The $7 Knife I Use Every Single Day

I’ve been racking my brain, and there are only a few tools I use every single day without fail: my toothbrush, my cell phone, my coffee maker, and my $7 paring knife from Victorinox. (This would be a good time to admit that I do not brush my hair on daily basis.) And that cute little knife is my favorite, definitely ranking well above my cell phone. Even on those days when I’ve resorted to getting my meals exclusively through takeout, I can still find a reason to pull out this knife.

For one, I use it to prep a lot of fruit for snacking this time of year. It’s a paring knife, so it’s the perfect size for hulling strawberries, slicing up apples, and cutting kiwi. The blade measures 3.25″ long, and it’s super sharp and easy to maneuver. (It’s so thin and nimble!) But, in my opinion, it’s the handle that makes this particular knife so perfect. Not only does it come in six fun colors (I picked the cheery yellow), it’s also made of a plastic that feels like it was molded to fit my hand specifically. (It wasn’t… at least, not that I know of!) It curves and bends in all the right places to fit right into my grip. Speaking of, the plastic is also slightly rough (read: grippy!), so it stays put in my hand while I work, even if my hand is wet. And the whole thing weighs just 0.7 oz.

Beyond the aforementioned fruit, I also regularly use this knife to cube chicken for my pup, slice shallots and garlic, devein shrimp, cut up veggies, chop herbs, and so much more. I use it so much, I’ve stopped even pretending to put it away. There’s no, ahem, point. I’m just going to pull it out again in a few hours. Now, I just wash it off and let it sit on the dish rack until the next time I need it.

Turns out, I’m not the only one who loves this inexpensive tool. It won the top spot in our extensive Best List testing, it’s been featured in our official list of Kitchn Essentials, and it has a 4.7-star rating on Amazon. Now, if only I could find a hairbrush I wanted to use every single day…

• Pros: Thin, nimble blade that’s easy to maneuver; ergonomic handle; affordable price point; cute color options
• Cons: Might be too light for people who prefer a hefty knife (Confession: I struggled to come up with a con here, as this is more of a pro for me!)
• Who it’s for: Anyone who needs to round out their knife collection with a paring knife. The five bright colors can work for any home cook who likes a bit of whimsy. For home cooks who are a little more serious with their tools, there is a black-handled option.

Buy: Swiss Classic Paring Knife, $6.99

What are some of the kitchen tools you use every single day? Tell us in the comments below.