Wusthof 4183 Wusthof Classic Hollow Edge Santoku Knife 7, 7 inch, Black
A chef's knife is an extension of a chef's hand. A dull knife will tear delicate cuts and bruise your farmers' market veggies. It's time to put away that steak knife you stole from your parents' house in college and buy a grown-up knife.
The world of knives is vast and extremely intimidating, and it's one I'll definitely revisit, but for now let's just say I don't need a $700 Nenox knife with a 100-year-old carbonized wooden handle (though there's no denying that this knife is awesome).
Instead, try the Misono UX10. This popular blade is made from a hard steel that will keep its edge longer than most traditional knives. It is also made specifically for right- or left-handed chefs. However, this knife requires regular maintenance and a little skill to sharpen. You can take this knife to your local knife store to have it serviced regularly, or you can learn how to sharpen your knife yourself. Embedded above is a tutorial from Korin, an authority on cutlery care. If you are going to invest in this type of purchase, I highly recommend taking the time to check out Korin's YouTube page. You will also need to purchase a wet stone and a ceramic honing steel to sharpen it at home.
If you're tired of all that, here are some knives that don't require too much attention: That said, all knives should be sharpened, or your tomatoes will get rotten.
For a more affordable knife, I recommend the Wusthof Classic Santoku knife. This German-made knife is a durable all-purpose knife that will last for years. The Victorinox Swiss Classic chef's knife is also a very popular knife that will last a long time. Both require diamond steel to sharpen, but it's not too much work (incidentally, more expensive knives like the Misono don't use diamond steel, only carbon steel).
If you have plenty of counter space, consider the Wusthof block, but many people feel pressured to buy this huge block just to store their knives in the kitchen. To avoid this waste, buy a blade protector for storage.
