There’s a reason eliminated contestants on Top Chef are told to pack their knives and go. Knives are a chef’s toolkit, kept at the ready for working through every dish, be it American, Japanese, Greek, or vegan. For that reason, there’s a wide range of kitchen knives on the market, so many that it can be overwhelming for beginning chefs. To help cultivate your collection, we’ve compiled this list of essential kitchen knives, with a few unique models thrown in for more specialized techniques. Start with the basics, then look into broadening your skills.

Essential Kitchen Knives

Chef’s Knife

What’s It For? Almost everything. Some would say a good chef’s knife is the only blade your kitchen needs. What it’s most suited to, however, are the basic tasks: chopping veggies, carving melon, or slicing meat. You’ll be holding it a lot, if that weren’t clear, so it’s important to find one that fits comfortably in your hand.

What Features Should I Look For? An 8-inch knife is standard, but other aspects vary. Weight, for example, is something to consider. Japanese-style chef’s knives were designed to be thin and lightweight, while German-style knives are more substantial. Balance is also key: if the knife feels weighted toward the back of the handle or the blade, it’s likely you’ll never be comfortable as you cut.

How Much Should I Pay for It? Since it will serve as a constant companion, it’s best not to be stingy when shopping for a chef’s knife. So, though you can get a beginner’s model for around $30, aim to spend upwards of $100 for a knife that will stand the test of time.

Paring Knife

What’s It For? Tasks that require precision. Peeling potatoes or supreming citrus is so much easier with a paring knife. It’s also helpful when you have to make ultra-thin slices or when you’re cooking with finicky ingredients—say, truffles—that require a great deal of care.

What Features Should I Look For? Keep an eye out for the knife’s Rockwell rating, the measure of a steel’s hardness. If it’s 55 or above and forged from high-carbon stainless steel, then that knife should sharpen easily and hold its edge, which is exactly what you’ll want from your paring knife.

How Much Should I Pay for It? High-end, hand-forged German and Japanese paring knives can run over $100, but you can get a sturdy, reliable model for around $20.

Serrated Knife

What’s It For? Ideally, a serrated knife should be able to serve many purposes, from cutting bread to slicing into a thick layer cake. The serrated edge serves as a grip of sorts, guiding the knife through both the thick crust of a sandwich and the soft, delicate layers of a cake without disturbing the goodness inside.

What Features Should I Look For? Serrated knives come in many shapes and sizes, but the most versatile models—ones that can cut everything from reubens to tomatoes to pastries—range between 10 and 12 inches. Some knives include scalloped serrations, while others feature pointed ones. Aim for a knife that’s somewhere in between, with serrations that are uniformly spaced and moderate in length.

How Much Should I Pay for It? A solid serrated knife of the sort we recommend runs somewhere around the $30–$40 range. Like a chef’s knife, it’s best to splurge some, as a quality serrated knife, with routine care, will last far into the foreseeable future.

Specialty Kitchen Knives

Boning Knife

What’s It For? Butchering, mainly. Know this, though: boning knives are not for cutting through bones. They’re for cutting the meat away from the bone and eliminating all the parts of an animal you don’t want to consume. This includes cartilage, joints, and fish gills. Using a boning knife expedites the deboning process, and ensures you get more meat off the bone.

What Features Should I Look For? That depends on your preference for fish or meat. Stiff boning knives are better suited for thicker cuts of meat that are riddled with tendons, fat, and connective tissue. Flexible boning knives, on the other hand, are best for fish and smaller cuts, as the knife’s give allows you to make precise incisions. Stamped steel blades provide the most flexibility, and a molded rubber handle should give you a sure grip.

How Much Should I Pay for It? Around $30, but spring for a pricier one if you’ll be using it more often than not.

Sushi Knife

What’s It For? Making sushi, of course. And not just slicing the fish, but also chopping vegetables and, once it’s finished, cutting the sushi roll itself. Sushi knives sport a single-beveled blade, which means one side holds the cutting edge while the other remains flat. This design ensures that food will not stick to the knife and that you can achieve the sharpest possible edge, a necessity when slicing razor-thin cuts of raw fish.

What Features Should I Look For? Traditional sushi knives run between 9.5 and 12 inches and come forged from high-carbon steel, which helps you attain the sharpest edge. Also, keep an eye out for D-shaped handles, as they’ll keep your hand comfortable during those precise cuts.

How Much Should I Pay for It? Professional-quality sushi knives can run upward of $250, but you can find quality models between $60 and $100.

Cheese Knife

What’s It For? Slicing cheese without making a mess or dampening flavor. They’ll also make you as fancy as can be at parties.

What Features Should I Look For? Depends on your favorite kind of cheese. Knives with holes are designed for soft, sticky cheeses that tend to cling to blades. The holes give them nowhere to hide. Forked-end knives are suitable for slicing and serving firm cheeses.

How Much Should I Pay for It? No need to break the bank here. Solid cheese knives run anywhere between $5 and $15.

Illustrations by Ashley Hamer, Groupon

Now that you know the knives, check out how to use them correctly: 

 Slice Veggies Like a Pro with These 7 Cuts

 Brush up on basic knife skills before learning the seven essential  cuts every home cook should know.