Best Chef Knife Under 100

In every kitchen, preparing food is easier and faster when you have the right tools within your reach. The knife is one such example.

Nothing can be more frustrating than trying to cut a tomato in half and ending up with a smushed tomato - because of a dull knife. So if you have a knife that isn't cutting it anymore, it's time to have a chef knife that will not let you down.

After hours of research and evaluation, our # 1 pick for the year is the Mercer Culinary Millennia Chef's Knife.

So let's walk you through our full list of the 11 Best Chef Knife that is under 100 dollars.

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A high-quality, super sharp Japanese steel knife that is versatile and will cut through almost anything effortlessly, making it our Top # 1 Pick.

It's hard to ask anything more from the Mercer Culinary Millenia Chef's Knife.

Whether you're cutting and chopping tens of pounds of veggies for a salsa house recipe, or dozens of loaves of Ciabatta or French bread, this is the best chef knife for the job. Do you want a thinner slice for your tomato? No problem. The Mercer Chef's knife is an incredibly sharp knife right out of the box.

The textured finger points and rubber grip provide slip-resistance handling for safety. A combination of Santoprene and polypropylene materials are used for comfort and durability. And since it's made from the highest quality Japanese steel, this knife will resist rust, corrosion, and discoloration. Best of all, this chef's knife is NSF certified, a highly independent organization that tests for safety, quality, and performance. (1)

A high-quality, super sharp Japanese steel knife that is versatile and will cut through almost anything effortlessly, making it our Top # 2 Pick.

If a knife is good enough to be used by Chef Gordon Ramsey, then it's definitely good enough for mere mortals like us.

The J.A. Henckels International 8-inch Classic Chef's knife is what some of the best chefs in the world use in preparing their signature dishes. With a fully-forged construction, it offers durability and a seamless transition from blade to handle. What that means is that this knife is going to let you cut vegetables, fish, bread, and even meat with precision.

The ergonomic, traditional triple-rivet handle gives balance, allowing you to cut, chop, dice and slice anything with ease and comfort. Made of stain-resistant carbon steel, this product is assembled in Spain with the stainless steel blade sourced from Germany. It's dishwasher safe which is very convenient when you need to clean the knife.  This is one of the very best chef knives under 100 dollars that is worth every penny.  

A trusted Swiss-quality brand chef's knife that is well-built and razor-sharp to handle all your cutting needs.

The Fibrox Pro Chef's knife is a trusted Swiss quality knife made by Victorinox, a company that has been crafting different tools since 1884. They provide a lifetime guarantee against defects in material and workmanship, one of the few that do. 

This chef's knife is made from high-quality lightweight European steel that is razor-sharp and laser-tested. That means chopping, slicing, cutting is going to be effortless with this piece of powerful steel. Light to the touch and with a non-slip patented handle, this chef knife is going to feel as if it's an extension of your hand.  

No tasks are big or small. The flat spine is designed to deliver extra power to slice through hard-skinned vegetables or meat saving you time and energy. The ergonomic handle made from thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) reduces hand and wrist fatigue. It's long and sloping curved blade "rocks" back and forth, which makes mincing and chopping a breeze. It's certified by the National Sanitary Foundation (NSF) and it's dishwasher safe. Clearly, it's one of the very best chef knives under 100 dollars. (2)

A razor-sharp beautifully patterned professional-grade chef's knife that cuts meats like a boss.

The Paudin Pro Kitchen Knife will make you feel like a master chef.  Its super razor-sharp blade allows you to cut items easily with almost no effort. The alloy in this German steel blade prevents dulling and rust. With proper handling and maintenance, there is no need to sharpen the blades in months and even years!

The quality of the best chef's knives is its ability in cutting multiple ways. Chopping, slicing, mincing, and dicing fruits, vegetables, and meat is easy with the ultra-sharp edge of its blade. Holding it in your hand, you can immediately feel the perfect balance between the handle and the thin blade. The ease of movement with the soft and comfortable handle make it a go-to knife of professional chefs.

The special waved pattern blade makes it a lovely thing to look at. But where it shines best is its cutting performance whether it's for hard-skinned fruits and vegetables or tough meats. It comes in a quality gift box with magnetic closure that is easy to open, allowing you to safely store it when not in use.  

A razor-sharp out of the box quality chef knife that makes food cutting preparation an enjoyable task.

This chef's knife combines the perfect balance between a European and Japanese style chef knife. It has the tip-down rocking chop motion that European chef knives are known for. The smooth slicing of Japanese style chef knives makes it ideal for those sashimi-style slices. Made from stainless steel blade, this is a rust-proof and corrosion-free chef's knife.

Finding the best chef knife under 100 dollars is easy but finding one at less than 30 is not. And with the Kuma, every penny spent is worth the price of this ultra-sharp chef knife. It's a versatile tool that can delicately slice, chop hard, or cutting with precision whether it's tough meat or hard-skinned fruits and vegetables.   The stainless steel is soft yet durable and sharpening it is quite easy.

The ergonomically designed handle makes cutting very comfortable and easy. It's a multi-purpose chef's knife that allows you to perform different ways of cutting and it even carves meat with ease. The lightweight material, ergonomic handle, and elegant Japanese inspired profile make the Kuma truly one of the best chef knives in the market today. 

A Japanese style bladed chef's knife that professional chefs prefer to use for its versatility and ease of use.

Another Victorinox for our best chef knife under 100 and why not? This 10-inch Swiss Classic Chef's Knife with Granton Blade, also known as a hollow edge provides extra leverage for those larger tasks. Its longer cutting edge allows you to chop multiple carrots or celery sticks instead of one. Cutting through hard-skinned fruits or vegetables is very easy with this high carbon stainless steel knife.

The hollow edge or fluted edge features hollowed-out grooves or dimples on both sides of the blade. When cutting hard-skinned fruits or vegetables, these grooves will fill with juices or create pockets of air. This prevents food from sticking to the blade creating less friction.  And with less friction, cutting is going to be smooth and easy.

The long, sloping curve of the blade makes it easy to "rock" back and forth which allows you to mince and chop with ease. The flat spine makes it convenient for you to press down on the blade when extra pressure is needed to slice through those hard-skinned food items. And since this is a Victorinox, the lifetime warranty against material and workmanship defects makes this one of the very best chef knives right now.  

A high-quality,  ultra-sharp chef knife that is the workhorse of the kitchen.  

It's the pick-up truck of kitchen knives. It will make easy work of watermelons, onions, potatoes, tomatoes, or anything that you put in front of it. The Mercer Culinary Ultimate White is truly one of the very best chef knives when it comes to versatility. Made from high-quality Japanese steel,  this is rust-proof and corrosion-free.  

The textured finger points and rubber grip allows for a comfortable handle and ease of use. The polypropylene material makes it a very durable knife. It's NSF certified which guarantees that it passed the safety, quality, and performance tests of the highly independent organization. One of the very best chef knives currently in the market. 

A heavy-duty super-sharp 8-inch versatile chef knife that is heavy in looks and performance.   

With so many chef knives on the market, it's easy to get confused as to which one deserves your hard-earned money. There are a number of best chef knives under 100 that can give expensive knives a run for their money. The TUO Chef knife is one of them. This 8-inch piece of beauty is highly capable of cutting almost anything from meat, fish, vegetables, and fruits. The wide and heavy design of this knife is truly great for cutting.

Whether you use this for taking care of tons of onions or 20 lbs of potatoes, this knife is up for the task. In short, this is a heavy-duty knife that will cut, dice, mince, and chop with conviction. With a good quality blade that is extremely sharp and full tang handle made from composite high-density Pakkawood, the TUO is truly a beautiful and functional chef knife.

It comes in a nice long box where you can store it after use.  The lifetime warranty is a bonus for a sharp edge and affordable chef knife that delivers.  

A perfectly balanced and durable chef knife that looks and feels premium that makes cutting a breeze. 

The beautiful wooden handle with a full-length tang and 3 beautifully rounded rivets speaks volumes about its look and quality. It really has a premium feel and is aesthetically pleasing to the eyes. This is one chef knife that should give you a lot of compliments from friends. Dalstrong has built its reputation as a knife maker that many professional chefs prefer.

Engineered to perfection at 56+ Rockwell hardness and hand-polished to a satin finish. Carefully tapered for improved hardness, flexibility, and minimal slicing resistance. The tall blade height provides useful knuckle clearance for ease of use. This chef knife is super sharp and no need to further sharpen it.  It will breeze through any hard-skinned fruits, vegetables, or even tough meat for cutting and slicing.

The steel is hard enough so you can be sure that it will keep its sharp edges intact.  Its size is just right and the handle is ideal for any hand size.  It may be one of the more expensive chef knives for the kitchen on our list but justifiably so. It truly deserves a spot for the best chef knife under 100.

A 6-inch chef knife that is forged from a single piece of steel that is best for chefs or cooks with smaller hands.  

At 6 inches, the Wusthof Classic Chef Knife is just perfect for those who find an 8-inch chef knife slightly big in their hand.  Its 8-ounce weight is not too light nor too heavy for cutting. The high-quality carbon stainless steel blades will cut through any hard-skinned items in the kitchen with ease. The full tang with 3 rivets makes the handle of the Wusthof Classic feels solid to the touch.

This forged knife is more durable and should stay sharper for months and even years.  Take good care of it and it will take care of cutting, dicing, or chopping for you. The Wusthof Classic Chef Knife can easily cut through denser roots like ginger and turnips or hard-skinned veggies or fruits such as pumpkins and watermelons. This is simply one of the very best chef knives under 100 on our list. 

A chef knife that is known for its exquisite beauty and ultra-premium performance in the kitchen.

For people who know their knives, the Shun brand is one of the most sought-after kitchen knives under 100 dollars in the market today. With its reputation of adhering to their ancient tradition in handcrafting their knives in their Seki City facilities in Japan. Technology has definitely changed how the majority of their knives were made but the know-how and the design of each individual knives make the Shun brand one of the best in the market.

The Shun Sora 8 inch Chef's Knife is kitchen cutlery that is known for its ultra-sharp blades that can literally slice through a flying paper in mid-air. The Shun Sora is the entry-level knife series while the Shun Premier is the top of the line or the best of the brand.  But if you think this is a mediocre knife, you have another think coming. Made from VG10 san Mai cutting core, this knife can handle any cutting, dicing, chopping, and slicing that you throw at it. It's not gonna let you down.

One of the best chef knife under 100, the Shun Sora is definitely ahead in cutting performance.  With a price tag below 100 dollars, the company name, and craftsmanship of this quality knife is enough to justify its price. 

If you tell a chef that he can only choose a single knife that he can use for the rest of his life, guess what type of knife he will pick?  

If you answered "a chef's knife", boy you are correct! There's a reason why a chef's knife is the king of knives in every kitchen. It accounts for 80-90 percent of the cutting jobs. It is truly the most versatile and functional knife that any chef can have.

So what are the things that we need to look out for when buying a chef knife that will make our kitchen adventure more enjoyable?  Below are some of the most important things to consider when you need to buy a chef knife.  

This is the main reason why anyone buys a knife or in our case a chef's knife.   Most knives our of the box are very sharp and is ready to cut or slice.  But there are some chef's knives that may be sharp, but not sharp enough for discriminating customers - such as you.  So it's best to read reviews if you cannot physically see the chef knife you want to buy.  This way you will not be disappointed once you get your hands on your chef knife the moment you grip it and cut away.  

Durability is interlinked with the materials used for the knife.  Just by knowing what is it made of would basically give you an idea of its life-span.  Most chef's knives are made of stainless steel but it varies from brands.  Some are made thicker than others and some use a more high-quality type of steel compared to others.  While the price is sometimes a good gauge of the built quality, it's not written in stone so be aware.  There are less expensive kitchen knives or chef's knives that are more durable than their more expensive counterparts.  So do your research and don't be fooled by the price as some simply sell their knives higher as a marketing strategy. 

Most chef's knives are very versatile except for those smaller than 8 inches.  The most versatile chef knives are those that are between 8-10 inches since these are ideal for cutting small and large food items. Your razor-sharp knife should be able to cut, slice, mince, chop, pare, and even pound.  Some knives can even be used for meat cleaving but this is not advisable to ensure the longevity of your priced knife.  

This is self-explanatory, and especially when you buy the more expensive brands, make sure that there is a warranty in case something unfortunate happens to your knife.  Most brands in Amazon have great customer service and most give a warranty of sorts or even a full refund when you are not happy with your purchase. (3)

Now that you've seen our list of the 11 best chef knife under 100, you should now have a clearer picture of what are the things that you need to consider when purchasing your quality chef knife. A lot of it depends on your personal preference such as the style, the design of the blade, the comfort that you expect when you grip and eventually use it.

But everything else considered, choosing the right knife for you boils down on what are the most important features that you value.  Once you've determined that, you are now closer to holding in your hand your brand new best chef knife.  The one that will give you great satisfaction once you grip it and start slicing your way in preparation for your kitchen dish masterpiece!