The Only 5 Culinary Knives You'll Ever Need

The king of the kitchen knives, a good chef's knife is step No. 1 of outfitting a top-notch pantry. The prep duty workhorse does everything from mincing fresh herbs to slicing through thick slabs of raw meat and disjointing bones. Shun Fuji's chef's knife comes with its own stand, and can even be monogrammed if you want a little personal flair.

Pro tip from chef John W. of 7's Kitchen: "Pinch the base of the blade with your thumb and index finger while gripping the handle with the rest of your hand for more control and precision."

Shun Fuji 6" Chef's Knife with Stand, $350, williams-sonoma.com

Ideal for slicing soft, squish-prone vegetables or bread without the massive crumb fallout, a serrated knife is a must-have for serving beautiful food. Zwillig's sigma-forging and ice-hardening processes promise a dependable blade and, best of all, it's dishwasher safe for easy cleanup (mise en place is everything, after all).

Pro tip: "Use the tip of the knife to de-stem the tomato. It eliminates the need to use a pairing knife."

Zwilling J.A. Henckels Pro Utility Knife, 5", $80, macys.com

An essential in any carnivorous kitchen, a boning knife lets you debone poultry, meat and fish without clawing through rib by rib. Hand-sharpened on water stones and known for its sturdy quality, the heftier price tag on this Chubo piece is worth it—we promise.

Pro tip: "The key to deboning fish is to get the most flesh off the bone as possible—we're not literally going for a fluid 'Tom and Jerry' deboning motion."

Chubo Misono Ux10 American Style Boning Knife, 110mm, $220, chuboknives.com

For preparing firm fruits and vegetables like potatoes, a paring knife with a controllable, short blade is key. This 3.5-inch Wusthof knife includes a full tang (a blade that extends all the way into the handle) and offers max precision.

Pro tip: "Peel from the top down to the base in a circular motion. This knife is great for removing the core of fruits and vegetables as well."

Wusthof Classic 3.5-Inch Paring Knife, $39.99, bedbathandbeyond.com

After the cooking comes the feasting. If prime rib is what's for dinner, be sure you've got the right set of utensils for slicing into those tender morsels. These top-notch Laguioles give you, the diner, a comfortable, contoured handle and a nice stainless finish.

Pro tip: "It's best to cut against the grain of the meat, which helps to tenderize the meat."

Laguiole Steak Knives, Set of 6, $49.95, crateandbarrel.com