I’m a Former Prep Cook, and This Is the One Thing I’m Buying on Sale During Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days

There are a lot of fun aspects of cooking, but one of my absolute favorite parts of any culinary project is prepping ingredients. I worked as a prep cook after college for a while, and even though I didn’t love every task I had to do (peeling garlic and shelling shrimp weren’t that great), there was something relaxing and fun about chopping up mountains of fruits and veggies. However, prepping lots of ingredients can be a huge hassle if you don’t have the right gear. Of course, you’ll need a solid cutting board, but the piece that you should definitely invest in is a high-quality chef’s knife. Unfortunately, higher-end knives can put a serious dent in your wallet, so whenever you see a good one on sale, you should jump at the chance to smash that “add to cart” button. That’s why I’m planning on buying the Shun Cutlery Sora Chef’s Knife while it’s marked down 36 percent during Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days.

Besides looking incredibly cool, this Japanese chef’s knife is a kitchen workhorse that’ll be your best friend when it comes to meal prepping and chopping, slicing, and dicing all kinds of ingredients. The high-quality steel design makes for a corrosion-resistant, razor-sharp cutting edge, and the full-tang handle (aka the metal extends all the way through the interior of the handle) means you’re getting a blade with both strength and balance. The 8-inch size is also the perfect length for most of your prep work and can handle everything from dicing an onion for a weeknight stir-fry to chopping multiple bags of kale for a dinner party salad.   

Average Rating: 4.7/5

“I got this knife to process fruits and vegetables, which it does masterfully. Very comfortable in my hand and it makes quick work of our kitchen prep.” — FM Rommell

“I am no expert in knives, but I have used this knife now for almost two years and have had such good experiences with it I had to gift it to a family member. It is incredibly sharp, and stays sharp with regular care. It is weighted perfectly such that I have good tactile awareness where my knife is at all times. I have not had any issues cutting meat, vegetables, and fruit with this knife, and have decreased injuries to myself infinitely ever since buying this knife (upgraded from a $20 kitchen set and it was so worth it).” — Chessperson

“This is a great knife for the price. Sharp, cuts well, looks cool and wasn’t that expensive… Definitely a great knife right at the point in which you hit diminishing returns for spending more. Definitely going to try and use it forever.” — Vincent Liaw

So, if you’re tired of using the same dull knife to prep your weeknight meals — or you’re just looking to add a high-quality blade to your collection — the Shun Cutlery Sora Chef’s Knife is a great choice. Just remember to snag it quickly, while it’s still on sale for Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days, which ends Oct. 11! 

Buy: Shun Cutlery Sora Chef’s Knife, $79.95 (normally $125)