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Peter Hertzmann

Professional Culinary Tools Expert

Best Santoku Knives & Kitchen Knives

Featured On:

  • Knife Skills Illustrated
Santoku-style knives are certainly an example of “what goes around comes around”. The santoku was originally a Japanese version of the common European chef’s knife. Today, most santoku knives available outside of Japan are non-Japanese versions of the Japanese santoku. Just as the Japanese santoku is quite different from a European chef’s knife, the non-Japanese santoku is quite different from the Japanese santoku.

Non-Japanese santokus generally have “sheep’s foot” profile and were originally likened to a Chinese vegetable cleaver with the end of the spine curved rather than squared-off. But unlike the Chinese cleaver, most santoku designs leave the tip of the cutting edge to end at a sharp, acute angle. This causes the tip to catch on your cutting board if you attempt to cut with a rocking motion. For this reason, you must hold a santoku so the edge is close to parallel with your cutting board when you slice with it.

Many of the manufacturers of non-Japanese santokus have designed their blades to be thinner than a similar-sized chef’s knife. This causes the knife to feel lighter in your hand. This is perceived as a benefit by people who prefer a santoku over a chef’s knife.

Also, many santoku designs incorporate grantons. These depressions ground in the sides of the blade help reduce surface tension when you slice through dense, moist vegetables, like a potato. Some manufacturers label a blade with grantons as being “hollow-ground,” but this term actually refers to a method of making inexpensive knife edges, not to grantons. The benefit of grantons on a wide-bladed knife, such as a santoku, is debatable.

High-end santokus are made with the same blade manufacturing techniques as high-end chef’s knives except that many are ground to the tighter bevel common with Japanese knives.

Chop up a storm with the best santoku knives from Furi, Shun and others. Our experts recommend kitchen knives that will last and are high performers when you're making a feast.Get the Best Price from Amazon, eBay, Google & shopping.com.

Best Santoku Knives by Peter Hertzmann

The Best You Can Get

  • Furi 9-inch East West Kitchen Knife

    Furi 9-inch East West Kitchen Knife

    Peter says: If I had to stop using my ten-inch chef’s knife, this is the knife I’d use to replace it. It’s a comfortable and well-balanced santoku with an upswept tip so I can use it almost the same way as use my larger blade. This style is also available with an eight-inch blade [FX514] with the same metal handle and in seven-inch [FUR827] and five-inch [FUR826] versions with a rubber-coated plastic handle. Note: I consider the five-inch version too short to be truly useful.

    • Upswept tip to allow knife to rock when slicing
    • All-metal design
    • No bolster
    • Granton edge
    • Model: FX519
  • Shun 7-inch Classic Santoku Kitchen Knife

    Shun 7-inch Classic Santoku Kitchen Knife

    Peter says: When properly stored and used with an end-grain wooden cutting board, this santoku comes the closest I’ve seen of any santoku having a permanently sharp edge. Besides being a great functioning santoku, it is one of the most attractive on the market. This santoku is labeled as dishwasher-safe, but I wouldn’t risk corroding the cutting edge with dishwasher chemicals. Shun also makes a santoku with a wider blade of the same length [DM0717].

    • Incredibly sharp out of the box (and stays that way)
    • No bolster, rounded heel
    • Soft spine edges
    • Lifetime warranty including free factory sharpening
    • Model: DMO702
  • Wusthof 6.5-inch Classic Santoku itchen Knife

    Wusthof 6.5-inch Classic Santoku itchen Knife

    Peter says: This is one of the original santokus and the one that people used to wave in my face a few years back as the best knife ever. I always thought that it was too light and too short, but that’s just my opinion. This is a very popular knife. It’s also available with a five-inch blade [4183/14] which, in my opinion, is just too short, and in other handle styles.

    • Classic full-tang, three-rivet handle
    • Granton edge
    • No bolster
    • Finer (sharper) bevel than other W?sthof blades
    • Model: 4183/17
  • Zwilling J.A. Henckels 7-inch Twin Select Santoku kitchen knife

    Zwilling J.A. Henckels 7-inch Twin Select Santoku kitchen knife

    Peter says: The blade of this santoku looks very similar to the Wüsthof blade above, only slightly longer. It is also available in multiple handle styles.

    • Metal handle
    • Granton edge
    • No bolster
    • Model: 30448-180
  • Shun 7-inch Ken Onion Santoku kitchen knife

    Shun 7-inch Ken Onion Santoku kitchen knife

    Peter says: One chef friend says that the chef’s knife with the same handle as this santoku is the most comfortable knife he has ever used. I’m sure he would find this santoku just as comfortable. The handle is unique and the curve at the “bolster” provides a “bucket seat” for your thumb and forefinger. The shape of this knife is more reminiscent of a sports car than a kitchen knife, but unlike other stylish knives, this one is highly functional, if you want a santoku.

    • Incredibly sharp out of the box and stays that way
    • Unique ergonomic handle and ?bolster?
    • Clad blade construction produces a non-staining blade with a great cutting edge
    • Layered blade design produces a surface that sticks to food less
    • Model: DMO502

You will be happy with any of these

  • ICEL 6.5-inch Absolute Steel Series Santoku Kitchen Knife

    ICEL 6.5-inch Absolute Steel Series Santoku Kitchen Knife

    Peter says: The steel of this santoku is not as grand as with the Shun Classic Santoku, but it stills holds an edge for an acceptable length of time. ICEL’s Absolute Steel Series handles tend to be quite comfortable in all size hands.

    • All metal design
    • Light to medium weight
    • No bolster, rounded heel
    • Holds a good edge
    • Model: 251.AS25.17
  • RH Forschner by Victorinox 7-inch Santoku Kitchen Knife

    RH Forschner by Victorinox 7-inch Santoku Kitchen Knife

    Peter says: This santoku is a basic industrial-style knife designed for institutional use. Also available with a three-rivet, rosewood hand [47527].

    • Granton edge
    • Plastic handle may be too large for some hands
    • High-quality, stamped steel blade
    • Model: 47529
  • Messermeister 7-inch Meridian Elite Santoku Kitchen Knife

    Messermeister 7-inch Meridian Elite Santoku Kitchen Knife

    Peter says: This is a santoku-style knife with a classic handle. Also available in a five-inch length [E/3610-5K] with grantons and a seven-inch length [E/3610-7] without grantons.

    • Granton edge
    • Fully forged blade
    • Three-rivet handle
    • Model: E/3610-7K
  • Dexter-Russell 9-inch Sofgrip Duo-Edge Santoku Kitchen Knife

    Dexter-Russell 9-inch Sofgrip Duo-Edge Santoku Kitchen Knife

    Peter says: This santoku is found in many professional kitchens. It is available in eighteen different handle styles and blade lengths.

    • Granton edge
    • Industrial design
    • Model: 25313
  • Mundial 7-inch 5100 Series Santoku Kitchen Knife

    Mundial 7-inch 5100 Series Santoku Kitchen Knife

    Peter says: This santoku looks like a classic chef’s knife that has been cut down to a sheep’s foot profile. It is also available with grantons [BP5109-7].

    • Granton edge
    • Full bolster
    • Three-rivet handle
    • Model: BP5109-7GE

Comments

Becka
Becka

The Shun 7-inch Classic Santoku knife is an excellent knife that is beautiful as well - received as a gift - I love it

Tibesti has best santoku knives review.You know what you're buying because there is a difference between non-Japanese and Japanese santoku knives. Great kitchen knives, these santoku will keep you chopping everything you need for your culinary feast. We recommend the best chefs knives and knife sets so you can be at your best in the kitchen.