A quality set of kitchen knives is an essential piece of equipment for home chefs. Cooks need a high-quality knife to prepare any meal.

Using a sharpened, high-quality knife can make a chef’s work faster and safer.
The best kitchen knife brands produce sharp, sturdy, and well-balanced knives. When reviewing knife brands, check customer reviews and company longevity.
Kitchen knives are usually composed of some proprietary combination of steel. Knives are crafted in different countries like Japan, Germany, Switzerland, and the United States.
A high-quality and sharp kitchen knife is one of the best ways to become a better home cook or a more efficient professional chef.
A set of high-quality kitchen knives are a considerable investment, so when selecting a brand, consider your needs and the offerings of each specific kitchen knife brand.
This comprehensive list reviews nine of the best kitchen knife brands to help you decide which option is best for you.
Wüsthof
Wüsthof is a craft knife company based in Solingen, Germany.
The family-owned business has been operational for seven generations. Primarily, Wüsthof sells reasonably priced, high-end kitchen knives for home cooks and professional chefs.
Indeed, Consumer Reports recognized both Wüsthof’s Classic and Grand Prix series knives as premier.
Most of the company’s employees work in Germany, where the knives are manufactured, but the knives are sold in more than eighty countries.
The company’s trademark is a trident in a circle. The company makes ten distinct knife series, some used by famous chefs like Martha Stewart, Jamie Oliver, and Gordon Ramsey.
Zwilling J.A. Henckels
Zwilling J. A. Henckels is a knife-making company located in Solingen, Germany, with some additional production locations in China and Spain.
The company is one of the oldest and largest knife producers globally; specifically, the knife company was opened in 1731 by Peter Henckels.
In the 1800s, J.A. Henckels started selling and trading knives in New York City, Berlin, and Vienna.
The manufacturing process consists of forging a single piece of high-carbon stainless steel, which is tempered and finished in liquid nitrogen.
This distinct process reduces metal fatigue as the knife is used. Henckels is one of the best kitchen knife brands.
Shun
Shun Cutlery is a kitchen knife brand located in Tokyo, Japan.
The company has produced various pieces of cutlery over the years, like folding knives, razors, and assorted kitchen cutlery.
However, the knife has only been accessible in the Western market since 2002, and now Shun knives are sold in more than thirty countries.
Shun Cutlery is the preferred knife of various chefs. In 2003, the Shun Classic Hollow-Ground Santoku won Knife of the Year at a Blade Show award.
The company has won other awards over the years and has become a staple in home and professional kitchens across the globe.
Imarku
Imarku kitchen knives are used by both chefs and home cooks.
What sets these high-quality kitchen knives apart is that they are handcrafted by renowned Japanese artisans.
The knives are sold at reasonable prices so that amateur cooks can enjoy the benefits of a good knife. It is one of the most popular brands for everyday cooking.
The most popular knife is the 7-Inch Cleaver Knife, which is a meat cleaver style knife made from stainless steel and designed to be multifunctional.
Imarku sells both 16- and 15- piece knife sets with block storage units. The knife uses German engineering to maintain a sharpness that makes chopping and meal preparation easier.
Global Cutlery USA
Global Cutlery is a brand of Japanese chef’s knives. Global knives have black dimples on the handle that help a chef grip the knife properly and are an added aesthetic value.
The blades are often sold and stored in a knife block. Global knives are some of the best-selling knives in the country.
One special feature of the Global knives is the fifteen-degree angle, producing a sharper knife allowing for more exact chopping, dicing, and slicing.
In addition, Global Cutlery recommends using ceramic sharpening rods to keep the knives sharp. Professional chefs that have used Global knives include Anthony Bourdain and Michel Roux, Jr.
Victorinox
Victorinox is a knife manufacturer that crafts knives in Schwyz, Switzerland.
Notably, Victorinox makes excellent Swiss Army knives composed of a steel blend from France and Germany.
In 2005, Victorinox merged with another company, Wenger, and the merged company is now the largest supplier of Swiss Army knives.
Victorinox produced kitchen cutlery under the Forschner brand name, but in 2011, Victorinox began making kitchen knives under their banner company’s name.
The company’s bread knife and standard cooking knife are Victorinox’s two most popular items. Home cooks, professional chefs, and the Swiss Army have been happily using Victorinox products for years.
Mercer Culinary
Mercer Culinary is focused on meeting the needs of professional chefs.
The brand aims to ensure that chefs can be as efficient as possible—Mercer Culinary partners with the National Restaurant Association and the American Culinary Association.
Mercer Culinary is also the home corporation for Barfly, equipment for the expert or novice bartenders.
The knives are a combination of contemporary technology and specifically crafted German steel.
Mercer Culinary offers various types of knives like Genesis, Renaissance, and Millennia–all of which have the signature black handles commonly associated with Mercer Culinary.
Many professional chefs use some version of equipment from Mercer Culinary.
Kramer
Kramer Knives is owned and operated by Bob Kramer, who is based in Seattle, Washington.
Bob became one of 120 Master Bladesmiths in the United States as designated by the American Bladesmith Society to achieve his goal of making the best knives possible.
Bob Kramer offers custom knife options that arrive with a certificate of authenticity and warranty.
Otherwise, knives are sold via auctions that individuals seeking a Kramer knife are invited to participate in at a designated date and time.
Follow Kramer Knives on social media for more information about custom knives and ways to purchase one of these fantastic creations.
MAC Knives
MAC knives are crafted, polished, and honed by experienced Japanese craftsmen.
The knives are created in Japan, and the knives are known for having razor-sharp edges with comfortable handles and outstanding balance.
Since 1964, more than 25 million knives have been sold by MAC Knives.
MAC Knives offer more than seven distinct series of knives like the Superior Series, the Chef Series, and the Japanese Series.
MAC Knives are also sold based on purpose; for instance, chefs can purchase a cleaver, a bread knife, or a sashimi knife.
MAC Knives is one of the most reputable Japanese knives on the market and is used by home cooks and professional chefs alike.
Owning a high-quality knife brand can improve a chef’s ability to prepare foods effortlessly.
Using sharp, stainless steel knives can improve a home cook’s ability and increase a professional chef’s acumen. From Germany to Japan to Switzerland, high-quality knives are produced and sold globally.
From julienning vegetables for the quiche to slicing a perfectly grilled ribeye steak, owning one of the best brands of kitchen knives makes preparing various dishes more fun and ultimately more successful.
If you are interested in learning more about cutlery and preparing some of the more delicate creations, check out these best sushi knives recommended by chefs.