Best santoku knife is, without a doubt, a cook’s closest buddy. If you love investing time in the kitchen, you know how important it is to buy in the best Santoku knife. The classic chef’s knife, including its bitingly pointed tip, flat spine, and noticeably curved latest technology, is known to many of us.
Its form makes it extremely flexible in the kitchen, allowing you to do everything from slicing meat to delicately cutting herbs in the typical rocking movement that chefs feel the need to show.
After all, it’s an essential ingredient in the production of delectable meals. While the marketplace is flooded with alternatives, not all of these offer the results you want.
We’ve examined 10 choices in our best santoku knife reviews to help you cut down your options and avoid wasting money on a weak instrument that won’t get the work completed. They are equipped with characteristics that far outperform other knives in terms of durability and efficiency.
We’ve additionally put up a detailed buyer’s guideline to help you choose the best Santoku knife for your needs. Continue reading!
Best Santoku Knives 2023
1. Shun Classic 7” Hollow-Ground Santoku All-Purpose Kitchen Knife
The award-winning Shun Classic Santoku is a top-of-the-line santoku knife best that has a lot of work ahead of it. It should endure for years with appropriate maintenance and make a fantastic asset to your kitchen arsenal.
Shun makes no half-hearted attempts when it relates to workmanship. The 7-inch VG-Max steel blade is forged using Damascus method right away. Given the accumulated efforts, it’s no surprise that the blade achieves an HRC of 61 with an error margin of around 1.
While the blade is strong and durable, its hardness makes it difficult to sharpen or hone after the edge has dulled. If you use anything besides whetstones to sharpen the blade, you risk damaging that beyond repair, leaving the knife unusable.
You’ll also note the fine-grained blade, which has been painstakingly polished to the desired 16° cutting inclination. Even with minimal sharpening, it continues to achieve its sharpness. As a result, each cut will be quick and precise, exactly as you planned, with no food attached to either surface of the blade.
Why we love it
- Sharpness and sturdiness in one package
- Exceptional workmanship
- Granton indentations on VG-Max steel blade
What We Don’t Like
- Sharpening takes a long time.
- Pricey
- Expensive
2. Shun Premier 7-inch Asian Cook’s Knife
The Shun Premier 7-inch Santoku knife is the perfect Asian-inspired, finely made Santoku knife for a variety of cutting jobs. It’s a godsend when it comes to chopping, slicing, grilling, cutting, and peeling veggies because of its unparalleled flexibility.
The Shun Premier is a star performer in both professional and residential kitchens, being agile, compact, and smaller than a normal chef’s knife.
The hammered tsuchime edge on this Santoku knife makes it so much easier to handle and especially efficient while chopping down and forward. It smoothly releases food for accurate and clear outcomes while chopping.
Constructed with durability in mind, the Shun Premier has 34 layers of VG-MAX stainless Damascus cladding on each side that maintains sharpness for delicate and thin results. The walnut-colored, contoured pakkawood handle is a snug fit in every hand, setting the knife apart from the pack.
Why we love it
- Can be used for lengthy periods of time without causing strain or pain
- A firm grip is provided by the wooden handle
- Multifunctional
- It cuts fine, consistent slices with little effort and keeps the edge sharp for a long time.
- Attractive design
What We Don’t Like
- It’s a lot more expensive than other Santoku knives
- If not air-dried, it is prone to corrosion
3. Wusthof 4182 Santoku Knife
New chefs are typically put off by chef’s knives, which have sharp points and intimidating blades that give off a frightening feeling. The Wusthof Classic 4182, which is less frightening, may be a better choice for developing basic knife-wielding abilities and general competence.
The 5-inch high-carbon stainless steel blade is already on the shorter end of the range, measuring just over a steak knife’s length. While this fragile blade has a reasonable value of hardness of 58HRC, it is nevertheless susceptible to cracking or fracture. You must not use this santoku knife on anything hard, otherwise you risk ruining the blade with scratches and chipping.
You’ll discover the blade more agile and simpler to impose your authority if you sacrifice length. Cooks may get a feel for how most santoku blades slice and dice items from beginning to end this manner.
Furthermore, the edge has been polished to a precise 10° cutting angle, complete with Granton indentations. Rather than producing small, inch-by-inch slices, the blade can glide through food without sticking.
The santoku knife’s bottom half is a full piece that provides a secure hold between the fingers. The complete tang is hidden behind the artificial polyoxymethylene handle, which is held in place by a triplet of rivets.
Why we love it
- It is simple to move
- Precision forge
- Full tang, bolstered
- Indentations made by Granton
What We Don’t Like
- Easily damaged by nicks and chips
- Pricey
4. Global G-48-7 inch, 18cm Santoku Hollow Ground Knife
Are you looking for a sharp and multipurpose knife that resists breakage, staining, and rust like no other? The Global G-48 Santoku knife, which measures 7 inches, is your safest bet. It’ll last you decades because it’s constructed of top-quality molybdenum steel.
The Global G-48 is ideal for chopping, slicing, and dicing since it cuts thin and consistent slices in one simple downward stroke. The Santoku knife has a dimpled stainless steel handle that provides greater grip, balancing, and precision. It’s easy to manage because to its low weight.
It allows you to make the greatest sushi plate for hours on end without tiring your hand. The blade is designed to stay sharper for extended periods of time, reducing the need for regular sharpening.
Why we love it
- Exceptional sturdiness
- Controlling is simple
- Compact and long-lasting
- Handle has dimples for a more secure and pleasant grip.
- Keeps its sharpness for a longer time
- Maintenance is simple
What We Don’t Like
- After hours of constant usage, moisture the grip slick
5. Zelite Infinity Santoku Knife
The Alpha Royal Zelite Infinity is an aesthetically gorgeous Santoku knife that provides exceptional performance. It’s a definite way to amaze your guests.
It adds beauty and elegance to contemporary kitchens with quality materials, pleasing weight, and minimum slicing friction. The hollow-ground knife blade is constructed of 67 layers of high-carbon Japanese AUS10 Super Steel and avoids food from adhering to it when slicing.
Long-lasting functionality is ensured by the liquid nitrogen tempering and the beautiful tsunami rose Damascus pattern. The comfortable G10 handle is triple-riveted for increased durability and strength.
The blade has a razor-sharp edge. The Alpha Royal Zelite Infinity cuts a wide variety of fruits, seafood, meat, and veggies with merciless efficiency.
Why we love it
- The optimum balance and great comfort may be found with its tapered bolster
- Handle is round and comfortable, ensuring a pleasant and stable grip
- Stain and discoloration resistance
- 100% money-back promise if you don’t like the three-metal Mosaic Zelite Infinity rivet
- Ideal for both home and commercial kitchens
What We Don’t Like
- Slicing-edge retention is low
6. ZWILLING Twin Signature 7-Inch Kitchen Knife
The Zwilling J.A. Henckels Professional S is a triumph as a tough, long-lasting Santoku knife. It’s composed of strong German stainless steel with a satin coating that ensures consistent results.
The knife’s flexible, three-riveted polymer grip delivers unsurpassed relaxation for long periods of usage. It’s precisely connected to the entire tang, giving you a greater grip and more control.
The Zwilling J.A. Henckels Professional S Santoku knife has been expertly polished to keep its edge for many years. It has a hollowed edge design that enables food to slip off effortlessly in the dishwasher. The knife is versatile enough to be used for any cutting method.
Why we love it
- It’s easy to be used for hours without becoming tired
- Each side has a 10-degree edge angle
- Remarkable fortitude
- Food that may be used for several purposes slips off effortlessly after each chop
What We Don’t Like
- It lacks the same level of balance as its heavier siblings
7. TUO Santoku Knife – 7 inch Kitchen Knife
It’s worth mentioning that this blade has a 3D design that was created utilizing cutting-edge technology. This blade design not only looks good, but it also improves the blade’s usefulness by preventing food from adhering, that’s also accurate owing to the divots included into the blade.
This blade is highly robust not just because of the full tang design, but also owing to the increased carbon stainless steel material used in its construction, which is both robust and corrosion resistant.
When it comes right down to it, it is a tough, accurate, and long-lasting knife. In terms of precision, this knife has been honed down to a double edge of 8 to 12 degrees, making it extremely delicate and excellent for precise work.
The military-grade G10 fibreglass handle is also a choice of ours since it is extremely strong, virtually difficult to break, attractive, and comfortable. The main disadvantage is whenever wet, the handle might get slick.
Why we love it
- Edge retention is great
- Handle that is both durable and pleasant
- Full-bodied with a good balance
- A reasonable price
- Looks great and is perfect for vegetables and herbs
What We Don’t Like
- The handle might be a little slick
- Hand washing is necessary
8. Mercer Culinary M20707 Genesis 7-Inch Santoku Knife
The Mercer Culinary Genesis 7-Inch Santoku Knife is a fantastic knife at a fantastic price. The handle is both pleasant and long-lasting. The blade is constructed of top-notch steel. It’s razor-sharp and pinpoint accurate.
The blade is additionally protected from rust by a unique coating. The knife is extremely long-lasting and robust.
It should last you for decades if you take care of it properly. This is an excellent pick if you really want a high-quality knife that won’t break the bank. It comes highly recommended from us.
Because of the sturdy Santoprene grip, this knife is quite pleasant to use. Even if your hands are moist, you can use it. The knife will not be able to evade your grasp. The blade is made of forged steel, making it both robust and steady to handle.
Mercer Culinary’s M20707 Santoku knife has a full tang blade with a granton edge as well as a black non-slip Santoprene grip. The blade is made of high grade German stainless steel and is precisely forged. The Santoku knife is NSF certified and may only be washed by hand.
Why we love it
- The sharpness will last a long time
- Excellent grip
What We Don’t Like
- For people with large hands, the handle is short
- For some, the handle may be too thick
9. Victorinox-Swiss-Army-Cutlery Fibrox Pro Santoku Knife
Any professional chef who specializes in Japanese cuisine will assure you that possessing a kitchen knife of this quality will make cutting simpler and more interesting.
Dice, mince, and slice are the three major functions of this knife. The Victorinox Fibrox is made to deliver flawless results. This knife, which was manufactured in Switzerland, has been around since 1884. It’s designed for knife-wielding professionals.
You can effortlessly slice fresh fruits and vegetables into thin slices using this knife without bothering about any bits adhering to your knife.
This is due to the thin edges of the blade, which enable air to pass between the knife and the meal slices, allowing it all to slide down.
The knife’s durability is an important factor that we took into account while compiling our list of the top Santoku knives on the market. The blade is composed of high-quality stainless steel, which ensures its long life.
The blade’s high carbon steel composition delivers excellent edge retention and optimum quality, enhancing high performance.
The delicate texture and slip-resistant characteristic of the fibrox handle make it pleasant and secure to use. It features with a lifelong warranty, ensuring that you are purchasing a long-lasting and sturdy kitchen equipment.
Why we love it
- It is of excellent quality
- The blade is razor-sharp and easy to use, with a great balance
What We Don’t Like
- Handle appears to be low-cost
- The blade’s top looks to be narrow
10. OXO Good Grips Mini Santoku Knife
This is a scaled-down version of the santoku. It has a shorter blade as well as a longer handle. The handle is soft to the touch and provides a solid, firm grip. The blade is made of stainless steel, so it will not rust.
Why we love it
- When cleaned, it dries rapidly
- Despite having a sharp blade, it is adaptable
- It has a good grip and doesn’t corrode easily
What We Don’t Like
- The blade is not very long. When chopping veggies, be careful not to cut one
What Is The Best Santoku Knife?
A chef’s best friend is a best santoku knife 2023, which makes cutting easy, prepared vegetables and seasonings simpler and faster than a chef’s knife.
It’s an all-purpose tool that can do three distinct culinary tasks at once: dicing, mincing, and slicing, making it ideal for quickly preparing a range of foods. It works on vegetables, herbs, cheese, and fruits, although it is designed specifically for vegetables.
How to Choose the Right Santoku Knife
Before you head out to the store to purchase a Santoku knife, keep the following considerations in mind.
- Handle
The comfort with which a knife is used is determined by its handle. It is critical to examine the ergonomics of the handle when purchasing a Santoku knife.
The material used to make the handle also is crucial. The best Japanese santoku knife is the one with a real feel and a solid handle.
- Blade
Stainless steel is commonly used in knife blades. A Santoku knife’s blade should be between 15 and 20 centimetres long. The blade thickness must also be examined, since a thinly constructed blade may shatter quickly when faced with a difficult work.
The blade is also available in a variety of forms and sizes. Based on your preferences, you can choose between a broader and a narrower style.
- Durability
Of course, everybody wants to purchase stuff that will provide good service and endure a long time. This is when toughness plays its role. High-quality components should be utilised to make a knife.
Because knives are made by a variety of companies, it’s highly likely that you’ll come across some that aren’t up to par. As a result, you must ensure that you choose long-lasting items from reliable producers.
- Weight
A lightweight Santoku is recommended for higher efficiency and a pleasant feel. Irrespective of your forearm power, the goal is to get a knife that is simple to use and move.
Santoku knives can be heavy and weigh more than just a chef’s knife, defeating the purpose.
- Sharpness
The amount of effort you will put into a knife to complete your task is determined by its sharpness. A sharpened knife will allow you to complete your cutting task more quickly and with less effort.
To use a sharp knife, on the other hand, necessitates extra caution to prevent being sliced by the knife.
- Price
This is the final factor to be considered when purchasing a Santoku knife. Even though there are high-end knives with unique advantages, you can still acquire a good Santoku knife for a reasonable price.
So, before heading to the store, create a plan according to how much you like to pay on this culinary item so that your purchase is easy and clear.
Conclusion
Santokus have been dubbed the “go-to” utensil for both amateur and professional cooks. The thanks for this belong to its unique flexibility, which comes in the form of three different functions it can execute. A santoku knife, which is a particular favorite of several professional chefs, can produce clean and quick cuts with ease.
To some extent, it may be considered an essential component of every kitchen knife kit or collection. This also spares you money on buying a large collection of specialty knives.
The ideal Santoku for you is one that is comfortable, long-lasting, and dependable in meeting your needs. We think that our shopping tips and santoku knife reviews may assist you in making the best decisions possible.