This Dollar Tree Stainless Steel Kitchen Tool Rivals High-End Alternatives In Looks, Not Price

These days, there are an endless number of gadgets and gizmos that you can buy for your kitchen. Some of them are incredibly useful, saving you tons of time and effort — really, every home chef should try using professional tools like a mandolin or a mortar and pestle. On the other hand, there are also plenty of kitchen tools that you shouldn't waste your money on. Or, perhaps, that you should consider picking up at Dollar Tree. Believe it or not, there is a pretty long list of Dollar Tree kitchen gadgets worth buying, including a chef's knife.

If you're on a tight budget, the Royal Norfolk Cutlery Chef's Knife will certainly get the job done. It has a sleek and elegant look to it, as well as a 7.5-inch blade with a micro-serrated edge that you won't need to worry about sharpening in between slicing and dicing. Of course, it also has an incredibly low price of just $1.25. You certainly aren't going to find a lot of competition in the realm of chef's knives under $2. In that area, this knife is king. 

However, we'd be amiss to claim it's the finest knife on the market. At the time of writing, the product has just one review on Dollar Tree's website, giving it three stars out of five and saying: "It's a kitchen knife from Dollar Tree what do you expect?" Evidently, you might be better off shelling out a little bit more for something that will last longer and give you added versatility.

The truth is, the chef's knife is the number one tool in your kitchen. Most of the work that you do will be done with that blade, which is why it's worth spending more for a good knife. While that $1.25 Dollar Tree knife is perfect to stick in a camping set, it's probably not what you want to use on a day-to-day basis.

The biggest issue with the Royal Norfolk Cutlery Chef's Knife is the style of the blade. Rather than a straight edge, which can easily be sharpened, the blade is made of tiny serrations. This can be an advantage, as it will stay usable for a long time without sharpening, but it can also be a detriment. From the start, it's less sharp than a standard chef's knife, incapable of making clean and precise cuts. Additionally, those serrations cannot be resharpened, and will break down over time. 

It might not seem like a big deal to go spend another $1.25 at Dollar Tree when it's time to replace the blade, but as it turns out, a solid chef's knife is a kitchen tool you can find for under $15. While you could buy 12 Royal Norfolk knives for that kind of money, one good blade (that preforms just as stunningly as it looks) is definitely worth more than a dozen bad ones.

A quick glance on the internet will show you that you don't need to spend a lot of money to pick up a quality chef's knife. If you want to be certain that you are picking the perfect tool, you can always consult our guide to choosing the right chef's knife. But for now, we'll focus on a couple of options that are versatile, inexpensive, and just as aesthetic as Dollar Tree's knife.

Farberware's Edgekeeper is a simple chef's knife that's budget-friendly and low-maintenance. Priced just under $11 at the time of writing, it features a 6-inch, high-carbon, stainless steel blade, along with an ergonomic plastic handle, and a unique sheath with a built-in sharpener that refreshes the blade each time you put it away. For just a few more dollars, Farberware's 8-Inch Chef's Knife offer the same design.

For something a bit more traditional, look to Henckels' 8-inch Chef's Knife, a German brand that goes all the way back to the 1730s. The knife has no bells and whistles, but that's exactly what you want from the tool. It's simple, utilitarian, and comes from a brand known for making affordable, high-quality blades. A knife like that, well cared for and sharpened regularly, will help you prepare countless meals over many years before needing to be replaced. Sure, it'll run you closer to $20 — a far cry from Dollar Tree's offer — but that's a small price to pay for such improvements in quality and longevity.