Buying a chef’s knife is a lot like buying a musical instrument. There will be a lot of variation, even among instruments of the same kind. As an amateur chef, you want an instrument that is not only appropriate to your current skill level and budget, but also one that won’t hold you back as your skills improve.

“Francis Mallmann, the most famous chef in South America, has classical French training, which involves using high-end copper pots and pans. He still prefers cast-iron, because nothing transfers heat more uniformly.”