Best Kitchen Knife under $50 Reviewed and Sampled From 10 Possible Choices
How many things can you do in the kitchen without a good knife? Well, there are indeed very few things you can manage to do without this versatile tool. Picture this:
You name it! All call for a good knife.
And though quality knives exist, the unfortunate truth is that reliable ones are quite rare especially for a tight budget. Therefore, for the purpose of this article, we have compiled an unbiased assessment of what the best kitchen knife under 50 might be.
Contents
- Best Kitchen Knife under $50 Reviewed and Sampled From 10 Possible Choices
- Top Chef Knife Options Under $50 in 2020 – Comparison List
- The Kitchen Knife Options Under $50
- 1. Victorinox 8-Inch Fibrox Pro Chef’s Knife
- 2. Imarku Pro Kitchen 8-Inch Chef’s Knife
- 3. Wusthof Pro 4862-7/20 Cook’s 8-Inch Knife
- 4. Cuisinart C55-01 12-Piece Knife set
- 5. Augymer 8-Inch professional Chef’s Knife
- 6. Maxygift 8” Chef Kitchen Knife and Sharpener
- 7. Professional 6-Piece Kitchen Knife Set
- 8. Zyliss Chef’s Knife
- 9. Mercer Culinary Genesis Forged Chef’s knife
- 10. Utopia 8-Inch Kitchen Chef Knife
- Different Types of Kitchen Knives
- How to Pick the Right Kitchen Knife – Factors To Consider
- Which Of the Knives Reviewed Above is the Best?
- Final Thoughts
Top Chef Knife Options Under $50 in 2020 – Comparison List
Whether you like them sharp or stylish, the following run-down has a helpful list in place for you. You can always use it to get a bird’s eye view of the options available especially if you don’t have much time to spare.
The Kitchen Knife Options Under $50
1. Victorinox 8-Inch Fibrox Pro Chef’s Knife
This knife is an extremely versatile entry-level knife which you can subject to a variety of uses, from dining to slicing.
It is medium-sized with a straight 8-Inch blade made out of high carbon steel. It features a plastic handle in which the partial tang is buried. Its design is meant to ensure that your fingers never hit the cutting board during gripping, and so the handle is high while the belly is deep.
The depth of the blade is meant to let you use minimum effort while cutting and as a result prevent wrist strain. Its size makes it suitable for preparing any food.
Pros
Cons
2. Imarku Pro Kitchen 8-Inch Chef’s Knife
If you are a chef or any other culinary professional, this knife is just for you. It has a variety of striking characteristics all combined into one unit that will offer you satisfactory service.
The stainless steel blade is very easy to clean and does not allow food particles to stick on to it. It is also rust-resistant, and so if you store it in proper conditions, those rusty brown spots will never appear.
The handle is designed to give you maximum comfort, and you will not develop blisters if you work with it for extended hours. The handle also creates a knuckle clearance to protect your fingers while cutting.
The knife has a proper weight distribution to give it the perfect balance to avoid accidents while working.
Lastly, it is constructed out of premium materials which are durable and will ensure that the knife serves you for years to come.
Pros
Cons
Related Post: 10 Best Kitchen Knives under $100 – Buying Guide
3. Wusthof Pro 4862-7/20 Cook’s 8-Inch Knife
The 8-Inch Wusthof Pro 4862-7/20 is a combination of durability, affordability and extreme sharpness all into one unit and this makes it the best chef knife under $50. The manufacturer designed it with the hectic demand of the commercial kitchen at the back of their mind.
It has a stamped blade while the handle is comfortable for you to use for long periods without getting blisters or sprains. The handle is also designed to accommodate individuals with both small and large hands.
It is incredibly sharp with the perfect balance that will make it suitable for cutting through thick vegetables and pieces of meat.
Pros
Cons
4. Cuisinart C55-01 12-Piece Knife set
The Cuisinart Advantage set is a knife-set comprising of six knives and six knife covers, and they have top-notch stainless steel blades. They have a non-stick color coating which does not allow food particles to get stuck on the edge and results in a more natural slicing process.
The color coding on the blades minimizes the chances of cross-contamination which usually occurs during food preparation.
The handles have an ergonomic built, and you will be very comfortable holding them for long periods.
The set comes with matching blade guards and this coupled with the color coding gives it a stylish appearance.
Pros
Cons
5. Augymer 8-Inch professional Chef’s Knife
This high-quality knife is constructed out of Japanese High Carbon Stainless Steel which contributes to its malleability such that the chances of it breaking apart are very minimal.
The stainless steel construction also contributes to its extreme sharpness, and you can comfortably use it for cutting meat, fish, and vegetables. It also gives it anti-rust properties.
It has a curved wooden handle with a good grip which will let you use the knife for long durations without getting tired.
Lastly, it is a low maintenance knife whereby a simple wipe does the trick.
Pros
Cons
6. Maxygift 8” Chef Kitchen Knife and Sharpener
This 8-Inch knife borrows its design from traditional Japanese cutlery with a stainless steel blade which is lightweight and sturdy to withstand the daily usage that you put it through. It is also rust-proof and will serve you for a long time to come.
The handle is constructed from Pakka wood and besides being durable is very comfortable and will give you an easy time as you chop, carve, slice and dice.
The weight is evenly distributed throughout the knife to give you perfect balance while cutting. It comes with a sharpener which you can use to restore the edge to its useful state.
Pros
Cons
7. Professional 6-Piece Kitchen Knife Set
This set consists of 6 pieces of knives made of high-grade German W-Nr Carbon stainless steel which makes the blades stiff, hard and durable. The steel is also forged up, and this minimizes the chances of a bacterial accumulation.
The blades are very sharp and tapered, so cutting and chopping will require minimum effort from you. It has sturdy and ergonomic handles which will ensure that you have a steady grip. Additionally, it has a knife-guard to protect your fingers.
The set includes a potato-peeler and a boasting chef, for a complete performance.
Pros
Cons
8. Zyliss Chef’s Knife
This knife weighs 6.4 ounces, and its edge is constructed from high carbon steel which is sturdy and stain resistant. You will use minimum effort in cutting so you can rest assured that your wrist will be spared.
It comes with a sheath cover which you should keep on during storage. The ergonomic handle has a soft rubber grip to give you comfort and precision during work.
It is dishwasher safe and comes with a 5-year Zyliss guarantee.
Pros
Cons
9. Mercer Culinary Genesis Forged Chef’s knife
The first outstanding feature of this knife is its beauty. It is stunning and weighs 8.8-Ounces, to offer the perfect balance for effortless slicing.
The blade is versatile as its convenient length of 6-Inches makes it suitable for both small and larger foods.
It is made of top-notch German Stainless steel, and it includes a taper-ground and precision-forged edge.
Pros
Cons
10. Utopia 8-Inch Kitchen Chef Knife
This is a stainless steel chef knife with a durable blade that does not dull easily. It is precision-tapered and will offer you accuracy as you trim pieces of meat, lemons or pineapples.
It is easy to use, and you will easily cut through foods without using unnecessary excessive effort.
The ergonomic handle will provide the perfect grip as you remove bones or trim fat from meat. Still, on the handle, it is sealed all-round to prevent bacteria-accumulation.
Pros
Cons
Different Types of Kitchen Knives
Before we even hold the debate on which budget-friendly kitchen knife is the best, it’s important for us to understand the different kinds of knives that exist. And as it turns out, there are 4 popular types of blades that a typical kitchen should have.
The Chef’s Knife
This is what is commonly referred to as the cook’s knife. It’s probably the most important tool to have in every knife set.
Some of the unique qualities of this tool are that it comes with a broad blade. Also, the blade tapers upward to a certain point which effectively enables it to rock back and forth for mincing.
This kind of blade is typically 6 to 12 inches long. Basically, the greater a knife’s length is, the faster and easier it is to slice with. But of course, people with smaller hands would always find shorter knives ideal and easier to control.
The Utility Knife
The utility knife normally measures anywhere between 4 and 7 inches. And for that reason, it’s often treated as a mini chef’s knife. Some utility knives come serrated although a majority of them are straight.
If well used, this kind of knife can work pretty well when it comes to taming hardy veggies, preparing tomatoes or squash. It can also come in handy when handling sandwich meat, cabbage, and lettuce.
The Santoku Knife
Santoku is a Japanese name for a chef’s knife – only that this particular knife is slightly different from the one you’d find in westernized kitchens. Basically, the name Santoku refers to the roles of mincing, dicing, and slicing.
A typical Santoku is thin and short as compared to a western chef’s knife. And owing to its flat blade, it doesn’t easily rock on the cutting board. It’s, therefore, a less ideal choice for mincing herbs and slicing veggies.
Kitchen Shears
As their name suggests, these are a pair of scissors only that they are used to perform the role of a typical knife in the kitchen. For instance, they come in handy when one needs to cut veggies or section chicken.
Kitchen shears can also be used to snip herbs. One typical characteristic of this kitchen accessory is that it’s quite strong and also features sharp blades.
It is worth noting that some shears are optimized for fast cutting. For instance, they come in handy when the cutting of green onions or any other herbs is involved.
Apart from those four major knife categories, there are also other common hybrids among them the boning, bread, cleaver, and paring knives.
How to Pick the Right Kitchen Knife – Factors To Consider
No two knives are made exactly the same. For that reason, it makes a lot of sense to be choosy so you don’t end up with a below-average choice.
Material
What kind of material is your knife made of? Talking about materials, think about stainless steel, carbon steel, and titanium.
Stainless steel is the most common kind of material with it typically being low-carbon steel. This has the reputation of being rust-resistant and also boasts the ability to retain a cutting edge.
Maintenance
It’s important to examine how easy or difficult it is to maintain your knife of choice. In that regard, you want to weight whether your knife will require regular sharpening or not. And in that case, an investment in a knife sharpener would make a lot of sense.
On top of that, you need to reflect on whether the knife is dishwasher safe or not. You want to get a knife that’s easy to maintain at all times.
The Cost of the Knife
If you’re reading this review, chances are that you’re looking for an affordable kitchen knife. And in that case, it’s important to examine whether the knife you’re about to spend your money on is worth it.
The criteria to determine whether or not a knife is worth investing in should be based on how well the knife is made and its durability. Much as you may want to save some coins, be on the lookout for shoddily made knives as well.
Whichever the case, maintain an open-minded approach and you’ll soon be on your way to some really good quality.
Which Of the Knives Reviewed Above is the Best?
Talking about quality, which one of the listed knives offers the perfect deal? You might be wondering. And while the jury is still out on these, our view is that the Imarku Pro Kitchen 8-Inch provides the best all-in-one kitchen knife.
It’s made of high-carbon steel which is long-lasting and capable of retaining its edge for long. Above all, it’s multi-functional which means it can be used to accomplish multiple tasks at once.
Final Thoughts
Ask any chef out there and they will tell you of tales where their favorite knives saved the day. And if you’re going to be making something in the kitchen one of these fine days, it better be done using a professional knife. It’s our hope that the reviews above have inspired you on making a solid and succinct choice.