Don’t have hundreds of dollars to spend on the latest high-end chef knife??? You’re definitely not alone. But, we’re guessing you still want a high-performing knife complete with a sharp edge, comfortable handle, and the durabilty to last a long time, right? Well, you’ve come to the right place. You don’t have to have a large budget to get quality chef’s knives. We’ve reviewed and ranked several budget-friendly knives to help you find the Best Chef Knife Under $50.
With so many different brands on the market today, it can be hard to know where to start in your search for a good chef’s knife. Like most people, you probably don’t have hours to spend reading reviews and testing knives out at the store. That’s why we’ve done it for you. We’ve researched, inquired about, and studies dozens of different chef’s knives that fall into this budget category. After considering factors such as blade material, handle material, weight, balance, and edge retention, we’ve identified and prepared reviews on the top 6 chef knives currently being sold for less than $50 at Amazon.
We encourage you to continue reading below to see our how and why we choose our picks. However, if you’re in a hurry, here are our top 3 choices…
J.A. Henckels Premio
8 Inch Chef’s Knife
Top Features:
- Forged Blade
- German Steel
- World-Class Maker
Mercer Renaissance
10 Inch Chef’s Knife
Top Features:
- Forged Blade
- German Steel
- Ergonomic Handle
Zelite Infinity
8 Inch Chef’s Knife
Top Features:
- Forged Blade
- German Steel
- 100% Guarantee
Please note: Prices can change due to supply and demand. At the time this page was published, all of the chef’s knives reviewed were being sold for less than $50. That does not mean the price of every one of these knives will always be under $50. The best way to check the current price would be to click on the “check price at Amazon” button below your favorite knife.
Best Chef Knife Under $50
PROs
- Built By a World-Class Brand
- Forged Blade
- Quality German Steel
- Dishwasher Safe
- 8″ Blade Length
- Lifetime Warranty
CONs
- Made in China
WHY WE LIKE IT
If you look at our selection criteria below in the buying guide we’ve provided, you’ll see that this knife checks all the boxes. It’s made with quality German steel, it’s fully forged, made by a reputable brand, and carries a lifetime warranty. What more could you ask for in a full-size, 8″ chef knife that costs less than $50? This is the epitome of a high quality knife for a very low entry price!
PROs
- Forged Blade
- German Steel
- Comfortable grip
- 10″ Blade Length
- Lifetime Warranty
CONs
- Shortened Bolster
WHY WE LIKE IT
The Mercer Renaissance series is very similar to the Genesis series with the main difference being the size of the bolster and the handle material. Mercer uses high-carbon German steel giving it high rust resistance and great edge retention. The slightly longer blade makes this knife a great deal at this price. They also offer an 8 inch chef knife in this series that is also typically below $50 if you prefer a slightly smaller blade.
PROs
- Forged Blade
- German Steel
- 8″ Blade Length
- 100% Satisfaction Guarantee
CONs
- Made in China
WHY WE LIKE IT
Zelite is a relatively young company compared to J.A. Henckels, but makes some nice knives with quality materials for relatively low prices. They use quality steel to make forged, full-tang, comfortable grip knives. If you like the looks of this knife, it’s a great choice for picking up a quality piece without spending too much.
PROs
- Forged Blade
- German Steel
- Long Lasting Taper Ground Edge
- Lifetime Warranty
CONs
- Only Half Bolster
WHY WE LIKE IT
Mercer Culinary is well-known for making decent knives at great prices, and this 8″ forged chef’s knife from their Genesis Series is one of their best yet! It’s hard to believe that they can make this knife for this price and then still afford to provide the consumer with a lifetime warranty.
PROs
- Very Popular Among Home Chefs
- Lightweight, Easy to Handle
- Made in Switzerland
- Lifetime Warranty
CONs
- Stamped Blade
WHY WE LIKE IT
So many home chefs swear by Victorinox’s Fibrox Pro Series knives. Their lightweight, durable, and can be thrown in the dishwasher if needed (though we never recommend putting knives in a dishwasher). They’ve been around for many years, as has the company that makes them (they also make the Swiss Army Knives). All I can say on this one is…check out the reviews. So many good customer reviews on this knife!
PROs
- World-Class Knife Maker
- German Steel Blade
- Made in Germany
- Lifetime Warranty
CONs
- Stamped Knife
- Relatively Expensive
WHY WE LIKE IT
This knife is perfect for those who really want a Wusthof chef’s knife, but can’t afford one of their higher-end, forged knives that cost 4 to 5 times as much. As far as that goes, you won’t find any other 8″ chef knife under $50 from Wusthof, so this is your only option. That being said, you’re paying for the name brand with this one. The knives above are technically better build for less money in most cases. If you don’t care about the name, one of the knives listed above would be a better option.
What Matters in a Budget Chef’s Knife?
When you’re buying a budget-friendly chef knife, you may not get all of the features a higher-end knife may offer; however, you can still get a quality, high-performing knife. The three main things you’ll want to look for is a knife that uses good materials, follows sound manufacturing processes, and has a reputation for standing the test of time.
Materials Used
It’s always important to know what kind of materials a kitchen knife is made from. The best chef’s knives use quality blade and handle materials. The type of materials used will dictate how long a knife will hold a sharp edge and how much maintenance will be required to keep it performing as expected.
Blade Material
You’ll find many budget chef knives that say they have a stainless steel blade. This is great as it will make the blades more resistant to corrosion. However, when it comes to kitchen knives, it’s important to also know the carbon content of the steel. Added carbon increases the hardness (measured using the Rockwell hardness scale) of the steel and will give the blade better edge retention. Both the Germans and the Japanese are well-known for their high carbon stainless steel. This is the type of steel used to make some of the best chef knives on the market, including those found in lower budget categories.
Carbon steel is another steel used in knife making. It is extremely hard and creates razor sharp blades. It is typically used for specialty knives that are used for precise cutting. Though extremely sharp, carbon steel blades can also be brittal. That combined with it being more susceptible to corrosion makes carbon steel less desirable than high carbon stainless steel for chef knives.
Handle Material
Handles are also important and shouldn’t be overlooked. Many people like the look of wooden handles. They can be beautiful and really show the personality of a knife. However, they also require additional care and maintenance. For instance, you don’t want to leave a wooden knife handle soaking in water or it could damage it. You may also need to treat the wood with mineral oil to keep it in good shape.
There is less maintenance with stainless steel or synthetic handles. These type of handles have become increasingly popular. With the different colors and textures available, they provide an element of design to the knives. When it comes to budget chef knives, we find that in most cases the handle is made from a synthetic material. One downside to this is that synthetic handles can become slippery if wet or greasy. Therefore we also recommend looking for knives with an ergonomic handle or one with a textured grip to help keep the knife secure in your hand.
How the Knife is Made
Is the knife blade forged or stamped? This is one of the most important features to consider when purchasing a chef knife. Forged blades are basically formed by shaping a solid piece of steel into a knife blade. They tend to be thicker, heavy-duty blades that will be more robust on average than a stamped knife. Stamped blades are made by a machine that cuts the blades out of a sheet of steel like a cookie cutter. These blades are weaker and are more likely to break or bend at weak points.
Other factors to consider is whether or not the blade is full tang and if it has a bolster. A full tang blade extends fully into the handle adding both strength and stability to the knife. Both forged and stamped knives can be full tang. A bolster is the thick piece of metal between the handle and the blade. It provides weight to the knife making it feel more balanced in your hand and can keep your fingers from slipping onto the blade. Based on how they are made, stamped knives do not have a bolster.
There are benefits and drawbacks to both forged and stamped knives. That being said, a chef knife is a work horse in the kitchen. You want to be sure you find a knife that is durable and comfortable enough to get you through all your tasks. A forged knife is the go to by both professional and home cooks in this category.
Unfortunately, because it’s more costly to manufacture forged knives, there are very few being sold under $50, but we’ve managed to find a few on our list above. Pay special attention to these models as they will be the ones to stand up to the everyday use often expected of them.
Brand Reputation
This may not seem like a big deal, but if you spend as much time researching kitchen knives as we do, you learn that there are literally thousands of knife brands out there making and selling products. Many of them are far inferior to others but it’s hard to tell just which ones without a little guidance.
The good news is, with the internet, we have actual customer reviews right at our fingertips. We use those, along with our independent research to provide you with recommendations on what we feel are the best brands currently available. However, don’t just take our word for it. We encourage readers to use our list as a guide but to also read the product reviews to ensure the knife we’ve recommended will fit all of your cooking needs.
Another thing to keep in mind is that many high-end kitchen knife brands typically offer a more affordable line along with their signature ones. If you already have a favorite, trusted brand it’s worth starting there to see what they have to offer. Again, their more affordable lines may not have all the extras but in most cases they will be made from the same quality materials.
Warranty
It should come as no surprise that a company that is willing to stand behind their product with a lifetime warranty probably makes a good product. Knife makers are not in the business of trying to lose money, so they’ll only guarantee their knives if they feel they won’t actually break due to manufacturing defects. That makes warranties a good indicator of how much faith a manufacturer has in their knives.
