People ask me all the time: "Tyrone, what knives do you use?"
I get it. Knives are personal. They're also the most important tools in your kitchen — more important than any gadget, any appliance, any piece of cookware you'll ever buy. If your knife is bad, everything you cook is harder than it needs to be.
I've been working in professional kitchens for over 30 years. I've cooked in 25+ countries. I've used cheap knives, great knives, borrowed knives, and everything in between. The ones on this list? These are knives I actually own, have owned for years, and would buy again without hesitation.
This is the premium tier. These are investments — and I mean that in the best possible way. Buy one good knife and take care of it, and it will outlast everything else in your kitchen.
Before We Get Into the List
Two rules I preach to anyone who will listen:
1. Do not wash these knives in the dishwasher. Ever. The heat and harsh detergent will damage the blade and the handle. Hand wash, dry immediately, done.
2. Do not use cheap knife sharpeners. Those pull-through gadgets are hard on a fine edge. Find someone local who does professional knife sharpening and pay them to do it right. It's not expensive and it makes a real difference. These knives are worth the investment — treat them that way.
Now, let's talk about what's on my list.
The ZWILLING Professional "S" Series — The Backbone of My Kitchen
Over 20 years ago, my sister's family bought me a set of ZWILLING Professional "S" knives. Those knives are still in my kitchen today. Still in perfect condition. I've cooked with them in over 25 countries. That's all you really need to know about the quality.
→ See the full High End Knives list on Amazon
Here's a quick tip on spotting genuine ZWILLING Pro "S" quality: look for the logo with two people (the Zwilling twins). If the logo only shows one figure, you're looking at a lower-tier product in their lineup. The Pro "S" line is forged metal, full tang, three rivets. That's the real deal.
ZWILLING Professional "S" 8-inch Chef's Knife
This is the one to start with. The workhorse of the whole set. Mine has been through 20+ years of professional and home use and it's still performing. If you only buy one knife from this list, make it this one.
ZWILLING Professional "S" 2-pc Chef's Set
At current prices, buying the two-piece set saves you about $20 over purchasing individually. If you're starting your Pro "S" collection, this is a smart entry point.
ZWILLING Professional "S" 8-inch Bread Knife
Here's something most people don't think about: serration style matters. This knife has wide, shallow serrations — which is what you want. Knives with deep serrations don't slice, they tear. That makes them harder to use and honestly more dangerous. Wide and shallow means clean cuts through bread, tomatoes, melons, winter squash, tough cuts of meat. This knife works.
ZWILLING Professional "S" 7-inch Hollow Edge Santoku
I actually bought this one separately, after my sister's family gave me the original set. I love the Santoku style — the hollow edge keeps food from sticking to the blade. This didn't come with the base set, but it's a worthy addition to the collection. ALL of the Pro "S" series is top quality, and this one is no exception.
ZWILLING Professional "S" 3-inch Paring Knife
I call this the "Sous Chef" of knives. It's the workhorse for the small stuff — peeling, trimming, detail work. Sharp, light, and the handle feels great in your hand. This is also where I recommend graduating young chefs once they're past the training stage.
ZWILLING Professional "S" 5-inch Serrated Utility Knife
This is my recommendation for training younger cooks. Lightweight enough for smaller hands, serrated so it's harder to slip and cut yourself, and a smaller tip so there's less danger. Kids can still slice and dice — and until they're fully comfortable, it's perfectly fine to "saw" a little to get the job done. Think of it as the mini bread knife. Once they're confident and ready, you graduate them up to the paring knife.
The Global 7-inch Oriental Chef's Knife — A Gift I Still Treasure
An Italian chef gave me this knife. I'm not kidding. Razor-sharp, lightweight, and the balance is exceptional. If you've never held a Global, they feel different from European-style knives — the handle is hollow and filled with sand for weight distribution, and the whole knife is one piece of stainless steel.
If you have a young cook in your house who's ready for a real knife — not training wheels, but the real thing — this is a knife that will give them confidence. The feel, the balance, and the weight all work together. If I didn't already have a full collection, I'd buy more Global knives. That's how much I respect this brand.
The Arcos Riviera 10-inch Chef's Knife — My Spanish Discovery
Over 15 years ago I bought this knife in Spain. Arcos is a Spanish brand with centuries of history behind it — they've been making blades since 1745. The Riviera series has a forged stainless steel blade and a polyoxymethylene handle that feels substantial and looks great. It still looks and performs like the day I bought it.
Some knives you buy on a trip and they're a novelty. This one is a permanent resident in my kitchen.
The Magnetic Knife Bar — Don't Overlook This
Technically not a knife, but it belongs on this list because it's how I store all of these knives safely. The Modern Innovations 16-inch magnetic knife bar is brushed stainless steel, looks clean and professional on any kitchen wall, and I installed it myself. My kids — when they were 8 and 10 — knew not to grab knives off it without permission. It keeps the blades off the counter, off each other, and in good condition between uses. At $22, it's one of the best-value items on the whole Best Buys page.
The Bottom Line
Good knives don't wear out — they age. They get broken in. They develop a relationship with the cook who uses them. My ZWILLING Pro "S" set is over 20 years old. My Arcos is over 15. My Global came to me as a gift and I'll have it until I can't cook anymore.
That's what premium knives do. They stick around.
If you're ready to invest, the full list is here on Amazon. And if you're not quite ready to go premium yet, check out my Best Budget Kitchen Knives list — there are some genuinely excellent options there that won't break the bank.
Either way: get a good knife. Learn to use it. Take care of it.
Everything else in the kitchen gets easier from there.
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