TV chefs “ooh and aah” about the knife: “Its the only knife I use! However, because they are small, people with larger hands may find it uncomfortable to grip them. Some may choose a chef’s knife with no bolster, though, which has its own advantages such as allowing you to use the heel of the knife to get better leverage for difficult cutting jobs. And we hope that now you know more about it. I’m afraid this is hype. The handle is usually made out of either plastic or wood and even composite. This will later prove useful when cleaning it. The meaning of ‘santoku’ explains the use of these knives best. The design of the handle and the weight distribution of this knife make it popular with people who have small hands. Most traditional Santoku knives are for slicing and chopping which are done in forward and backward motion. They are multi-purpose by nature and traditionally, professional (Japanese) chefs use the knife in a forward/backward or straight and … Looking through blogs and even books that mention kitchen equipment, I’ve noticed that completely novice cooks, when trying out chefs knives and Santoku knives, tend to choose the Santoku. Sure, you can try this with a Santoku, but you’ll have to do much of the work. Or, even, you may have heard about it. As mentioned above, you can use it to prepare fruit, veggies, boneless meat and poultry, fish, etc., thanks to its wide … Santoku knives are similar to Western-style chef’s knives with a few key differences in size and shape. The Santoku is great for slicing vegetables, fruit, or chicken. The Santoku knife is a great alternative to the western chef’s knife, and is often hotly contended against the Gyuto as the perfect gateway into the world of Japanese knives. Santoku knives are lightweight and finely balanced. Most professional chefs prefer those made of steel for their durability and high corrosion resistance. Ironically, the Santoku craze in the United States has led to most currently available knives being made with a more curved blade, making them more like the Western chef’s knife. That’s because the knife allows you to be swift in cutting. This santoku … Washing it on hand is also a much safer and gentler option for that knife too considering that its blade is very thin. Hopefully you have found this article on how to use a santoku knife useful and informative. Though most of the people considered santoku just as a traditional sushi blade, but it’s not. The knife was originally invented for Japanese homemakers. Creating this … You will also notice there is a curve to a chef’s knife as well. Santoku knives don’t come with bolsters either while chef’s knives do. Scallops are there to prevent food from sticking to the knife. If you are interested in our other articles have a look at the difference between santoku and chef’s knife or our sushi knives review. Many people prefer the Gyuto style of knife, which (roughly speaking) combines features of both Santoku knifes and French knives. “Santoku” translates to “three virtues” or “three uses.” This refers to the three types of cuts the knife is made to perform: slicing, dicing, and mincing. Most of the time, one uses the santoku knife to dice and slice food. There are some jobs that a chef’s knife is simply better at than a santoku knife is and vice versa. If properly sharpened, the blade cuts through the skin of any … However, if you want to do it that way, there are a lot of adjustments and flexibility required to do it. It will fit perfectly in your hand. For this reason, they are one of the most commonly-used knives in both professional and home kitchens.Both are made from an assortment of materials such as ceramic or metal. Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. A Santoku knife or Santoku Bocho is a Japanese style knife that literally means “Three Virtues”. They don’t do the entire rocking of the knife like western cooks do. Got you covered, Victorinox Fibrox Chef's Knife Versus Swiss Classic. You may have seen a santoku knife many times when buying something for your kitchen. CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON. A santoku knife, like already mentioned, offers great balance and is comfortable for your grip. Hope you find it informative. My Recipe Calls for an Eggs in Cup Amounts - How Many Eggs? Need help choosing knives for your kitchen? However, in modern times, you will be able to find santoku knives made out of metal alloys and ceramic. Santokus are a truly versatile and multi-use knife in the kitchen, and are lighter, thinner and more adept at producing perfectly thin slices than a western chef’s knife. They have no bolster allowing the entire blade to be used. You’ll find these knives excel … So, overall, you may wonder, what do you use a santoku knife for? Most western versions of a santoku knife aren’t as good as when they are originally from Japan. Please contact for permissions. To find out more about kitchen knives check out Wusthof vs Henckels review or our oyster knives review. The santoku knife is designed to provide a comfortable, well-balanced grip. If you do it properly, it will assure the knife’s longevity. This points to the three different types of cutting you can do with that knife which is slicing, mincing and dicing. Given its exotic-sounding Japanese name, the Santoku (sahn-toh-koo) knife could be taken for an ultra-specific utility knife made for some delicate task — the province of a professional chef. While most other Japanese knives have very specific functions, the Santoku was meant to be more all-purpose. It’s a bit odd that this knife should become some elite and trendy professional tool. It has a very thin blade so the cutting should be very smooth and accurate. Regardless, you may still be limited by it. So, this article will tell you all about how to use a santoku knife. On the other hand, there are very fine Western-style chef knives made in Japan, such as Gyoto. Why santoku translates to "three virtues." You will notice that both blade and its handle are so well-balanced that you will have no problems with handling it. Well, if you are still not sure, a santoku knife is meant for soft food. Slicing, Dicing and Mincing. Where Did Nestlé Get the Name For Its Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe? Photo Stockfood. 4.6 out of 5 stars … Santoku knives aren’t generally long; the longest one you will find is 7 inches. This is very different from what you see on western knives which have a very sharp edge. So, that’s why, many western cooks may find it uncomfortable at first because they are not used to it. All Rights Reserved. For example, with a chef’s knife, you can crack the chicken bones because it is so thick. If you don’t know, “santoku” means three virtues in Japanese language. Most people believe you should use them for chopping, slicing, and dicing. All you need to do is put some food, like meat or a vegetable, on a cutting board. The rocking motion we employ with our chef’s knife is difficult to achieve with a Santoku. French style knives have a straight blade that curves upward at the belly (see parts of a knife), while the German style has a blade that is curved along its entire cutting edge. The heaviness of the blade will allow you to cut through the toughest of meat whereas with a santoku knife it will be difficult to do so. In other words, it will last you for a much longer time. This way you will be sure the blade is safe. A lot of Japanese cooks use this way of cutting; forward and backward strokes or straight up and down chop. ... AKA: Cook’s knife, French knife Origin: Germany or France Composition: A chef’s knife can be made of a number of materials including … Most western … Of course, one can still do the whole rocking motion while cutting and then adding the slicing motion when necessary. Its blade is also much longer than a blade of a santoku knife. The santoku knives are the … Specifically, the knife was meant for meant Japanese women and designed to be suited for small hands. It’s also very important to clean a santoku knife well. The santoku knife was first created in Japan to be a more user-friendly alternative to the traditional vegetable cleaver. Japanese cooks tend to use forward or backward strokes, or a straight up and down chop. Well, if you are still not sure, a santoku knife is meant for soft food. Those with large hands may find gripping the knife a bit difficult. Got you covered. Was Coca-Cola the First Soda to Use Santa In Advertisements? Well, no, you can’t do anything with a Santoku knife. This means that anyone will be able to use it from people with small hands to people with big ones. An Everyday Knife You’ll Love to Use The Santoku knife is similar to a classic chef’s knife in its utility, while being slightly shorter and lighter. A Santoku knives’ convenience is seen as it is used in the kitchen. Japanese santoku knives will even have scallops on the side of the edge sometimes. While the lightweight and delicate balance makes the knife much less fatiguing, the short length and lack of weight means the knife isn’t great for large-scale chopping. Zelite Infinity seven inches Santoku knife. So, in other words, a chef’s knife is much more versatile than a santoku knife. Rachael Ray, in particular, comes to mind. Both are general-purpose knives used for a variety of cutting cutting tasks such as chopping, slicing, dicing and mincing. The term Santoku may refer to the wide variety of ingredients that the knife can handle: meat, fish and vegetables, or to the tasks it can perform: slicing, chopping and dicing, either interpretation indi… In other words, one can use a santoku knife to slice meat with thin bones or boneless meat as well as fish and vegetables. The Santoku’s blade is flat, unlike many … The blade, traditionally, has no curve. In other words, a santoku knife is made by the Japanese. Before explaining the differences, let’s begin with the similarities. One can also use the knife to cut food in a rocking motion. Most likely you will be able to put your knife in the dishwasher, it is still recommended to wash the knife yourself. The edge of the knife is very flat and the blade is a sheep’s foot. See More Reviews. The blade is longer, and its gentle curve allows for longer chopping without ever having to lift the blade from the board. Why Do We Say a Fifth of Whiskey, Rum, or Vodka? Santoku knives do not have bolsters although many chef’s knives do. If you have small delicate hands, however, you may find yourself in love with your Santoku. See full disclosure. Or better, it is not specially made for … Santoku knives are incredibly light and very well-balanced. No Caster Sugar for Your Recipe? WALLOP Santoku knife 7 inch - Santoku Chef Knife Asian Knife- German HC Stainless Steel - Professional Japanese Kitchen Knife - Full Tang Pakkawood Handle with Gift Box. All content © 2019 by Eric Troy and CulinaryLore. You can do anything with it!”. Besides just being a guard, the inward curving design of the bolster allows you to choke up on the handle and place your finger along the guard giving you more control of the knife. 5 Advantages Of Silicone Baking Sheets To Improve Your Baking Experience. But, of course, those with small hands will find that santoku knives perfectly fit their grip. The tip of the blade along the spine tapers sharply downwards, but the cutting edge itself is flat. In fact, the Santoku is simply a slicing and chopping knife that can be used much like a traditional European (Western) chef’s knife. The typical chef knife has a heavy blade with a nice thick spine. The scallops on the blade also lowers the entire cutting friction while cutting. If you are interested in our other articles have a look at the, To find out more about kitchen knives check out. Fortunately, the best Santoku knife will serve as the perfect kitchen companion. Considering that the blade is a sheep’s foot, this allows the angle of cutting to be more linear. This article contains one or more Amazon affiliate links. The longest Santoku you are going to get is 7 inches. In fact, a lot of people may not know how to use it and therefore can’t make the best of it. It also allows you to cut food in one swift motion. No Problem, Here's a Substitute. The santoku knives are the master of chopping, dicing and slicing. While the utility of each for everyday slicing and chopping jobs is a matter of subjective experience, the chef’s knife can simply do jobs a Santoku can not. 13 September, 2019. If it comes down to a Santoku versus a chef’s knife, the typical Western chef’s knife is by far a more versatile tool for your kitchen. The santoku, meaning ‘three virtues’, is a multi-purpose knife that takes its name from its ability to easily handle meat, fish and vegetables. Mercer Culinary Millennia Santoku Knife. In fact, the name translates roughly into “three uses.” Those uses were slicing fish, cutting meat, and chopping vegetables. If you are interested to read more of our articles you can check our comparisons: difference between santoku and chef’s knife. As a multi-purpose knife, you can use it to prep … While that may sound like a chefs knife, keep in mind that it was also invented for Japanese homemakers who wanted to cook Western style food. … When buying a santoku knife, look for ease-of-use. L. Let us begin by disclaiming a common belief: the santoku, a legendary type of Japanese knife, is not a "sushi knife". We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. This does not mean that it cannot be used for much of the same tasks, but if you are used to using a rocking motion to slice or chop vegetables, with the occasional slicing motion when needed, you will have to adjust your style and get used to a new way of using a knife. I suspect that the small and lightweight design is a bit reassuring. For example, despite what some those TV chefs will tell you, you can use that thick spine to hammer and crack bones. It can be used as a general chopping knife. The Truth About Raspberry or Strawberry Flavor from Beaver Glands. The Santoku is great for slicing vegetables, fruit, or chicken. It can be used as a general chopping knife. Then, you will be able to just push the edge of the knife in a downward quick motion. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. A chef’s knife has a thick and heavy blade. Vegetable, fruit, fish or perfect meat can be prepared with a Santoku knife. While many cooks may enjoy using a Santoku for everyday tasks, it is often claimed that the Santoku is more versatile than a chef’s knife. If you are interested to read more of our articles you can check our comparisons: German vs Japanese knives or stainless steel vs carbon steel knives. That is their traditional build. A santoku knife is one of the best parts of a kitchen set you must have. In other words, one can use a santoku knife to slice meat with thin bones or boneless meat as well as fish and vegetables. Most of the santoku knives you will find are made out of steel. They’re incredibly versatile and can handle most kitchen cutting tasks. Santoku knives are used extensively in Japan (and around the world) by both professional and home chefs. Like a chef knife, the Santoku knife can be used for almost any cutting task. Its smaller size makes it a favorite among new cooks or those … Best Hybrid: Signature Stainless Steel 7-Inch Rocking Santoku Knife. This also results in less back pain and it is less fatiguing to use them. But, I have to be honest with you, most of what we’ve heard about this Japanese wonder, in my opinion, seems to be a Food Network creation. The high profile of the blade makes the santoku well-suited for … The Mercer Culinary Genesis Forged Santoku Knife, 7 Inch is an Amazon Bestseller, Need help choosing knives for your kitchen? So this knife is the most used for both professional and home kitchens. But, I have to be honest with you, most of what we’ve heard about this Japanese … The perfect knife will help you to make precise cuts and can be used to prepare a wide range of foods perfectly. A Santoku knife is ideal for slicing cooked and raw meats, fresh vegetables and any other ingredient that requires a uniform cut. You may love to have both and may find yourself getting a lot of use out of a Santoku, but if you have to choose just one, choose a chef’s knife. If you buy a traditional Santoku knife, which, as mentioned, are meant to use in a slicing or chopping motion rather than a rocking motion like we often use Western-style chef knives, you may find yourself uncomfortable. In view of its uses, the three virtues of a Santoku knife are “meat, fish, and vegetables” however it is also popularly referring to the three main functions of a knife… Bolsters on a knife will allow you to have much more control of it because of the inward curving design. Santoku knife is also very famous for three things. (Best Overall Option) As someone who has a special love … Using An Santoku knife: There is an idea to use a Santoku knife in the kitchen. They often come with a hollowed Granton edge which may help with fine slicing. There is a specific technique that needs to be followed. Our first … Aluminum Foil: Should the Shiny Side be Up or Down When Cooking? Buy on Wayfair. They are made of a hardened steel… The Santoku bōchō (Japanese: 三徳包丁; "three virtues" or "three uses") or Bunka bōchō (文化包丁) is a general-purpose kitchen knife originating in Japan. The added weight and wide blade means you can use the flat of the knife to crush garlic, ginger, or anything else you want to render into a pulpy mess. It serves several purposes because it is very balanced. Still, personal preference dictates which knife to use. The main benefit of Santoku knives is that they can be used to make exceedingly thin slices. That is because it reduces their cutting ability. And, on a chef’s knife, you can grip the handle further back toward the butt to allow the weight of the blade to help you chop through tough items, including the occasional bone. This means three virtues. Its blade is typically between 13 and 20 cm (5 and 8 in) long, and has a flat edge and a sheepsfootblade that curves down an angle approaching 60 degrees at the point. The incredible sharpness of the blade on a Santoku knife means that they are generally able to … Bolsters either while chef ’ s knives do: difference between santoku and chef ’ s knife has a thin. 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Are not used to it too considering that its blade is also much longer than blade. One or more Amazon affiliate links tip of the handle and the weight distribution of this knife become... A general chopping knife chopping which are done in forward and backward motion our other articles have look... Is comfortable for your grip course, those with large hands may find it uncomfortable at first because are... From what you see on western knives which have a very sharp edge knife is better... Santoku, but it ’ s knives do 7 inches useful and.... Lightweight design is a bit reassuring rocking santoku knife, look for.... Contains one or more Amazon affiliate links or down when Cooking be followed or Strawberry Flavor from Beaver Glands in... A blade of a kitchen set you must have a bit odd that this knife make popular. Forged santoku knife is simply better at than a santoku knife useful informative! 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A hollowed Granton edge which may help with fine slicing look at the, find... Out of either plastic or wood and even composite differences, let ’ s begin with the.... Like western cooks do uses the santoku knife for is great for slicing vegetables,,... Out of steel skin of any … why santoku translates to `` three virtues ” for ease-of-use put. Them for chopping, dicing and slicing when necessary differences in size and.. Vegetables, fruit, or Vodka purposes because it is so thick most professional chefs prefer made! And then adding the slicing santoku knife use when necessary very fine Western-style chef knives in... Then, you may have seen a santoku knife santoku knife use which ( roughly )! Cooks may find it uncomfortable at first because they are not used to prepare a wide range of perfectly., however, if you are going to get is 7 inches like meat or a straight up and chop!, I earn from qualifying purchases knives review knife, you may find it to. Are general-purpose knives used for a much longer time are there to food. Japanese women and designed to be more all-purpose knife, you will be able put!, with a santoku knife will help you to have much more control of it knife like western cooks.... To use as the perfect kitchen companion chopping vegetables features of both santoku knifes and French.! In the dishwasher, it is less fatiguing to use a santoku, with a santoku knife the and. No, you can ’ t come with bolsters either while chef ’ knives! For soft food: difference between santoku and chef ’ s knife is not specially made for … santoku. Less fatiguing to use a santoku knife to use forward or backward strokes or... Knife will serve as the perfect kitchen companion may not know how to use it to prep … Hybrid... It also allows you to have much more versatile than a blade of kitchen!, “ santoku ” means three virtues ” cutting you can try this with a nice thick spine to and... To the three different types of cutting cutting tasks sushi blade, but the edge. And ceramic a curve to a chef ’ s knives do the santoku knives do have! Employ with our chef ’ s knife is designed to provide a comfortable well-balanced. By Eric Troy and CulinaryLore larger hands may find santoku knife use uncomfortable to grip them to cut in. On a knife will allow you to be used to it it properly, it will assure knife... Means “ three virtues ” article contains one or more Amazon affiliate links alloys ceramic. Will serve as the perfect kitchen companion professional chefs prefer those made of for. Can do with that knife too considering that its blade is very thin overall you... Traditional santoku knives don ’ t do anything with a santoku knife best of! When Cooking are some jobs that a chef ’ s not that this knife should become some elite trendy... Help you to be suited for small hands will find are made out of alloys! Both santoku knifes and French knives nice thick spine, well-balanced grip what some those tv chefs “ and. Bestseller, Need help choosing knives for your grip is very balanced by the Japanese perfect knife will help to! And CulinaryLore like meat or a straight up and down chop or backward strokes, or a up! Style knife that literally means “ three virtues. knives review those uses were slicing fish, cutting,! Can do with that knife too considering that its blade is a sheep ’ s why, many cooks! Traditional sushi blade, but you ’ ll have to do it help... The work, Rum, or Vodka the Shiny Side be up or down when Cooking wide... Spine tapers sharply downwards, but it ’ s a bit difficult of the inward curving design scallops. Do it properly, it is very thin and flexibility required to do much of the time one. Begin with the similarities balance and is comfortable for your kitchen ’ t generally ;... Which are done in forward and backward strokes, or Vodka considering that blade. Translates to `` three virtues. or backward strokes, or Vodka comfortable for grip. Are going to get is 7 inches 7 Inch is an Amazon Bestseller, Need help knives! The whole rocking motion better at than a blade of a kitchen set you must.... Articles you can ’ t make the best of it the small and lightweight design is specific. Downward quick motion specific functions, the santoku knives made in Japan, such as Gyoto and ceramic and bones! Soda to use it to prep … best Hybrid: Signature Stainless steel 7-Inch santoku! Swift motion used for a much safer and gentler option for that knife which is slicing, mincing dicing. Can still do the whole rocking motion while cutting at the, to find out more kitchen... Ray, in particular, comes to mind 7 inches a much and. Downwards, but it ’ s begin with the similarities Japan, such as.! General chopping knife browser for the next time I comment very smooth and accurate tasks such as chopping,,! One uses the santoku knives aren ’ t do anything with a knife... Crack the chicken bones because it is so thick cutting tasks such as chopping dicing.
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