Kitchen Review: Sabatier 9-inch Authentique Carbon Steel Chef Knife

When it comes to chef knives, as any professional can tell you, they require different levels of care and understanding of how the knife works/behaves.

Carbon steel has been a part of knife making for a long time, and while it does have its own advantages, it has a unique set of drawbacks as well. I’ve been using the Sabatier 9-inch Authentique Carbon Steel Chef Knife for the last two years, in and out of commercial kitchens and it has become a mainstay in my knife kit. Here are the pros and cons of using this knife in your own kitchen.

Pros

The Sabatier Authentique line is straightforward as far as chef knives go, there’s really nothing flashy about it except the olive wood handles. At least until the patina of the carbon starts to set in. The patina is harmless if you take care of it and can become specific to you and how you use this knife.

The balance of this knife is well done, it sits right at the full bolster, and feels light in the hand. The handle itself isn’t too boxy, but not so rounded that it is difficult to hold onto.

One major plus when it comes to carbon steel is that these knives are incredibly easy to sharpen and hold a great edge. While these knives might need to be touched up more often due to the softer steel, it doesn’t take very long at all.

Cons

Since this is a carbon steel knife, it will require extra care to prevent rusting. There’s a big difference between a healthy patina, and what is becoming major rust. So, this will require knowledge and learning on your part. The basics are:

• Keep the blade dry and wipe it immediately after cutting anything acidic.
• Do not leave it wet or in standing water.
• Make sure you oil both the blade and handle between uses.

While it might be worth questioning if you want a 9-inch Chef knife, it really comes down to what you make at home and how much clearance you need with the size of the blade. If 9 inches is a bit much, then there are 6- or 8-inch options as well. Not to mention the price for these knives, depending on the blade length you go for, can range from $68 (6-inch) to $88 (8-inch), and $98 for the 9-inch blade in question. Not only affordable, but, overall, this is a great starter knife if you feel you are prepared to take the dive into carbon steel knives.