A good chef’s knife is a central player in your kitchen lineup. Most chefs will tell you that you should have a Western blade for methodical chopping and a Japanese-style knife for more delicate prep.

While Allstar Lindsey Close also highly recommends the Wüsthof Classic, she thoroughly recommends Mercer knives as well, especially for budget-conscious home cooks. This 8-inch chef knife from Mercer ...

The Ninja Foodi NeverDull knife set has a built-in sharpener, so every blade cuts through tough foods like butter.