Article By: Suraiya Fardous
- December 9, 2023 , Last updated on : December 10, 2023
You can use vegetables in just about any dish you want. While there is a specific category for vegetable knives, you can use other types of knives to chop vegetables as well. Whichever category of knives you go for, the best knives for chopping vegetables will let you have an easier time prepping ingredients for your meal.
Buying guide for the best knives for chopping vegetables
The requirements for buying the best knife to chop vegetables will not be the same as the requirements for buying other types of knives. For instance, if you want to buy the best knives for butchering deer, you need to get knives that can go through meat and bones as well. Here is how you can select the best knives for chopping vegetables.
Types
First and foremost, there are specific types of knives for cutting vegetables that excel in their job. Realistically, you can use just about any knife for sizing up vegetables since they are not that hard. However, knives such as Santoku knives, Chef’s knives, Paring knives, Nakiri knives, and vegetable cleavers are ideal for the job.
Material
After you have selected the type of knife you want to get, you need to select a knife that is made from a suitable material. The ideal materials you should look for are stainless steel and high-carbon steel. While stainless steel knives are easier to maintain, high-carbon steel knives are sharper.
Build
Besides the materials used to make the knives, how the materials are used also matters. For example, the knife needs to be well-balanced. What this means is that the ratio of the weight of the handle with respect to the blade needs to be ideal so that you can easily use it to cut vegetables.
Size
Last but not least, the blade length of the knife you want to get will depend on your personal preferences. While smaller knives are easier to use, bigger knives cut more easily because of their higher weight. So, select a size according to your own strength and experience using knives.
Best knives for chopping vegetables | Top 12 Picks
Since there are a lot of manufacturers making vegetable chopping knives, it can get quite confusing when you try to select the best vegetable knife for yourself. While more competition usually results in better products on the market, it also makes it harder for consumers to select the best one. That is why we have selected the best knives for chopping vegetables on the market and ranked them based on our personal experience and user reviews.
Top picks of the best knives for chopping vegetables
Shun Santoku Knife
ZWILLING Twin Signature Vegetable Cleaver
Dalstrong Nakiri Asian Vegetable Knife
Victorinox Swiss Classic Paring Knife
PAUDIN Nakiri Knife
TUO Nakiri Knife
FAMCÜTE Nakiri Knife
MOSFiATA Chef’s Knife
TradaFor Vegetable Knife
MAD SHARK Chef Knife
Dalstrong Vegetable Chef Knife
Mercer Culinary M23660 Nakiri Vegetable Knife
Shun Santoku Knife
Blade Material: Stainless Damascus steel
Blade Size: 7 inches
The Shun Santoku Knife is the overall best knife for cutting both hard and soft vegetables because of its outstanding features. For example, it is light and agile, which makes the blade very easy to maneuver. As a result, people with very limited experience can easily use the knife to get through tougher vegetables with ease.
The Shun Santoku Knife is very durable thanks to its build with 68 layers of Damascus stainless steel, which is the biggest reason for its high price tag. However, the durability it gets, thanks to the layers, makes it a one-time investment. Lastly, it is also aesthetic, thanks to the Pakkawood handle, which also makes it easy to use.
Pros:
Light, agile, and easy to maneuver
Durable 68 layers of stainless Damascus steel
Corrosion and stain-resistant
Aesthetic Pakkawood handle
Cons:
Very expensive
While the Shun Santoku Knife has some of the most desirable features you can expect in a vegetable-slicing knife, it is also very expensive. However, if you can afford the knife, its Damascus stainless steel build, combined with its aesthetic Pakkawood handle, makes it the best knife for chopping vegetables.
If you prefer a cleaver for cutting your vegetables, the ZWILLING Twin Signature Vegetable Cleaver is the best one you can get on the market. It comes with a razor-sharp blade that also stays sharp longer than its competitors. Additionally, its stainless steel build ensures the blade does not rust or corrode, even if you do not maintain it as much.
Besides its sharp edge, the weight of the ZWILLING Twin Signature Vegetable Cleaver plays a big role in determining how easily you can use the knife to cut vegetables. The weight ensures you do not need to put too much effort when cutting through both soft and hard vegetables. Lastly, it has an exceptional balance that makes it easy to use.
Pros:
Razor-sharp blade
Stays sharp longer
Can cut with its weight
Exceptional balance
Cons:
The handle could have been better
The only drawback of the ZWILLING Twin Signature Vegetable Cleaver is that the handle could have been better. It can get uncomfortable to use the knife for a long time at once because of the handle. Other than that, its razor-sharp blade, combined with its exceptional balance, makes it the best knife for chopping vegetables.
The Dalstrong Nakiri Asian Vegetable Knife has a durable full-tang build, which means the high-carbon German steel runs all the way from the top of the blade to the other end of the handle. Additionally, it has a luxurious black G10 handle that is not only aesthetically charming but also comfortable to hold because of its outstanding build quality.
If you are worried about the materials used in the building of the knives, you can use this Knife without any issues because it has the safety certification from the National Sanitation Foundation to be free from any harmful materials. Lastly, the build materials also make the blade very hard yet flexible enough to bend without cracking.
Pros:
Durable full tang build
Luxurious black G10 handle
Has exceptional hardness and flexibility
NSF certified for safe usage
Cons:
Not ideal for beginners
The Dalstrong Nakiri Asian Vegetable Knife has exceptional features that might make the knife attractive to everyone. However, it is only meant for more experienced users, and beginners might find it difficult to handle. Other than that, its durable full-tang build, combined with its NSF certification, makes it one of the best knives for chopping vegetables.
If you are looking for a classic paring knife that is more affordable, you can go for the Victorinox Swiss Classic Paring Knife. It is a 4-inch knife that is very easy to handle. It has a textured handle that has a non-slip grip, which also plays a part in making the knife easier to handle. Lastly, the knife is very easy to maintain thanks to its stainless steel build. However, if you prefer a bigger blade, you can go for the Dalstrong Nakiri Asian Vegetable Knife, which has a 7-inch blade.
The knife surprised us with its ability to cut through vegetables with such accuracy. We will go as far as to say that this knife is essential for any up-and-coming chef who wants to decorate their dishes with vegetables. Overall, we loved how this knife performed in our tests.
Pros:
Textured handle with non-slip grip
Dexterous and ergonomic build
Easy to maintain
Cons:
Not ideal for bigger fruits and vegetables
The only issue you might have with the Victorinox Swiss Classic Paring Knife is because of its 4-inch blade, which makes it less than ideal for bigger fruits and vegetables. Other than that, its textured handle, combined with its ergonomic build, makes it one of the best knives for chopping vegetables.
The PAUDIN Nakiri Knife is the ideal choice for people who want a versatile and sharp vegetable knife that they can use to chop different types of fruits and vegetables. It has a rust-proof blade that is very durable and will last a long time. If you do not want to spend on another knife for the next five years, you can get this one. Lastly, even though it is not made from Damascus steel, it has a beautiful Damascus steel design.
Even though we select this knife for cutting vegetables, PAUDIN markets it as an all-purpose knife. After testing it, we were surprised with how versatile the knife is at cutting different ingredients. However, if you want to get a knife for the presentation of vegetables, then we will suggest a different one.
Pros:
Versatile usage
Rust-proof and durable blade
Beautiful Damascus design
Cons:
Needs to be sharpened before initial use
The only concern we have with the PAUDIN Nakiri Knife is that it needs to be sharpened before you use it for the first time. So, if you do not have a knife sharpener ready before buying it, you will be stuck with a dull knife. Other than that, its rust-proof blade, combined with its versatile usage, makes it one of the best knives for chopping vegetables.
The TUO Nakiri Knife stands out from the competition because of its high-density Pakkawood handle. Besides being aesthetically pleasing, the handle is also comfortable to use. Other than the handle, the blade on the knife is exceptional as well. It has excellent edge retention and is very easy to resharpen as well. It has a 6.5-inch blade, which is slightly smaller than most vegetable knives, which have a blade length of 7 inches.
The handle design of this knife is quite daring from TUO. However, they took the risk, and it was worth it. The handle not only looks good but feels good as well. The ergonomics of the handle and the width of the blade together ensure that you do not cut your fingers while chopping vegetables.
Pros:
Easy to resharpen
High-density Pakkawood handle
Extraordinary edge retention
Cons:
Needs to be maintained
The only problem with the TUO Nakiri Knife is that its needs to be maintained regularly, or the blade will rust. While the high-carbon stainless steel makes the blade very sharp, it also needs more maintenance. Other than that, its high-density Pakkawood handle makes it one of the best knives for chopping vegetables.
This Nakiri knife has a 9CR18MOV clad steel build that is unique to the FAMCÜTE brand. The build has dimples that ensure the blade can easily release the food so that they do not get stuck when you are cutting it. Lastly, the blade is attached to a lovely African rosewood handle that is comfortable to use. Lastly, its ergonomic design ensures that you can use the knife comfortably when cutting vegetables.
This knife allows smooth and comfortable cuts, which is ideal for people who are just getting started in their cooking journey. The hexagon-shaped handle plays a big part in this. Additionally, the sharpness of the clad steel also increases the smoothness.
Pros:
Clad dimples allow for easy food release
Ergonomic design
African rosewood handle
Cons:
Needs experience to use
You need to have previous experience to use the FAMCÜTE Nakiri Knife optimally because of its unique design. As a result, it is not a knife we would suggest to beginners. Other than that, its ergonomic design, combined with its African rosewood handle, makes it the best knife for chopping vegetables.
The MOSFiATA Chef’s Knife has a durable high-carbon stainless steel build that resists rust, corrosion, and discoloration. Additionally, it has a perfect size-weight ratio, which makes it ideal for both experienced users and amateurs. Lastly, its 7-inch blade makes the knife perfect for chopping various vegetables of different shapes and sizes. So, the conclusion is that if you want a knife that is easy to use, then this is the perfect knife for you.
If you are looking for an affordable knife for chopping vegetables, then this is the ideal choice. Even if it is more affordable than some of the other options on this list, it is by no means worse than them. It offers a great balance between quality and price.
Pros:
Resists rust, corrosion, and discoloration
Perfect size-weight ratio
Ideal for various vegetables
Cons:
Could be easier to sharpen
You might have a problem with the MOSFiATA Chef’s Knife because it is harder to sharpen than its competitors. You need to hold the knife at an angle of 14 to 16 degrees to sharpen it optimally. Other than that, its perfect size-weight ratio, combined with its resistance to rust, makes it one of the best knives for chopping vegetables.
The TradaFor Vegetable Knife is the ideal knife for beginners, and it is also the best type of knife for cutting vegetables. It has a razor-sharp edge that allows the knife to make very thin slices without any issues. Lastly, it is a perfectly balanced Japanese cleave that allows you to use the knife’s weight to cut through vegetables.
With its fashionable packaging and aesthetic pakkawood handle, this knife makes for a great gift. If you want to gift something to an up-and-coming chef, then this is the one to go for. Besides being perfect for cutting vegetables, this knife can cut and dice other ingredients as well.
Pros:
Razor sharp edge
Beginner-friendly knife
Perfectly balanced Japanese cleaver
Cons:
Only for right-handed users
You might have issues with the TradaFor Vegetable Knife because it does not have an ambidextrous design. The knife is only meant for right-handed users because of its single bevel. Other than that, its razor-sharp edge, combined with its perfectly balanced weight, makes it one of the best knives for chopping vegetables.
Blade Material: German military-grade high-carbon stainless steel
Blade Size: 8 inches
The MAD SHARK Chef Knife has an 8-inch blade, which makes it ideal for cutting big vegetables and fruits like watermelons and pumpkins. Besides that, the blade on the knife is rust and stain-resistant as well. Lastly, the handle on the knife is ergonomic and has a comfortable grip so that you can use the knife for a long time without any issues. If you want a vegetable knife with a longer blade, this is the one for you.
It is hard to find another knife like this that performs so well at this price point. The price-feature ratio is what sets this knife apart from the competition. If you want a knife for cutting vegetables that provides this much value for your money, then this is the obvious choice.
Pros:
Rust and stain-resistant
Ultra-sharp edge
Comfortable grip
Cons:
Harder to maneuver
The biggest issue with the MAD SHARK Chef Knife is because of its unusual shape, which makes the blade difficult to maneuver. However, you can easily get used to it with a bit of practice. Other than that, its ultra-sharp blade, combined with its comfortable grip, makes it one of the best knives for chopping vegetables.
If you want a knife that is easier to maneuver than most knives on the market, you can go for the Dalstrong Vegetable Chef Knife, which comes with an ergonomic and aesthetic G10 Garolite handle. Additionally, it has a durable full-tang build. Lastly, it has an aesthetic blade, which is laminated and polished, so you can proudly display it on your dinner table in front of your guests.
We were surprised at how easily this knife glides through vegetables with ease. While the price point makes it seem like it is a knife for professionals, any amateur who can afford it can make good use of it as well. The knife has gotten a nickname of the ‘Deflector.’
Pros:
Durable full tang build
Aesthetic, polished blade
G10 Garolite handle boosts maneuverability
Cons:
Shape of the knife might not suit everyone
The Dalstrong Vegetable Chef Knife has a unique shape, which might not suit everyone’s taste. However, if looks do not matter to you, then its durable full tang build, combined with its G10 Garolite handle, makes it one of the best knives for chopping vegetables on the market.
The Mercer Culinary M23660 Nakiri Vegetable Knife has an exceptional blade that boosts long-lasting sharpness. Besides the blade, it also has a triple-riveted handle that is ergonomic and comfortable to hold. Lastly, the blade has a unique shape that ensures vegetables do not stick to the blade as easily. If you hate when food sticks to the side of your knife when you are cutting it, this is the ideal knife for you.
The sharp rectangular edge of this blade allowed us to make precise cuts. So, you can chop those herbs and vegetables to make your signature dishes and entrees with ease. We also loved the shortened bolster of this knife, which helps with the maintenance of the knife.
Pros:
Long-lasting sharpness
Triple-riveted, ergonomic handle
Vegetables do not stick to the blade
Cons:
Could be easier to clean
One problem we had with the Mercer Culinary M23660 Nakiri Vegetable Knife is it is harder to clean than its competitors. However, it has a durable build that will not rust even if you do not maintain it optimally. Other than that, its long-lasting sharpness, combined with its ergonomic handle, makes it one of the best knives for chopping vegetables.
The best knives for chopping vegetables that will be ideal for you will be the ones that cater to your specific needs. For example, if you want the best cleaver for cutting vegetables, you can go for the ZWILLING Twin Signature Vegetable Cleaver. Alternatively, if you want the overall best one on the market, you can go for the Shun Santoku Knife. If you liked our top picks, check out our choices of the best BBQ knife sets and knives for cutting watermelon.
