Buying Guides

Choosing a chef knife that fits your hand

9 August 2026 · 6 min read

Blade length, steel hardness and handle balance matter far more than the number of knives in the block.

Most home cooks need three knives: a chef knife for the bulk of the work, a paring knife for detail and a serrated knife for bread. Everything else is a refinement.

A 20cm chef knife suits most hands and most boards. If you have smaller hands or a compact worktop, an 18cm santoku will feel more controllable.

Hold the knife with a pinch grip just ahead of the bolster. It should feel neutral, neither tip-heavy nor handle-heavy.