A good kitchen knife can not only make cooking easier and more seamless, but can also keep your fingers safe from an errant chop. An old, dull knife is a hazard to all. If you’ve been putting off upgrading your knives because of the financial investment, we have good news. You can get this adoringly-reviewed chef’s knife at Amazon for under $20.High-quality kitchen knives can often be really expensive, and not only is this one from Mercer highly recommended by people who claim to be professionals and avid home cooks alike, but it’s incredibly affordable. It’s constructed with a single piece of high-carbon Japanese steel that is sharp, durable and easy to maintain. The ergonomic handle features textured finger points that offer a non-slip grip for additional comfort and safety. One reviewer stated, “The handle is comfortable and has a good grip, even when your hands are slightly wet. It doesn’t feel like a cheap knife, even though it’s very affordable.”This chef’s knife is ideal for all your chopping, cutting, mincing, dicing and shredding needs, whether you’re putting together a feast for a dinner party or quickly throwing together a weeknight dinner for your family.Mercer has a variety of different knives available at Amazon, but this one is one of the most affordable in the bunch — and a chef’s knife like this one is a versatile kitchen tool that has a variety of cutting applications, according to previous HuffPost reporting. Everyone could use one of these in the kitchen. Reviewers say it is super sharp and lightweight, that it “cuts like butter,” and “cuts vegetables and meat easily and precisely,” making it ideal for home cooking enthusiasts.It’s a perfect everyday knife that even people who say they don’t cook often should have close at hand for whenever the occasion to cut or chop something might arise. It’s recommended to be hand-washed, but multiple reviewers reported that it does just fine in the dishwasher.Take a look at what other shoppers have to say about this knife and pick one up for yourself. The price is just too good to be true. As one reviewer said, “Just buy the d*mn thing.”Promising reviews:“Just a fantastic knife. I use this pretty much every single day, and have done so for the past 6 years. I am not cheap when it comes to kitchen equipment, and have invested in plenty of higher end cookware over the years. I’ve tried more expensive knives and I keep coming back to this one. It keeps a great edge, sharpens quickly with any simple drag-type sharpener. The rubber handle grips well, regardless of what your hand has been touching. It’s well weighted. Don’t think I’ve ever cut myself with it. Just a really good knife. Don’t let the low price fool you. It certainly doesn’t look like a high end knife, but it’s extremely functional, and I’ve never felt the need to baby it or worry about protecting it.” — eyecandy“This chef’s knife is very comfortable to hold and cuts very well. I have a couple other more expensive knives but this by far is the one I use the most. Blade retains it sharpness for a reasonable time. I usually would sharpen it with a 1000 grit then a 6000 grit stone every two month. Would recommend.” — Pat“Love my knife! I use this for everything, ranging from filleting chicken to cutting vegetables, fruits, and anything you can think of. Perfect size for larger hands and for cutting big things. Seems to be very high quality for the price. I’ve had this knife for a while, and there has been no rusting at all, even after washing it in the dishwasher. Highly recommend.” — Kylan Saunders“It’s a great knife for a great price. I don’t want to hear y’all bitching about it... And I went to culinary school. Mercer was the knives that were in our kit.” — V.M.“I absolutely love this knife! The quality is amazing, it feels sturdy and well-made, and I use it every single day. It cuts effortlessly and has quickly become one of my favorite kitchen tools. Highly recommend!” —T&B“I bought this knife for my brother. He liked it so much I decided to order one for myself. It is well made, with a very sharp blade and sturdy handle that fit well in my senior hand. I love it.” — L.“Bought it for work as a second cook and cuts great! So great I sliced my finger open! Lol it was my fault, not the knife’s. It certainly does the job! 😆” —Marc Aine“So, so comfortable. I really love the texture and shape of the grip area. You instinctively have total control over this knife. The edge is sharper than you need straight out of the package. At this price, the metal is softer than an expensive knife, but touch ups are very quick and easy with just a fine grit sharpening steel. I use a ceramic hone rod and it has no issues bringing the edge back. If you buy one, you will buy another.” —Buyer Dude“I am a butcher and this is up to date de best bang for your bucks. Half the price of victorinox. Easy to keep sharp. Cant mis with this one. If you are a home chef. Forget about the fancy japanese knives. This will do the trick perfectly at 20% of the costs.” —Jort BarenbrugKeep reading for a few other seemingly boring yet essential cooking items you’ll grow to love, from HuffPost contributor Camryn LaSala.The garlic press that I would bring to a desert islandI have to be honest — as weird as it may sound, if I could only use one item on this list for the rest of my life, it would be this garlic press from OXO. Why? I absolutely love using garlic in almost every recipe I make, but there is nothing more painful than chopping it by hand.This garlic press makes it effortless. In seconds, I can crush cloves directly into the pan without any sticky fingers or wasted pieces.A meat chopper that makes dinner prep so much easierI didn’t even know I needed a meat masher until I tried one — and now I reach for it constantly. Ground beef, turkey, or sausage? This tool makes breaking it up in a skillet effortless, fast, and uniform, which is way better than the uneven chunks I used to hack apart with a spatula.Could I get by without it? For sure. But it makes weeknight dinners like tacos, chili, or spaghetti Bolognese so much easier. No more overcooked edges or clumps of meat; everything cooks evenly and perfectly., A splatter guard to prevent grease buildup on the stoveI used to think mopping up grease after making bacon was just part of the deal — until I went to my sister’s house for chili and my brother-in-law introduced me to a splatter guard.It seemed like one of those frivolous tools you probably don’t need, but once you try it, you get the hype. Now I can cook without worrying about grease ending up all over my stovetop (and everything around it). Goodbye, post-cooking mopping sessions.While I love the functionality of the Le Creuset one that I own — the handle folds down for storage and it's equipped with a rubber rim that keeps the screen in place — this pared-down option from Amazon is less than $10 and has over 30,000 ratings.