Stanley Tucci Swears By This Kitchen Essential

Stanley Tucci knows a thing or two about making delicious meals. And, as I learned from chatting with him at a recent event for Sanpellegrino’s Ciao! sparkling water (he’s been a brand partner for years), he also knows a thing or two about prepping those meals. Tucci has more than demonstrated his culinary chops on his show, Searching for Italy, and on his personal social media, and he recently clued me in on the most important utensil in his kitchen.

As a shopping editor, I’m always curious about the one kitchen item pros wouldn’t cook without, so I posed the question to Tucci. Aside from his cookware line with GreenPan, he swears by “a great carbon steel knife.” Specifically, he loves those from London-based Blenheim Forge, which crafts carbon steel Japanese knives. He even brings them with him when he travels — though “not to a hotel” when traveling for fun, he assured me. But when he plans to cook on the go, you’ll find his carbon steel knives in his luggage.

Blenheim Forge Petty Iron Clad Aogami 2 Carbon Steel Knife

Made from an alloy of carbon and iron, carbon steel knives are long-lasting, incredibly sharp (and retain that sharpness for a long time), and are easier to sharpen than stainless steel knives. They are more prone to corrosion than stainless steel, so be sure to hand-wash, dry, and store yours properly. I keep mine on a magnetic knife strip, which chefs agree is the best storage method since it doesn’t hold moisture. That said, carbon steel develops a unique patina over time that does help prevent corrosion.

This petty knife from Tucci’s go-to brand has a 4.7-inch wide bevel carbon steel blade made from iron-clad Aogami #2 steel, plus a beautiful walnut handle with copper detailing. Blenheim Forge also makes nakiri and gyuto knives out of the same materials. To preserve your carbon steel knife’s sharp edge, the brand recommends using it on a high-quality wooden cutting board. (This helps you avoid microplastics in the kitchen, as well.) And if you plan to travel with your knives as Tucci does, grab a matching sheath to protect yourself and your belongings from the blade. 

Shun Classic Blonde 6-Inch Chef’s Knife

We test tons of knives and have been impressed by carbon steel models, too. Our favorite carbon steel chef’s knife is the Classic Blonde from Japanese brand Shun. I own it in the 6-inch size and used it just last night to make a thinly sliced cucumber salad and remove salmon skin, and its fine blade excels at both.

Approved by Tucci, Food & Wine editors, and professional chefs alike, carbon steel is a material that may not be in your kitchen yet, but it should be. You can grab one of our favorite carbon steel knives (including mine!) on sale right now, or take a page out of Tucci’s metaphorical book — his actual book, which I’m currently reading, is also a delight — and snag a stunning English-made blade from Blenheim Forge.

Shop More Knives at Amazon

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Victorinox Fibrox 8-Inch Chef’s Knife

At the time of publishing, the price was $250.