It is widely accepted that the Japanese are very proficient in knife manufacturing. Indeed, they create and design some of the best and best-designed knives in the world.
The art, the technique, the innovation – it is something that is unparalleled in the world. We believe that every person should have at least one Japanese knife in their kitchen. And that is exactly what we are going to do here! Please continue reading as we present to you some of the best Japanese kitchen knives you should consider buying.
Japanese Kitchen Knives: Reviewed!
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1. ZELITE INFINITY 7-inch Santoku Knife Alpha-Royal Series
- SETTING THE NEW STANDARD FOR SANTOKU KNIVES >>> Impress Guests with your...
- PREMIUM JAPANESE STEEL – RAZOR SHARP >>> Imported Japanese AUS10 Super...
- STUNNING TRIPLE RIVETED, ROUNDED HANDLE >>> G10 Handle Triple Riveted to...
Let’s kick start our search for the best Japanese kitchen knives with one of the most well known and cult favourite Japanese knives in the market today: This is the 7-inch Santoku Knife from ZELITE INFINITY’s Alpha Royal Series.
The Alpha-Royal Series 7-inch Santoku Knife is made of the finest Japanese stainless steel known as AUS10. It is made from 67 layers of compressed and sandwiched high carbon steel which gives it a very strong and eye-catching look.
The blade is also nitrogen cooled in order to increase its durability and hardness. As for the sharpness, this knife has a hardness of 61 Rockwell which is quite good for a Santoku knife in this price range.
And it does not corrode easily either! This chef’s knife has an angled cutting edge of 12 degrees on each side, and with it, one can perform almost all the tasks required in a kitchen. Slicing through food like it is the easiest thing to do in the world! Moving to the handle, the Alpha-Royal Series 7-inch Santoku Knife has a triple riveted and full tang G10 handle.
It has a smooth and curvy design which makes it comfortable to hold in the palms of your hands. It also comes with a unique tapered bolster on the knife to enhance comfort and hold like no other. What you get is a silky and gliding cutting and chopping action, without the strain and pressure.
On the aesthetics aspect, the Alpha-Royal Series 7-inch Santoku Knife is a piece of art in the kitchen. It comes with the Tsunami Rose Damascus pattern which is quite famous and has the right amount of swagger. If you are in need of an amazing chef’s life that would impress and entertain you and your guests, then ZELITE INFINITY’s Alpha-Royal Series 7-inch Santoku Knife is perfect for you!
However, wait; that is almost it. The Alpha-Royal Series 7-inch Santoku Knife also includes a sheath for protection. You also have a full money back guarantee which means you are assured of full satisfaction. This is not all; you also get a lifetime warranty from the manufacturer against any form of defect.
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2. DALSTRONG 8-inch Chef's Knife Shogun Series X Gyuto
Are you still expecting to find DALSTRONG not included in the list of the Best Japanese kitchen knives? Nope! DALSTRONG is one of the best companies in the market which provides top of the line knives with high performance. Indeed, the 8-inch Chef’s Knife Shogun Series X Gyuto is no exception to this rule!
This particular knife is an 8-inch Chef’s Knife that is made from AUS-10V vacuum treated and 66 compressed layers of high carbon Japanese stainless steel. It does not corrode or rust and it also gives a very smooth gliding and cutting effect like using a knife to cut food.
This chef’s knife has been sharpened using the traditional 3-step Honbazuke method and features a cutting edge of 8-12° on each side. This will allow you to utilize the knife for many purposes without having to struggle with the fight and friction. The knife is nitrogen cooled to give it a blade that is as hard as a solid brick.
It has a 62+ Rockwell hardness and is not the type of lightweight blades that will snap easily. There is something that we like about the blade especially its height of the whole thing It has a good 55mm height which helps protect your knuckles when you are cutting with the blade. It would be so nice to lose a finger with this knife, wouldn’t it?
Now, let’s turn to the handle which is no less important as the blade. DALSTRONG 8-inch Chef’s Knife comes with a military grade G10 handle that is crafted by hand and polished to give a comfortable grip to the user. This knife has a full tang tile riveted handle, so it means that it will not disappointing you when using it for long hours of slicing.
Regarding the appearance, you can tell that it is of high quality if it is coming from DALSTRONG. The blade of this knife has a beautiful Tsunami-Rose Damascus cladding that is bound to attract attention. To this jazzy blade, a delicate and restrained handle is opposed that gives the whole work a touch of sophistication and refinement.And last but not the least, DALSTRONG 8-inch Chef’s Knife Shogun Series X Gyuto comes with a sheath and the product is backed up with 100% satisfaction or money back guarantee along with lifetime warranty on defects.
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3. ZELITE INFINITY 8-inch Chef Knife Alpha-Royal Series
The last but not the least knife to be included in our list of the Best Japanese kitchen knives is ZELITE INFINITY once again.
But this time, we are back with the 8-inch Chef Knife Alpha-Royal Series.
The 8-inch Chef Knife Alpha-Royal Series comes with a blade made from high carbon Japanese stainless steel that is produced by sandwiching 67 layers of AUS-10 steel in a single piece.
The blade is hand polished and finished to have a Tsunami Rose Damascus pattern which not only enhances the look of the knife but also makes it non-stick. What you essentially get is long slicing motions that are smooth and interrupted and free from any kind of opposition.
Crafted with the conventional 3-Step Honbazuke method, this knife is handdived to possess a cutting edge that is 12 of unadulterated sharpness. The blade of the ZELITE INFINITY 8-inch Chef Knife Alpha-Royal Series is also nitrogen cooled and the blade hardness has a Rockwell of 61. The fact that it is also rust and stain resistant is also great too!
This means that this chef’s knife is able to perform almost all the activities that you would require other knives to do in the kitchen. For the handle, the chef’s knife is equipped with a triple riveted and full tang G10 handle that is shaped to mimic the contours of your palms.
Thus, you can use this knife more conveniently and effectively with less stress on your hand and reduced chances of accidental thumb cutting. You will also be amazed at how gorgeous the overall appearance of the knife is especially the mirror-like pattern and the handle. Great showoff in the kitchen!
And last but not the least, the knife is easy to carry and store as it comes with a sheath for the protection of the knife.
But that’s not all. You also get a 100% satisfaction and money back guarantee, and a lifetime warranty for defects. A great deal!
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Benefits to Japanese kitchen knives:
Higher quality
Japanese is far from being similar to a Japanese knife. It is common knowledge and you should be aware of it as well. Japanese knives are among the best knives that you can get in the market today. They are crafted from the finest quality of materials and parts and are known to be durable for a lifetime of proper care.
Sharper
In fact, the majority of Japanese knives are hand polished and hand finished from the finishing to the hammering. Something that the master blacksmith does best is forge a blade with cutting edge that is razor like and possesses Herculean strength, thin and with a low angle.
They are so versatile and high performance that you can confidently anticipate that they will be able to handle most of the tasks that are usually done in the kitchen. The Japanese knives are sharp enough to cut through foods like butter, but also delicate enough to make a clean cut.
Handcrafted
One of the most enjoyable aspects of owning a Japanese knife is the art of the knife itself. Most of these are crafted by expert blacksmiths who have the skills of making these pieces of art using the best materials and techniques that are not easily accessible in the current society.
To create a proper Japanese knife, one needs time, effort, skills, experience, and, of course, a lot of patience. This is a great piece to have in the kitchen to display all of your culinary creations.
How To The Choose Best Japanese kitchen knives (Buying Guide)
Steel
When it comes to selecting steel, there are several varieties of it but no matter what it is that you choose, just make sure that you get something of the kind of high carbon steel. Low carbon steel blade is relatively soft and not as sturdy as the high carbon ones. They are also less demanding in terms of maintenance and the need for honing.
Sharpness
As for the sharpness of the knife, it is always a subjective matter. However, what we can certainly mention is that sharp does not always indicate quality. It is better to stick to the level of sharpness that you understand you can handle and then progress from there.
Hardness
But if there is one thing that is never a subject of debate when it comes to good Japanese knives or any knives in general, it is the hardness. The hardness of a knife is rated in Rockwell and for a Japanese chef’s knife it is recommended to look for something with a rating of 61 or above. This way, you will not have to worry about your blade chipping or cracking easily.
Handle
The handle is the connection between you and the blade of the knife and therefore it is important to choose the right one. It is better if you try and get something that is made in a way that it can easily fit into your hands. It also checks if the material used in the handle of the instrument is not prone to slipping due to the moisture that may be on ones hands. It is recommended that you get one that is strong but at the same time do not exert much pressure on the wrist.
Finish
Lastly, there is the tip of the knife. The end part of a knife plays a significant role in the effectiveness and durability of the knife. We would suggest opting for the hammered finish known as tsuchime in Japanese. Or the Damascus rose finish that is said to give the knife a non-stick surface so that the food cannot stick to the blade.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can I etch on the blade of my blade?
You can, but we are not sure that the manufacturers here will allow you to do this or not. However, you could possibly get it done from a professional blacksmith.
Is there a way to prevent rusting?
The first thing to do is to get a Japanese knife in the first place and ensure that it is resistant to rust. However, to avoid rusting, it is also possible to use a very simple and costless homemade way of wiping the blade and the handle with a very thin layer of coconut oil.
What are some of the most popular Japanese knives?
In fact, when it comes to Japanese knives, you can barely go wrong with almost any of them. However, the most commonly used knives include Nakiri knife, Gyuto knife, and the Santoku knife.
Final words
The Japanese knife is one of the best in the market and once you have used it, there is no turning back. These are really great knives and are one of the best purchases one can make in the kitchen. But identifying the crème de la crème from the rest is a daunting aspect.
And that is precisely the purpose of this article. Here is a guide to assist you in choosing the right Japanese knife from all the options available in the market. The following is our buying guide which can help you to make the right decision. Or, if you are feeling exceptionally lazy, here are our top three recommendations for the Best Japanese knives. You will not go out empty-handed and that I assure you!
Now we are almost at the final part of the entire article that we have written. We trust that we have provided you with all the information and details that you may have been in search of. Thank you very much for your time, and for being with us today. So, that is all for today and we will meet again. Take care!
