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Even as someone who has been building a collection of knives over the past 15 years, I’ll admit that I could do pretty much everything with just three of them:
Consider this a sharp extension of your hand. The blade is long enough to slice pretty much every vegetable, and the tip is fine enough for delicate work.
BA Test Kitchen Pick: The Mac 8" Pro Chef’s Knife with Dimples is our workhorse: The size is just right, and we love the combination of a classic Western shape with a harder steel edge. The bolsterless symmetrical blade makes for easy sharpening.
BUY IT: Mac 8" Pro Chef's Knife with Dimples, $145 on Amazon
Crucial for those times—such as hulling strawberries or coring tomatoes—when you need a knife small enough to hold above the cutting board, with a fine, maneuverable point.
BA Test Kitchen Pick: Bob Kramer’s Essential Collection 4” paring knife features a rounded, ergonomic handle that fits comfortably in the hand.
BUY IT: Bob Kramer's Essential Collection 4" paring knife, $130 on Amazon
A necessity for cutting through hard crusty bread—but useful for so much more, from gingerly slicing the ripest tomatoes to peeling a pineapple.
BA Test Kitchen Pick: Nearly indestructible, the Wusthof 9” Classic Double Serrated Bread Knife has twice the serrations, for faster and easier slicing.
BUY IT: Wustof 9" Classic Double Serrated Bread Knife, $110 on Amazon