If there's one thing Anthony Bourdain was known for, it was his candor. The fact that he approved of this knife means it's got to be a cut above. (Mike Pont/WireImage)(Mike Pont/WireImage)
Ask any chef what the most important tool in their arsenal is, and there's a good chance they'll say, "A good, sharp knife." But even if you don't cook professionally, having a quality knife is important when it comes to precision, efficiency and safety. Not sure which one to choose? The Global 8-Inch Chef's Knife was recommended by none other than the late, great Anthony Bourdain himself. (Psst: Yahoo also named it the best chef's knife overall after plenty of slicing and dicing.) It's on sale at Amazon, so if you're in the market for a new blade, chop chop!
Never have a dull moment in the kitchen again, thanks to this No. 1 bestselling knife sharpener. Equipped with three slots for sharpening, repairing, straightening and polishing, it'll take your old blades from obsolete to like new in just a few swipes. Plus, it comes with a handy cut-resistant glove to spare you from painful nicks, and it happens to be 67% off (best price ever!).
I've been lucky to avoid power outages in my most recent home, with one exception: During the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs. My wife and I were watching the Colorado Avalanche when the power went out. Bummed that I was going to miss the rest of the game, I looked out the window and saw that my neighbor had the game going via his outdoor projector, which was plugged into an Explorer 1000 v2. Lesson learned.
Its two USB-C ports, one USB-A port, one DC car port, and three AC outlets mean you can charge your tech as well as run a space heater. For an extra $250 you can add solar panels, which can charge this from 0-80% in just 2.4 hours.
Okay, looks aren't everything, but that is one attractive knife!
While this isn't the lowest price we've ever seen for this knife, it's still a great value considering how versatile it is; you'll reach for it every time you need to cut produce or slice meat. Plus, similar knives — like this chef's knife from Wüsthof, the brand used by Ina Garten — can cost $200 or more.
In his 2000 memoir Kitchen Confidential, Bourdain writes, "Please believe me, here's all you will ever need in the knife department: ONE good chef's knife, as large as is comfortable for your hand." He goes on to say, "Most of the professionals I know have for years been retiring their Wüsthofs and replacing them with the lightweight, easy-to-sharpen and relatively inexpensive vanadium steel Global knives, a very good Japanese product which has — in addition to its many other fine qualities — the added attraction of looking really cool."
Fast forward to his 2017 documentary Wasted: The Story of Food Waste, and, as reported by The Daily Meal, Bourdain was still touting this knife: "As a starter chef knife, the Global is pretty good for a first-timer ... It's also beloved by other professionals as well."
What sets the Global apart from the rest? For starters, the sturdy stainless steel blade and handle are molded together, which makes for easier cleaning — there are no little spaces for residue to get trapped in. Plus, the lightweight design makes the knife more comfortable to hold with less hand fatigue, and the dimpled handle allows for better grip.
Sharpness is important when it comes to using a knife; yes, it makes slicing and dicing faster and easier, but it also helps prevent accidental slips, which can result in painful nicks (or worse). The Global was crafted to retain its sharpness for a long time but can easily be honed when it starts to lose its edge.
More than 2,500 Amazon customers agree with Bourdain's assessment; so much so, that they gave the Global a perfect five-star rating.
"I read about this brand in Tony Bourdain's Kitchen Confidential," shared one shopper. "This is a well-balanced, lightweight knife that stays sharp. I usually sharpen my own knives, but after a year, I haven't needed to because the edge remains sharp. I would buy this knife again and again."
"This is my first good-quality chef's knife, and now I know what I've been missing," said another. "Before this knife, I was working so much harder than necessary to cut everything. This knife moves effortlessly through vegetables, meat and anything else you cut with it. I've had it for about two weeks now, and it's been a joy to use. I'm saving myself so much time."
"This is a professional-level knife!" exclaimed a third. "Many years ago, I worked in kitchens, and I've always wanted to have a really good knife at home. I finally got this one and it's exactly what I've been dreaming of! It effortlessly cuts super-thin slices of vegetables. I wish I'd gotten it long ago!"
"It's a great knife that came extremely sharp right out of the box," wrote a generally pleased reviewer. "[The] only slight downside is that the metal can start to get a slight discoloration if oil is left on the blade or if it’s put away while still wet. However, this can be easily remedied using baking soda and a drop of water as a paste. Overall, a great knife."
"Impressively sharp," noted a final fan. "I do wish it came with some kind of holder or something to put it in. If you like to keep your knives in a drawer or something, it can be a little dangerous, because it is extremely sharp."
Psst: This No. 1 bestseller is a smart add-on.
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The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
