Initially known as ‘santoku bocho’, which means ‘three virtues’ or ‘makes use of’, santoku knives can be utilized to chop three issues: greens, fish and meat. Very like the Western chef’s knife, the santoku is a flexible software excellent for a spread of kitchen duties from common chopping and slicing to specific slicing, dicing, and mincing. On this article, we’ll be taught extra about santoku knives, and take a look at the most effective santoku knives to purchase in 2022.
Greatest General
Materials: Excessive carbon metal with tsuchime end
Size: 7 inches
Weight: 10.4 ounces
Rockwell hardness: 61±1 HRC
Tang: Full tang
Edge bevel: 16 levels
Santoku Knives – Every little thing You Have to Know
Earlier than we take a look at our high selections for santoku knives in 2022, let’s be taught a little bit bit about santoku knifes, and the issues it’s worthwhile to know to decide on the suitable santoku knife for you.
What’s a Santoku Knife?
Santoku knives are multi-purpose kitchen knives much like a Western chef’s knife, excellent for exact slicing, dicing, and mincing. The dropped level and lengthy, barely tapered blade permits for exact and complex cuts.
‘In the event you’re not tremendous strong along with your knife abilities this can be a nice knife to begin utilizing, it’s a little bit bit extra compact and it really works rather well at house.’
– Christine Lau, government chef at Kimika in New York Metropolis
Usually, santoku blades will characteristic a Granton edge to assist forestall meals sticking to the blade.1 Santoku knives are excellent for the next kitchen duties:
- Slicing meat
- Chopping and dicing fruits, greens and nuts
- Mincing meat or herbs
- Slicing cheese
- Scooping up meals with the vast blade
- Creating skinny slices of fish and veggies, excellent for sushi
Keep away from slicing shelled nuts or frozen meals as this might harm the blade. You shouldn’t attempt to slice by means of unbutchered meat bones or joints with a santoku knife both – use your meat cleaver for that.
How you can Use a Santoku Knife
The sharp, straight edge favors an ‘up-and-down’ slicing method, quite than the rock-chop method extra generally utilized in Western kitchens. This makes the santoku knife a fantastic different to a typical Western chef’s knife. This up-and-down’ slicing method is demonstrated within the video under by Christine Lau, government chef at Kimika in New York Metropolis, demonstrates within the video under:
As you possibly can see, Lau makes use of the up-and-down movement quite than a rocking movement, and he or she makes use of the taller heel of the blade for slicing thicker meals. This chopping movement is ideal for all types of slicing methods corresponding to julienning, mincing and dicing too, and can be utilized successfully on a spread of meals.
What to Look For When Shopping for a Santoku Knife
In the event you’re seeking to purchase a santoku knife, there are a variety of things to take into consideration to make sure you get a knife that fits you.
Blade
Santoku knives are usually shorter and thinner than Western chef’s knives, with blades which are usually between 5- and eight inches lengthy, with little or no curve to the blade’s stomach. The blade is vast and flat, excellent for scooping up meals when you’ve chopped it. The tip is usually rounded, so santoku knives aren’t ideally suited for piercing.
Like most Japanese knives, the blade shall be created from a very onerous metal with a excessive carbon content material, leading to a improbable edge retention.2
‘Typically with elevated ranges of carbon you get a tougher metal, improved tensile power, edge retention and general resistance to put on.’
– Matt Davidson, Knife Informer
Nonetheless, this additionally signifies that the blade shall be extra fragile and vulnerable to chipping than a typical Western blade.3 Because of its Western affect, the sting will usually be double-beveled, however some santoku knives could have a single bevel.4 We advocate a double-beveled edge for a santoku knife as this shall be extra versatile within the kitchen.
Weight
In addition to being shorter than a Western chef’s knife, a santoku knife needs to be a lot lighter. This allows you to maneuver the blade with ease when slicing bigger foodstuffs like cuts of meat, and provides you a excessive degree of management when doing delicate duties like mincing herbs or dicing onions.
Deal with
There are two most important forms of deal with you’ll discover on a santoku knife: Japanese ‘wa’ handles, which might be octagonal, D-shaped or oval, and Western handles which shall be nearer to a German knife deal with. The deal with you select is simply right down to your private desire – select one thing that feels snug in your hand and allows you to use a pinch-grip comfortably.
The deal with materials can be vital. Wood handles are the most typical, however you’ll additionally discover a number of choices that use artificial supplies like Pakkawood or Micarta. These are extremely sturdy and straightforward to wash. Lastly, the deal with might be an aesthetic assertion, so go for one thing that may stand out in your kitchen.
Value
One final thing to contemplate is your funds. The versatile, multi-purpose nature of a santoku knife means it’s value investing a little bit to get a high-quality knife, as it may be used for therefore many various duties within the kitchen. If cared for correctly, good Japanese knives can final for a few years, so your santoku knife might be a lifetime funding, value spending the additional money on.
The Greatest Santoku Knives in 2022
Now that we’ve lined every part it’s worthwhile to find out about santoku knives, let’s check out our high picks for santoku knives in 2022.
Greatest General
Materials: Excessive carbon metal with tsuchime end
Size: 7 inches
Weight: 10.4 ounces
Rockwell hardness: 61±1 HRC
Tang: Full tang
Edge bevel: 16 levels
‘Shun’ is a Japanese phrase used to explain native, seasonal meals on the peak of its freshness and taste.5 The idea of ‘shun’ is on the very coronary heart of Japanese delicacies; Japanese knife model Shun try to mirror this idea within the high-quality knives they craft, which equally try to be on the peak of their perfection.
The very first thing you’ll discover about this stunning santoku knife is the eye-catching tsuchime (tsoo-CHEE-may) end. Both sides of the high-carbon VG-Max core is coated in 34 layers of stainless-steel, which is then hammered and polished to present the distinctive sample. And this end isn’t only for visible impression – the air pockets produced by the hammer marks truly act as hollow-ground cavities on the blade, which assist to cut back drag and be certain that meals doesn’t follow the blade.
The knife is properly balanced and light-weight, leading to wonderful maneuverability. The light edge stomach encourages a rocking movement when slicing and makes it very straightforward to hone the total size of the blade. An edge bevel of 16 levels and a Rockwell hardness of 61±1 HRC be certain that the blade cuts successfully and stays sharp for longer durations of time.6 The excessive Rockwell ranking does additionally enhance the possibilities of the knife chipping although, so watch out when storing and solely chop on wooden or plastic chopping boards as really useful by Shun.
A glossy grey full tang Pakkawood deal with is sturdy and naturally micro organism resistant, and the embossed finish cap provides a pleasant contact of element. Left-handers may want the symmetrical deal with form in comparison with the everyday D-shaped Shun handles, and it nonetheless suits comfortably within the hand.
General, that is an efficient and great-looking santoku knife – actually, it’s our favourite of the lot. Shun additionally presents assist in opposition to manufacturing defects, a approach of registering your buy, and free sharpening (minus transport) for all times, to sweeten the deal even additional.
Test Value
Greatest Price range
Materials: Excessive-carbon stainless-steel
Size: 7 inches
Weight: 6.9 ounces
Rockwell hardness: 57±1 HRC
Tang: Full tang
Edge bevel: 15-18 levels
Imarku is an expert kitchen knife model that manufactures a variety of cutlery. Impressed by way of metal in aerospace science and expertise, Imarku locations an emphasis on high quality craftsmanship, aesthetics and element.
The 7-inch blade is created from high-quality German metal which is rustproof and stain- and corrosion-resistant. A excessive carbon content material will increase hardness, and the blade has a Rockwell hardness of 57±1 HRC. The sting bevel is 15-18 levels on either side, and a scalloped Granton edge helps to cease skinny slices of meals sticking to the blade, enabling you to cut quicker.
The deal with is created from Pakkawood, which is sanitary and resists enlargement or cracking in contrast to common wooden. The form and texture decrease wrist rigidity whereas offering a safe, slip-resistant grip. A widened bolster helps to stability the blade and likewise retains your fingers protected. Alongside the total tang building for power and sturdiness, the knife has a deluxe metal finish cap that includes the Imarku brand.
Regardless of being a less expensive knife, Imarku has employed numerous design qualities usually reserved for costlier knives, corresponding to a beneficiant bolster and full tang building. It even is available in an aesthetic black and purple present field. The primary compromise we found was that this knife will most likely want a hone, or presumably a fast sharpen, on arrival (verify our kitchen knives information for more information) however as soon as sharpened it can maintain an edge properly. For all its options at a fantastic price, this Imarku santoku knife is our greatest funds choose.
Test Value
Greatest Worth for Cash
Materials: Excessive-carbon stainless-steel
Size: 7 inches
Weight: 6.4 ounces
Rockwell hardness: 55-58 HRC
Tang: Full tang
Edge bevel: 10 levels
Henckels Worldwide crafts important kitchen instruments designed for the house chef. Throughout the vary of cutlery, it offers high-quality merchandise at a fantastic worth. This santoku knife demonstrates their high quality design and ease of use.
The blade is 7 inches lengthy and cast from a chunk of stain-resistant high-carbon metal, scorching drop cast for elevated sturdiness. It’s light-weight in typical Japanese model, and the sting is floor to a particularly sharp 10-degree double-bevel. The 55- to 58 Rockwell hardness of the blade is barely softer than you may count on from a Japanese knife, however helps to cease the sharp edge from chipping. The blade additionally has a hollowed Granton edge, which prevents meals from sticking when slicing.
The totally cast metal transitions seamlessly into the deal with, and the triple-riveted, full tang building additional will increase the power of the blade. A beneficiant full bolster protects your hand and helps to stability the blade, lowering pressure in your wrist when chopping for longer durations. The black plastic deal with is matte which presents some slip resistance, and the form feels ergonomic within the hand.
General, this can be a versatile santoku knife that demonstrates ‘three virtues’. Regardless of being constructed from high-quality German metal, this knife is definitely manufactured in Spain – Henckels does this to drive down manufacturing prices, leading to a decrease price for the buyer. Henckels additionally present a lifetime guarantee. This stability between top quality and cost-effectiveness earns the Henckels Basic santoku knife our award for greatest worth for cash.
Test Value
Greatest Hybrid Fashion
Materials: Excessive carbon stainless-steel
Size: 7 inches
Weight: 5.6 ounces
Rockwell hardness: 58 HRC
Tang: Full tang
Edge bevel: 10 levels
Wüsthof, one of the well-known German knife firms, has been crafting conventional German-style knives in Solingen for hundreds of years. Solingen is named the Metropolis of Blades, and the knives crafted there have been honored for his or her high quality and craftsmanship for round 2,000 years.7 With its Basic santoku knife, Wüsthof mix German heritage with Japanese affect, leading to a flexible hybrid knife excellent for chopping a variety of kitchen duties.
The 7-inch blade is cast from a single piece of specifically tempered excessive carbon metal with a stain-resistant alloy. Wüsthof’s Precision Edge Expertise, additionally used on their extra conventional German knives, ends in enhanced sharpness and distinctive edge retention, which means that you simply received’t must hone or sharpen your knife as a lot – nice information for such a flexible knife. The hole Granton edge is employed to assist cease your greens sticking to the blade. A ten-degree double-beveled innovative is sharper than the 14-degree bevel Wüsthof apply to their Western-style knives: this elevated sharpness and 58 HRC hardness will enhance the probability of the blade chipping although, so make sure you retailer this knife correctly!
The complete bolster offers a stability of Japanese class and lightness and German heft. The complete tang deal with, created from a extremely sturdy polymer, connects to the blade with a safe triple rivet. Its form suits comfortably within the hand, and feels reliably unlikely to slide even with moist palms.
General, the mixture of German- and Japanese knifemaking influences earns this versatile blade our award for greatest hybrid model santoku knife. Wüsthof additionally presents a restricted lifetime guarantee in opposition to defects.
Test Value
Most Versatile
Materials: Excessive-carbon metal
Size: 7 inches
Weight: 3.2 ounces
Rockwell hardness: 56±1 HRC
Tang: Full tang
Edge bevel: 15 levels
As a provider to over 90% of North American cooking academies, Mercer provides skilled high quality kitchen instruments, and since shifting into the buyer cooking market, Mercer now brings its skilled degree of high quality and cost-effective pricing to the house chef.8
This santoku knife is cast from high-carbon German metal, leading to elevated sturdiness, and the sting is taper-ground and polished by hand to a 15-degree double-bevel for slicing effectivity. The blade is rectangular in traditional santoku model, and encompasses a hollowed Granton edge to create air pockets in between the blade and the meals you’re slicing, guaranteeing that it doesn’t stick.
The black santoprene deal with is sturdy and notably snug, providing slip resistance to make sure security, even when chopping with moist palms. The substantial bolster additionally offers security and helps to stability the blade. It additionally feels nice within the hand, feeling fatigue-free even when chopping for longer durations.
Mercer manufactures most of its German-style and Japanese-style knives in Taiwan as a result of cheaper manufacturing prices, and this santoku knife can be manufactured in Taiwan utilizing European parts and expertise. Nonetheless, Mercer appears to go these financial savings on to the buyer. General, this boning knife offers every part it’s worthwhile to get began boning meat at a fantastic price, so it earns our greatest funds choose award. Mercer’s one-year guarantee is an extra bonus.
Test Value
The Last Verdict
That’s all of our high santoku knives for 2022. The collection of santoku knives lined ought to go well with a spread of wants, budgets and use circumstances, from house cooks to skilled cooks. Our best choice general is the Shun Premier 7” santoku knife. Its onerous and sharp blade is ideal for chopping all types of kitchen produce, from fruit and greens to meats and fish. Shun has crafted a santoku knife which stays true to the Japanese knifemaking custom, incorporating a conventional deal with and a powerful tsuchime end, which offers each model and resistance to meals sticking to the blade. The standard building will final for years if handled with care, and Shun additionally presents a free sharpening service and restricted lifetime guarantee, offering prolonged care and supplying you with peace of thoughts.
Greatest General
Materials: Excessive carbon metal with tsuchime end
Size: 7 inches
Weight: 10.4 ounces
Rockwell hardness: 61±1 HRC
Tang: Full tang
Edge bevel: 16 levels
FAQs
Q: Can I exploit a santoku knife for sushi?
A: Santoku knives are versatile, multi-purpose knives, however if you happen to’re attempting to make sushi from scratch, you may wish to spend money on a specialised sushi knife – we advocate beginning with a yanagiba knife. For extra info, try our information to the most effective sushi knives.
Q: What’s the distinction between Japanese and German knives?
A: German knives are heavier and extra strong – consider them as workhorses within the kitchen. Japanese knives, alternatively, are typically lighter, less difficult to maneuver, and nice for high quality slicing and extra delicate kitchen cuts. Simply consider the distinction between a German chef’s knife and a santoku knife. In the event you’re all in favour of studying extra about Japanese knives, check out our Japanese kitchen information.
Q: I’ve chipped my santoku knife – what do I do?!
A: Don’t fear about it! These items occur to the most effective of us. Japanese blades are way more chip-pone than German knives, so that you’re pretty prone to chip one sooner or later. If the chip is barely small, you possibly can simply sharpen your knife till the chip is eliminated. For greater chips, it is best to seek the advice of an expert, and it could be value checking in case your guarantee will cowl the harm. In future, attempt to keep away from chopping on onerous surfaces like glass – wooden, plastic or bamboo chopping boards are higher on your blade – and keep in mind to retailer your santoku knife safely – in a knife block or roll bag, on a magnetic strip, or sheathed and in a drawer.
References
1 HDMD (16 December 2021), ‘What’s Granton Edge?’. Accessed at:
2 Knife-Life Japan (14 Could 2021), ‘What’s a Blade Hardness for Japanese Knives?’. Accessed at:
3 Matt Davidson (15 December 2021), ‘Knife Metal Composition Chart’. Accessed at:
4 Hasu Seizo (26 June 2020), ‘Single Bevel Knives vs Double Bevel Knives’. Accessed at:
5 Shun (n.d.), ‘On the Peak of Perfection’. Accessed at:
6 York Noticed & Knife (n.d.), ‘Information to Rockwell Hardness’. Accessed at:
7 Messervertrieb Rottner (n.d.), ‘Historical past of the Metropolis of Blades, Solingen’. Accessed at: https://messervertrieb-rottner.de/en/wissenswertes/geschichte-der-klingenstadt-solingen/. 8 Mercer (n.d.), ‘It’s All About You’. Accessed at:
Supply : https://helpfulchef.com/the-best-santoku-knives-reviews-and-buyers-guide/