A couple of months ago when I was having dinner at my friend’s home, I wanted to help him in the kitchen but he had only the 6-inch chef knives and I was struggling to process large meats. I asked him why he has such a small knife for big ingredients, he mentioned that it is lightweight and easy to use. I had to explain to him that it isn’t the right size for these ingredients.
As a passionate cook, I’ve used both sizes and mentioned the benefits of having an 8-inch blade. After listening to me, he immediately ordered it and a few days back, he thanked me for suggesting this size. It has helped him process any ingredients much easier now.
If you are in a bit of confusion which size would be the right one for you, continue reading and you’ll know it.
What’s the average size of a chef knife?
The average size is anywhere between 6 and 14 inches but the most common of them is 6 and 8 inches. Only a select brands like Wusthof offer 14-inch models. Here, I’m talking about the blade size and not the entire knife from the tip to the butt.
The difference of 2 inches between 6 and 8 inches may seem normal on paper however, using them in the real world for cutting and slicing them makes a huge difference.
I own a WÜSTHOF Classic knife with both 6 and 8 inch variants and used them for various purposes. I’ll consider this model as an example to mention the factors you need to decide before choosing the right size for yourself.
Factors to consider
1. Safety
When you get the wrong size, it is not only hard to use, it is very dangerous and you may cut yourself during the process. As a kid, my mom never allowed me to touch the 8-inch blade because of the safety purpose. I used the smaller version for some time and only when she felt confident, she handed me the larger blade.
If you are a beginner, get a 6-inch chef knife and practice with it for a couple of days. Once you get used to it, you can get an 8-inch blade.
2. Weight
It is very obvious that 8-inch knives will weigh more than the smaller version and it is the same case with my WÜSTHOF knives as well.
6-inch weight– 6.4 ounces
8-inch weight– 9.5 ounces
The bigger version weighs about 50% in this case. The average difference you’ll find on other models would be anywhere between 30-50%.
The heavy knife lets you easily cut dense ingredients with a single stroke and you’ll be able to do it in a single stroke. The only downside is, the blade may cause fatigue after using it for a long time.
The lighter one is easy to use but requires more effort from you to cut or slice in dense foods. As I own both of them, I choose the one based on the ingredients I’m about to process.
3. Versatility
The main quality of any chef knife is its versatility. You can use it for cutting, slicing, dinincing, mincing, chopping or peeling; however, you need the right size for doing these tasks.
With a 6-inch knife, I can:
- Cut and slice small ingredients like Apple, Mango, Bananas, Pineapple, Pomegranates etc.
- Chop, dice and mince produce like Tomato, Garlic, Green beans, Onion, Cucumbers, Broccoli, Bell Peppers, Herbs etc.
- Chop and trim medium-sized meats like chicken breast,tenderloins and fish.
With an 8-inch blade, I can:
- Process large ingredients like Watermelon, Papaya, Avocados, Cantaloupes etc.
- Dice and mince large produce like Cabbage and Squash.
- Chop and trim large-sized meats such as Porterhouse Steak, Brisket, Chateaubriand, Whole Chicken Breast, Whole Chicken Leg etc.
While preparing for a whole team in our fire station which mainly includes large ingredients, I don’t waste my time and pick the 8-inch blade. For a small team or cooking at home with small to medium-sized ingredients, the smaller version works just fine for me.
4. Price
The difference between the 6-inch knife and the 8-inch one could be anywhere between 20 to 30%. There is no standard price for these knives as different brands have their own pricing.
My WÜSTHOF Classic 6-inch knife costs $135 and the 8-inch version comes at $170. The difference is about 20.5%. If you are on a limited budget and fine with the capability of the 6-inch blade, you can go with it. If you don’t have any budget constraint, I recommend you get both of them and use it for different purposes.
5. Space
If you have a tiny kitchen with small counter tops and limited storage space, I would advise you only go with the 6-inch one because it’ll not only be hard to use but you’ll also find it difficult to store them. I don’t have this issue as I’ve a large kitchen space both in my home and in our fire station but it won’t be the same for everyone.
6. Arm size
I picture the chef knife as an extension of my arm and I would suggest you do the same because it’ll help you decide the right size for you. You just need to measure the size of your forearm with a tape measure.
If your forearm is 6-inches, get the smaller chef knife and if it is 8-9 inches, the larger one would be perfect for you.
FAQs
1. What is a 6 inch chef knife used for?
You can use it for cutting, slicing and dicing small ingredients. It is my preferred knife for such tasks.
Some tasks I regularly do with this knife is, deboning chicken, slicing peppers, segmenting citrus etc.
2. What size is best for a chef knife?
The best size depends on your cooking style and how often you cook. My personal opinion is, an 8-inch knife is the best among other options like 6,10 or 12 inches as it provides the luxury of cutting and slicing any ingredient and is good enough to prepare a meal for a whole family.
3. Is a 6 or 8 chef knife better?
For small ingredients like Apple, Tomato, Garlic etc, the 6-inch one is better. The compact blade provides control, stability and lets you cut or slice with high-precision.
For large ingredients such as Cabbage or Watermelon, always go with the 8-inch version because it provides power, speed, and stability for processing these foods.
4. Is an 8 inch chef knife too big?
No, it isn’t. It is the perfect size for everyday kitchen tasks such as cutting vegetables, chopping and trimming meat, slicing fruits etc.
Remember This
If you haven’t touched a chef knife before, just get a small version for the initial few weeks or months, just to get in the rhythm. If you feel confident of using an 8-inch blade without hurting you or anyone nearby, that’s when you need to pick it. That’s what I did as a kid.
I hope this guide may have helped to choose the right size for you. If you have any questions or doubts, please drop it in the comments below and I’ll talk to you soon. Cheers!
