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Top 10 Best Chef Knives Under $200

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Here are the best chef knives under $200

Ready to upgrade to a better chef knife? Even if you already have a top knife set, you may want to compliment it with a distinct chef knife.  In this article, we go through the best chef’s knives under $200 and help you decide where to spend your hard-earned money.  Here are the top 10 best knives for chefs under $200.

Best Chef Knives Under $200

 

Best Overall

Cangshan Thomas Keller Signature Collection Swedish Powder Steel Forged, 8-Inch Chef Knife, Black

Cangshan Thomas Keller Signature Collection Swedish Powder Steel Forged, 8-Inch Chef Knife, Black
  • Designed by Michelin-starred chef Thomas Keller
  • Forged from Swedish Damasteel RWL34 powdered steel
  • Ultra-precise 6-stage heat treatment creates a Rockwell hardness rating of 61 +/-2
  • Attractive walnut storage box featuring Chef Keller’s signature laser engraved
  • NSF International Certified.
  • Lifetime Warranty against manufacturer defects. .
Best German Chef Knife

Wusthof Chef's Knife - 8

Wusthof Chef’s Knife – 8″ – Forged Legende Series
  • Blade is precision forged, tempered to 58 Rockwell Hardness
  • 14° PEtec blade edge on each side with laser guided precision
  • 20% sharper lasting twice as long
  • Unique pebbled thermoplastic handle is ergonomically crafted for optimum comfort
  • Handle is sculpted to reduce fatigue and looks stunning in the kitchen
  • Made in Solingen, Germany with a lifetime warranty
Best Japanese Chef Knife

Shun Classic 8” Chef’s Knife with VG-MAX Cutting Core and Ebony PakkaWood Handle; All-Purpose Blade for a Full Range of Cutting Tasks with Curved Blade for Easy Cuts; Cutlery Handcrafted in Japan

Shun Classic 8” Chef’s Knife with VG-MAX Cutting Core and Ebony PakkaWood Handle; All-Purpose Blade for a Full Range of Cutting Tasks with Curved Blade for Easy Cuts; Cutlery Handcrafted in Japan
  • VG-MAX steel is a formula exclusive to Shun with extra tungsten for a sharper edge
  • Handle is ebony PakkaWood; PakkaWood is a hardwood infused with resin for a durable, water resistant finish
  • “Shun” the Japanese word indicates a food’s peak ripeness

 

Our Criteria for Selecting the Best Chef Knife under $200

To make things an even playing field for our best knives under $50, we have given the following criteria to our selections:

  • 8-inch blade
  • Price range $100 to $200 regular price
  • Forged steel
  • Average of more than 4 out of 5 stars

If you are looking for more modestly priced knives, you can see our best chef knives under $100, highlighting the top 10 knives from $50 to $100. Or, if you are looking for a starter knife, you can find some nice ones in our article on the best chef knives under $50.

What is the best $200 chef knife?

Cangshan Thomas Keller Signature Collection Chef Knife Review

Pros:

  • Signature knife
  • Swedish Powder Steel Forged, 8-Inch
  • NSF (National Sanitation Foundation)
  • Walnut storage box
  • 61 RHS score
  • Swedish Damasteel RWL 34 powdered steel

Cangshan Thomas Keller Signature Collection Swedish Powder Steel Forged, 8-Inch Chef Knife, Black

Cons:

  • Highest priced knife

 

Click here to buy this knife.

 

Review of Cangshan Thomas Keller Signature Collection Chef Knife

Cangshan Thomas Keller Signature Collection Swedish Powder Steel Forged, 8-Inch Chef Knife, Black

As we mentioned in our Cangshan knives review, the Thomas Keller set is their highest-end knife set. This one was the winner of the 2019 RedDot award and the German Design Award in 2020, and the 61 Rockwell Hardness Score along with the 16-degree blade shows that this is a chef knife that was carefully thought out and meticulous in its creation.

If you truly want a beautiful knife that is an award winner, looks beautiful, and is functional all while staying in the best chef knife under the $200 category, then this is the knife for you. It comes with a lifetime warranty against manufacturers’ defects.

 

Click here to buy this knife.

 

 

Wusthof Classic Ikon Chef’s Knife

Pros:

  • 58 Rockwell Hardness
  • 15-degree blade edge
  • Made in Germany
  • Unique handle with double bolster
  • Lifetime warranty

 

Cons:

  • Hand wash only

 

Review of Wusthof Classic Ikon 8″ Chef’s Knife

As we mentioned in our Wusthof knives review, this is a highly reputable brand known for making great knives for a very long time. This knife is the real deal by all claims and is one of the best chef knives under $200. It cuts through bone like butter and feels great in your hand with the textured handle designed to reduce fatigue. The triple-riveted handle is made from a custom synthetic material so that it won’t get water damaged like some other wood handle knives.

The lifetime warranty coupled with a knife maker that has been around for generations makes this knife a solid buy.

The knife gets a 4.8 out of 5 on Amazon and is highly reviewed (over 1000 read them here).

Another option that is just as nice is the 9-inch Chef knife in white here.

Click here to buy this knife in white or black.

 

Santoku Knife vs Chef Knife Find out which is better

 

Dalstrong Kiritsuke Chef Knife 8.5″

 

Pros:

  • Comes with sheath
  • BD1N-VX – Hyper Steel
  • Long-lasting knife
  • 63 Rockwell Hardness Scale (RHS)
  • Sheath and Stand
  • G10 Fiberglass handle
  • Money-back guarantee

 

Cons:

  • The liquid metal design on the knife may not be to your liking.

 

Review of Dalstrong Kiritsuke Chef Knife

Much like our best Gyuto knives review. This is a unique-looking knife and fits nicely in the best chef knives under the $150 category. As we mentioned in our Dalstrong Knives review, they are a good company known for making quality knives. The blade is American forged hyper steel, and the blade is finished at an 8-12 degree angle, making it a very sharp knife.

Between the durability, sharpness, and design of the knife, this one easily makes it onto our list, and if you can get it for less than $150, you have found yourself a good price.  Plus, with over 500 reviews on Amazon and an average of 4.6, you can see that it is an excellent knife (read the reviews here).

 

Click here to buy this knife.

 

Zwilling Professional “S” Chef’s Knife

Pros:

  • Made in Germany
  • 57 RHS
  • Full tang from a solid piece of steel
  • Polymer 3 rivet handle
  • 15-degree angle per side
  • Lifetime warranty
  • Amazon choice

Cons:

  • No sheath

 

Review of Zwilling Professional “S” Chef’s Knife

You don’t need a Zwilling knife review to know about Zwilling as a company. They are the gold standard and used by renowned chefs around the world. They have been around forever and make great knives. This one has over 250 reviews and garners a 4.8 out of 5. Truly the people who buy this knife love it.

What’s not to love? It has a classic look with triple rivets and a super bolster to protect your hand while cutting. The knife is incredibly sharp and scores a 57 on the Rockwell Hardness scale. Couple that with a full warranty and that it’s dishwasher safe (though it’s still best to hand wash). And you have one quality knife easily, putting it in the best chef knives under the $150 category.

 

Click here to buy this knife.

 

 

Victorinox Grand Maitre Chef’s Knife

 

Pros:

  • Swiss made
  • Triple rivet
  • Natural Rosewood handle

Cons:

  • Hand wash and pat dry

Review of Victorinox Grand Maitre Chef’s Knife

The original creator of the Swiss army knife. They have been around for over a century, and you can see why. These knives are beautiful, and if you are looking for a nice knife with a wood handle, this one fits the bill nicely. It’s moderately priced for the knives on our list (falling firmly into the best chef knives under $150). Its full tang construction and ergonomic handle ensure you can use it without suffering from fatigue. See more in our Victorinox knives review

 

Click here to buy this knife.

 

Ferrum Estate Double Bolster Chef’s Knife

Pros:

  • 61 RHS
  • Maple handle
  • Made in the USA
  • American made steel

Cons:

  • No sheath for storage

 

Review of Ferrum Estate Double Bolster Chef’s Knife

This knife has more of a rustic look to it, but that doesn’t take away from what it can do. What’s not to love?  The double bolster allows for a better balance point, and the blade is made from corrosion-resistant American-made steel. If you are looking for a great knife with a Maple handle. This is a good one that you can buy with confidence and support a made in America knife.

 

Click here to buy this knife.

 

Zwilling also makes a self sharpening knife set, read about in our Best Self Sharpening Knife Blocks.

 

 

Best Japanese chef knife under 200:

Shun Classic Chef’s Knife

 

Pros:

  • Tungsten Carbon blade
  • Pakkawood handle
  • Curved blade
  • Handcrafted in Japan

 

Cons:

  • No sheath

 

Review of Shun Classic Chef’s Knife

As we mentioned in our review of Shun Knives, this is one of Shun’s premier Chef’s knives, and it’s easy to see why. From the design of the knife and the handle, every part of this knife shows it’s a knife that is sought out by professional and home chefs alike. This knife has been described as a “tiny sword,” and when you see the videos of it, you can understand why. It is an extremely sharp and easy-to-use knife, easily making the list of our best cooking knives under $200.

With 4.7 out of 5 stars and over 1,600 ratings, you can see that Shun knives are a thing of beauty and a great addition to any kitchen.

 

Click here to buy this knife.

 

Zelite Infinity Chef Knife

Pros:

  • Damascus steel
  • Triple-riveted handle
  • Hand sharpened
  • Japanese stainless AUS-10 Steel
  • Full tang

Cons:

  • Blade look may not be what you want if looking for a chef knife.

 

Review of Zelite Infinity Chef Knife

This is a well-weighted knife that you would expect to see with a knife like this. The handle is made from military-grade G10 (a resin-based material) combined with the full tang metal is designed to last you a very long time. The 12-degree blade edge makes it extremely sharp and easy to use for your everyday kitchen cutting. It also has a lifetime warranty, so you can buy it knowing you are safe from manufacturing defects.

The reviews of this knife are fairly strong, with an average of 4.7 out of 5 and over 2500 ratings (see the reviews here).

 

Click here to buy this knife.

 

 

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Global G-2-8″ Chef’s Knife

 

Pros:

  • Made in Japan
  • Ergonomic handle
  • Durable steel
  • Lightweight

Cons:

  • No sheath

Review of Global G-2-8″ Chef’s Knife

This chef knife comes with custom engraving, which is the only knife that allows for this. It would make a great gift for someone moving to a new house or someone who is looking to start stocking their list of kitchen essentials.

It is the only knife to get a 5 out of 5 score, but it only has 37 reviews. So I wouldn’t put much weight on it yet. But it is a very nice-looking knife, and the handle stands out from the rest of the crowd in the list.

 

Click here to buy this knife.

 

Did you ceramic knives are just as sharp as Chef’s knives. Here’s the Best Ceramic Knives.

 

Mac Mighty Mac Professional Hollow Edge Chef’s Knife

 

Pros:

  • Dimples allow for smoother cutting
  • Pakkawood handle (click to see what is pakkawood)
  • Made in Japan

 

Cons:

  • Not dishwasher safe
  • No sheath

 

Review of Mac Mighty Mac Professional Hollow Edge Chef’s Knife

This is Mac Knifes premier knife brand and comes in as one of the best chef’s knives under $200. It is an exquisite knife with an easy to grip handle. The knife’s dimples can help cut whole foods like zucchini and apples where the knives can get stuck. The blade and bolster, coupled with the knife’s weight, make it a straightforward one to use, and it would be a great addition to any kitchen. With 4.6 out of 5 stars (see the 700+ reviews here) and an Amazon’s Choice product, it’s clear that we’re not the only ones who feel this way.

 

Click here to buy this knife.

 

Final Thoughts on the Best Chef Knife for Under $200

Cangshan Thomas Keller Signature Collection Swedish Powder Steel Forged, 8-Inch Chef Knife, Black

When you are going into this price range, you have a lot more selection, and the quality of the knife increases in lockstep. While all of these knives would be a good addition to your collection, if pressed to make a choice, I would go with the Thomas Keller Cangshan Chef knife, followed by the Wusthof Classic Ikon. Both of these chef’s knives are beautiful and would make a great addition to your cutting arsenal.

 

Click here to buy this knife.

 

Want more knife reviews? Here’s everything you need:

Do you know your knife anatomy? Check out these parts of a knife article.

 

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