Best Santoku Knife 2020
The Santoku is one of the most popular kitchen knives and for good reason. This is a versatile knife that is up to the challenge of many different chores that will come up in the process of preparing a meal. If you don’t yet have a Santoku within your collection, now is the time to make sure that one of these blades is always close at hand. Many serious chefs would not attempt to do their job without the assistance of a good Santoku, and you will probably feel the same way once you try one out for yourself.
After reviewing all the highest rated santoku knives available, we’ve selected our top 7 picks in the comparison table below. We’re confident you’ll find the perfect model for your needs.
Comparison Table
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Product | Wallet | Our Score |
|---|---|---|
Okami Santoku Knive (our top pick) | $$$ | 97 |
$$$$$ | 96 | |
$$$ | 93 | |
$$$$ | 90 | |
$$ | 88 | |
$ | 86 | |
$$ | 80 |
The meaning of the name Santoku refers to three virtues, which is appropriate due to the three specific tasks that a Santoku knife is capable of completing – slicing, dicing, and mincing. You can expect this knife to be up to the challenge of just about anything that you throw its way, and you will probably start to reach for this knife as your first choice for just about every job. If you are used to knifing that rock dramatically from front to back, you may need to take a bit of time to get used to the shape of the Santoku – but you will be glad you did.
If you would like to purchase a knife that will be able to do a lot of things for you in the kitchen, this is a strong knife to consider. Buying a number of kitchen knives all at the same time to build up a collection can quickly get expensive, so it can make sense to start with just one or two and accumulate more over time. If that is your plan, make the Santoku one of your first purchases. You will love how many different tasks it can complete, and you will love the well-balanced nature of the knife as a whole.
In the pursuit of a Santoku knife, you are probably going to run into many different options on the market today. To help you sort through everything and get down to the right model for you, we have assembled the following list of five of the best Santoku knives. You will notice that each of these has its little twist on the Santoku style, and they come in a variety of price points as well. Hopefully, after you have viewed all five, you will be able to settle on one that will find its way into your kitchen.
Top Five Rated Santoku Knives
1. Shun Premier Santoku Knife, 7-Inch
For this list, we are going to start off with one of the very best names in the knife market, Shun. If you are serious about your knives, and you are serious about getting the best equipment for your kitchen, a Shun is a logical place to turn. These are impressive pieces of equipment that can be as artistic as they are functional. You will pay a strong price to own a Shun knife, but most who pay that price report that it is more than worth it in the end. This model is a 7 Santoku, which has layered Damascus with a hand-hammered finish and a pakkawood handle.
As would be expected, the reviews for this knife are extremely positive, with comments including the fact that the knife is very sharp, it is built to a high-quality standard, and it looks great. The question with a product like this isnt the quality of the knife, because there is no real debate on that point. It just comes down to a matter of budget – if this knife fits your needs from a budget perspective, there isnt much need to look any further.
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2. OXO Good Grips Professional 6.5 Santoku Knife
To go in a completely opposite direction, we now take a look at the Santoku knife presented by OXO Good Grips. OXO is a popular brand in the kitchen, as they make a long list of products to help us with our everyday food prep, cleanup, and more. The price tag is a far cry from the Shun that we featured above, so this knife would be a strong option if budget is a top priority for your purchase. This is a knife with a full tang blade for balance and stability, along with a soft and comfortable handle.
For a knife that comes with a relatively low price tag, there are a lot of positive comments for the OXO Santoku. Users seem to feel that it is a sharp product which has held up well after plenty of use. Also, others comment on how they appreciate the whole line of various OXO product, and their opinion is no different when it comes to the knives. If you would like to keep your expenses under control while outfitting your kitchen appropriately, the OXO Good Grips Professional 6.5 Santoku Knife may be a winner.
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3. Wusthof Classic 7-Inch Santoku Knife, Hollow Edge
Getting back to one of the top names in the business, this knife from Wusthof is a traditional Santoku all the way around. It features the shape that you would expect from a great Santoku knife; the 7 blade is a traditional size, and the hollows on the sides of the blade help food to fall off after slicing. It is made with a polypropylene handle and a full tang, and the blade is high-carbon stainless steel.
Regarding reviews, it is hard to imagine a product fairing better than the Wusthof Classic 7-Inch Santoku has done. Buyers simply love this knife, and the scores that it has received reflect that fact. Among the compliments that can be found are that the knife has good balance, it is excellent for chopping, and it is easy to hold. If you budget matches up with the price point, you will likely have no complaints about the job that the Wusthof Classic Santoku does in your kitchen.
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4. Santoku Knife 7 by Okami Knives
A limited lifetime warranty stands behind this beautiful knife, which is a great indication of quality right off the bat. The knife is made from a VG10 steel core, which has been clad in a softer steel for protection. Also, a pakkawood handle has been used to give the knife a great feel in the hand, along with an impressive look. With the price point, you may feel that this knife is a great value as it has a lot in common with far more expensive models.
In the review section for this knife, there are plenty of positive comments to be found. The quality is praised as being top notch, and some state that they are happy they decided to deal with a brand that they had not heard of previously. Overall, the tone of the reviews is clear–users feel that this is a quality product worthy of its price tag. To pick up a high-end knife at a price that comes in slightly below some of the other premium options, the Okami Santoku is one to consider carefully.
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5. J.A. Henckels International Classic 7-Inch Hollow Edge Santoku Knife
To round out our list, we have a knife from J.A. Henckels, which provides a nice blend of value and quality. The price point for this knife is more affordable than many we have listed while still providing many quality features. There is the classic hollow-edge design that is present on so many Santoku knives, and there is full tang construction as well. With a razor edge on the blade, this is a knife that is well-suited to thin cutting.
The quality of this knife is praised in the reviews, along with the sharpness and the balance that it features. For the money that is required to add this knife to your kitchen, it seems to be a great value – especially as compared to some of the other products within this segment of the market. For a nice all-around Santoku that doesnt do quite so much damage to your bank account, take a look at the J.A. Henckels International Classic 7-Inch Hollow Edge Santoku Knife.
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Conclusion
A good Santoku knife is required equipment for any serious kitchen. Whether you are a professional chef, or you are just serious about your home cooking, adding a Santoku knife to your collection is an easy choice. With the wide range of tasks that it can handle, and the ease of use that it offers, the Santoku design is popular for a reason. Pick out your favorite from the list above and you can be enjoying its tremendous capabilities in the near future.