What is a santoku knife used for?

Author: Yasmine Ledner  |  Last update: Tuesday, April 15, 2025

The Santoku knife is an all purpose Japanese knife, adept at slicing, dicing, and mincing. The name santoku means 'three virtues' for the knife's ability to cut fish, meat and vegetables equally well.

When should I use a Santoku knife?

The Santoku knife is particularly useful for cutting and chopping vegetables, fruit and meat, and can also be used to slice fish. Its Japanese name refers to its "three virtues" or main uses: cutting, slicing and chopping.

What is the difference between a Santoku and chef knife?

A Santoku Has a Shorter Blade

The shorter blade on a santoku knife can make users feel like they have more control. Also, while santoku knives typically have a straighter bottom edge compared to the curved blade of a chef's knife, some newer models have more rounded bottom edges, which allows for a full rocking motion.

Can you use a Santoku knife for everything?

Yes. A Santoku knife is a versatile and multipurpose kitchen knife that originated in Japan. It can be used for various cutting tasks. The word ``Santoku'' can be translated into ``three virtues'' or ``three uses,'' referring to its three primary functions: slicing, dicing, and mincing.

What foods do you cut with a Santoku knife?

The best uses for a Santoku knife
  • Cutting meat.
  • Slicing cheese.
  • Slicing, chopping or dicing fruits, vegetables and nuts.
  • Mincing meat or herbs.
  • Scooping food off a cutting board due to wide blade.
  • Creating fine slices, particularly useful for vegetables and seafood.

Santoku vs. Chef's Knife: 5 Key Differences and When to Use Each

What is the principal use of a santoku knife?

The Santoku knife is an all purpose Japanese knife, adept at slicing, dicing, and mincing. The name santoku means 'three virtues' for the knife's ability to cut fish, meat and vegetables equally well.

What should you not cut with a kitchen knife?

Never Cut On Stone Or Glass

The true enemy of sharp knives everywhere are glass cutting boards and countertops. Not only does cutting on them quickly dull and ruin the sharp edge of your blade, but they are also very unsafe.

Why are santoku knives so popular?

The Santoku knife is a multipurpose knife because of which it must have a tall and clean edge. The higher edge creates more space between the food and the blade, resulting in cleaner and more defined slices. You can effortlessly use santoku knives for slicing sushi and vegetables.

What is the best knife for everyday chopping?

  • Wüsthof Classic 8-Inch Chef's Knife. ...
  • Mercer Culinary 8-Inch Millennia Chef's Knife. ...
  • Misono 8.2-Inch Molybdenum Gyuto. ...
  • Mac Knife Hollow Edge 6.5-Inch Santoku. ...
  • Tojiro Fujiro DP Cobalt Alloy Steel Split with Base Deba Knife. ...
  • GLOBAL 7 Inch Vegetable Knife. ...
  • Victorinox 3.25-Inch Swiss Classic Paring Knife.

Do you need to sharpen santoku knives?

It has a flat edge and a sharp point, making it ideal for precise slicing, dicing, and mincing. Edge: The cutting edge of the Santoku knife is where the blade meets the cutting surface. It is crucial to maintain the sharpness of this edge to ensure efficient and effective cutting performance.

What is a Santoku knife best used for?

Santokus are most often used for chopping, dicing, and mincing. Because of their precision edge, they're especially useful for julienning thin slices of vegetables and meats. The wide blade associated with a santoku also makes it useful for "scooping" food off of a cutting board in place of a bench scraper.

Which knives do chefs prefer?

  • The Best Celeb Chef's Knife: Shun Classic Western Chef's Knife.
  • Ina's Favorite: Wüsthof Classic 8-Inch Chef's Knife. The Kitchn's Thoughts.
  • Giada's Favorite: Coltellerie Berti Medium Chef's Knife. ...
  • Ree's Favorite: Wüsthof Classic Hollow Edge Nakiri Knife. ...
  • Bobby's Favorite: Shun Classic Western Chef's Knife. ...
  • Methodology.

What is a paring knife for?

A paring knife is named for the action it does best, to pare or strip away an outer material such as peel. Paring knives are usually 3-4”, and are essentially a short blade with a sharp tip that has a razor-sharp edge for doing small precise kitchen tasks.

Are Henckel's knives good?

If you've ever read a Henckels knife review, you know the Henckels reputation is the epitome of world-class. From paring knives and shears to full chef's blocks, Henckels knives can be found in kitchens around the world. You might even have a few treasured pieces in your own cutlery collection.

Why do santoku knives have dimples?

What are the dimples on a santoku knife? Also known as a hollow edge or Granton edge, the dimples help food slide off the blade after each stroke. Our favorite knife from Mac has this edge, which helped it glide through food without anything sticking.

What knife does Gordon Ramsay prefer?

Ramsay likes Henckels knives. This is a German brand known for their toughness and bulky blades. The Shun Classic Western Chef's Knife, handcrafted in Japan, is Bobby Flay's recommendation for the best chef's knife. He's talked about the Shun brand many times, and says he uses this particular knife for most everything.

What is the best budget chef's knife?

Best Bang for your Buck: Victorinox Fibrox 8” Chef's Knife

Rarely is the most affordable of the bunch a top contender. However, the Victorinox Fibrox, which costs just over $40 on Amazon, earns high marks for anyone with a small budget to spend.

What is an everyday knife called?

Everyday Carry. Everyday Carry knives are those that some would say are utilitarian in design. We'd say Everyday Carry knives are those that you struggle to leave out of your pocket.

What foods is a santoku knife used for?

Seafood: A Santoku knife is arguably, used most commonly for slicing and chopping seafood (particularly raw fish). Fruits: Santoku knives can be used to slice and chop a variety of fruits, such as apples, pears, and mangoes. To make precise cuts, try using a rocking motion with the knife as you slice.

What is a serrated knife used for?

At its most general, a serrated knife refers to any knife that is equipped with a jagged blade. The serrations on these blades are usually deep and pointed, allowing them to slice through thick crusts and other tough foods. Like all knives, serrated knives come in a wide range of sizes.

What are the three virtues of a santoku knife?

Understanding the “three virtues” of the Santoku is a good start: chopping, slicing, dicing. Unlike the Chef's knife, the Santoku makes it easier to slice using a single downward cut, as opposed to a rocking cut.

What are 5 knife rules?

Safety Guidelines
  • Keep knives sharp. ...
  • Wear a cutting glove. ...
  • Always cut away from yourself. ...
  • Use the right knife for the job. ...
  • Cut on a stable cutting board. ...
  • Never grab a falling knife. ...
  • Keep your eyes on the blade. ...
  • Carry the knife pointed down, or in a scabbard.

What are the 3 standard rules of kitchen cutting?

Keep fingertips curled under the hand that is holding the food. Point the blade away from your body when cutting, washing, or drying a knife. Always use a cutting board. Secure your cutting board with a damp paper towel or non-slip mat.

What dulls a kitchen knife?

Never cut on glass, ceramic or countertops. Those surfaces are harder than a knife's edge and will quickly dull the blade. It's what you cut on that dulls knives, not what you're cutting.

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