Ina Garten uses these exact knives for seamless (and safe) food prep – and they're designed to last 'forever'

We've lost count of how many times we've watched, mesmerized as Ina Garten chops, cubes, and dices beautiful food. Known for her steady hand and admirable technique, it's no surprise that The Barefoot Contessa arms herself with a selection of chef-approved kitchen knives. 

Imagine our delight, then, when we saw that the culinary icon has revealed exactly which knives she prefers, along with other knife tips and tricks, over on her Instagram page.

'People ask me all the time what kind of knives they should get, and I say really good quality knives that are going to last forever,' Garten states in the clip.

In her caption, the Barefoot Contessa mentions that her knives of choice are from the German heritage brand WÜSTHOF, specifically the Classics line, which she then demonstrates in action by smoothly cutting loaves of bread, along with tomatoes.

Though Garten has a block filled with several knives, she advises that all home cooks only need a handful of blades, all of which serve different purposes.

'There are four really important knives: there's a chef's knife, there's a slicing knife, a bread knife, which is serrated, and a paring knife,' she says in the video. 'If you have those four, you can do almost anything.'

Once quality knives are acquired, the natural next step is keeping them sharp and ready for cutting.

'Sharp knives are imperative when cutting food because they can cut into a surface with greater ease, thus decreasing the risk of slipping and causing injuries,' says Chef Serge Krikorian. 'I've always believed that sharp knives are the unsung heroes of the kitchen. They're not just tools; they're essential companions that elevate every culinary experience.'

Serge Krikorian

Chef Serge Krikorian and his wife, Mary Krikorian, started their catering business in 2002 and have been in the family restaurant business since 1994. Having catered thousands of events over the years as Dinner’s Ready, they launched Vibrant Occasions Catering, a new name that more accurately depicts the level of food and service provided at weddings and social events. Krikorian was born in Lebanon and moved to the United States with his family as an adult entering college. He now hails from the quaint town of Benton, Arkansas. His southern hospitality paired with his penchant for developing unique international fusion-style recipes, especially sauces, has garnered his reputation as foodies' fan favorite in his community and now on the YouTube space for his cooking show, Cooking with the Kriks. After years of dreaming about owning a mobile kitchen, in December 2020, Serge and Mary launched Our Mobile Kitchen with the intention of providing fresh, 5-star quality chef-prepared cuisine to patrons visiting where the mobile kitchen is parked or on site for catered weddings and social, private or corporate events. Krikorian is an alumnus of Henderson State University where he studied business earning his Bachelor’s Degree and met his wife, Mary. He earned his MBA from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. Serge became a restaurant entrepreneur when he purchased an old, run-down pizza parlor he and Mary revived called Sergio’s Pizza. After a few years, they knew the restaurant business was not for them. Mary booked their first official catering gig, much to Serge’s surprise. They began receiving more and more requests for catering luncheons and events. The catering business took over after six months and they never looked back. They have three sons who often work in the business around their academic and career schedules, making their enterprise a family-built business.

Chef Krikorian, who also counts Wusthof knives amongst his collection, says that he recommends getting knives sharpened every three to four months if possible.

'It's not just about ownership; it's about the care and maintenance ritual,' he explains. 'I send my knives off for sharpening and reshaping once a year, ensuring they remain in peak condition.'

As far as further preservation measurements, Chef Krikorian recommends using blade guards when knives are not in use and storing knives safely (for example, in a block like Garten's) to prevent damage. When used and stored correctly, these knives will stand the test of time, and with endorsements from Chef Krikorian and the Barefoot Contessa herself, we're rushing to the checkout.

Shop the Garten-approved knives

Below, explore the Ina Garten-endorsed, WÜSTHOF Classic knives. Since these knives are designed to last forever, we're almost certain they'll be worth the investment. 

Next, learn about the types of knife sharpeners celebs favor and what happened when we gave a bargain rolling magnetic knife sharpener a go on dull knives.