Hailing from Japan, the Santoku knife is a type of Japanese knife which is deemed the all-star of the kitchen. The name itself means “three virtues,” which means that this knife is an expert in the process of slicing, dicing, and mincing.
Though it has a shorter, wider blade than a chef’s knife, the Santoku is tailored for precision and control, making it perfect for seamless cutting through vegetables, meat, and fish. Its unique flat edge and sheeps-foot tip helps to create clean cuts and prevent food from sticking to the blade.
But this knife is more than practical, as it is a fusion of art and function. From the user-oriented handle, down to the razor-sharp edge, the Santoku knife optimizes craftsmanship that heightens every cooking session.
Be it an intricate sushi platter or an energetic stir-fry, any type of Santoku knife will be your secret arsenal in mastering culinary techniques.
To help you out we have created a list of top 10 best santoku knives which we have curated for you. So let’s start seamless cutting!
Top 10 Best Santoku Knives of 2024
Out of the 22 knives we tried we have selected these as the best Japanese Santoku knife. Each one of these knives is special, let us help you choose the best one for you!
1. Best Overall- MITSUMOTO SAKARI 7 inch
The best Santoku knife is MITSUMOTO SAKARI. Which represents the essence of Japanese craftsmanship in respect of all traditional knowledge.
They only produce professional kitchen knives, which is an implementation of age-old forging techniques with a modern touch added to them.
Each knife they make is the representation of quality, durability, and precision the brand has committed itself to. Due to which it has gained quite a reputation among culinary enthusiasts and professional chefs.
The best Japanese Santoku knife is MITSUMOTO SAKARI 7-inch as it is the epitome of perfection that the brand strives to achieve.
This knife features a high-carbon stainless steel blade that is hand-forged for unparalleled sharpness, with great edge retention.
It’s designed to be versatile, to slice, dice, or mince with ease-and will therefore become a main component of your knife set.
The rosewood handle adds a hint of class to the already ergonomically comfortable design, allowing for long hours of work without fatigue.
Key Features & Dimensions:
- Blade length: 7 inch
- Handle length: 5 inches
- Width: 1.7 inches
- Weight: 0.55 lbs
Pro:
- Professionally hand-forged for a razor-sharp balde
- Strong blade with great edge retention
- Ergonomic rosewood handle gives a comfortable grip
Con:
Requires more care, as the high-carbon steel is prone to rust
2. Best Budget- Mercer Culinary Genesis 7-Inch
The best santoku knife under a budget is one from Mercer Culinary. This knife brand has been recognized for manufacturing and providing efficient, superior chef quality kitchen essentials for gourmet chefs as well as homeowners.
Showcasing precision-cutlery, Mercer Culinary focuses on performance, sturdiness and ergonomic design. These same features are evidently seen in their Genesis collection where they bring out knives that are crafted of high-quality and are made at reasonable prices.
Mercer Culinary M20707 Genesis 7-Inch Santoku Knife is considered a kitchen essential knife due to its versatility and efficiency in the kitchen. It is available in black color, which tends to make it look classy.
Its blade is precision-forged high carbon stainless steel and is therefore highly durable, rust and corrosion resistant. The curved edge enables cutting, chopping as well as mincing while the full tang design offers sturdiness. All-in-all making it one of the best Santoku knives.
The ergonomic black Santoprene handle affords an anti-slip grip as you work to prepare meals and snacks for your family.
Key Features & Dimensions:
- Blade length: 7 inches
- Handle length: 5 inches
- Width: 1. 6 inches
- Weight: 0. 62 lbs
Pro:
- Stainless steel blade has a high carbon content and long life span
- No rusting or corrosion
- The Santoprene handle is slip resistant and fully ergonomic
Con:
Slightly relative stiff compared to the standard Japanese Santoku knife
3. Best Mid Budget- Mac Knife Superior Santoku Knife
The best Santoku knife within a medium budget is the Mac Knife Superior Santoku Knife.
This is a well established brand in the kitchen knives industry and is well appreciated globally for manufacturing impressive cutlery that stays sharp, is long lasting and balanced.
Mac is a company from Japan which has managed to blend the quality of Japanese manufacturing with the utility of the Western blade; hence their knives are in high demand among professional cooks and cooking enthusiasts.
The Superior line is much more affordable as the knives are priced to be mid-budget but the quality of the knives is as high as in other more expensive models.
Mac Knife Superior Santoku Knife has its blade made of high carbon stainless steel that is famous for its capacity to hold a keen edge.
This knife is perfect for the kitchen as it is lighter and useful for chopping, slicing and even mincing vegetables, meat and fish.
The comfortable grip enables the user to have the much needed control when using this tool especially in regular meals preparations.
The Superior Santoku is a perfect example of why the Mac Knife brand produces some of the best Japanese Santoku knives. Which is perfect for those who are in the middle-line budget to improve their cooking utilities.
Key Features & Dimensions:
- Blade length: 6-1/2 inches
- Handle length: 4-3/4 inches
- Width: 1.5 inches
- Weight: 0.40 lbs
Pro:
- Super sharp knife which stays sharp for long-term
- Decent pricing
- Ergonomic handle
Con:
- The solid high-carbon steel blade needs sharpening regularly
- Significantly lighter in comparison to what some chefs may prefer
4. Best for High Budget- WÜSTHOF Classic 7″ Santoku Knife
The best Santoku knife for a splurge is the one made from WÜSTHOF.
This is a German based company which provides tools and accessories for kitchen, especially fine knives that are made of precision forged materials in Germany since 1814.
WÜSTHOF knives are one of the most popular and high-quality knives amongst professional chefs from all over the world.
One knife presently passes through an intense forging process in Germany called Solingen, the City of Blades, that is when the company brings us the WÜSTHOF Classic series.
When it comes to the quality of its product WÜSTHOF knives are therefore perfectly matched for a buyer willing and able to spend a good amount of money in exchange for a product that will not wear out quickly and will offer the best performance.
This product is in the form of a WÜSTHOF Classic 7” Santoku Utility Knife and is ideal for slicing vegetables, meats and seafood.
It has a fully forged high-carbon stainless steel blade which is sharp, highly durable, and retains its blade edge well; It has full tang which makes it highly balanced and easy to control. Al these features make this knife one of the best Japanese Santoku knives in the market.
The WÜSTHOF Santoku knife has sturdy triple-riveted handle material made from a synthetic material that guarantees comfort when used for long durations.
Key Features & Dimensions:
- Blade length: 7 inch
- Handle length: 5 inches
- Width: 1. 7 inches
- Weight: 0. 57 lbs
Pro:
- Maintain cutting edge sharpness and durability, due to premium German engineering
- The full tang provides more control, grip and implies great comfort and agility
- A durable utility knife
Con:
It is a premium knife, which is relatively pricey
5. Best Hybrid- HENCKELS Classic Precision Razor
If you are looking for the best hybrid Santoku knife then HENCKELS should be your top choice.
As it is a famous brand in the line of knives and scissors with its history dating back to 1895 owing to German quality.
Applying much passion, HENCKELS produces knives that are solid and elegant in their structure properly sharpened to meet the desire of professional cooks or even an amateur.
The series that they have come up with is the Classic Precision series which is a blend of the traditional German knife making process and the modern techniques that they have developed to create a knife that will be efficient in the kitchen.
The HENCKELS Classic Precision 7-Inch Hollow Edge Rocking Santoku Knife is a blade that slides in between the culinary original of Santoku and the traditional western chef’s knife.
Its non-stick and extremely sharp contours consist of a hollow edge blade that means users do not have to struggle with foods that stick on the blade, as well as an ergonomic design that provides a smooth and easy rocking action.
This double edged functionality makes it possible to use it in a variety of operations depending on the hardness of the ingredient that is being used in cooking; for example, chopping herbs, dicing vegetables, and slicing meats.
For anyone who wishes to have the best of both worlds, you should go for the HENCKELS Classic Precision Santoku Knife as this is one of the best Santoku knife which is hybrid and works wonders in the kitchen.
Key Features & Dimensions:
- Blade length: 7 inch
- Handle length: 5 inches
- Width: 1. 75 inches
- Weight: 0.59 lbs
Pro:
- The best hybrid Santoku knife
- Satin-finished blade with a rounded spine for efficiency
Con:
May be flexible but it lacks an ergonomic feel and dedicated sharpness that would rival the so-called chef’s knife or a standard Japanese Santoku
6. Best Design- Shun Classic 7”
The best Santoku knife design has been produced by Shun. One of the most renowned Japanese knife company which combines the craftsmanship of the traditional Japanese knife makers, and modern technology to produce professional cooking knives.
Made in Japan, Shun knives have earned their reputation for razor-sharp blades and beautiful appearance.
Quite intentionally, Shun knives are made with exquisite materials and every detail of the manufacturing process is performed extremely carefully.
The Shun Classic series proves the company’s commitment to detail: The blades are handcrafted, the handles made ergonomic and the appeal of these knives are unmatched.
Shun Classic 7” Hollow-Ground Santoku Knife is one of the best-looking knives out there as it comes with a VG-MAX steel in the middle of the blade which is known for its ability to hold an edge and provide strength.
The fluted grooves known as the hollow-ground indentations increase the blade sharpness and enable the food to glide across the cutting board with little friction hence preventing foods from clinging on the blade.
The handle of the knife is quite comfortable and is also made from ebony PakkaWood which provides the knife with ruggedness and a luxurious look.
Versatile in the use as the name suggests the sharp edge of this knife proves useful in the kitchen in slicing, dicing, and chopping.
Key Features & Dimensions:
- Length: 7 inches
- Width: 5 inches
- Breadth: 1.75 inch
- Weight:0. 50 lbs
Pro:
- The blade steel VG-MAX provides maximum sharpness and the hardness of the blade
- The serrations on the blade allows for non-stick cutting
- The PakkaWood handle is moist resistant and comfortable to hold to
Con:
- The knives come at a higher price than the other ordinary knives
- The blade might need some regular sharpening to maintain its sharpness
7. Best Durable- Miyabi Santoku Knife
The best Santoku knife which is durable comes from the collection of Miyabi knives which are authentic artworks.
These sophisticated tools are created under the highest standard while using advanced technologies.
Miyabi knives are specifically crafted in Seki, a city in Japan that is famous for its cutlery innovation and provides extraordinary sharpness of the knives along with finesse and accuracy.
The brand is one of the ZWILLING groups that guarantee that this knife or the set you will be buying meets the best quality, as well as, the highest standard of quality.
As we have already mentioned there are numerous benefits of Miyabi knives, they are extremely sharp and long lasting which is a result of its forging process.
The Miyabi 7-inch Santoku kitchen knife is made from high-quality stainless steel ensuring that it is both hard wearing and anti-corrosive.
Essentially used in carving, this is one of the best Japanese Santoku knife which is ideal for chopping vegetables, as well as, cutting through meat.
The grip of the knife is non-slip and its handle is designed for comfort and control so that when using the knife for an extended period of time the user does not feel any strain in their wrist.
In the present day and age of search for a quality and long-lasting sharpness, the Japanese-style Miyabi 7-inch Santoku provides not only a tough core but also the fine aesthetic of the Japanese-made product.
Key Features & Dimension:
- Blade length: 7 inches
- Handle length: 5 inches
- Width: 1.6 inches
- Weight: 0. 53 lbs
Pro:
- Using high quality stainless steel this particular knife is highly durable
- Does not tarnish and the sharpness of the blade is well retained
- It comes with an ergonomic handle
Con:
It is a little on the heavier side if compared to the traditional Japanese Santoku knives
8. Best For Gifting- Misono UX10 Santoku 7.0
You may be searching ‘what is the best Santoku knife for gifting?’ for a chef friend.
That is when Misono knives come in. This brand enjoys a high status among Japan’s knife makers, combining traditional hints of modern design and up-to-date manufacturing methods to create amazing form-and-function knives.
Due to its great classic ergonomics and high-class material use, Misono knives have immediately gained high acceptance by all professionals and amateurs alike in cooking.
The UX10 is the greatest Japanese knife from the house, marrying accuracy and speed with sturdiness and wrapping it in sleek design.
It goes on to become a perfect gift for anybody who loves cooking because of its fancy finish and good performance.
The Misono UX10 Santoku 7” has a stainless steel core and is laminated with an outer layer for its very sharp, durable edge that also resists rust.
The “0”(18cm) worker Knife is made from high quality Swedish stainless steel, which is famous for its sharpness and ability to maintain an edge for quite some time.
The handle of the product is designed to be as balanced as possible for easy control while using it.
The knife is stunning to look at and offers peak performance, something which is preferred when gifting it to a friend. All these features make the Misono UX10 Santoku the best Santoku knife for gifting.
Key Features & Dimensions:
- Blade length: 7 inches
- Handle length: 5 inch
- Width: 1. 8 inches
- Weight: 0. 45 lbs
Pro:
- Made of high-grade Swedish stainless steel and has cutting accuracy.
- It has a chic design
- Fairly priced
Con:
This chef knife is only for a right-handed person
9. Best Set- Brewin CHEFILOSOPHI Japanese Chef Knife
The best Japanese Santoku knife set is made by Brewin. This brand has long been working to produce unique kitchen knives that combine the traditional technology with modern design for professional chefs and knife enthusiasts.
Their dedication is well represented by the CHEFILOSOPHI line which includes a set of knives that are good from the functionality standpoint and are made to be as accurate as possible.
Brewin knives are highly recommended for those who say, ‘I need a better knife to make a better dish. ’
The Brewin CHEFILOSOPHI 5-piece Japanese Chef Knife Set is an excellent selection for those enthusiasts who want to have all kinds of high-quality knives all in one set.
Every knife has the versatile high-carbon stainless steel blade which has a really sharp edge and holds it for a long time.
The latter is designed in terms of ergonomics, red Pakkawood handles give a fine and firm grip, while appearing rather elegant.
This set comprises knives useful for many kitchen operations making the set ideal to own as it caters for various needs in the kitchen. Thus you can say with confidence that the Berwin CHEFILOSOPHI is the best Santoku knife set on the market.
Key Features & Dimensions:
- Chef’s knife: Blade length 8”, Handle length 5”, and Width 2”
- Santoku Knife: Blade length: 6¾” inch| Handle length: 5 inches|Width: 1. 75 inch
- Utility Knife: Blade length: 5 inch|Width: 0.045 inch|Handle length: 4. 5 inches| Width: 1. 5 inch
- Paring Knife: Blade length: 3. 5 inches, Handle length: 4. 5 inches, Width: 1 inch
- Bread Knife: Blade length: 8 inches|Handle length: 5 inch|Width: 2 inch
- Total set weight: 2.5 lbs
Pro:
- The blades use high-carbon stainless steel that retains high sharpness and durability
- The handles are made of red Pakkawood
- This set has multi task design
Con:
The high-carbon steel tends to rust and hence has to be maintained frequently
10. Best 5.5 Inch Santoku Knife- Shun Cutlery Classic Santoku Knife 5.5
If you are looking for the best Santoku knife with a length of 5.5 inches then you have to try this Japanese knife from Shun Cutlery.
It is a well-known, high-end Japanese company that manufactures high-performance kitchen knives. Shun has taken its legacy of centuries old blade making and combined it with modern technology.
Shun makes knives which exude both beauty and high functionality. This series from Shun Classic personifies their commitment of precision and elegance to appeal to the professional chef and the home cook alike.
Among compact versatile blades, the Shun Cutlery Classic Santoku Knife 5.5″ stands out. It is a Santoku of higher precision, more efficient, and a more modest size, which enables it to perform those tasks that need control and accuracy at the same time.
The handcrafted VG-MAX steel blade ensures long-lasting sharpness and durability, while the ebony PakkaWood handle provides a comfortable, well-balanced feel in the hand.
This Shun Cutlery Classic Santoku Knife 5.5″ will appeal to those who demand a well-crafted, versatile knife-a blend of traditional Japanese craftsmanship and practical functionality.
Key Features & Dimensions:
- Blade length: 5.5 inch
- Handle length: 4.5 inch
- Width: 1.6 inches
- Weight: 0.40 lbs
Pros:
- The 5.5-inch blade retains excellent maneuverability and precision
- VG-MAX steel provides a sharp but durable edge
- Ebony PakkaWood handle provides comfort and aesthetic
Con:
Its smaller-sized blade is not very suitable for people who want to use larger-sized knives
Frequently Answered Questions
What should you use a Santoku knife for?
A Santoku knife would perfectly fit slicing, dicing, and mincing vegetables, meat, and fish. In fact, it is suitable for any sort of general food preparation purposes because of its versatility and precision.
What’s the difference between a chef’s knife and a Santoku knife, and which is better?
A chef’s knife typically has a curved blade for rocking cuts, while a Santoku has a flat edge for a straight chopping motion. The choice depends on personal preference and cutting style; neither is universally better.
How do you sharpen a Santoku knife?
A Santoku knife is sharpened by using either a whetstone or honing steel. It is vital that the angle of the blade be followed, making light, even strokes to properly sharpen the knife.
What are the dimples on a santoku knife?
Dimples or hollow grounds in a Santoku knife serve to reduce friction and, at the same time, prevent the sticking of food on the blade, hence making slicing and chopping easier.
Can you use a Santoku knife to cut meat?
Yes, you can cut meat with a Santoku knife quite effectively. Its sharp edge and precision make it suitable for slicing and dicing meat, although there may be better tools for the job, such as a boning knife.
Buy the Best Santoku Knife Today!
In the realm of culinary excellence, a good Santoku knife proves to be a game-changer by perfectly balancing precision, versatility, and style.
Our curated list of the top 10 Santoku knives introduces the very best blades expertly made to elevate your kitchen experience.
Moving from sleek, thin Japanese designs to more robust high-performance steel, each entry in this list offers unique benefits for different aspects of cooking.
Be it a professional chef or a home cook; a good Santoku knife will make all the difference in meal preparation-easy slicing and dicing at each turn. Find the perfect Santoku to take your kitchen skills to the next level.