Best Santoku Knife
- Published: February 14, 2022
- Last Modified: September 15, 2023
Japan produces the best Santoku knives. It is usually liked because of its narrower blade, which allows for more precise slicing. The knife is lighter to hold and comes in a variety of sizes.
Making the first cut on a piece of steamed pork, you imagine the taste of juicy chops. And obviously, you don’t expect that the result will be a mountain of scraps of meat that completely discourage your appetite. However, we have to admit, using a knife of an uncomfortable shape, with a mild steel blade, even Gordon Ramsay will not be able to cut anything into beautiful portioned pieces. Do you want to enjoy not only delicious but also beautiful food? Consider replacing your kitchen knives with the best Santoku knife. If you are wondering what the best Santoku knife is, then you are at the right place as well. Here, you will find the Santoku knives that can make your cooking experience enjoyable. But knowing first what the Santoku knife is isn’t that bad, right?
What is Santoku Knife?
Hot on its heels recently has been the Santoku knife. This is one of the most versatile Japanese kitchen knives that is loved by chefs and home cooks. Some people confuse the Santoku knife with the chef’s knife. Although they are a bit similar, they’re very different kitchen knives. Santoku has a thin blade and is small as compared to the conventional western chef knives.
For everyday slicing, dicing, and cutting, you cannot go wrong with the Santoku knife. This is because its edges are ribbed, the blade is ultra-sharped, and designed for precise cutting. It has a slightly curved shape in the spine and a wide sheepskin thin blade without a point. This means you can slice and chop without a hassle.
The knife has a very thin blade, a small angle, and a steep bevel, making it very sharp. It’s also small and lightweight, so many people like it. The seamless design makes it easy to adjust the grip and move your hand over the handle. With a Santoku knife, you can chop vegetables for a delicious salad, fish fillets for sushi, chop meat for barbecue, and more; trust me, and you must have one in your kitchen!
Now let’s take a look at the Best Santoku Knife
Mac Knife 6.5-Inch Santoku
The Mac Knife 6.5-Inch Santoku is a high-quality knife made in Japan. It is definitely worth its price since it has a sharp razor blade of 2.5mm that makes slicing food a breeze. Like the chef’s knife, the Mac Knife is easy to use. It can easily cut anything from fish filleting to chicken slicing and slicing vegetables to thin strips. This makes it a good knife for chicken and fish.
It is durable as compared to regular steel knives, thanks to the hardened steel. Since its handle is made of wood and plastic (packaged), it’s comfortable to use. The best thing about this Japanese Santoku knife is that it can be used for both left-handed and right-handed people. If you are looking for the best Santoku knife to last for years, then Mac Knife 6.5-Inch Santoku is your choice.
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Tojiro DP Santoku Knife 6.7 Inch
This is also one of the best Santoku knives that is worth your money. It is a tremendous straight-edged knife that you can use comfortably. If you are a left-handed person, then this is the knife to go for. It is not a cheap knife, but it’s worth the money from how it turns your cutting skills completely.
Tojiro DP Santoku is heavy, but the heaviness helps it to be more balanced. It enables faster cutting, thanks to the double bevel and the sharp stainless steel blade. It fits on the hands easily, but it does not hurt the hands too and is great for restaurant kitchens.
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Mercer Culinary 7-Inch Santoku Knife
If you are dabbing into the Japanese special cutlery world, you can begin with a very affordable option. This is the best budget santoku knife you will find in the market. Designed with very high carbon steel, the Mercer Culinary 7-Inch knife can compete with the expensive Santoku knives.
Considering its durable and strong blade, it is still pocket-friendly and does a good job cutting through the food. This Santoku knife has a non-slip Santoprene handle that makes it easier to hold with wet hands. Actually, this is the reason why this knife stands out among many santoku knives. Overall, this is a cost-effective knife of good quality and with the same features as the Japanese Santoku.
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Wüsthof 4183 Classic 5' Santoku Knife
If you are on a quest for the best Santoku knife for your kitchen needs, then Wüsthof 4183 Classic is your holy grail. Even though it is made in Germany, it is ideal for preparing a wide variety of sushi dishes. Made with versatility in mind, this Santoku knife comes in handy for chopping, slicing, and dicing.
It has a very sharp blade with alternate hollows, which helps prevent food from sticking to it. Besides, it is forged from high-carbon stainless steel, making it remain sharp for a long duration. The best thing about Wüsthof 4183 Classic Santoku knife is that it has a polypropylene, sturdy handle which enables you to prepare a wide variety of foods fast and comfortably.
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Shun Classic 7” Hollow-Ground Santoku Knife
This is one of the renowned Santoku knives available on the market not because of its costly price. Its length is somehow longer than other average knives. Also, it has a pakkawood handle that fits in any hand smoothly. Pakkawood is a well-crafted hardwood that is made to provide user control on the knife and have an excellent, comfortable grip.
Its blade is made of cobalt, vanadium, carbon, and VG MAS steel, which isn’t available in other Santoku knives. It is known as a super kitchen knife with a steel core and has 16 layers of steel condensed in a thin Damascus blade that is strong and resistant to corrosion.
This knife is, in fact, many people’s favorite because it is made in an innovative style and is also resistant to water. Most Santoku knives rust when left in water for a long time. But, the Shun Classic 7” Hollow-Ground Santoku Knife holds up well; just you forget. Overall, when you want a classy but at the same time larger-budget kitchen knife, this is your pick.
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HENCKELS Signature Hollow Edge Santoku Knife
If you do not mind trying the European-made Santoku-style knife, then HENCKELS Signature Hollow Edge Santoku Knife will surely surprise you. It’s quite the same as all the Japanese-made knives. This fabulous knife is ideal for everyday use, thanks to its stainless steel blade and forged construction.
It will surely replace all your other western knives. Thanks to its finely sharpened blades, no need to worry about the sharpness for some time. The best thing about this Santoku knife is that it’s dishwasher safe which is something rare for the Santoku knife. Besides, it is easy to clean. Thanks to its triple-rivet handle, holding it becomes quite easy. It has a stiff blade, making it easier to cut through hard things like carrots, potatoes, and hard legumes.
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DALSTRONG Santoku Knife - 7” - Gladiator Series - German HC Steel
There’s no doubt that this fantastic kitchen knife is one of the best Santoku knife on the marketplace. It combines both an outstanding design, high quality, and awe-inspiring craftsmanship. With its price tag attached to this cutlery, it can’t get better than what it is.
This Santoku knife is an extraordinary tool that is perfectly designed with a fine finish. It can be used for slicing, cutting, dicing, and micing. It is resistant to rust as well as nitrogen cooled to improve flexibility. Besides, it has excellent robustness and a triple trivet to provide resilience. The blade is ultra-sharp since it’s made from high-quality steel, which provides hardness to edge retention and extraordinary strength, stain resistance, and durability.
DALSTRONG Santoku knife is perfectly balanced and precisely tapered to provide safety and comfort when using. It features a non-stick property to lower surface resistance, thanks to its rectangular divot. Moreover, its handles aren’t affected by moisture, heat, and cold. On top of that, it is designed with an ergonomic handle to provide agility and comfort.
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Shun Premier 7" Santoku Knife
If you are looking for a beautifully crafted, Asian-inspired Santoku knife that can handle a myriad of chopping tasks efficiently, then Shun Premier 7” Santoku Knife wraps up your search. With its unmatched versatility, Shun Premier is a lifesaver in cutting vegetables, grilling out, slicing, peeling, and cutting.
Shorter, agile, and lightweight than a standard chef’s knife, this Santoku knife is a top performer in any commercial setting and home kitchen. It is easy to use and effective with the forward and down chopping motion, thanks to the hammered tsuchime finish. While cutting food, the knife makes it easier to cut the food effortlessly into clean results.
Designed with durability in mind, Shun Premier 7” Santoku Knife has 34 layers of VG-MAX stainless on each side, which maintains the sharpness for thin and delicate results. Thanks to its contoured pakkawood and walnut-colored handle, this knife stands out from the pack that snugs fit in any hand.
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What is a Santoku Knife Used For?
So far we know which is better knife for us. To keep a good knife, we must know how to use it well and at the same time, it is important to know the details of what to use it for.
Slicing
A Santoku knife is most recognized for its ability to slice. Using the cutting board, the long upward curved blade allows it to cut small objects such as garlic and fruits.
Dicing
The best Santoku knife has an easily movable blade size of roughly 7 inches and an angle of 10 to 15 degrees, allowing for more precise dicing. It can be used to cut fruits and vegetables, among other things.
Chopping
The knife’s sharpness allows it to cut through meals rapidly, while the blade’s flatness allows it to cut consistently through the food.
Characteristics of Best Santoku Knives
The blade
The best Santoku knife handle is composed of high carbon steel to make it stronger, more robust, and to keep its sharpness for a longer amount of time. The angle of the blade’s edge ranges from 8 to 12 degrees, making it easier to cut tiny slices in a single cut stroke. The blade is usually sharpened on one side so that the user has control over it.
The handle
The G-10 Garolite handle is designed to withstand cold, heat, and moisture, allowing it to serve the user for a longer amount of time. The materials utilized to construct the handle make it more sturdy and robust.The knife is lighter to hold, making chopping, mincing, and slicing in the kitchen easier and saving time.
The Size
The knives range in size from 5 to 7.9 inches, so you may choose the optimum size for your needs.
Other Features Include:
The knives’ bevels can be single or double-sided, which implies that the surface ground to make the knife can be on one or both sides.
Santoku knives do not have a bolster, which is a piece of metal that is generally situated between the blade and the handle.
The knife’s edge has been changed to prevent food from clinging to it while chopping, mincing, or slicing, making it a useful tool in the kitchen.
Thing to Considerations for Choosing the Best Santoku Knife
The Substance of The Blade
You should choose a Santuku knife made of high-carbon steel because it is favoured by most chefs for its sharpness and resistance to rust and discoloration. For speedier cutting, the stainless steel material should be flexible.
The Size and EDGE of The Blade
Santoku knives with a downturned tip and a straighter cutting edge are the best. To make chopping easier, the blade should be 5 to 7 inches long. A tall blade is necessary for creating thin paper slices because it acts as a barrier between the slices and the uncut piece of food. The long blade can also be used to transfer the sliced pieces to a dish or piece of cookware.
The Design of The Blade
The best budget Santoku knives should have a dimpled finish for easy and quick cutting without the need to often remove food from the blade. This feature allows air to enter between the items being cut, allowing for smoother slicing and preventing food from adhering to the knife.
The Handle
You should select a model that is easy to handle while chopping stuff. Wooden handles necessitate greater upkeep than plastic or rubber handles. People who sweat a lot when holding objects should choose rubber handles with dots so that they can keep a strong grip while using it. When selecting a knife handle, you need always be cautious in order to avoid many accidents in the kitchen when cooking meals.
The Knife's Sharpness
Before purchasing a Santoku knife, examine its capacity to cut depending on what you wish to cut, as some blades are not versatile. A bread knife cannot be used to cut a huge piece of meat because its strength is designed for lighter goods.
The Knife's Price
The most affordable budget Santoku knives should be reasonably priced so that everyone can afford them, as they are among the best knives with superior performance.
Conclusion:
A knife is a real helper. As such, a good knife helper should be of high quality, light, sharp, and cut a wide variety of items. This guide has enlightened you on the best Santoku knife, and you shouldn’t miss at least having one in your kitchen setting. These Santoku knives are not only of high quality but also classy and give you an easier time to chop your vegetables into fine strips.
If you need a flexible, well-rounded kitchen knife, then these Santoku knives are an ideal choice. Some are good for professional chefs, and others are great for daily kitchen work. If you are a professional chef who wants to make finely cut pieces, then Santoku knives are your pick.
If you want a less costly knife or a bit expensive one, the list is endless. Santoku knives are well balanced, good scalloped edge as well as extremely sharp. Having one or more Santoku knives isn’t an option if you know you are constantly spending your free time in the kitchen.
Frequently Asked Questions of Santoku Knife
Q: Is there a warranty on Santoku knives?
Ans: The Santoku knife comes with a warranty against faults, however it is only for a limited time.
Q: How are you going to sharpen your knife?
Ans: You can use a sharpening stone, sharpening steel, or even an electric sharpener.
Q: Is the knife single-edged or double-edged?
Ans: A santoku knife features a double-edged blade that is thinner, making it ideal for cutting refined pieces of food, fruits, meat, or vegetables.
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