If you are looking for the best 8 inch chef knife then there are many options for you. However, our team of experts has done the hard work for you and found some recommendations that we hope will help in your decision-making process.
A good chef knife is an essential tool for every home cook. If you’re new to cooking or have been cooking your whole life, having the right equipment makes all of the difference in meal preparation.
Stainless steel 8-inch knives are made specifically for cutting vegetables and meat evenly without difficulty, but luckily there are many options out there to choose from. We’ve done the hard work for you by finding some recommendations that we hope will help in your decision-making process.
3 Best 8 inch Chef knife
- Brand: Mac Knife
- Blade Material: Alloy Steel
- Handle Material: Pakkawood
- Blade Edge: Hollow
- Color: Silver
- Brand: Imarku
- Blade Stainless Steel, carbon
- Handle Material: Pakkawood
- Blade Edge: Plain
- Color: Brown and silver
- Brand: Wüsthof
- Blade Material: Stainless Steel
- Handle Material: synthetic material
- Blade Edge: Chef's Knife
- Color: Black
What is best type of knife for cutting vegetables?
The most important thing to look for when choosing a knife that is best suitable for vegetable prep is a blade that has been designed with the appropriate shape, sharpness & flexibility to allow you to efficiently execute whatever cutting techniques you have practiced thus far.
Just going by size alone won’t mean much because it will come down to how well a certain knife can perform your everyday task once you have taken it out of the box, so I would suggest choosing one that fits comfortably in your hand and allows you to work quickly without experiencing fatigue or discomfort over time as this will also prevent injury from occurring if done properly throughout the entire process.
Top-6 8 inch chef knife review
01. Mac Knife Hollow Edge Chef Knife
Mac Knife Professional 8 Inch Hollow Edge Chef Knife helps you cut, slice, and dice any food. This 12.63″ length knife is the most popular in the home and professional kitchen.
Mac knives are made with a short blade of 2.5mm thickness that has dimples for reducing sticking on foods such as potatoes, apples, summer squash, and more!
For years we’ve been designing knives with quality craftsmanship for all kitchens appliances like cutting boards and food processors to give your entire cookery set a uniform feel.
Now, purchase the Mac Knife Professional 8 Inch Hollow Edge Chef Knife and experience its lightweight handle and unbeatable edge retention for yourself!
- 8″ hollow ground, high carbon stainless steel.
- This is not a full tang knife, but rather a half tang with rivets to secure the blade & bolster.** Half Tang means there is only a piece of metal from the top side of the knife going down to the handle.
- Hand honed for a razor-sharp edge.
- Wide blade to slice through vegetables, fruits, and other food items.
- 100% satisfaction guarantee – Made in Japan with high-quality materials and craftsmanship (the best knives).
02. ZWILLING Euroline Chef’s Knife
The ZWILLING EUROLINE Essential Collection 8″ Chef’s Knife is 100% crafted in Seki, Japan by skilled craftsmen and designed to the exacting specifications of Master Bladesmith Bob Kramer so you can do more before needing a break.
With FC61 fine-carbide steel for exceptional sharpness and durability and a full tang construction to provide perfect balance with minimal weight, this knife is sure to become one of your most prized possessions.
Along with this highly functional piece come signature touches that identify it as an original ZWILLING EUROLINE such as handcrafted aesthetics, traditional 3-step sharpening process, polished bolster, and mosaic pin.
- Long-lasting sharpness
- High-quality materials.
- Lightweight, ergonomic design.
- Precision design and construction
- Easy to use for all skill levels
03. Wusthof Classic Chef’s Knife
Every home cook or professional chef needs a chef’s knife in their kitchen. This all-purpose, all-purpose WÜSTHOF 8″ Classic Chef’s Knife is versatile for chopping, mincing, slicing, and dicing any food.
The full bolster provides superior balance when chopping because the edge stays closer to the work surface. A double tapered bolster adds weight where it belongs so you can split large cuts of meat with ease while a textured finger guard protects your fingers from slipping onto the blade.
Full flat ground blade with expertly honed 58° cutting edge angle results in sharpness that will never go dull. All parts are stamped for exceptional quality control during production to ensure precision processing and consistency in high standards every time.
- Full tang, forged from a single piece of steel for durability and quality.
- Precision balanced with a full bolster weighing 8.5 ounce for a perfect grip and weight distribution in the palm of the hand.
- A triple-riveted handle guarantees no slip when wet or dry. The highest quality builds with durability that will not fail you.
- Durable, easy to clean, and maintain best quality steel which is ice tempered for a hardness of HRC 58.
- Made in Solingen, Germany with a lifetime warranty and free sharpening and maintenance for three years and beyond!
04. Zyliss Comfort Pro Chef Knife
The Zyliss Comfort Pro Chef’s Knife is perfectly balanced with a lightweight handle that absorbs pressure while you work, making it more comfortable on your hands. It features a 15° German stainless steel blade, which is durable and sturdy.
Full tang construction provides the perfect balance for precision cutting at any angle. This knife has a decent amount of weightiness, which will make it perfect for cutting and slicing most things you do in the kitchen.
The 8-inch blade allows you to cut through even the smallest ingredient without struggle, letting you focus on what matters most: your food.
Whether you are slicing bread or chopping vegetables, this knife gives you precise control while its sharp edge glides effortlessly through foods without sticking or dragging. The price is affordable, making this the perfect choice for any department or home.
- Versatile, all-purpose knife; great for fruit, vegetables, and boneless meats.
- The blade’s length is 8 inches.
- Full tang construction gives balance and weight to the blade.
- Handle Nylon with soft-grip coating and stainless steel rivets.
05. imarku Chef Knife
If you’re going to be doing a lot of cooking, then you want the right knife.
For a professional chef who is crafting exquisite culinary masterpieces, our imarku Chef Knife 8 inch chef’s knives with the high-carbon stainless steel blade are definitely the correct tool for any job or dish from chopping fresh fruit and vegetables, dicing onions and tomatoes to carving slabs of meat.
The blade is made of thick, sturdy steel for power and precision. The ergonomic Pakka Handle fits perfectly in your hand as you effortlessly glide through tasks transforming all culinary challenges into simple human pleasures.
It has a tapered, full tang handle that guarantees stability and longevity. The thick bolster provides protection to your fingers while cutting food with ease.
This multi-functional kitchen knife cuts, dices, slices, chops, and bones meats off the bone at ease! Don’t forget it comes sharpened by experts so that your cutting tasks can begin with a fulfilling slice!
- Handcrafted with High Carbon stainless steel blade for rust-free, strong, and sharp precision cutting.
- Ergonomic Pakka Handle with ABS Thermoplastic Elastomer Coating is non-slip, comfortable to use, and creates the perfect weight balance.
- Comes Sharpened by experts so you can begin using it immediately!
06. DALSTRONG Gladiator Series Chef Knife
Equipped with a German high-carbon steel blade that will end up being your favorite thing to use in the kitchen. Equilibrated and hand-honed for a razor-sharp edge, you’ll be praising DALSTRONG’s meticulous workmanship.
Precision Tempering is a process that ensures that the blade’s edge meets engineered standards. The blade is heated to 1,650 degrees Fahrenheit and then cooled in ice-coolant baths. This procedure helps to ensure that the knife will not break or chip and retains its sharp blade for years of use.
High-quality materials like ThyssenKrupp high carbon German steel help ensure long-lasting accuracy and make sure this knife meets the highest standards of durability.
Sleek and resistant to stains of any kind, maintain an award-winning design right on the surface of your new knife. With a grip-ensuring G10 Garolite handle triple-riveted at its base, this chef knife is engineered rigorously to keep you running like clockwork through every cutting task without missing a beat except providing superior quality cuts time after time.
- Razor-sharp oven-safe German steel blade.
- Triple-riveted for a strong and sturdy grip.
- Lightweight, easy to handle, and control.
- Hardness: HRC 57/58 – Comes Sharpened by experts so you can begin using immediately!
5 important decisions in buying a chef’s knife
1) Steel Type
The most important decision in buying any blade is the type of steel. There are many different types of steels that are used for chef’s knives, typically referred to by metallurgy standards.
The 3 most common quality kitchen knives are High Carbon, German Stainless Steel, and Japanese Stainless Steel. Steels can also be treated so they have a higher level of hardness which means they stay sharper longer because it’ll take more effort to scratch them or damage their integrity with time or use.
2) Length
The length should fit comfortably in your hand without being too bulky or oversized to reach what you need at any given moment while cooking. It should feel balanced when using the knuckle closest to the handle for chopping and dicing.
3) Weight
The knife should be heavy enough to assist you in cutting, but not so heavy that it tires your arm or shoulder over time. A well-balanced knife is easy to control which means less danger of hurting yourself.
While weight does play a factor based on the size of the blade, it’s not as important as length or steel type when determining how it feels in your hand.
If you are just starting out with cooking, an 8″ chef’s knife will fit comfortably in most hands and require less strength to use than larger 10-12″ knives if handled properly; even though this is also up to personal preference (a smaller person could prefer a big chef’s knife because they have a higher center of gravity).
4) Handle
The handle should feel comfortable in your hand while allowing you to maintain control over the knife with your index finger and thumb, holding it at the base of the blade close to where it meets the handle.
A well-crafted handle will be made from one solid piece of material that is attached to the blade on each end. While some knives have a hollowed-out section for lighter weight, this weakens its structure and makes it more prone to breakage or coming loose over time.
There’s no need for a bolster which is a metal added to protect your fingers from being cut while holding/wielding since most of these blades never actually come into contact with another surface during use.
Some handles are more ergonomic than others depending on the shape of your hand, but again it’s all just personal preference.
5) Price
You get what you pay for in most cases with knives. Quality steel and craftsmanship come at a price, so if you skimp out on cost you are sacrificing quality materials, the functionality of how it feels in your hand, or the longevity of its durability over time.
A good chef’s knife can last more than 20 years if properly cared for so don’t be afraid of investing in one that will grow with you as an experienced cook! There are some very affordable manufacturers out there that use good steel without breaking the bank too- like Mac Knife!
What is the best length of chef knife?
The most comfortable knife for most people is an 8″ chef’s knife. This is long enough to chop vegetables & fruit, but not so large that it becomes difficult to wield with one hand.
Most people will benefit from a larger 10-12″ blade, but this comes down to the personal preference and strength of the person using it in the kitchen. If you are a smaller framed woman or a young adult just starting out in cooking, I would recommend going with something closer to 8″. A good overall length for a chef’s knife is anywhere from 6-14″ long.
Smaller blades are easier but less functional when cutting tough items like squash or pineapple whereas longer knives can reach into deep pots with ease when stirring/scooping.
If you have a big hand, I would not recommend going too much larger than 10″ if possible since 8″ is already a lot to handle for some people and this will also negatively affect your knuckle’s connection to the blade which can lead to fatigue over time when using it in the kitchen.
What is the best weight of a chef knife?
A heavier weight can be advantageous in most cases because it allows for more stability when cutting through harder items like squash or pineapple, but this comes down to personal preference & what feels balanced in your hands when holding it by the base of the blade closest to where it meets with the handle.
Using both arms properly will give you better than just one which contributes greatly to the weight and sturdiness of a knife. If you use one arm much more than the other (like your dominant arm for instance), this will make the knife feel imbalanced and awkward in your hand;
However, it is not as much of an issue if you don’t mind rotating your wrist to offset this balance whenever trying to cut with both arms simultaneously like when you hold ingredients down or push them into a cutting board during repetitive chops, etc.
What is the best type of steel for a chef knife?
Some manufacturers use carbon-specific steel which is not as strong or durable as stainless steel but can be very cheap to manufacture resulting in a higher profit margin for the brand so I would recommend sticking with reputable brands if you are on a budget & want something functional & affordable.
Don’t ignore purchasing your knives from big box stores either because there are great deals out there that will certainly vary by location! Just make sure to do your research beforehand to ensure you’re getting what you actually need.
If it’s possible, I would also suggest trying them out at the store before buying since they often come with individual sheaths or covers that can help keep them from scratching against one another when stored.
Some Important FAQ
What is the best material for a chef knife?
High carbon stainless steel has stood as the industry standard for years now. Other materials are considerably more expensive & do not offer any real functional advantages over steel beyond being super lightweight or heavy/sturdy which can be useful for certain applications.
I would recommend sticking with steel if you are on a budget or prefer an overall more lightweight knife, but never use carbon-specific steel for your knives since it will chip/bend/break very easily if not properly taken care of.
What is the best design for a chef knife?
The design really comes down to personal preference & what functions best in your hand when slicing & dicing. There are several shapes out there that are popular- check them all out here.
You can also take some time to browse through the hundreds of additional styles available at us cutter under their knife folders.
It’s worth noting though that this style does have its disadvantages which is why some people opt for more traditional designs instead.
What is the best type of knife for cutting vegetables?
The most important thing to look for when choosing a knife that is best suitable for vegetable prep is a blade that has been designed with the appropriate shape, sharpness & flexibility to allow you to efficiently execute whatever cutting techniques you have practiced thus far.
Just going by size alone won’t mean much because it will come down to how well a certain knife can perform your everyday task once you have taken it out of the box, so I would suggest choosing one that fits comfortably in your hand and allows you to work quickly without experiencing fatigue or discomfort over time as this will also prevent injury from occurring if done properly throughout the entire process.
Conclusion
With a little bit of research, you should be able to find the best 8-inch chef knife for your budget and needs.
If I can do it, so can you! Let me know in the comments below if any of these knives are on your wish list or whether there’s anything else that might work better for what you need them to do in your kitchen. Happy cooking!
I am Luna L. Rusk, a passionate content writer. Always I provide accurate product reviews and information for quicker shopping. I love to cook for my family. In my leisure time, I love spending time with chefs for learning new cooking.