Andy NashAsian style kitchen knives are becoming more and more popular in today’s home kitchen, and one of the favorites among home cooks and chefs are the Santoku knives. I’m not sure exactly why the Santoku knife is now gaining popularity as being the must-have knife for many chefs, the trend could brought on by television celebrity chefs using this trendy Asian knife.
Whatever the reason Santoku knives are here to stay and if you haven’t already jumped on the bandwagon, now might just be the time to invest in one of these best Santoku knives for your kitchen.
The Santoku knife is basically just a Japanese version of the chef knife, and this style of knife can carry out the same prepping tasks throughout the kitchen such as dicing, slicing, and copping. The name Santoku basically translates to “three virtues” or “three uses, ” and you’ll find that the best Santoku knives are hand forged with a length typically between 5.1 and 7.9 inches (13cm to 20cm) long. The blade tends to be flat that curves slightly to the point with an angle of 60 degrees.
If you’re looking for a chef’s knife alternative why not try a Santoku knife. In recent years many professional chefs and home cooks have found that a good Santoku knife makes for a great alternative to the classic chef knife and in many ways, it’s actually better.
Shun Premier 7-inch Santoku Knife
When compared to a chef’s knife you’ll find the Santoku to be a lot lighter, thinner, as well as having a more hardened construction. Many of these kitchen knives also feature a beveled or hollow ground blade which aids in their cutting performance and also helps to release thin slices of sliced food once cut.
Santoku Knife vs. Chef Knife
If you already own a chef’s knife do you really need to invest in a Santoku knife too? Any good chef will tell you that you cannot have enough good quality knives; every knife plays a major role in the kitchen.
If you’re serious about cooking, investing in both knives is going to make food prep a whole lot easier. The chef’s knife is going to excel when it comes to cutting and preparing fresh meats while the Santoku knife will make light work of slicing and dicing vegetables and fruits. By owning these two knives, you’ll have the best kitchen knives for any kitchen job, and over time you’ll probably favor one over the other.
Before you run out and part with your hard-earned cash let’s take a look at some of the best Santoku knife brands to help narrow down your buying options.
Best Santoku Knife Brand
When it comes to the best Santoku knife for the money, there are really only a handful of kitchen knife manufacturers that produce some of the best. Brands such as Global, Wusthof, and Shun make some excellent Santoku kitchen knives, however, with better craftsmanship you can expect a higher price tag.
Cheaper alternatives such as Victorinox, Mercer, and Calphalon make some of the best Santoku knives for under $50. Even at this low price point, you will still find the kitchen knife to be of high quality.
Below I have picked out some Santoku kitchen knives which I’ve personally put through their paces and that I feel are some of the best performers for your home kitchen. At the end of the day if it “ain’t” up for the job I won’t recommend it!
What is a Santoku Knife Good For?
If you’re not sure what the fundamental differences between a Santoku vs. chef knife are, let’s take a closer look. A Santoku knife isn’t much different from a chef’s knife, and they are both designed to be the workhorse in the kitchen. When looking at the two kitchen knives side-by-side you’ll notice that the main difference is the slight variation in the curve of the blade.
Santoku knives have a slight curve that spans from the handle to the tip of the blade; however, this curve is not as prominent as on the chef’s knife.
A typical Santoku kitchen knife has a blade between 5 to 7 inches, what sets the Santoku knife apart from the chef’s knife are the dimples on along the blade which are often referred to as a “Granton edge.” These dimples help to release food from the blade when slicing, dicing, or mincing ingredients.
Like chef knives and other kitchen knives, Santoku knives are readily available in stainless steel and ceramic. Japanese Santoku knives tend to be a lot lighter than chef’s knives, and because they are lightweight, they’re easier to maneuver, control, and provide increased comfort along with less hand strain.
So to answer to question, what’s a Santoku knife used for? It can be utilized for everyday slicing, dicing, and mincing of ingredients, anything the chef’s knife can do the Santoku knife can do, think of it as just an Asian chef’s knife.
Best Santoku Knives (3 Top Picks For 2018)
When it comes to the best Santoku knife for the money, I’ve picked out three of my favorites. It doesn’t matter how deep your pockets are because these knives are perfect for all budgets.
Victorinox Fibrox 7-inch Granton Edge Santoku Knife
Victorinox kitchen knives are known for producing some of the best affordable kitchen knives that are favorites among professional chef’s and culinary students alike.
The knife blade on this Santoku has been stamped (not forged) from high-carbon stainless steel. The blade is razor sharp, it keeps its edge well and makes light work of anything it tackles.
The knife handle has been crafted from Victorinox’s patented Fibrox material which is easy to clean, offers an excellent grip (even with wet hands) and is designed to give great balance along with comfort. The handle is all molded as one piece which helps to stop any bacteria buildup as well as food hiding in cracks and crevices found along the handle.
For a basic budget Santoku knife that is a great buy, if you don’t already own a Santoku this knife is a good beginners option that deserves a place in your kitchen.
Wusthof Classic 5-inch Hollow-Ground Santoku
Wusthof kitchen knives are a favorite among celebrity chefs due to their high-quality construction and superior performance in the kitchen. The Wusthof Santoku knife is hand forged from high-carbon stainless steel, and the blade features the desirable hollow ground dimples that help the food to drop away once sliced.
The lightweight blade is thin and has been ground to a very acute angle allowing you to cut very thin slices with minimal effort. The handle features the classic three rivets and offers excellent grip and is easy to clean.
If you’re looking for a Santoku knife that will last a lifetime, the Wusthof is a very good choice.
Shun Premier 7-inch Santoku Knife
If you’re looking for the best Santoku knife, then look no further. The Shun Premier 7-inch Santoku knife, although being on the high side when it comes to the price, this one of the best knives you can probably spend your hard earned money on.
The Shun knife has been hand-crafted using the same traditional knife making techniques that were once used to produce the iconic Samurai swords. The Damascus steel blade features the striking hand-hammered finish (known as ‘Tsuchime’ in Japanese).
As attractive as the blade looks it also serves a purpose when preparing food. The hammered-finish helps to reduce drag when cutting and also contributes to stopping food from sticking to the blade.
Not only is the blade a piece of art but the pakkawood handle offers a look that other Santoku knives just cannot compete with.
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