Every kitchen should have an essential kitchen list of tools. The right tool for the job simply makes cooking more enjoyable. A Chef’s knife is the MOST essential tool you need, along with, a good quality cutting board, measuring cups, spoons, a few quality pans, heat resistant utensils, and imagination

A Chefs Knife

A knife is as personal as a pair of shoes, or a toothbrush, and a good knife is pretty much as essential as fire in the kitchen. Choose wisely.

There are a ton of options and like most things, everyone has their own opinion on what’s BEST. But seriously there are three very basic things to consider and look for when shopping for a knife.

Stainless steel, a good quality knife is made of durable metal that won’t easily rust.

A tang that runs along with the handle in one piece, and makes for a long-lasting tool.

Weight of the knife and how it feels in your hands. I am more comfortable with a knife with a little weight to it, some prefer a lighter tool. A knife is a tool when playing in the kitchen. It is important to choose one that feels right.

What is a tang?

In simplest terms, a knife tang is the bottom portion of a blade that extends down into the handle. It’s essentially the backbone of a knife because it’s what holds the whole thing together. Without a tang, a fixed blade would fail when any force is applied because there would be nothing to attach the blade to the handle.”

–Knife Depot

Different kinds of Chef Knife

Every kitchen should have at least one great knife, that can be used for most tasks, chopping, slicing, or dicing. A well-cared-for sharp kitchen knife is an essential tool.