Buying a set of premium kitchen knives is a significant investment, which is why I go into great detail about each brand in this guide.
If you’re serious about finding the right brand for your needs, I highly recommend reading the entire guide.
But, if you’re in a hurry and only have a few minutes, here is the key information you need to know about each brand.
Wusthof
Wusthof is the Best German Kitchen Knife Brand due to its high-quality materials, innovative manufacturing processes, functional design, and durability.
There is a lot to love about Wusthof knives, but its most notable quality is durability—these knives will last a very long time. Wusthof makes its blades from X50CRMoV15, which they harden to 58 on the Rockwell scale. This hardening process creates an optimal balance between edge retention and durability.
Its ergonomic handles are made from either an ultra-durable synthetic material or wood.
They use an innovative process called PEtec to yield edges that are 20% sharper and have twice the edge retention of its competitors.
Overall, Wusthof knives are well-balanced and sturdy—the type of knives that you’ll never need to replace.
Skip ahead to the next section to get the full details about Wusthof, or check out their award-winning knife collections on Amazon.
Wusthof knives
Zwilling J.A. Henckels
Zwilling J.A. Henckels is the Most Proven Kitchen Knife Brand due to its consistent and innovative approach to knife making that’s put them atop the cutlery industry for over 280 years—one of the oldest brands across all industries.
Zwilling makes its blades out of high-carbon, stainless steel. They make the handles from either synthetic materials or natural wood, including Mediterranean Holm Oak and PakkaWood.
They use a unique ice-hardening process called Friodur to achieve ideal sharpness and long-lasting edge retention.
Experts at Food & Wine and Good Housekeeping praise Zwilling knives, and top chefs, including Gordon Ramsay, use the brand in their kitchens.
Skip to this section to learn more about why Zwilling J.A. Henckels is one of the best kitchen knife brands, or check out their collections on Amazon or on Zwilling.com.
MAC
MAC is the Best-Performing Knife Brand due to its ultra-sharp edge, unique V-shaped tapered edge, sub-zero tempering process that results in superior edge retention, and Japanese/German hybrid design.
MAC blades are treated with liquid nitrogen, making the alloy harder and giving it better edge retention.
They grind and bevel the whole side of the blade, resulting in a thinner and sharper knife that doesn’t need to be sharpened as often.
Although MAC doesn’t have the brand recognition of Wusthof or Zwilling, it’s been around for decades and is consistently named the best chef’s knife by outlets such as The New York Times and Food & Wine Magazine.
Global is the Most Unique Kitchen Knife Brand due to its sleek, all-steel design, high-quality steel, razor-sharp edges, and lightweight/balanced construction.
Global knives are stainless steel from the tip of the blade to the butt end of the handle and feature black dimples on the handle for grip—a design unlike any other brand.
The hollow handles are filled with sand, which makes the knives light, balanced, and easy to maneuver.
The edges are straight, rather than beveled, which keeps the knives razor-sharp for much longer.
Global knives aren’t cheap, but, in general, they are less expensive than Wusthof, Zwilling, and Shun.
Shun is the Best Japanese Kitchen Knife Brand due to its innovative approach to materials and construction, gorgeous blade patterns, and commitment to upholding ancient knife-making traditions (like handcrafting each knife).
Shun makes its blades from a variety of highly-refined super steels, which are stainless steel alloys with high-carbon content.
Unlike most brands that have a smooth blade surface, Shun blades are like a work of art, marked with gorgeous Damascus and hammered patterns. These patterns not only make a statement, but they also create air pockets that prevent food from sticking.
Shun handles are either PakkaWood, Tagayasan wood, or a textured synthetic polymer, and most have a D-shaped design that provides control and stability.
Victorinox is the Best Value Kitchen Knife Brand due to its razor-sharp edges, incredibly comfortable handles, and relatively low cost.
Victorinox offers several options, including one forged knife collection (Grand Maitre) and several stamped knife collections—each with unique design and features.
The brand’s best-selling knife collection, Fibrox, is a favorite among professional chefs due to its grippy, non-slip handle, hard steel blade, and incredibly sharp edge.
Most Victorinox knives are stamped, which means the blades are thinner, lighter, and more flexible—but they lack the heft and balance of forged knives.
Compared to the other brands featured in this guide, Victorinox knives are significantly less expensive.
Read the full review to learn more about what makes Victorinox knives unique, or check out their collections on Amazon.
Victorinox Fibrox Chefs Knife
Comparison Chart
The chart below makes it easy to compare the best kitchen knife brands across key categories.
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