Japanese knives are high-quality, light and feel more balanced in hand. Hence, it is very popular both among professional and home cooks. But knife purchases can be intimidating with so many options available. So, why not start with a Japanese santoku knife? Santoku knives are versatile and can meet all your slicing, dicing and chopping needs. But, remember not to get confused with a chef’s knife as it has similar usage to a santoku knife.
You can check the following factors to get some idea about Santoku knives and invest in the right one.
Blade Thickness And Cutting Angle
Santoku knives are sharp and have thin blades. The blade is sharpened at an acute angle to ensure that it easily pierces through the skin of a fruit or vegetable. To chop without moving the blade back and forth like a chef’s knife, a good Japanese santoku knife should allow you to.
The thin blades can help you achieve thin slices. Plus, it must have a sharp cutting angle. So, try to find a blade with an angle ranging between 15 and 20 degrees. Choosing a blade sharpened to less than 15 degrees is even better.
However, you must not pick a Santoku knife simply because it has a sharp angle and a thin blade. You should check if the manufacturer has listed the cutting angle and what the users feel about the knife’s usage.
Strength
You should look for a sturdy blade. It is best to choose high-carbon stainless steel. The high-carbon content of the steel offers extra strength. It is best to find one forged into shape than one stamped from a steel sheet. The forging makes steel stronger. While forged steel may be expensive, it can serve you well for a long time.
Additionally, make sure the knife’s grip and blade are securely fastened. Find a full-tang, triple-riveted blade if you can. Full tang should be prioritised over triple riveted if that is not what you desire.
Height Of Blade
Santoku knives usually have tall blades to help you make those paper-thin slices. If you want to create even slices, try choosing a knife over 2 inches tall.
Moreover, when your knife has a tall blade, you can use it for transporting the food you cut or sliced. Of course, you must be careful to prevent any kitchen accidents.
Hollow Edges
You may find dimples along the edges of the santoku knives. If you are unfamiliar with this blade type, read the section to learn about these indentations, how they work, and their importance.
Santoku knives with hollow edge blades create an anti-suction environment preventing the food from sticking to it. This can be extremely beneficial if the food you work with is sticky or juicy. So, you don’t have to worry about onions and red peppers clinging to the blade when working.
You may think it is still not a big deal to slide the food off the blade with your fingers and carry on. But stopping to wipe the blade clean every few seconds can take you much longer to complete the work.
The best santoku knives are those that make your work in the kitchen easier. They should help you slice, chop, dice and mince ingredients with precision. Also, these knives come with ergonomic handles that feel nice on the hands and reduce fatigue during meal preparation.
Last but not least, be sure to carefully review the manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning, servicing, and storing. Having a razor-sharp knife on hand all the time can improve productivity and make preparing meals much simpler.
Author Name – Carmela Cahtillo
