I Worked in a Restaurant Kitchen and This Budget-Friendly Knife Is Just as Good as the Expensive Brands

There are a few kitchen essentials, like knives, that are well worth the big bucks. By investing in high-quality pieces, not only do you reduce waste (because a well-made product should last lifetimes), you also equip yourself with tools that make your food hold up better. Whether it’s the coffee maker that starts your day off right every single morning or a spice rack that completely transformed your kitchen, sometimes it really is worth it to shell out that hard-earned cash. But on rare occasions, when the stars align, you may be lucky enough to discover a kitchen essential that’s incredibly high functioning and has a miraculously affordable price tag.

Getting your hands on a great knife that stays sharp, feels balanced, and will last for decades usually costs a pretty penny. That’s where Cutluxe comes in. TBH, I wish I’d had the 8″ Chef’s Knife in my knife roll during my cheffing days. And while I don’t work in a restaurant kitchen anymore, I do still cook at home a heck of a lot, and I rely on this elegant blade every single day.

The knife is perfectly balanced. With a substantial, comfy handle and a thin-yet-durable blade, this thing can slice and dice whatever it is you throw its way. A whole bagful of onions for onion soup? No problem. Slicing wedges of kabocha squash? Consider the job done. But it’s not just the hefty tasks that show off the sharpness and stamina of this knife, it’s also the more delicate work. I never bruise herbs when julienning, for example. Instead, the minuscule ribbons of cilantro and parsley remain bright green, cleanly severed from the rest of the leaf. Yup, there’s no doubt about it, this is the most-used knife in my kitchen.

The 14-16 degree blade is forged from hardened German steel and completely resists rust and stains. In fact, I tested the knife by slicing through a lemon and leaving it for an hour (don’t try this at home kids, it might ruin your knife) to see if the acidity left any mark. It didn’t! Even after weeks of daily use, the thing looks brand new and hasn’t dulled one bit.

It’d be worth it to snatch this knife up for double its cost or more, but right now on Amazon, the 8″ beauty is on sale for under $45 — a total steal if you ask me. It’s virtually impossible to find such high quality at that low price point, which is why I’ll be buying a bunch of these ahead of the gifting season while they’re on sale. Come to think of it, I don’t have a single family member with a great chef’s knife, so I might have just gotten all my holiday gifts out of the way. Thanks, Cutluxe!

Buy: Cutluxe 8″ Chef Knife, $44.99 (normally $54.99)