By far, the most used type of Japanese knife in both Oriental and Western cuisines is the santoku knife. The reason is simple: versatility. Indeed, santoku knives are ultra polyvalent kitchen tools that you can use to cut, mince, and dice almost every type of food. From fruits and vegetables to fish and meats, santoku knives can do it all! Indeed, santoku knives are so versatile that they are often considered to be the Japanese version of chef knives. However, even though it is a traditional type of Japanese kitchen knife, the popularity of santoku knives has spread out to the entire world. In fact, some of the biggest Western knife manufacturers such as Wusthof and Sabatier have added santoku knives to their different lines of products.
Here at MyChefKnives, we have a large selection of santoku knives from both Western and Japanese brands. With wooden or synthetic handles, with standard or hollow edge; our collection of santoku knives is so varied that it gives you the opportunity to find the perfect one for you regardless of your needs and preferences. Do not hesitate anymore and equip your kitchen with the best of Japanese style!
By now, it is probably very clear for you that santoku knives are all-purpose kitchen knives that can help you cut all types of foods. You are probably already aware that santoku knives are the most popular type of Japanese kitchen knives both in Japanese and Western markets. Finally, you surely know that because of their versatility, santoku knives are often compared with chef knives. However, you probably don't know too much about the history of santoku knives, the details of their design, and what are the main santoku knives that you can find on our website. But don't worry because all that is explained in the following paragraphs, so we invite you to have a quick read, and you'll be able to become an expert in the subject!
It might seem odd to think about the history of a certain type of kitchen knife, but here we talk about a type of knife that represents the old, traditional Japanese expertise in the manufacturing of knives. Therefore, talking about history becomes essential. And it is not just any history; it is a history full of art, culture, and tradition that dates back to the Samurai era when sharp blades such as the ones of katanas were forged by hand by Japanese blacksmiths. Sure, this is the history of Japanese knives in general, but the santoku knife is so iconic in the Japanese cuisine that the history of Japanese cutlery is somehow the history of santoku knives, too.
The name given to this type of kitchen knife is not just a random Japanese-looking word taken out of nowhere. In fact, the term "santoku" is a Japanese word that means "three virtues" or "three uses", and it is used to describe this type of knife because of the three different types of cuts that you can make with it: mincing, slicing, and dicing. Therefore, the term "santoku" is a clear demonstration of how polyvalent and versatile these knives are. That is why throughout history, they have always been the main and most important kitchen knife in Japanese cuisine, and in recent times, santoku knives have also managed to become popular in Western kitchens.
Identyfying a santoku knife is actually very simple due to the particular shape of its blade. Unlike most Western type of knives which have very marked pointed tips, the blade of a santoku knife has a tip that is less pronounced. When the cuting edge meets the upper edge of the blade, it creates a tip with an angle of around 60°, which gives the blade a round, curved look.
The curvature of the blade is what allows santoku knives to let you do cuts with a better balance. The extra surface of the blade cause by the curvature balances perfectly the weight of the handle and the bolster, thus allowing you to cut smootly and delicately all types of foods. Moreover, it is also important to mention that the blades of santoku knives are in general thinner than the ones of chef knives, and you can find santoku blades as short as 10cm (you can also find as long as 20cm), which is something almost unthinkable for chef knives.
You know their history and you know about their design, but you still don't know which one to choose? Not a problem. We understand that due to the great number of santoku knives available on our website it can be overwhelming to decide which one is the best one for your kitchen. Of course, in the end it will all depend on your particular needs and preferences, but to help you out, let us give you some suggestions of which we think are some of the bets santoku knives you can find here on our site:
The Kai Wasabi Black Santoku Knife: if you have a small budget but still look for good quality, this is definitely your best option! The blade remains sharp for a decent amount of time, and it is easy to sharpen. It has a stainless steel bolster and an elegant black handle. Easy to use and cuts well... it is undoubtedly a great option to have in your kitchen!
The Kai Shun Premier Tim Malzer Santoku Knife: the same Japanese brand as above (Kai), but in this case, we are talking of a high-end kitchen knife in all aspects: price, design, and quality. The blade is made of VG10 steel, and it has a hammered surface that gives an original look. Moreover, the handle is made of brown walnut wood, which adds a beautiful rustic look to the knife. There is just one word that cna truly describe it: a masterpiece!
The Chroma Type 301 Santoku Knife: for all the cooks that enjoy modernity and originality, this santoku knife is their dream come true. Even though is made by the Japanese brand Chroma, this knife is designed by F.A. Porsche, which explains why its look is like no other. Both the handle and the blade are made of top-quality stainless steel. Cutting your foods will be a true pleasure using this santoku knife!
The Sabatier Edonist Santoku Knife: and yes, even Western knife manufacturers like Sabatier are nowadays capable of producing santoku knives of great quality! The steel of the blade is not Japanese, but the quality remains high, and the cutting performance is always remarkable. In addition, the black handle provides an elegant look that no cook can resist !
So now it is all up to you. It will take you only a few clicks to order the perfect santoku knife for your kitchen, so do not waste this opportunity to equip your kitchen with the most versatile of Japanese-style kitchen knives ! We remind you that here at MyChefKnives you can also find other popular types of Japanese knives such as nakiri and deba knives. The best quality for your kitchen is here!