A blunt/bad knife can delay the process of preparing food. Also, you can easily cut yourself with a bad knife because the edges are blunt. The diced vegetables that you cut may also lack uniformity. A good cook will tell you that you need to invest in a good knife that is robust and durable.
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In this article, we will discuss Santoku knives. These knives have a Japanese origin that means "three virtues" or "three uses." Stick around, as we will uncover the three applications of this knife and the best reviews that are available in the market.
Benefits Of Using A Santoku Knife
- They can be used to perform various purposes in the kitchen. You can also use the knife to mince meat.
- They are sharp. It can also take a longer time before you sharpen them again.
- Santoku knives are light.
- They are easy to use.
- It cuts vegetables quickly and uniformly.
- They can stay longer especially because the blade is stainless steel.
As useful as these knives can be, you can only use them to slice vegetables and meat that lack bones.
10 Best Santoku Knives 2018
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**Below, you'll find our reviews, but you can also click the links above to see current prices or read customer reviews on Amazon.
1. DALSTRONG Santoku Knife
This Santoku knife is firm because the blade consists of steel embedded between layers of stainless steel. This blade also has a sharp blade with an angle of 8-12 degree hence very flexible.
Additionally, it has a sturdy handle that can stand any pressure from cold, moisture and heat.
Pros
- The knife cannot corrode because it has a high-level stainless steel coating
- Durable blade that cannot damage with heat pressure
- It has a firm handle
- Has a beautiful design
- Has a beautiful design
Cons
- Wipe moisture from the knife; otherwise, it will rust
2. ZELITE INFINITY Santoku Knife
It has a sharp blade that the manufacture compares it with a sharp razor. Both the blade and the handle are strong to stand against any form of corrosion on the knife.
It has a rounded handle that is strong. This is because it has strong metals placed together to make it stronger.
Pros
- It is sharp
- Sturdy handle
- The blade cannot form rust
- It has a comfortable grip to enable you to cut through food quickly
Cons
- The knives loses its sharpness quickly
3. Mercer Culinary Genesis 7-Inch Forged Santoku Knife
This knife is comfortable to use because of a strong handle that is made of Santoprene. You can use it even when your hands are wet. The knife will not slip away from your hands.
The blade uses a forged construction to make it durable and stable for use.
Pros
- Durable
- Stable
- The sharpness will stay for long
- Outstanding grip
Cons
- The handle is short for those who have big hands
- The handle can also be thick for some
4. Victorinox 7-Inch Fibrox Granton Edge Santoku Knife
The granton edges ensure that the cut slices are thin as paper. Also, the blade is durable and can retain sharpness even after a long time of use.
Manufacturers use patented fibrox to make the handle slip-resistant so that you are comfortable when cutting your slices.
Pros
- Cut slices do not stick on the knives. This makes it fast to work with
- Does not corrode quickly
- It is versatile because it can cut a variety of food
- The handle is durable and comfortable to hold
Cons
- The handle is thin
- It loses its sharpness quickly
5. OXO Good Grips Mini Santoku Knife
This is a smaller version of a santoku. It consists of a small blade and a longer handle.
The handle is comfortable and offers a firm, secure grip. The stainless steel blade ensures that the blade does not corrode.
Pros
- It quickly dries when washed
- It is versatile even though it has a sharp blade
- Excellent grip
- Does not rust quickly
Cons
- The blade is short. You can cut yourself when slicing vegetables
6. ZYLISS 3-Piece Mini Santoku Knife
This colorful santoku knife comes with a sheath cover that keeps blade protected from corrosion. It also protects the knife from losing its sharpness.
The grips are rubber made. This makes the knife comfortable during cutting. Therefore, you will not get tired.
Pros
- You can re-sharpen the edges with ease
- Sheath covers keep the knife blade from rust
- Comfortable while using
- You can wash them in your dishwasher
- Edges remain sharp for long
Cons
- The handle is slippery hence difficult to use when you have wet hands
- It has a thick blade that makes it hard to cut through fruits
7. VG10 Damascus Kitchen 7 Inch Santoku Knife
This knife is durable and retains its sharpness for long. You can give this knife to a loved one as a gift. This is because it comes in an enclosed box for storage. Thus, it will be able to last longer as the box keeps it from environmental pressure.
It also comes with a cleaning cloth that you can use to clean the knife with.
Pros
- It has an excellent packaging
- It can slice quickly
- It has a light handle
- It has a balanced weight
- Durable
Cons
- It has a not so good finish
8. Farberware Pro Forged Santoku Knife
This santoku knife is versatile. It can do a variety of jobs such as slicing and dicing. The blade is made of carbon stainless steel that ensures that the blade remains sharper for a longer period.
Manufacturers warn that you should never wash this knife in a dishwasher. Ensure that you dry immediately after washing it with warm water.
Pros
- It retains its sharpness for long
- It retains its sharpness for long
- The handle makes the knife light
- It can slice, dice and chop hence versatile
Cons
- You cannot wash it in your dishwasher
- You have to rinse it immediately after you wash it. Otherwise, it will damage
9. Soufull Mirror Polished Santoku Knife
The knife's handle is comfortable and stable to use. If you spend hours cutting vegetables, then this santoku knife will be the best option for you. This is because you will not become numb or even tired from using the knife.
Additionally, the handle is pakkawood made thus gives the knife a stylish look
Pros
- It has a stylish handle that is easy to use
- The knife comes when stored in a gift box. Thus a suitable gift for a loved one
- Durable
- The knife shines because of the polish
- Retains sharpness even after cutting meat chunks
Cons
- The blade is thick
- The polish fades quickly
10. Shun DM0718 Classic 7-Inch Santoku Hollow Ground Knife
The knife has pakkawood handle that adds to its beauty. In fact, the handle comes with a D shape that perfectly fits in your hand so that you can cut with full control.
Its blade is steel made and can keep it sharp for a long time. Thus, it is very durable. It is also rust free because of the 16 layer clad stainless steel used to make the blade
Pros
- Retains the blade's sharpness for long
- Stylish handle
- Steel keeps the blade from rust
- Suitable handle for your arm
Cons
- You should not let moisture to stick to the knife
Choosing The Right Santoku Knife
If it is your first time to buy a Santoku knife, then this section is for you. We want to ensure that you take the best knife that suits your need.
The Blade should be thick and have an acute angle because you want uniformity in the way you cut your food. These knives should be slim so that they can facilitate the up and down cutting movement. They should also have a sharp acute angle so that you can get those thin slices that most people prefer.
Carry out some research before you buy a Santoku Knife. You can also read product description or the customer reviews so that you can understand the sharpness of the knife.
1. The Blade Should Be Tall
A short blade can perform below your expectation. A tall blade facilitates cutting evenly through the whole slice. As in, you will not struggle to get to the other side of the food. This would not be the case as when you were using a short blade.
Additionally, you can use the side of the blade to haul your food into the cooking pot.
2. The Edges Should Be Hollow
Many people who are new to this type of knife do not necessarily know the purpose of this knife. You may think that the purpose would be to beautify the knife, but that is not the case.
The hollow edges keep the food juices and cut slices from clinging to the knife. Yes. This reduces the time that you spend trying to remove the clinging piece after every few seconds of cutting. Therefore, you will complete the task within a short period.
3. The Blade Needs To Be Strong
Most people end up buying cheap knives that break within a few days of work. You should consider buying a Santoku knife that will be durable.
For example, if you fall in love with a stainless steel knife, be sure to choose a forged one. This is because forged steel never breaks quickly.
Also, if you choose a ceramic blade, then be sure that this type of knife will neither break nor bend. Ensure that the handle and the blade are fully compact. You do not want it to break when you are at work.
Attributes That Differentiate The Santoku Knives
Santoku knives are widely used today. When you tune into any cooking show today, you will see the main chef will use this type of knife to slice vegetables and boneless meat.
The knife slashes every vegetable into uniform slices. The main thing that differentiates these knives is that they usually have a Granton edge. They may appear as hole or line patterns that help the cutter slice through vegetables in quick motion without the cut pieces clinging to the knife.
Additionally, the blades can be as long as 5-7 inches. The blade is also flat thus providing the needed weight for the blade and the handle to balance.
Best Way to Use the Santoku Knife
Chefs and cooks usually use these knives to cut, dice and chop. You normally cut the objects using an upward and downward motion.
Additionally, it is wrong to think that the Santoku knife is the same as the chef's knife. Well, that is not so. These knives are smaller and provide little uniform cutting for your vegetables.
The Japanese use these knives to cut through soft steaks and boneless meat. This is because this knife can be inefficient when cutting through meat with bones
Addressing The Controversy
People have different thoughts about the use of both. Nevertheless, it entirely depends on what you prefer.The santoku is usually shorter than the chef knife.
The chef knife can stretch up to 10 inches. Also, the santoku has a lower angle than that of the chef knife.
Additionally, the chef knife moves with a rocking motion while the Santoku moves with an up and down motion. This is because of the differences in the patterns on the edges of both knives.
You can use the chef knife to cut through meat that has bones while you cannot do so with a Santoku. Santoku knives are usually better off when cutting vegetables and herbs.
Before Using The Santoku Knife
Make sure that you sharpen the knife before using it. You can wet the sharpening stone with water then pass the knife on the stone using a particular angle. You can incline at an angle of 15-20 degrees.
Conclusion
Be sure to crosscheck this list when shopping for one. Do not select a knife that will break only after using it for a few days.
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