F. Dick Premier Plus 8-inch Chef’s Knife

Cooks reach for an 8-inch chef’s knife for almost every task in the kitchen, so comfort over long periods matters as much as the edge. The Premier Plus 8-inch is well balanced, and that balance is what you notice first when you use it for an hour of prep. In our view, no better chef’s knife is made in Germany than the Premier Plus.

The bolster is smoothed where the thumb and forefinger rest, so a choke grip on the blade stays comfortable. The curved edge rocks through herbs and onions, and the tip handles finer work such as scoring and trimming. The steel gives a lasting edge and still hones back quickly on a steel.

It is also the knife to choose first when building a kit.

For cooks with smaller hands, the Premier Plus 6-inch chef’s knife is easier to control, and taller cooks may prefer the 9-inch or 10-inch versions. The 1905 8-inch chef’s knife has a classic ringed handle at the same length. Our knife shapes guide covers chef’s knives.