Friedrich Dick Premier Plus

Friedrich Dick Premier Plus knives are hand-forged from stainless steel in Germany, and are more common in commercial kitchens than in homes. They have a full tang, but the handle does not encase the tang entirely, leaving a ridge that some testers find uncomfortable. The chef's knife receives considerable praise for its performance in cutting tests, even in reviews where it received only average ratings. Reviewers say this knife is exceedingly sharp, cuts through hard vegetables effortlessly, and has just the right amount of curve to the edge to allow an easy rocking motion when mincing and dicing. Unfortunately, the Friedrich Dick Premier Plus knives are difficult to find in stores, although some online retailers and kitchen supply stores carry them. Reviewers also recommend the Wüsthof Classic (*Est. $150 for three) line of knives, which are also made in Germany and are easier to find in the U.S.

Choice magazine has a recent review of kitchen knives that includes the Friedrich Dick Premier Plus chef's knife, and we found a review in Fine Cooking magazine.