I’ll put my hands up and tell you I’m not the best cook in the world, but what I am is a trier. I’m forever following recipes online to whip up the tastiest concoctions. The latest recipe I put to the test was stuffed sweet potatoes with homemade pesto; other than being a bit (a lot) lemony, they were fabulous.
While I was cooking away, I’d finally got the chance to try out my new kitchen knives, that I’d been researching for months. When I first started out my hunt for the dream kitchenware, I wanted to know what would have the best grip, which was the right blade, and which would be the lightest to use.
I’d needed to upgrade for a while and I finally took the plunge. This cooking essential allowed me to finely chop up the basil and garlic, so I had nice little pieces to flavour my pesto. Surprisingly, new and sharp knives really make the difference (who knew?). Because of this, you’re supposed to change them every couple of years.
If you aren't that sharp on your kitchen essentials knowledge, no problem. To help you spend more time in the kitchen and hopefully create tastier dishes than me, I wanted to share with you everything I’d learnt about the best kitchen knives.
The best kitchen knives
1 of 8Henckels Professional Chef's Knife
For traditional kitchenware, you can't beat this Henckels Chef's Knife. When chopping up vegetables, it won't hurt your hand as it's comfortable to hold because it's heavy, yet well balanced. Do beware when using, as it's much sharper than knives you would normally pick up on the high street.
2 of 8Kai Shun Chef's Knife
Are you thinking about purchasing your first chef knife? If you're used to using standard knife sets, this is a great one to start with. Yes, it'll take some time to get used to all its care needs to maintain its sharp edge, but it's totally worth it. Top tip: it can't just be stuck in the dishwasher to clean.
3 of 8Sabatier Professional Kitchen Chef Knife
Want to up your chef status, but on a budget? Add this incredible knife to your collection. It's a versatile tool that can be used for cutting meat, dicing herbs and slicing vegetables. The only con is that the handle is a little on the small side.
4 of 8Joseph Joseph Elevate Knives Carousel Set, Multi-Colour
If you like a bit of style in your kitchen, then you'll already know the Joseph Joseph brand. These knives are practical and brightly coloured to bring a bit of cheer to your food prep. We like the weighted handles that keep the blades off the work surface when not in use.
5 of 8Ross Henery Chef Knife Set
Up your chef game by investing in a set of kitchen knives. Along with nine super sharp blades, it comes in a protective canvas carry case. If you need to transport this to a friend's house to help with a dinner party, make sure you do so with extra care. Forget parties for a second, this is also a great gift for any aspiring chefs in the family.
6 of 8MOSFiATA Kitchen
Talking of presents, this is the perfect knife to give to a loved one. Complete with its own box, this chef knife also includes a stainless-steel finger guard, a knife sharpener and a blade guard. Let's not skip over its funky design, it'll make any chef stand out from the crowd – I mean kitchen.
7 of 8SHAN ZU Nakiri Vegetable Knife
Already have a chef knife and want to expand your collection? Then you should consider this brilliant vegetable knife. You might have noticed that it's missing the point at the end, the flat edge and squared-off tip helps you chop quicker than ever before.
8 of 8Chopaholic Potato and Vegetable Peeler Knives - Set of 3
Bringing out your best large knife when you just need to chop a few tomatoes for your BLT seems like a waste, so that's where these little beauties come in. Jean-Patrique's vegetable knives are super lightweight, comfortable to hold and wonderfully sharp.
Lily Anderson is a Commercial Content Writer at Bauer Media, where she reviews products for titles like Heat, Closer, What’s the Best, Yours and Mother&Baby.