound
Do you like knives with Damascus steel blades? Well, many people do. They are lovely but costly, so how about a look-alike?
Costing less than $20, this is a very beautiful and affordable knife, making it one of the best chef knives under $100 and getting it a place in this review.
Newild also offers a version without the wavy Damascus steel design. Both blades are high-carbon stainless steel, very sharp, and hand-polished to perfection.
The handle is ergonomic and made of pakkawood. This combines with all the other features to make this chef knife an affordable true work of art.
Pros:
- Stylish and beautiful work of art
- Made using high-carbon stainless steel
- It’s offered at a low and very attractive price
- Features an ergonomic pakkawood handle
Cons:
- It looks great but it’s not a real Damascus knife
- There’s no word on warranty
3. Dalstrong GS-8inch-Chef – Best Quality German Chef Knife
Photo: Dalstrong
- Blade Length: 8 inches
- Blade Material: High-carbon stainless steel
- Handle Material: Pakkawood
- Weight: 0.5 lb
For the absolutely best 8-inch chef knife under $100, take a closer look at this offer. You get an exceptionally designed knife that portrays the excellent craftsmanship of its makers.
The blade is high-carbon stainless steel with an incredibly sharp edge. It’s tempered, hand-polished, and guaranteed to resist stains of all kinds. This blade is also easy to clean and measures 56+ on the Rockwell hardness scale.
Coming to the handle, you get a beautifully designed and ergonomic pakkawood handle, complete with a triple rivet design.
This knife is costlier than the Victorinox chef knife above, mainly due to its forged blade. It’s also not available in other sizes.
On the positive side, Dalstrong backs it with a lifetime warranty.
Pros:
- Very beautifully and professionally designed
- Made of high-carbon German stainless steel for durability
- The handle comes from lovely pakkawood
- Dalstrong backs this knife with a lifetime warranty
Cons:
- It’s not available in other sizes
- The price is higher than the Victorinox above
4. Zen Spirit Wisdom Series – Best Santoku Chef Knife
Photo: Zen Spirit
- Blade Length: 8 inches
- Blade Material: High-carbon stainless steel
- Handle Material: Pakkawood
Caught between the features of a Japanese Santoku knife and that of a European chef knife, this chef knife mixes the best of both worlds to offer you a professional grade knife that’s as stylish as it is functional.
The blade is high-carbon stainless steel, perfectly shaped with a finger guard, and with its edge sharpened by knife-making masters to a perfect 15-degree angle.
This is a chef knife for people who love stylish stuff but don’t want to forgo functionality and quality.
Cons include not being available in sizes other than eight inches. Plus the handle only being available in one color.
Its handle is a pakkawood design and is both beautiful and ergonomic. The blade also comes with a premium sheath to help keep it safe, as well as avoid accidents during storage or transport.
Pros:
- Stylish design mixes east and western knife cultures
- The blade is professionally sharpened to a 15° angle
- This blade also measures 58+/- on the Rockwell scale
- Blade design includes a finger guard for convenience
Cons:
- You can’t get it in another size except for 8 inches
- The handle is not available in other colors
5. Global Hollow Edge – Most Stylish Santoku Chef Knife
Photo: Global
- Blade Length: 7 inches
- Blade Material: Stainless steel
- Handle Material: Stainless steel
- Weight: 0.6 pound
As one of the best Japanese chef knives under $100, this offer from Global is truly a masterpiece of the Japanese knife making industry.
It’s designed by a legendary designer and is truly impressive. The entire construction is high-carbon stainless steel, and this includes both blade and handle.
You’ll find dimples on both the blade to avoid sticking food, and on the handle to create a safer grip. Having a 7-inch long blade also makes this knife more versatile and easy to handle.
For cons, you’ll need some time to get used to the stainless steel handle. And it’s relatively costly, so there are cheaper offers.
It has a 56-58 Rockwell hardness rating, features a thinner and longer edge than most knives, and comes backed by a lifetime warranty.
Pros:
- Stunningly beautiful santoku chef knife
- Designed by a legendary Japanese designer
- Features a larger and thinner edge than most knives
- Comes with a lifetime warranty from the manufacturer
Cons:
- This stainless steel handle needs getting used to
- There are cheaper alternatives
6. Wusthof Ikon Creme – Premium 6-Inch Chef Knife
Photo: Wusthof
- Blade Length: 6 inches
- Blade Material: High-carbon stainless steel
- Handle Material: Synthetic
This Wusthof Ikon is an impressive chef knife that’s designed to carry out nearly every kitchen job with ease and precision. It also features a simple but modern design.
It’s one of those knives that you should take a closer look at when you truly want a high-quality chef knife under $100.
You can get the knife in any of four sizes, including this 6-inch offer, 8-inch, 9-inch, and 10 inches. Different handle colors are also available and include this crème handle, then black, and white handles.
Although its price is on the high side, its Wusthof brand makes it worth it. The package also lacks any accessories.
Wusthof, however, forges the blades from high-carbon stainless steel pieces, and they come with a full tang for strength and durability. They are also backed by a lifetime warranty.
Pros:
- Unique design available in four sizes
- Features an innovative handle that’s available in 3 colors
- PEtec makes its edge extra sharp and long-lasting
- Comes with a lifetime warranty
Cons:
- The package does not include any accessory
- It’s one of the costlier knives in this review
7. Cangshan 59120 – Classic Chef Knife With A Forged Steel Blade
Photo: Cangshan
- Blade Length: 8 inches
- Blade Material: Stainless steel
- Handle Material: Plastic
- Weight: 1 pound
The Cangshan 59120 is an unassuming but good quality German knife, featuring a classic design with an 8-inch blade. It doesn’t offer a unique design or beautiful curves, but it does come at a good price.
As one of the cheapest knives in this review, this knife has a surprisingly high quality. Starting from its simple and classic shape to the forged German steel blade with a full tang, and its ergonomic handle with triple rivets.
The blade isn’t too wide and the edge isn’t either curved, so you can easily use it for mincing and chopping, as well as for other kitchen tasks that need a flexible knife.
For its major downsides, you can only get it in size eight. Secondly, its design is very simple and ordinary.
The blade measures 58 on the Rockwell hardness scale, however, and Cangshan backs it with a lifetime warranty.
Pros:
- Reliable chef knife with a forged steel blade
- Features a comfortable and classic handle design
- Offered at a low and attractive price
- Measures 58 on the Rockwell hardness scale
- The manufacturer backs it with a lifetime warranty
Cons:
- It features a very ordinary design
- You can only get it in this 8-inch size
8. Imarku SC10-01 9inch – Stylish & Trendy Chef Knife
Photo: Imarku
- Blade Length: 8 inches
- Blade Material: High-carbon stainless steel
- Handle Material: Pakkawood
- Weight: 0.4 lb
As one of the lowest priced offers in this review, this is another good chef knife under $100 that you can buy and be proud of. It comes with a stylish and trendy design that makes it perfect for young cooks.
It also features a 5-inch long pakkawood handle and an 8-inch high-carbon stainless steel blade, which is 1.7 high from its spine to the lowest point on its edge.
The blade is, however, only 0.1 inches thick and this results in the knife’s lightweight, as well as reducing its overall strength. You also can’t get it in sizes other than these 8 inches.
Still, it’s backed by a lifetime warranty and has a Rockwell hardness reading of 57, which make it a top chef knife.
Pros:
- Very lightweight knife with a modern touch
- Made of durable high-carbon stainless steel
- Measures 57 on the Rockwell hardness scale
- It comes backed by a lifetime warranty
Cons:
- The blade is not as thick as most chef knifes
- There are no other sizes except 8 inches
9. Tatara Germanstchefknife8in – Attractively Priced Chef Knife
Photo: Tatara
- Blade Length: 8 inches
- Blade Material: High-carbon stainless steel
Tatara offers a reasonably priced knife here that’s both beautiful and practical for everyday use. It’s a chef knife with character, one that stands out from the rest because of its stylish and unique design.
The package comes with a wooden case, which makes it perfect as a gift and for display. The handle is ergonomic, with the blade featuring a full tang and triple rivets.
Although it’s a great knife, Tatara only offers a 1-year warranty and that’s one area it falls short of other knives in this review. Its 55 Rockwell rating also means a less tough blade.
You get a high-carbon stainless steel blade with an 8-12 degree cutting edge, though. This lets you cut, slice, and dice easily with precision, making it a great knife for making soups, cutting meats, and making sushi.
Pros:
- Stylish chef knife that stands out
- It features a full tang design for maximum strength
- The knife comes in a beautiful gift box
- Ergonomic handle with three rivets
Cons:
- Its warranty is only for one year
- The blade’s 55 Rockwell rating is lower than most others
The Chef vs. The Santoku Knife
Photo: Cangshan
There are two major general-purpose knives that you’ll find in the kitchen, and they are the chef and the santoku knives. The chef knife is European while the santoku is Asian. But both have their advantages and disadvantages over each other.
Both knives are general purpose kitchen knives and will handle chopping, slicing and dicing well, but the way they handle their jobs is the major difference between them.
Another difference between these two knives is the way that they look, which includes the differences in both their blade and their handle designs.
Following is a closer look at each knife.
1. The Chef Knife
The chef, cook’s or French knife is a European styled general purpose knife characterized by its curved blade edge, which makes it easy to cut with it using a back and forth rocking motion. This feature makes the chef knife ideal for working quickly on a chopping board.
Another important feature of chef knives is their pointed tips, which is great for making delicate cuts. Their blades can come from carbon steel, the more popular stainless steel, or ceramic.
You can find chef knives in many sizes, ranging from a 6-inch to a 14-inch length but the most common lengths are 8 and 10 inches.
2. The Santoku Knife
Santoku or Japanese knives have their origin in Japan and are mostly made of stainless steel, although they’re also available with ceramic or carbon steel blades.
The major characteristic of a Santoku knife is that its spine, which is the back of the blade opposite its sharp edge, turns down at its tip, giving it its unique shape. Some also have holes or dimples on their sides to prevent food items from sticking to the blade.
Santoku blades are thinner and lighter than chef knives’ blades on the average. They are also often shorter, measuring 6 inches in length on average. Their cutting edges are flatter than those of chef knives, making them more ideal for chopping movements.
3. Making a Choice
If you need to choose between a chef and a Santoku knife, then you should first ask yourself what you value the most in a knife.
Do you want an all-purpose knife that you can use for chopping and for as many tasks as possible? Then you could possibly be best served by a Santoku knife.
If, however, you prefer a knife with a smooth forth and back movement, and which offers you speed, an often critical issue in the kitchen, then the chef knife is probably what you need.
How to Buy the Best Chef Knife Under $100
Photo: Cangshan
Given the specific nature and duty of chef knives, you should know the important parts and features of a typical chef knife, so you can more easily make an informed decision.
Following are these important features and factors to keep an eye on when making your choice:
1. Budget
Chef knives can easily cost hundreds of dollars and more, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t find good knives below a hundred dollars. You just have to set your budget and stick to it. Then pay attention to the features that you need, and you’ll find your dream chef knife at the right price.
2. Blade Material
Knife blades come in different materials and this determines their characteristics like durability, sharpness, weight, and ease of use.
Following are the major materials that blades get made from:
Stainless Steel. These blades won’t rust, but they also don’t stay sharp for too long before needing a re-sharpening.
High-carbon Stainless Steel. Here, the blades are corrosion resistant but their high carbon content makes them stay sharper for longer.
Ceramic. With a ceramic blade, you get the longest period of blade sharpness among these materials but ceramic blades are prone to breaking, so they always need special care.
3. Forged vs Stamped Blades
Another major difference that you’ll find among knife blades is their manufacturing procedure. Blades are either forged from a single piece of metal or stamped from sheet metal.
Forged blades usually cost more, but they are not always better. The blades are heavier and usually more durable, but they are also less flexible than stamped knives, which are more affordable and lightweight.
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4. The Handle
You’ll find chef knife handles in different shapes, sizes, and made from different materials. There’s no shape or handle material that’s better than the other, you just need to choose what you like, or feel that you’ll be comfortable using.
5. Weight
The weight of a chef knife can affect the way you work to a large extent. If the knife is heavy, then many chefs believe that it helps you to cut through more food items with less effort because of its weight.
If it’s lightweight, however, then you get more flexibility, allowing you to maneuver the knife more freely than a heavy one. It’s therefore left for you here to choose what better fits your style.
6. Length
Chef knives are available from 6 to 14 inches in length, with 8 and 10 inches being the most popular lengths. Each length has its pros and cons, so you also have to make your choice here.
An 8-inch knife is the most versatile while offering a cutting length that’s long enough for most tasks. Longer blades may seem too large for some people, but they help to cut more food, faster.
Read More: The Best Knife Sets under $100
Conclusion
We have reached the end of this chef knives under $100 review, and you’ve seen all the interesting and impressive offers that made this top list.
In the midst of all the beauty, master craftsmanship, and technology, it’s obvious that all these different knives are best suited for different cooks and kitchens.
If you love style and santoku knives, then the Global Hollow Edge could be for you, with it’s over the top stainless steel design.
For lovers of more traditional German knives, the Dalstrong GS-8inch-Chef is hard to best with its stainless steel blade and pakkawood handle.
Else, for the overall best chef knife, it’s the Victorinox 45520, with its top-quality Swiss construction and attractive price.