By Brittany Rowland

The finest quality santoku knives are guaranteed to last you many years and provide versatile function in the kitchen. The word santoku means “three virtues,” after all. We looked for a variety of factors as we selected our top 10 knives, including:

1. Durable, strong forged steel
2. A full tang for extra strength
3. Comfortable, non-slip handle for big or small hands
4. A balaned feel
5. A sharp, triangular glade for quick up-and-down chopping
6. Lightweight enough not to tire the arm
7. Hefty enough to cut through tough foods
8. A polished, stain-resistant blade
9. Ease of cleaning and sharpening
10. Less friction while cutting and food not sticking to the blade

While some knives advertise being dishwasher safe, it’s always advisable with top-quality santoku knives to hand wash them to lengthen their lifespan.

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Stocking Your Kitchen with Knives: The Key Considerations

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History of the Santoku Knife

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Storing Knives Safely: The Knife Block

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How to Wash Your Knives

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So you’re in charge of your own kitchen now and you need to build up your collection of kitchen tools. As any professional or aspiring chef knows, the greatest tools you have at your disposal are knives. Different knives perform different functions, of course, be it chopping, mincing, dicing, slicing, paring, scooping, sawing, or deboning.

With knives, you generally get what you pay for. There are plenty of decent knives out there for reasonable prices. For better quality performance, however, you should expect to shell out more money. Before you make any expensive purchases you need to decide exactly what you need and how much you’re willing to pay for it.

Do you need a whole set?

One of the first decisions you should make is whether to look for one really good open stock knife or a complete knife set. Often this choice boils down to your budget. Knife sets can be really economical if you find a decent set for a fair price. But you may also just want a good chefs knife or a basic utility knife. Perhaps you already have a knife set but a piece or two broke or went missing, and you really just want to replace those.

While a fine-quality chefs or santoku knife can serve you well in the kitchen, handling most of the basic cutting tasks, it can also be quite expensive—sometimes more expensive than a basic knife set that offers a bit of everything: paring, bread, utility, and steak knives. Sets typically come with a sharpening steel so you can keep the edges fine and sharp. Another benefit of the knife set is the convenient knife block that stores and protects your knives and looks so fancy on the counter.

Regular or professional quality

It’s perhaps unfair to compare regular kitchen knives to professional knives, because the knives you find in most kitchens are perfectly adequate for the tasks they’re assigned. Professionals look for knife sets with extra fine edges and ceramic blades. These knives are top-quality, but they also require a lot of maintenance—more maintenance than they’re worth if you’re just a regular person looking for regular kitchen knives. Regular knives, while still great quality, are much easier to upkeep. The stainless steel kind hold up well, don’t stain or rust with proper care, and sharpen easily.

Picking the best knives

Sometimes what qualifies as the best in knives comes down to personal preference. Some people like a heavy, sturdy feel. Forged stainless steel blades with bolsters fit big hands well and feel powerful. Other people prefer a lighter feel, a bit more flexibility. Stamped blades tend to be a little lighter and easier to handle.

Handle material also comes into play.

• Wooden handles are attractive and traditional, but if they’re left in water too long they can crack or warp. Bacteria also likes to hide in the wood’s porous surface.
• Plastic handles are usually of some cushioned, non-slip material. They’re hygienic and look fine if you like a contemporary style.
• Some knife handles use a composite of wood and plastic, providing the heft and aesthetic appeal of one and the sanitary features of the other.

Ultimately, you’re the best judge when it comes to determining what works for you. Shop around, read reviews, and compare prices before making your final purchase. Whenever possible, go to a store and handle different knives yourself to get a feel for the weight, balance, and style you prefer.

Brittany Rowland researches new developments in Appliances, Kitchen and CE products features with a vigor to which few would aspire… but someone has to do it. See more about Brittany

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These days, the santoku knife has become a ubiquitous kitchen tool, common in all home appliance stores and TV cooking shows. You hear a TV chef rave about the santoku knife, and you wonder if it’s an ancient Japanese knife only recently brought to the West. After all, companies that forge santoku knives in Japan describe using authentic sword-making techniques to craft the steel.

In fact, the santoku knife’s history goes back only so far, to mid-1940s, when World War II was ending. Western and Japanese cultures blended together, in a way. The Japanese had discovered new styles of cooking popular in the West, so they developed the santoku knife as their own version of the chefs knife. So the santoku knife is a sort of hybrid of Eastern and Western cultures, unlike the sashimi knife, which is a true traditional Japanese knife.

How exactly does a santoku knife differ from a basic chefs knife? The answer lies in the oval indentations along the edge of the blade. This “hollow edge” allows air pockets to form between the knife and the food it’s slicing. You’ll notice when using a santoku knife that there’s less friction and struggling to cut through dense foods. Also, food slides right off the blade instead of sticking to it—something you’ll really appreciate when it comes to cheese.

The word santoku itself means “three virtues.” What those three virtues, or uses, are, no one can quite agree. Some theories include:

• The knife is used primarily for chopping, mincing, and dicing.
• The knife has three distinct sections: the tip, the edge, and the heel.
• The knife can cut through anything: fish, meat, or vegetables.

Whichever theory you believe, you have to agree that the santoku knife is pretty unmatched when it comes to versatility.

The santoku knife has other distinct qualities that set it apart:

• Typically smaller than the traditional chefs knife, it’s a preferred tool for many women and people with smaller hands.
• Because it’s made of harder steel, the blade can be forged thinner without losing any of its cutting strength.
• The blade is also wider than that of a chefs knife, making it a useful tool for scooping and transferring food.
• It has a straighter edge than the rounded chefs knife, meaning it requires a different cutting motion. You push the tip forward slightly as you do a straight up-and-down chopping.

If you’re an aspiring chef in your kitchen at home, then you’ll appreciate a versatile knife like the santoku. Its lightweight and thin design belie its true power.

Brittany Rowland researches new developments in Appliances, Kitchen and CE products features with a vigor to which few would aspire… but someone has to do it. See more about Brittany

Related Top 10 Lists

Top 10 Santoku Knives

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The Essential Knives You’ll Find in Most Knife Sets

Knife sets vary in the types of knives they offer. Typically, the more knives in a set, the higher the price rises. While it’s awfully convenient to have a versatile collection for all your cooking tasks, you also don’t want to get saddled with a bunch of frilly knives that you never use… [more]

By Brittany Rowland

If you’re looking for an agile, lightweight santoku knife for finely mincing or chopping foods, then the OXO 1064650 may be the knife for you. This six and a half inch blade is made of a strong stainless steel and is full tang for durability and balance. It rests comfortably in the hand thanks to its soft, ergonomic grip that won’t slip even if your hands get wet. And it’s extremely sharp, requiring careful handling. OXO says that the knife can go in the dishwasher, but it doesn’t recommend it. Instead, hand wash it and dry it immediately to preserve the knife’s fine edge.

Brittany Rowland researches new developments in Appliances, Kitchen and CE products features with a vigor to which few would aspire… but someone has to do it. See more about Brittany

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By Brittany Rowland

What a great deal: two santoku knives from Ginsu for only $18.74. With a seamless, all-steel construction, these knives have a sleek, polished look and a nice heft to them. The larger one, 7 inches long, is ideal for cutting meats and fish, and the smaller 5-inch knife is on hand to take care of vegetables. For such an inexpensive knife set, we were astonished at how sharp, balanced, and heavy-duty they feel. They can chop through dense potatoes without making a mushy mess of them. You simply can’t beat the value of getting two high-quality knives for the price of one.

Brittany Rowland researches new developments in Appliances, Kitchen and CE products features with a vigor to which few would aspire… but someone has to do it. See more about Brittany

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By Brittany Rowland

A lightweight, stamped santoku knife from Victorinox, this 7-inch knife reduces arm strain with repetitive use. Many chefs like the Victorinox brand for that reason because they spend hours in the kitchen chopping up food. Of course, you may have to adjust to a lighter knife with no bolster. Nevertheless, the blade is extremely sharp and slices through tough foods effortlessly. I felt like a surgeon making precise, razor-thin cuts with this knife. The composite plastic handle feels lightweight, but it’s comfortable to grip and doesn’t slip even when your hands are wet or greasy. Amazingly, this knife is only $25.

Brittany Rowland researches new developments in Appliances, Kitchen and CE products features with a vigor to which few would aspire… but someone has to do it. See more about Brittany

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By Brittany Rowland

Inspired by the popular Gusto-Grip knives on Rachael Ray’s cooking show, this 6-inch santoku knife is lighter and thinner than most, and it features a very sharp edge. Able to slice through dense and soft foods with equal vigor, it has a comfortable plastic handle with built-in antimicrobial inhibitors. For a $14.64 santoku knife, it’s a quite decent performer. Its blade is made of stamped, not forged, steel, which accounts for the lighter feel. It doesn’t seem as heavy-duty or perfectly balanced as your more expensive knives, but it serves its purpose in the kitchen well.

Brittany Rowland researches new developments in Appliances, Kitchen and CE products features with a vigor to which few would aspire… but someone has to do it. See more about Brittany

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By Brittany Rowland

Some people feel most comfortable chopping, slicing, and dicing with a shorter blade. This Guy Fieri Knuckle Sandwich santoku knife is only 5.5 inches, offering great balance and maneuverability. It feel almost like a natural extension of the hand. A nice touch is the crisscross crusher at the end of the handle, which allows you to pulverize hard objects like nuts and garlic. The knife has a flame wave and star design on the handle, unique to this series of Guy Fieri knives. At $54.95, this santoku knife has a wonderful value.

Brittany Rowland researches new developments in Appliances, Kitchen and CE products features with a vigor to which few would aspire… but someone has to do it. See more about Brittany

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By Brittany Rowland

Showing a fine craftsmanship and high quality, this Henckels 7-inch santoku knife, forged in Germany, features a sleek one-piece steel construction. You’ll find no crevices between the blade and the handle, so you don’t have to fear bacteria growth. In fact, the handle is tightly bonded to the tang for long-lasting stability. We were quite satisfied with the blade’s razor sharpness and edge retention. The wide blade is also handy for scooping up diced foods. With just the right heft and balance, this knife is amazingly priced at $89.99.

Brittany Rowland researches new developments in Appliances, Kitchen and CE products features with a vigor to which few would aspire… but someone has to do it. See more about Brittany

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By Brittany Rowland

Coming highly recommended by Rachael Ray, this Furi santoku knife comes with a scabbard stand that hones the blade each time you pull it out. You won’t have to worry about springing for an expensive steel or professional sharpener: the whole package is only $62.95. The stand can be put away in a drawer or mounted horizontally or vertically in your workspace so it’s always at reach. We were impressed with how sharp the blade stays and how effectively it chops, slices, and dices. The bright orange color may or may not be your thing.

Brittany Rowland researches new developments in Appliances, Kitchen and CE products features with a vigor to which few would aspire… but someone has to do it. See more about Brittany

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By Brittany Rowland

A sleek, serious-looking knife from Japan, the 7-inch Global santoku knife has a seamless, smooth design from tip to tang. Having no crevices between the blade and the handle means this knife is very easy to clean with just a sponge and some warm, soapy water. The razor-thinness of the blade is incredible, and it retains its edge for a long time. Global recommends using a diamond steel or a ceramic sharpener to get the best results. This knife is reasonably priced at $119.95 and should last a lifetime with proper care.

Brittany Rowland researches new developments in Appliances, Kitchen and CE products features with a vigor to which few would aspire… but someone has to do it. See more about Brittany

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By Brittany Rowland

Forged in Germany with high carbon stainless steel, this Wusthof 7-inch santoku knife features a strong, resilient blade that doesn’t rust or stain. With the hollowed edge, it chops through dense and soft foods equally well, so carrot pieces won’t go flying off the cutting board anymore. The knife is designed to stay sharp for long periods of time. The handle has a nice, comfortable contour and slim shape. As with any high-quality knife, special care with washing and sharpening is required, but this santoku knife, amazingly low-priced at $69.99, is guaranteed for a lifetime.

Brittany Rowland researches new developments in Appliances, Kitchen and CE products features with a vigor to which few would aspire… but someone has to do it. See more about Brittany

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By Brittany Rowland

A strong, resilient knife forged in Japan, the Shun 6 ½-inch classic santoku knife has a striking, aesthetically pleasing design. The D-shape handle fits comfortably in the hand, and its cutting power is amazing, too—able to slice through dense or squishy foods with equal ease. The indentations on the blade keep food from sticking to the knife and make for faster chopping. It’s as sturdy and well-balanced as a chefs knife, and very sharp. In fact, we had to be extra careful removing it from the plastic packaging for fear of slicing our hands. At $119.95, it’s an expensive kitchen tool, but it’s guaranteed to last for years.

Brittany Rowland researches new developments in Appliances, Kitchen and CE products features with a vigor to which few would aspire… but someone has to do it. See more about Brittany

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