These Are the Best Kitchen Knives, According to VegNews Food Editors

It seems Americans have a love-hate relationship with cooking. In 2020, one survey of 2,000 people suggested that the majority of the US population thinks that knowing how to cook is attractive, and around 70 percent believe that cooking is their love language. However, another study, conducted by OnePoll in 2022, also found that more than half of Americans feel that they consistently “mess up” easy dishes.

Now, if you want to improve your cooking abilities, we can’t promise that good-quality kitchen tools will turn you into Wolfgang Puck, but we can say for certain that they will help make things easier in the kitchen. And if you want to level up your culinary skills (and your attractiveness at the same time, apparently), finding a good knife is a good place to start. So we turned to VegNews food editors to find out the knives they simply could not live without. 

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Why is it important to use good-quality kitchen knives?

Good-quality kitchen knives are an important starting point for high-quality cooking. This is for a few reasons. Firstly, they make things safer. A poor-quality blunt knife is more likely to cause injury because it requires more pressure to cut, which increases the risk of slipping and catching your fingers instead. 

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RELATED: The Best Carbon Steel Cookware for Plant-Based Cooking, From Budget to Chef-Quality

On the contrary, a good knife will make you feel the part (confidence is key when it comes to cooking a great meal), and they give you a better quality slice when it comes to chopping your ingredients.

“The difference between a good knife and a bad knife is startling,” notes food writer and editor Lucas Oakeley for Mob. “Try and dice an onion with a butter knife and you’ll quickly find that out for yourself. Not only can a well-made knife help make you a better cook, but it can also make you enjoy cooking a lot more, too.”

The best kitchen knives to level up your cooking

If you’re not sure exactly where to start when it comes to knife shopping, here are our editor favorites that will have you whipping up delicious meals in no time (for vegan recipe inspiration, be sure to check out our extensive collection here). 

RELATED: Crispy Tofu and Perfect Vegetables: Why a Wok Belongs in Every Plant-Based Kitchen

Mercer Culinary

1Best Budget Knife: Mercer Culinary Millennia Bread Knife

At under $20, this Millennia bread knife from Mercer Culinary is a steal. But the low price is certainly not a reflection of its quality. Crafted with high-carbon Japanese steel and an ergonomic, non-slip handle, it will easily and comfortably slice through even the toughest of loaves, as well as fruit and cakes.
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Misen

2 Best Paring Knife: Misen 3-Inch Paring Knife

Smaller paring knives, which have a shorted, slightly curved, non-serrated blade, are handy for cutting up smaller fruits and vegetables—think cherry tomatoes, spring onions, and shallots, for example. They’re also handy for peeling, too, as their smaller size means they can make thinner cuts. This one from Misen is a great choice; it’s sharp, durable, and has a bolster shape, which helps provide more comfortable control over your ingredients.
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Mercer Culinary

3Best for Chopping: Mercer Culinary Genesis 8-Inch Short Bolster Chef’s Knife

This short bolster knife from Mercer Culinary is designed to make mincing and chopping up vegetables quick, easy, and satisfying. The durable blade design features high-carbon German steel and a taper-ground edge, while the handle is comfortable and ergonomic for that all-important non-slip grip.
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4Best Multi-Purpose Knife: Misono Swedish Carbon Steel Gyutou Knife

This gyuotou knife was hand-foraged with Swedish carbon steel and created like traditional Japanese knives. It’s versatile, so while it can be used to chop vegan meat, it is also suited for vegetable slicing, too. Priced at just under $190, this knife is an investment but well worth it. 
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Global

5Best Everyday Knife: Global Model X Chef’s Knife

This knife from Global is a worthy investment if you’re looking to take your cooking seriously. Made with high-carbon stainless steel, the Model X was crafted in Japan, and features a versatile, double-bevel blade (which means it’s sharpened on both sides). The handle is filled with sand to ensure balanced, heavy-weight slicing, and the dimpled design makes it comfortable and easy to grip.
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