10-Inch Chef's Knife
How we tested
We use our favorite 8-inch chef’s knife, the Victorinox Swiss Army Fibrox Pro 8" Chef's Knife, in the test kitchen all day, every day—mincing, dicing, chopping, and slicing. We've found this size capable of handling a multitude of kitchen tasks while also being comfortable to work with.
However, there are a few cooks in our kitchen who prefer a longer blade, especially when breaking down large cuts of meat or big, tough vegetables such as butternut squash. Could we also recommend the Victorinox Swiss Army Fibrox Pro 10" Chef’s Knife? To find out, we used it to chop onions, slice tomatoes, mince parsley, peel and cube bulbous butternut squash, and break down a whole chicken.
The Pros and Cons of a 10-Inch Blade
Testers liked the overall design of the knife; its rubbery, textured handle was secure and easy to grip (the material is the same as in the 8-inch version), and the knife was razor-sharp right out of the box. Its large blade cut right through tough pieces of butternut squash and easily sliced through chicken bones and joints.
However, the longer blade felt unmanageable and unsafe to some testers. With so much blade to keep track of, testers had trouble using the the knife for tasks that required more dexterity, such as chopping an onion, and found that it took them longer to safely complete such tasks. A few also noted that the 10-inch knife felt too heavy. In the end, every tester who tried the knives preferred the 8-inch Victorinox over the 10-inch version.
Recommended with Reservations: Victorinox Swiss Army Fibrox Pro 10" Chef’s Knife
Ultimately, we still recommend the 8-inch version for all the kitchen tasks of the average home cook. If you’re looking for a longer blade with which to prep large, tough vegetables such as butternut squash or break down large cuts of meat, we recommend the Victorinox Swiss Army Fibrox Pro 10" Chef’s Knife. It features a sharp blade and a comfortable handle.
Methodology
We tested the 10-inch version of our favorite chef’s knife, using it to slice tomatoes, finely chop onions, mince parsley, peel and cube butternut squash, and break down a whole chicken. We noted how it performed, whether its handle was comfortable to grip, and whether its blade maintained sharpness throughout testing. We also had four different users of varying heights and dominant hands use the knife to chop onions. The price listed is what we paid online.
Rating Criteria
Handle: We looked at whether the handle felt comfortable and secure when breaking down a chicken and slicing a tomato.
Blade Design: We wanted a blade that rocked nicely and a spine that did not dig into our hands. We also wanted a knife that could be used effectively by both right-handed and left-handed users.
Kitchen Tasks: We wanted to be able to safely and easily complete a number of kitchen tasks, whether we were chopping an onion, slicing tomatoes, mincing herbs, cubing butternut squash, or butchering a chicken.
Edge Retention: We evaluated the blade right out of the box and at the end of testing by slicing through sheets of copy paper.
The Results
Design Trifecta 360 Knife Block
Admittedly expensive, this handsome block certainly seemed to live up to its billing as “the last knife block you ever have to buy.” The heaviest model in our testing, this block was ultrastable, and its durable bamboo exterior was a breeze to clean. Well-placed medium-strength magnets made it easy to attach all our knives, and a rotating base gave us quick access to them. One tiny quibble: The blade of our 12-inch slicing knife stuck out a little.
Schmidt Brothers Downtown Block
This roomy block completely sheathed our entire winning knife set using just one of its two sides—and quite securely, thanks to long, medium-strength magnet bars. Heavy, with a grippy base, this block was very stable. An acrylic guard made this model extra-safe but also made it a little trickier to insert knives and to clean; the wood block itself showed some minor cosmetic scratching during use.
Schmidt Brothers Midtown Block
This smaller version of the Downtown Block secured all our knives nicely, though the blade of the slicing knife stuck out a bit. With a base lined with grippy material, this block was very stable. An acrylic guard afforded extra protection against contact with blades but made it a little harder to insert knives and to clean; the wood itself got a little scratched during use.
Swissmar Bamboo Magnetic Knife Block
This small, scratch-resistant model had a stable, rubber-lined base and could hold all our knives, though the blade of the 12-inch slicing knife stuck out a bit. But inch-long gaps between its small magnets made coverage uneven and forced us to find the magnetic hot spots in order to secure the knives. Its acrylic guard made it safer to use but harder to insert knives and to clean.
Messermeister Walnut Magnet Block
This handsome block was done in by its shape—a tippy, top-heavy quarter-circle that wasn’t tall or broad enough to keep the blades of three knives from poking out. It lacked a nonslip base, and its extra-strong magnets made it unnerving to attach or remove our heavy cleaver. Finally, it got a bit scratched after extensive use.
Epicurean Standing Knife Rack 12"
This magnetic block sheathed all our knives completely, though with a bit of crowding. But it was hard to insert each knife without hitting the block’s decorative slats on way down, and because the block was light and narrow, it wobbled when bumped. Worse, we couldn’t take it apart, so splatters that hit the interior were there to stay. Additionally, the outside stained easily, and when we wiped it down, the unit smelled like wet dog.
Kapoosh Rondelle Knife Block
This model stabilized knives with a mass of stiff, spaghetti-like bristles that shed and nicked easily after extensive use, covering our knives with plastic debris. While all our knives fit securely, several of the blades stuck out, making this unit feel less safe overall. Finally, though the bristles could be removed and cleaned in the dishwasher, their nooks and crannies made this block hard to wash by hand.
Kuhn Rikon Vision Knife Block, Clear
This plastic block required us to aim each knife into the folds of an accordion-pleated insert that was removable for easy cleaning but got nicked easily with repeated use. Because we could only insert the knives vertically, longer knife blades stuck out; a cleaver was too wide to fit. The lightest model in our lineup, this block was dangerously top-heavy when loaded with knives.