Ina Garten’s Favorite Chef’s Knife Is On Sale (It Rarely Goes on Sale)

Before diving into my professional culinary training, I staged at the renowned Le Bernardin in New York City. The chef de cuisine said, “Come at six a.m., wear sturdy shoes, and bring your knives.” I packed the only chef’s knife I owned, which I had bought for $20 at Bed Bath & Beyond. Ooooh baby, I was ready.

At the restaurant, a sous chef furrowed his brows as he ran his thumb on the blade. My knife got banished to the staff locker room, and I spent the whole day wiping mushroom caps and countertops. After my shift, I moseyed over to Korin, a Japanese knife shop, and spent a week’s pay on a Misono knife.

Do you need expensive knives worthy of a three-Michelin-starred restaurant? Not really. However, every home cook should invest in a good chef’s knife—one that is comfortable to grip and razor-sharp so that you can chop ingredients quickly and with control.

Which chef’s knife is the best? Let’s turn to Ina Garten, the consummate queen of the kitchen, for an answer. Ina says, “The most important tool every home cook should have is a great set of knives. Mine are Wüsthof Classic knives. They’re an investment, but if you take care of them, they’ll last a lifetime!”

Ina recommends the Wüsthof Classic eight-inch chef’s knife, which is currently on sale on Amazon (it rarely goes on sale!).

An eight-inch knife is pretty standard, but depending on the size of your hands, you may want a blade that’s a bit shorter. In the same Classic line, Wüsthof also carries a six-inch chef’s knife. If you can, try both so that you can feel the knife in your palm and find the one that feels juuuust right.

Ina Garten Stores Her Knives Upside Down

In an Instagram post, Ina shared that she stores her knives upside down in a knife block. According to Ina, if you put a knife into its slots the usual way, the blade scrapes the wood, which dulls it. “So I put it in upside down, and I think it saves the blade,“ she adds. I love Ina’s sneaky (and easy!) way of preventing knives from getting dull.

Your knives will inevitably become dull, and you will have to sharpen them. Ina has a solution for that, too. She recommends the Chef’sChoice Electric Knife Sharpener because it is “the easiest way to ensure your knives are perfectly sharp every time.” She even provides instructions on how to use the sharpener on Instagram. And since you were born under a lucky star, it’s 35% off on Amazon right now.

BUY INA’S FAVORITE CHEF’S KNIFE NOW: Wüsthof Classic 8-Inch Chef’s Knife $134.99 (was $170)