My chef’s-knife collection is substantial. I’ve owned some since I moved out of my parents’ house a decade ago, I’ve received others as gifts, and I’ve tested quite a few for this story.

This is the "go-to" knife of New Orleans chef Nina Compton, who praises its light weight and balance. "A 10½-inch chef knife is ideal," Compton says. "Too long or too short of a knife and you don ...

And this block created with renowned generations-old French knife makers Sabatier ... The pairing, serrated, santoku, chef’s and bread knives are made using Japanese stainless steel and are ...