Episode Notes

Kitchen knives are one of the most important tools in your home.

In this episode, senior kitchen writer Lesley Stockton reveals which knives you actually need, how much to spend, and the proper way to store and sharpen your knives.

From breaking down the differences between Japanese- and Western-style blades to explaining why a dull knife is more dangerous than a sharp one, Lesley walks through the fundamentals—plus the small habits that can keep your knives chopping for decades.

This episode covers:

• Why you only need three knives: A chef’s knife, a paring knife, and a serrated (bread) knife will handle nearly everything in a home kitchen. Most knife sets just add unnecessary “filler” pieces.

• How to choose a chef’s knife that actually works for you: Sharpness out of the box matters most, but after that it comes down to comfort, balance, and how it feels in your hand.

• Why you don’t need to spend a fortune: A great chef’s knife can cost as little as $50, and cheaper knives (especially paring knives) can perform just as well for everyday tasks.

• Honing vs. sharpening: A honing rod doesn’t sharpen your knife—it realigns the edge. You should hone your knives every time you cook, but it doesn’t replace real sharpening.

• The biggest knife-care mistakes people make: Putting knives in the dishwasher, soaking them in water, or storing them loose in drawers can damage the blade and shorten their lifespan.

Products we recommend: 

• The best chef’s knife: Mac MTH-80

• A sharp and affordable chef’s knive: Victorinox Swiss Classic Chef’s Knife (8-Inch)

• An affordable Japanese knife: Tojiro F-808

• A classic German knife: Wüsthof Classic Ikon 8″ Chef’s Knife

• An inexpensive and effective paring knife: Victorinox 3.25-Inch Paring Knife

• A durable and inexpensive serrated paring knife: Victorinox 3¼" Swiss Classic Serrated Paring Knife

• The best serrated knife: Mercer Culinary Millennia Wavy Edge Wide Bread Knife M23210

• The best electric knife sharpener: Chef’sChoice 1520

• A honing rod we like: Idahone Fine Ceramic Sharpening Rod (12 inches)

Additional reading:

• The Best Chef’s Knife

• The Best Paring Knife

• The 2 Best Serrated Bread Knives

• Build Your Own Knife Set 

• How to Sharpen Knives Without Damaging Their Blades

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The Wirecutter Show is executive produced by Rosie Guerin and produced by Abigail Keel.Engineering support from Maddy Masiello and Nick Pitman. Episodes are mixed by Catherine Anderson, Efim Shapiro, Rowan Niemisto, Sophia Lanman, and Sonia Herrero. Original music by Dan Powell, Marion Lozano, Elisheba Ittoop, and Diane Wong. Wirecutter’s deputy publisher and general manager is Cliff Levy. Ben Frumin is Wirecutter’s editor-in-chief. Hosted by Rosie Guerin, Caira Blackwell and Christine Cyr Clisset.

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