Best USA-Made Knife Under $50


Are you looking for cheap yet quality knives made exclusively in the United States? It is easy to get caught up in the bigger picture of life without giving the smaller things in the present time a second thought. Something as simple as a USA-made knife can impact convenience and budget, believe it or not. However, since it seems that you did look over the smaller and simpler things this time, we will make your time here worth spending.

This article will present the best USA-made knives you can get for a low price of under $50! We will also provide tips that you can use for future reference to make your purchase worth its price.

KNIVES UNDER $50BRANDOUR RATINGCHECK PRICE ON AMAZON
Rada Cutlery 13” Frech Chef Knife Check Price
Imarku Asian Japanese Chef Knife Made In USA Check Price
Rada Cutlery Resin Paring Knife Check Price
Mama's Great Ultra Sharp Bread Knife Check Price
Spyderco Premium Fixed Blade Check Price
OUR TOP CHOICE: Rada Cutlery 13” Frech Chef Knife

Product Name: Rada Cutlery 13” Frech Chef Knife

Product Description: A chef knife that is styled to become reminiscent of those used by professional chefs, especially in French culture. This knife has a stainless steel blade that ensures you will not have to worry about rust if you plan to store it for a long time. Its dishwasher-safe blade and handle allow you to simply clean it through your dishwasher, saving you some precious time and energy. Humble and ethical, the Rada Cutlery brand ensures that their American-made knives fulfill their intended purpose and brings their customers outstanding satisfaction at a low price. As such, they offer replacements for any defective products you receive from their brand.

Availability: InStock

  • Value for money
  • Comfort
  • Weight
  • Giftable

Summary

Even if you have many knives at your disposal, this chef knife from Rada is the most excellent knife for daily use. It’s flexible, comfortable to use, and sturdy. You can also carve turkey using different focal points of the blade! Though heavy chopping is not advisable, its thin knife makes it sharp and can be re-sharpened without damaging the edge.

Pros

  • Lightweight and easy to use while maintaining its credibility as a professional chef’s knife.
  • Stainless and immune to rusting. 
  • Convenient to store and clean thanks to its relatively smaller size.
  • An excellent gift for culinary enthusiasts because of its aesthetic, price, and quality.

Cons

  • The plastic handle variation of this knife is the only dishwasher safe among other knives of the same product. Steel-handled variations are not safe for dishwashers and should be cleaned manually.
  • Durability is questionable because of its lightweight structure.
Overall
5

~OTHER KNIVES YOU CAN BUY AT A GREAT PRICE~

Imarku Asian Japanese Chef Knife Made In USA

Santoku knife made in USA

A versatile santoku USA-made knife that will fulfill many roles around your kitchen. From preparation to serving, santoku knives are always appreciated for their utility and ease of usage. This makes you think that all the dollars you spent were worth it. This particular knife by Imarku has a stainless steel blade that is very sharp and durable. These are traits that are not usually associated with stainless blades.

Yet, this one proves itself to be an exception. Its ergonomic handle can give you a comfortable and easy time maintaining its handle while you chop and mince away at the ingredients on your chopping board. As a nice cherry on top, this knife comes with fancy packaging. This is not only aesthetically pleasing but very appropriate for gifting and other occasions.

Pros
  • Sharp and durable while maintaining its stature as a stainless steel blade.
  • Its Hollow edge design prevents minced ingredients from sticking to its blade.
  • Easy to use at a generous price that comes with visually striking packaging.
  • Consists of a Pakkawood handle that makes it comfortable to hold.
Cons
  • Requires adjustment since Hollow edge knives are less common than Serrated and Straight edge knives.
  • Requires constant honing or sharpening after use to ensure its steel is always readily adequate for denser ingredients.

Rada Cutlery Resin Paring Knife

Another work of art from Rada Cutlery makes for an ideal peeling and paring knife for all those fruit lovers. This knife has a stainless steel blade that has a design to be optimal for peeling fruit and vegetables.

Though its blade is shorter than average, it allows for more maneuvering while you are using it to peel away at your favorite fruits. Which you would otherwise have trouble doing if you opt for a knife too big for such a small delicacy. Cleaning this knife afterward will be easier. This is because you can use the dishwasher to clean its blade and handle it thoroughly.

Pros
  • Perfect for peeling fruits, vegetables, and other smaller ingredients that require slicing.
  • Easy to handle because of its relatively smaller size.
  • Cleaning and storing are convenient because of their stainless steel blade and dishwasher-safe handle.
  • The brand offers a replacement for any defective products you purchase.
Cons
  • Versatility is limited as it is specifically made for peeling and paring small objects.
  • Other options can perform their role similarly, albeit with less comfort and ease of maneuverability.

Mama's Great Ultra Sharp Bread Knife

bread knife made in USA

A quality bread knife created by a trustworthy brand specializing in all things within the scope of baking, Mama’s Great. This bread knife’s blade is serrated. It allows it to cut through even the thickest loaf of bread. This can be very convenient for fans of baked goods.

Its asymmetrical structure and wide blade allow you to cut through bread precisely. And if done correctly, it can provide you with a perfectly shaped slide of bread. Because of its handle and structure, you will find this blade easy to use. Up to the point where even just relying on muscle memory can produce a perfect slice once you use it daily.

Pros
  • Easy to use because of its wide blade and handle structure.
  • Allows you to cut bread with extreme precision.
  • Versatile enough to be used outside of slicing bread. It can also be used to cut or peel fruits and vegetables.
  • Consists of stainless steel and a pakkawood handle, providing longevity and comfort for the user.
Cons
  • Cleaning requires using warm water and soap (as recommended by the brand owners), as the knife is not suitable for being cleaned through the dishwasher.
  • Requires a form of sharpening and honing as it still consists of carbon steel properties.

Spyderco Premium Fixed Blade

Spyderco’s versatile and reliable knife can be used inside and outside the kitchen. This utility knife can be used for nearly everything that needs slicing in the kitchen, from small ingredients to dense chunks of meat.

Its ergonomics allow for less effort and more power applied to the object. This provides ease of use and convenience for the wielder. It can be brought on trips and various occasions not limited to the kitchen, such as camping and opening packages. Overall, a good knife can be used for various scenarios while providing a sense of ease and comfort to the user.

Pros
  • Provides outstanding dependability for the user.
  • Versatile and can fulfill the roles of the other knives on this list.
  • Durable and easy to maneuver because of its ergonomic handle.
Cons
  • Jack of all trades but a master of none. Other options can fulfill their respective roles more efficiently due to their specializations.
  • If used outside of the kitchen, it should be cleaned thoroughly to an extent where it should not contaminate food if used for other purposes such as opening packages.

~WHAT MAKES A USA-MADE KNIFE EXCELLENT?~

USA-made knives are preceded by their reputation as one of the most excellent forged blades you can find in modern times. The United States is home to many well-known and trusted brands that produce quality knives and provide a customer-friendly service for their consumers. 

In short, you are making the right choice by looking for USA-made knives as they use tested and proven techniques for making knives while considering the modern aesthetic and convenience that they can bring to their new owners. As such, you can expect a lot of variety. Since the USA is essentially the home of many reputable knife makers, many of these knives are quite common. So common, in fact, that you can walk into someone’s kitchen and immediately recognize around five different knives with varying shapes and handles. 

~COMMON KNIVES IN THE KITCHEN FOR DAILY USE~

Knives are a necessary part of your kitchen. They can be used for cutting fruits and vegetables, slicing meat, or chopping up herbs. However, not all kitchen knives are created equal, and some are much better than others for daily use. Since we have explored these knives on our list, it can be beneficial to get to know which type of knives they belong to.

usa-made knife
Photo credits: Danilo Reyes

🟩 Chef’s Knife

A chef’s knife is a large and heavy blade. It’s used for chopping, dicing, mincing, and slicing foods like meat or vegetables. This type of knife comes in several sizes, from 8 to 10 inches long, with a wide blade (1 1/4 inch). The weight can vary from around 5 ounces to 12 ounces depending on the manufacturer’s specifications for your particular model.

The best chefs’ knives have blades forged from high carbon steel and then hardened by heating them in a rod-like device called an oven. These are heated at temperatures between 400° F and 600° F until they reach their final hardness level. This process creates an extremely sharp edge that stays sharp longer than any other blade made out of softer metals. Such as stainless steel or titanium alloyed with nickel but doesn’t dull easily either!

🟩 Paring/Peeling Knife

Paring knives are small blades with a pointed tip. They are good for cutting small pieces of fruit and vegetables, peeling apples and other fruits, making incisions in meat or fish, and even making fine cuts into bread dough. 

The main benefit of paring knives is that they allow you to use a very sharp blade that’s also easy to handle.

They’re also versatile – they can be used for everything from cutting up an onion to slicing through carrots like butter!

🟩 Santoku Knife

A Japanese-style knife is also known as a Santoku. You’ll find this type of knife in many kitchens, especially professional ones because it’s versatile and can be used on various foods.

  • Slicing and dicing: This knife makes short work of slicing boneless meats such as chicken breast or pork chops. It is also good for chopping vegetables and fruits into more manageable sizes for serving purposes (such as salad dressing).
  • Mincing garlic cloves: If you’re preparing gourmet meals but don’t have time to spend hours chopping things up by hand, this is your go-to kitchen tool! Simply run through garlic with this tool until finely minced before adding them to whatever dish you make next. The results will be delicious!

For other uses of the Santoku knife, click here.

🟩 Bread Knife

Bread knives are serrated, and their main purpose is to cut bread. The type of bread you slice also determines the knife you need.

  • Bread knives with a straight blade will work best for slicing soft bread like bagels or rolls, while those with a serrated edge are better at cutting crusty loaves like French bread or rustic sourdough rolls.
  • If your favorite loaf is whole grain or rye, then an all-purpose blade may be better suited for slicing it evenly, but if you’re looking at something like white sandwich bread (or even just sliced banana), then an angled blade will give more precise results.

🟩 Utility Knife

The utility knife is the most versatile in your kitchen. It can cut, slice, and chop almost anything you need to use it for. This includes boneless meats, fish, or poultry like chicken breasts and salmon filets. It’s also great for slicing bread and tomatoes.

The blade of this knife is curved, so it’s designed to fit into tight spaces where other knives wouldn’t reach. This makes it ideal for peeling fruit such as apples or oranges, making garnishes (such as chutneys); cutting small items like herbs or spices; trimming meat off bones before cooking; mincing garlic cloves quickly. Without bruising them too much and more!

There are two types of utility knives: serrated blades are more suited for heavy-duty work, while smooth blades tend toward precision tasks such as paring fruits or vegetables into smaller pieces using just one hand.

~HOW TO TELL IF A KNIFE IS EXPENSIVE OR CHEAP?~

If you’ve ever been in the market for a new knife, you’ve wondered if a particular one is worth your money. It’s not about how much it costs; the right steel and blade type are also important factors. But how do you know when to buy expensive or inexpensive knives? 

Specific characteristics differentiate high-end kitchen cutlery from less expensive options, so let’s look at some of them to make an educated guess when purchasing your next set of blades. To figure out the quality of the knife, if you are shopping outside of our list, then you should consider the following factors:

🟩 Weight

Weight is a notable indicator of the quality of a knife. Heavier knives are more durable and balanced, with less mass to hold them down. They also have more inertia, which means they can swing around without losing momentum like lighter ones might do if you accidentally bumped into something while carrying your blade around.

This makes sense: if you’ve ever seen someone whack into their hand while slicing some veggies or doing other kitchen tasks with an old-fashioned chef’s knife (and trust me, you probably have), then we can all agree that this would make for a harrowing experience!

🟩 Balance

Balance is the relationship between the blade and handle. It determines how well a knife is suited to a particular task, such as chopping or slicing. A good balance allows you to use your entire arm without worrying about losing control of the knife during use.

Balance can be measured in several ways. By measuring the length of each side (blade vs. handle) or weight distribution between both sides (weight on one side vs. nothing on the other).

🟩 Materials

While many materials are used in knife manufacturing, the most common is high carbon steel. This is a mixed material with some carbon and elements mixed to create an alloy that can be hardened. High carbon steel is commonly used since it has good wear resistance and edge retention and is easy to sharpen.

The next most commonly used material for knives is stainless steel. Stainless steels have been carefully developed over many years by manufacturers who wanted to create a strong blade without sacrificing flexibility or corrosion resistance. The latter is important because if your knife was too flexible, it wouldn’t hold up well. 

Some of these steels are alloyed with nickel or cobalt. In contrast, others include chromium, molybdenum, vanadium/silicon carbide (V/SC), tungsten carbide (WC), and hardenable tool steel alloys like SUS 316L. This means they are super hard but also very brittle. Making them less practical for everyday use than those made from softer metals like copper or aluminum. However, they do retain their sharpness much longer than ordinary kitchen knives would.

🟩 Size

Size is a necessary factor to observe when buying a knife. The cook’s size and kitchen will determine what kind of knife you want to buy. You should also keep track of how much space you currently have in your kitchen and what kind of meal or dish you’re making. If it’s too big for your purposes, it’s probably not worth buying.

The best way to tell if something is expensive or cheap is by looking at its price per ounce (or gram). For example: If something costs $100 but weighs only 1/5 ounce total or less than one cent per gram, that might be cheaper than most other things on this list.

🟩 Type of Steel

The type of steel used in a knife is the material that makes up the blade. It’s made from iron, other metals, and carbon, the most important ingredient. The carbon content determines how hard and strong your blade will be and its ability to resist corrosion.

The more significant the carbon content is, the more durable your blade will be. However, high-carbon steel can also become brittle over time if not properly maintained.

Generally, high-carbon steels are ideal for cutting through bone or tough meat. While lower-carbon steels are better suited for softer foods like tomatoes or fruit pits.

🟩 Durability

Durability is also an essential factor when buying a knife. This is because knives have a long lifespan and must be durable enough to last for years. If you buy a cheap knife, you will probably end up with something that will break easily. Or, it will surely stop working after just a couple of months.

On the other hand, if you go for an expensive model like those made by Victorinox Swiss Army Knives, then it can be expected that they would last longer than cheaper ones. Since they have design with better materials and craftsmanship techniques in mind.

~THOUGHTS ON BUYING A KNIFE~

A good quality kitchen knife can be worth the investment. It’s important to look at the material used, as well as the size and balance of the blade. A sharp blade will make food preparation easier and have a longer lifespan than a dull one. The best knives are made from high carbon steel. They are also either stainless or carbon coated, which helps prevent rusting.

The type of steel used will determine how much weight and thickness it can handle before becoming too thin or brittle. This is measured by durability testing called the “Rockwell Hardness Scale” (HRC). For example, if you want something strong enough for cutting through bones, then go for 440C. This has an HRC rating of 62-70 on average. Compared to cheaper options such as 420HC, which has an HRC rating ranging between 60-65 depending on what type(s) were used when making them.

~BOTTOM LINE~

Now that you know the best USA-made knife you can get for a low price, you should consider what type of knife you need the most in your household. We highly recommend the utility knife for general use. As it can fulfill the roles of the other types of knives, albeit with less effectiveness and efficiency. However, if you have a specific purpose for these knives, you should get the one that fits said purpose the most.

For example, if you have been into a healthy lifestyle lately, then getting a peeling or paring knife can be useful when. Especially if you’re preparing the fruits that you’ll eat or put in a drink. As such, choose the most that suit your current needs the best. Or, choose what provides you with the most convenient if purchased. Since the knives are within a relatively low price scope, the decision will be all up to what you would use them for!

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