Top 10 best cheap kitchen knives in 2020
If you’re looking for the best cheap kitchen knives that balances quality with affordability, then you’re in the right place. We’ll be sharing some tips on how to choose a budget chef’s knife, plus our top 10 recommended budget chef’s knives available in the UK right now.
A chef’s knife is a multi-purpose knife used by chefs and cooks for a variety of tasks such as slicing meat joints and dicing vegetables. Chef’s knives are available in a variety of sizes, but the standard chef’s knife is 20 centimetres (8 inches) long and 3.8 centimetres (1.5 inches) wide.
Chef’s knives are classified into two types: French and German. French knives have a more straight cutting edge, whereas German knives have a more curved cutting edge. They both work equally well, but some people prefer the shape of one over the other.
Top 10 best cheap kitchen knives in 2020
Here’s a list of our top ten budget chef’s knives on the market right now in the UK. We hope this helps you find the best knife for you!
1.Viners 0305.213 Assure 8” Chef Soft Grip Handle Safety Kitchen Knife with a 10 Year Guarantee
We can’t say enough good things about the Viners Assure 8″ Chef Knife. It’s incredibly cheap and of genuine high quality. The matte black handle is soft and comfortable to hold, and the nonstick coating prevents vegetables and meat from sticking to the knife.
The black finish has not peeled or flaked after months of use, and it has remained sharp for months and months after the initial testing. The block end of the knife eliminates the possibility of a sharp edge catching your fingers while chopping.
This also makes it simple to store, as the knife can point down on a magnetic grip without fear of injuring anyone or catching any kitchen items if it falls.
2.Zelite Infinity Chef Knife 8 Inch
The Zelite Infinity 8-inch Chef Knife is made with premium quality Japanese Damascus steel tempered with liquefied Nitrogen to ensure long-lasting performance resistance to rust. It is one of the bestselling kitchen knives in the UK and our top pick for the right reasons. With its seductive premium design, it’s a perfectly crafted kitchen knife that will add luxury and elegance to any kitchen.
But, more importantly, it’s ideal multipurpose cutlery for a variety of kitchen tasks such as peeling, slicing, cutting, mincing, and so on. It can also easily cut through even the toughest food ingredients.
The kitchen knife comes in a premium packaged box that will impress anyone at first sight (even before the nicely designed blade is revealed) and does an excellent job of preventing damage during transportation. The 8-inch long blade is hand-finished and ruthlessly sharp, with a pro razor edge on each side. Furthermore, its cutting angles are mirror-polished for maximum sharpness and safety.
3.Victorinox Classic Knife Set 3 piece
4.Zelite Infinity Santoku Knife – Comfort-Pro Series
This is the priciest knife on this list (at the time of writing), but it’s also arguably the best. It comes in a beautifully designed box, making it an ideal gift.
This knife has a nice sharp edge and shouldn’t need sharpening before use. The difference is night and day if you’re not used to using chef’s knives. This knife cuts very cleanly, allowing you to quickly and easily cut meat and dice vegetables.
5.Victorinox – Chefs Knife Extra Broad 20cm
This was the sharpest knife we tested, as well as the best all-around performer. It easily handles everyday chopping tasks while also being ideally shaped and flexible enough for more experienced jobs like jointing chicken or filleting fish. The handle was one size fits all in easy-to-clean plastic, but for more of a looker and about £8 more, Victorinox does a very similar rosewood handled knife that we also liked. For safe storage, the knife comes with a re-usable sheath.
6.Wüsthof CLASSIC Cook´s knife – 4582 / 20 cm
Wüsthof have been making knives in Solingen, the “City of Blades”, since 1814, and their precisely made blades have received plaudits from the likes of Tim Hayward.
While it was difficult to pick a winner from such a high-quality field, this knife stood out to me. The primary reasons are durability and balance – it just felt right in my hand. The blade and handle did not feel overly weighty when held by the bolster (the lump in the middle, between the blade and the handle), indicating a well-balanced knife.
7.Joseph Joseph LockBlock, Self-Locking Knife Block with 6 Knives
8.Victorinox D828 Santoku Knife, Scalloped Edge
9.Viners 0305.216 Assure 4 Piece Knife Set, Stainless Steel, Non-Stick Blades, 10 Year Guarantee
Viners has come up with an ideal solution if you have young children or are simply tired of nipping yourself on knives that have been placed in the drawer the wrong way round. In contrast to traditional blades, each knife in the Assure set has a completely flat tip. While this results in a rather ordinary-looking blade, it has little effect on how they work – you can still cut, slice, and dice as usual. The set includes a 6in chef’s knife, a 6in santoku knife, a 5in utility knife, and a 3.5in paring knife. This set is great for everyday tasks, but if you like to experiment with different ingredients, you’ll probably need to supplement it with more knives.
10.Iridescent Rainbow Coloured Chefs Knife
How do you care for best cheap kitchen knives?
Make a habit of properly cleaning your knives, keeping them razor sharp, and storing them safely. Taking the time to care for your knives will pay off in the long run.
To clean your knives: Some brands will say that their knives are dishwasher safe, but if you want to ensure the longevity of your knives, we’d always advise against putting them in the dishwasher. You need nothing more than washing up liquid and water to clean knives effectively. However, if a brand claims it’s knives are dishwasher safe, we will take this into consideration in our tests.
To sharpen your knives: A sharp knife is not only safer, but it is also easier to use. Sharpening your knives regularly means the knife is less likely to slip when cutting and less effort will be needed to cut through foods.
- Manual sharpeners are a great option for those with a smaller budget who are willing to sharpen more regularly.
- Electric sharpeners are a little more expensive but produce a sharper blade thanks to the 2 or 3 step programmes on offer.
- Sharpening stones (whetstones) are the best tools for sharpening knives as they produce razor-sharp results, but it’s time-consuming and requires practice.
Conclusion
Whether you’re looking to upgrade a blunt set that’s seen better days, or simply need a starter set for your new home, we’ve rounded up a selection whatever your budget. You can trust our independent reviews. We may earn commission from some of the retailers, but we never allow this to influence selections, which are formed from real-world testing and expert advice.