🥇Best Santoku Knife – Buyer’s Guide

If you enjoy spending time in the kitchen then you probably understand the value of high quality best santoku knife. After all, isn’t this how all great meals are made?

Although the market is crammed with a wide variety of knives, some are simply superior to others. The Santoku is one of the best and most trusted kitchen knife brands in the market. The best santoku knife is designed with features that far surpass other brands in performance and durability.

Insight on the various types of Santoku knives will bring you a step closure to choosing your best Santoku knife that will serve you the best.

Best Santoku Knife of 2019

Global G48 7″ Santoku Knife Best All-purpose Knife

Global G48 7″ Santoku Knife

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As the name suggests, Global G-48 is an all-purpose Santoku knife with striking designs and features. Produced from Spain, this knife is made from high tech CROMOVA 18 steel, which is a blend of molybdenum, chromium, and vanadium. Its blade is hollow and ground, thinner and shaper perfect for slicing, dicing and chopping.

Razor-sharp edge

The 7-inch steel blade is fully forged so that it retains its sharpness and also makes the entire knife stronger, sturdy, and more durable. The chromium content makes it highly resistant to stains and rust. However, just like any other high-quality knives, this knife is not meant for dishwasher.

Seamless Handle

Global G-48 doesn’t have bolsters. Instead, the handle crafted by hand and molded as one seamless piece of high-end stainless-steel knife that’s quite sturdy and resistant to water corrosions and stains.

Having no bolster gives it a combination of both a bigger sweet spot and a longer cutting edge. This feature provides a full edge use, and you can easily sharpen your entire blade.

Between the handle and blade, there’s a finger notch to offer safety. For convenience, the molded handle is meant to fit your hand with comfort and dimpled to provide a firm grip. Therefore, it won’t slip off.

Great Performance

Due to its design and the unique mixture of stainless steel, Global G-48 weighing 0.16 ounces stands out as one of the lightest professional knives of its size. Tiredness won’t be a question of debate with this knife.

However, its thin blade is mostly not designed for heavy-duty dicing or chopping. Even though it can be used to perform general cutting and chopping of different foods, it’s particularly excellent in thin slicing and when accuracy is needed.

The problem with this knife is that it might end up being your favorite knife and with no time the blades get dull. The Global manufacturers recommend using exclusively a whetstone or a ceramic sharpener for it to perform effectively and offer lifetime service.

Final Verdict

Shun Premier 7″ Best Damascus Steel Knife

Shun Premier 7″ Damascus Steel Knife

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There are people who use knives to chop vegetables and then there’s me who considers cooking an art.

The Shun Premier Santoku is one of the most potent kitchen tools I’ve ever come across that assists you in anything and everything between dicing, chopping, peeling, cutting, and cubing perfectly.

With such razor-sharp and unparalleled performance, this premium kitchen knife is a state-of-art tool. Santoku is a 7-inch knife meaning ‘three virtues’- dicing, mincing, and slicing.

The hand-forged knife is made of layered Damascus steel and features an authentic Tsuchime finish.

With such premium quality finish, the blade doesn’t drag over the board and also doesn’t stick to the pieces of sliced food.

The shape of the blade is more rounded than straight, very similar to the western knives that provide a rocking action when chopping.

Even the beautiful Pakkawood handle is ergonomically designed for enhancing the overall look and feel of the knife.

Final Verdict

Dalstrong Shogun Series 7″ Probably the Best in the World

Dalstrong Shogun Santoku Series 7″

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Are you looking for a pro kitchen knife that will enable you to perform tasks faster and better? This is it. If you are looking for a knife that oozes high performance and class right from its package then this particular piece will blow your socks off.

It’s packaged in a fancy and classy way which makes it a perfect gift. This can also be used to show the confidence the manufacturers have in this product. It has a combination of features which makes it a product worth your consideration.

Scalpel-Like Edge

62 + Rockwell Hardness

You will be impressed by the ultra-sharp VG-10 Japanese super steel Cutting core which is designed with a 62+ Rockwell hardness. This feature is responsible for the knife’s extraordinarily edge retention and performance.

To further increase its performance, this knife is perfectly balanced and carefully tapered with small rectangular divots (rock hollow). These minimize surface resistance and also comes in handy in enhancing its nonstick properties.

Heat Resistance

The ultra-premium G10 handle that wraps around the Santoku tang makes this knife resistant to heat, moisture, and cold. This makes it safe cutlery to use in the kitchen. Its military-grade facilitates its durability. The hand-polished ergonomic design on the handle facilitates a comfortable grip and gives you adequate control while handling the knife.

Tatara Santoku for Chefs 7′ Best Under $100

TATARA Santoku – Japanese Knife for Chefs

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This 7 inches professional, high-performance knife is specially designed for chefs, sushi chefs to be precise. The classy wooden gift case housing in which the knife comes in makes it an ideal gift for professional chefs.

The 67 Damascus layers paired up with the 62+ Rockwell hardness guarantees premium performance as well as performance. This also makes it easy to maintain.

8-12 Degree Cutting Edge

There’s power in a carefully crafted blade that enables you to perfectly slice even the toughest food into neat strips. With this exceptional power in your hands, expect to plate jaw-dropping foods with laser precise slices.

Triple Riveted Handles

The durability and reliability of the knife are secured by the triple rivet design that attaches the handle firmly onto the blade. It is further nitrogen cooled to enhance flexibility and hardness.

Sleek Design

This mirror finished professional sushi knife can be displayed in full view of your kitchen or your restaurant due to its decorative built. Besides, the attractive packaging makes it an ideal choice for a gift.

Zelite Infinity Best 7-inch Knife

Zelite Infinity 7-inch Knife

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This is a knife that’s worthy of display and admiration. Its overall appeal is unique and definitely guaranteed to earn stares from onlookers. With its decorative finish, this knife definitely deserves a spot on your kitchen counter or display cabinet.

Besides its appeal, it is best known for its splendid performance. It has a combination of features that makes it a worthy consideration.

Razor Sharp Japanese Blade

The most attractive feature of this knife is its high-performance razor. The VG10 Super Steel Japanese Take 67-layer high carbon stainless steel blends in well with a hollow ground blade. This is a unique feature with modern knives that provides a nonstick surface.

Functional Handle

The artistically rounded handle on this high-performance knife is designed tactfully and with exemplary precision. The ergonomic design is specifically aimed at your comfort. The design allows the handle of this blade to wrap comfortably in your hands which gives you full control of the movement of the knife.

The triple riveted design firmly secures the handle of this knife to the blade. This eliminates the risk of the handle detaching or coming loose.

J.A. Henckels International CLASSIC 7″ Santoku Knife Best Under $50

J.A. Henckels CLASSIC 7″ Santoku Knife

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This authentic made in Germany Santoku knife with an ice-hardened stamp on its blade is worth an investment to any chef kitchen. It has a full tang blade that’s very versatile in performing a range of cutting techniques.

Great Blade

The blade is fabricated from high carbon stainless steel, laser-cut, ice-hardened, and then polished by hand making it stronger enough to perform effectively and stand the test of time.

Henckels is designed with an angled bolster which enhances precision, your safety while cutting, and a comfortable grip.
Consequently, the bolster allows you to sharpen and use the entire blade from the bolster to the tip. This feature permits the entire blade to be used for slicing, dicing, and more.

The blade’s hollow edge with hollows stops food from sticking, letting you easily slice and chop your way through vegetables, meat, and other food types.

This Santoku knife frequently outshines other Japanese knives in exclusively three cutting methods; slicing, dicing, and mincing garlic.

Henckels just like Global G-48 is fully forged to create a continuous transition from the handle to the blade to offer a perfect balancing on your wrist. Its dynamic handles are synthetic featuring rounded edges and have an ultra-ergonomic style to reduce stress and fatigue with prolonged use.

Functional Handle

However, the handle features a polymer and unique formula steel bolster which increases its weight distribution. When using this knife, you want the weight to concentrate at the midsection of the blade to allow gravity to work.

This 7-inch blade like any other conventional knife has been triple-riveted to the handle to create a flawless geometry, that offers comfort, extra strength, and balance. This unique feature reduces hand and wrist stress, therefore, encouraging smooth, tireless chopping.

Multi-functional Knife

The versatility of this knife is another excellent characteristic that was evaluated while designing it. Henckel’s classic is designed for a multi-functional target.

With 10 degrees edge angle, this knife has a satin finish with its sharpness lasting for a longer time without the need for sharpening. Though, it’s dishwasher safe washing by hand is mostly recommended.

Final Verdict

PAUDIN Classic 7″ Santoku Knife Best Low Price Santoku Knife

PAUDIN Classic 7″ Santoku Knife

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The PAUDIN hollow ground Santoku is a customary Japanese multipurpose knife that’s designed for domestic use. It’s among one of the best-emerging brands with similarities to most high-quality products in the global market.

Ultra-sharp blade

This knife contains a 7-inch ultra-sharp blade that offers reliable performance and functionality. The blade comes in a special design that can withstand the severities of harsh restaurant use.

It can also be used for domestic kitchen purposes and exclusively designed with a longer edge that is better in comparison to other standard knives. In fact, the blade is precision forged to make each slice or cut exciting while reducing the chances of one cutting himself or herself.

The sharp blade is ideal for slicing, dicing, chopping as well as mincing of fish, boneless meat and fruits. It is beautifully designed with a sleek handle that provides better control and cutting.

Comfortable Handle

The PAUDIN knife comfort is on another level. The pakkawood handles offer a combination of a comfortable, perfect hand grip. Therefore, it’s not easy to slip.

The wooden handle and a lightweight blade allow you to cut through your veggies for an extended period without operational fatigue.
You are guaranteed no swollen hands and any hand discomfort later since this piece comes with sharp blades making chopping easy for you.

The beautifully designed pattern which is special waved on the blade is both eye-catching and flawless though not real Damascus. The ergonomic shape makes this knife achieve the desired balance between your hand and the thin blade, offering you easy maneuverability.

Plus, the edges maintain sharpness longer, which further guarantees the reliability of use.

Note that the blade tends to retain flavors, so it’s essential to treat it with appropriate care. You can use dishwashing detergent and then rinsed it with water to remove the odors of food such as onions and garlic. Remember to wipe and dry it with a kitchen towel after each rinse then store it safely on the kitchen guard case.

Final Verdict

Wusthof Classic 5′ Best-Rated Knife

Wusthof Santoku knife 5″ Black

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Do ordinary knives overpower you? There finally is hope for people with small hands. This high-performance knife is designed for people who still have a traditional flair yet open to modern technology. This Japanese style inspired knife satisfactorily performs detailed chopping tasks.

High Carbon Steel Blade

The most important part of a knife is the blade. After all, it does all the work. This knife is designed with high quality and durable high carbon steel blade. It is further finished off with a stainless steel alloy.

Synthetic Traditional Handle

Just because it is replaced doesn’t mean that it was broken, to begin with. If you are open to embracing the beauty of technology but still fancy the traditional flare then you’d be pleased to know that this knife is designed with a traditional handle.

This offers a comfortable grip that gives you full control over the activities and movement of the knife. The handle is further designed with the triple-rivet formula that firmly secures it to the blade.

Mercer Culinary 7′ Forged Best Budget Knife

Mercer Culinary 7′ Forged

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If you are looking for a versatile knife that will perform various tasks in the kitchen with precision then this is it. Just because this is a versatile knife doesn’t mean rule out unique features that enhance its performance.

Precision Forged German Steel

The blade is made of a high carbon German stainless steel metal. This rules out the occurrence of rust stains, discoloration, and corrosion. It further has a precision forged construction which facilitates its durability and strength. The taper-ground edge is responsible for its easy honing, stability, durable sharpness, and high efficiency when chopping and cutting foods.

Ergonomic Santoprene Handles

This artistic design guarantees comfort as well as a non-slip grip. Santoprene gives you full control of the knife even with wet hands. This assures you that the knife is able to withstand hot and cold temperatures. This also means that the knife is able to withstand both dry and wet conditions in the kitchen.

Stainless Steel, Non-Stick Bolster

Granton Edge Blade

The pockets on the blade of this knife are a strategic design that prevents food from sticking to the blade. This facilitates an easy time and a quick chopping process of the foods.

Dalstrong Gladiator Series 7′ Best Value

Dalstrong Gladiator Series 7′

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Are you looking for a knife that does a bit more than the ordinary? Then you might want to consider this particular chef’s knife. It is designed with impressive cutting-edge technology and outstanding craftsmanship with stunning design elements. The materials used contribute to its high performance.

Razor Sharp Blade

The blade is razor-sharp which enables you to cut through fruits and vegetables with ease. The fact that you do not have to apply manual pressure when using the knife means clean slices, less energy, less time wastage, and faster food preparation time. Isn’t this what every chef or home cook hopes for?

Hollow Divots

The small oval hollow divots on the blade minimize the suction of food to the blade. This creates a nonstick surface that allows food to slide off the blade. This further facilitates a faster and cleaner time during meal preparation times.

Triple Riveted Handle

This technology facilitates comfort and maneuverability when handling the knife. The handle is further laminated and polished to meet its sanitary requirements.
The features of this master knife prove that it is an ideal choice for busy kitchens.

Mercer Culinary Millennia 7-Inch Best Under $50

Mercer Culinary Millennia 7-Inch

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If you are looking for a knife that will reduce the amount of time you spend in food preparation then this may be it. This is a knife that is designed with all the impressive features that make food preparation a joy.

Ergronomic Handle

The first thing that you may notice with this knife is its ergonomic handle that not only facilitates a comfortable grip but also boasts of a blend of polypropylene for durability and Santoprene for comfort. The handle is also designed with textured finger points which guard against slips.

High Quality Steel Blade

The blade on this knife is made using the highest quality of Japanese steel. This tough material is the reason behind the easy maintenance of the blade. You will also notice that the blade becomes sharp faster which saves time and energy.

Victorinox Fibrox 7″ Best for the Money

Victorinox Fibrox 7″

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Any expert in Japanese dishes knows that a suitable knife in this line of prowess must be able to perform three tasks; slice, dice, and mince. This knife is designed to perform all these functions with a sprinkle of perfection in results.

With it, you will be able to slice paper-thin slices of food without worrying about them sticking to the sides. This is because the blade is designed with long divots that are hollow. This allows air in between the food slices and the blade which enables it to slide off which is a bonus.

Stainless Steel Blade

The blade is made using stainless steel which is a superior material that determines the durability of the knife. The high carbon stainless steel material used for this blade provides maximum sharpness as well as impressive edge retention which gears its high performance and durability.

Fibrox Handle

The fibrox handle is textured and slip-resistant which makes it slip-resistant. It is further designed with an ergonomic design which facilitates a comfortable surface to hold on to.

Kai Wasabi Black Best Affordable’Santoku

Kai Wasabi Black Santoku

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If Japanese dishes are where your skills are hidden then you definitely need to invest in this knife. It is designed to perform in line with Japanese dishes where perfection in slicing, dicing, and chopping are core.

If you need further convincing maybe the Japanese character for ‘wasabi’ engraved on the knife will do.

This high-performance knife is designed using a 1K6 high carbon stainless steel material for superior edge retention. This is a strong and highly durable material that guarantees the long life of the blade.

OXO Professional 6.5″ Best Cheap Knife

OXO Professional Santoku Knife

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Do you like preparing Asian dishes? Is this where your expertise as a chef lays? This knife would be the perfect addition to your collection.

This is an Asian Chef’s knife that’s designed for chopping and scooping.

Ergonomic Handle

The handle is where the control of the knife is so it needs to be comfortable to work with. This knife is designed with a soft yet comfortable handle that facilitates a safe grip.

Stainless Steel Blade

The blade is where the power of the knife is hidden so you might want to check and see that the knife is well endowed in this sector. You’d be pleased to know that this knife is designed with a razor-sharp, stainless steel blade.

The blade is further hardened to make it strong and durable. In order to keep the blade well balanced, the full tang design is used in the making of this blade.

Best Santoku Knife – Buyer’s Guide

Contents:

To an ordinary eye, a knife is nothing but a piece if sharpened metal and a handle. They see nothing else beyond this and they can’t be blamed.

After all, doesn’t everyone have their own area of expertise?

This is what sets the pros apart from the rookies. There’s a lot that goes into choosing a knife. Only an expert eye is able to see beyond the obvious.

You need to consider the materials used, durability, the level of comfort, and even the price.

A knife that has an impressive combination is the one to go for since it is more likely to perform better and deliver satisfactory results.

Buying a professional or high functioning home use knife takes more than blindly walking into a store and picking the closest knife around. Regardless of your level of professionalism or expertise, it is important for everyone to have a basic understanding of the basic requirements when purchasing a knife.

What Is The Best Santoku Knife?

There are plenty of good santoku knives on the market. The Best Santoku Knife could be next:
1. DALSTRONG Santoku Knife – Shogun Series
2. Shun Cutlery Premier Santoku Knife
3. Zelite Infinity Santoku Knife
4. Mercer Culinary Genesis Forged Santoku Knife
5. Wusthof Classic Hollow Edge Santoku Knife

What Is a Santoku Knife Best Used For?

Traditionally Santoku Knife was used for slicing fish, mincing meat and dicing vegetable. This the reason for Santoku to be the most popular general-purpose kitchen knife in Japan.

So, in general, it is a multi-purpose kitchen knife that covers different tasks.

How Is a Santoku Knife Different From a Chef’s Knife?

The difference between these two types of knives are next:
1. Blade. Chefs knives have a totally flat surface, while Santoku knives have hollows at the side of the edge. These hollows form air pockets to prevent food from sticking to the blade.
2. Size. The santoku knife has a standard size between 5 -7 inches. A typical Chef knife comes at a standard size between 8-10 inches.
3. Cutting Style. Chefs knives are useful in chop-like motion, and Santoku is better in rocking motion.
4. Weight. The santoku knife is lighter than a typical Chef knife.

The Best Qualities to Look for

Sharpness and Durability of the Edge

What’s a knife without its sharpness? A sharp blade determines the quality of a knife. While a sharp blade is what you should be after, it important to know that some come slightly blunt hence need sharpening.

In the same breath, you should understand that just because a blade is sharp doesn’t mean that it will last. The durability of the knife is determined by its ability to maintain its sharpness. Although different knives may have the same level of sharpness at one point, some become blunt faster than others.

The shape of the blade will determine this. The four most common types are:

• Flat Grind
• Taper Grind
• Hollow Grind
• Convex Grind

Ease to Handle and Balance

Any chef will tell you that balance and handling are critical factors to consider when selecting knives. A chef or pro cook normally holds their knives in three main positions.

The balance point of a good knife is right where the handle meets the blade. This rules out the need for the user to balance the knife manually. If not well balanced, the cutting process will be tedious.

Type of Knife

Before you grab that shiny and well-designed knife that would look perfect with your kitchen back splash and cabinet knobs, you need to ask yourself if it is what you need.

There are many types of knives in the market. Each has its function and purpose.

You will not grab a bread knife when you are actually looking for a slicing knife.

It is important to point out that there are four basic knives that every kitchen must have:

• Chef’s knife- Normally 8 inches long, this is the mastermind of the kitchen, It can be used for chopping, slicing, and dicing a variety of foods
• Slicer- This is normally used to cut cooked meat. It is usually long and thin
• Utility knife- It is ideal for cutting and slicing fruits and vegetables
• Paring knife- This is the perfect choice for peeling and coring

With this four-piece set, you will be able to perform right about any job in the kitchen.

Understand the Terminologies

Just like any other field that has its pros and experts, expect some pretty tough but impressive terminologies to be thrown around in regards to knives. You need to familiarize yourself with them. It may make mean success in landing exactly what you need.

Forged knives are more expensive and are normally created by melting steel and forming it into the desired shape. Stamped knives on the other hand are cut into a shape that takes less precision and creativity hence the lower price.

Consider your Cooking Style

Did you know that your cooking style will determine the kind of knife to go for? Yes, it does. If your cooking is complex, it is advisable to purchase a set of knives with lots of pieces. Alternatively, you can purchase the pieces separately though from the same line. The term used for this is open stock.

The most popular fine-edged knives have these. You may also be interested to know that the Santoku is a crossbreed between a cleaver and a chef’s knife.

Care of the Knife

Just like any other high-tech kitchen appliance, you need to take care of your knife. In most cases, the durability of the knife is determined by the care given to it. It is therefore important to read the instruction and care label of the knife after purchase. The better you care for the knife the better the service and durability the knife will offer.

You need to read on especially if you are used to throwing your knives in the sink or the dishwasher for the next wash. This is a definite ‘no-no’ for all high tech kitchen appliances and gadgets.

However, you should practice frequent honing if yours is a fine edged piece. If honing isn’t your cup of tea then you should consider a low maintenance set.

Consider the Handle

Comfort is vital when it comes to selecting knives. It is advisable that you check that the knife has splendid reviews and ratings from other users. Just like any other work of art, cooking should feel natural and liberating. However, this will be interrupted if you’re using an uncomfortable knife.

This means that your comfort is guaranteed during use. Another give away for uncomfortable knives are handles that slant downwards at the tip. This doesn’t feel natural so choose one that’s straight or one that arcs slightly upwards.

Did you know that the size and structure of the handle will determine its efficacy? It is true.

If the handle is too thin for the palm of your hands, it won’t be the best to work with. Neither will a knife with an oversized handle. Too small and the knife will be troublesome to maintain grip pressure. A large handle will be too difficult to control. In this case, you might want to try out a few until you find one that fits perfectly.

Have you ever tried the roll and chop technique that’s common with chefs? Worry not if your attempt failed miserably. It happens to even the best of us. One thing that most people don’t know is that this technique only works if you’ve got the right knife.

Mastering the art of knife selection might take a while but it doesn’t mean that you are incapable of doing it. With the basics at the back of your head, you still can make a neat selection. However, just like any other profession, the skills that you acquire along the way will push you higher to the pro level.

Being a reputable and trusted company, Santoku continuously manufactures high-quality knives. These meet the most important features; durability, strength, comfort, functionality, and of course, appeal.

To Sum it Up

Unlike basic kitchen knives that bear the traditional finish that does nothing for the eye, these ones have a decorative finish. This makes them ideal for display and food presentation. Additionally, these knives bear a decorative cum functional design on the blade that renders it a nonslip surface.

The hollow textures leave air in between the food and the blade hence allowing them to easily slide off. A combination of all the features makes the Best Santoku knife a worthy purchase. The fact that the knives give value to your money is a bonus.

P.S. It might be intersting too, Nakiri VS Santoku Review – https://kitchengeek.com/nakiri-vs-santoku/