What is santoku knife? Itโs a Japanese kitchen tool. Itโs the one you reachโฆ
โฆfor when making quick work of cutting up vegetables or slicing an onionโฆ
โฆ.and it also comes in handy as your go-to sushi cutter to slice piecesโฆ
โฆfrom fresh fish without too much fuss (or mess). Read this articleโฆ
โฆuntil the end to know more about what is santoku knife.
What Is Santoku Knife
So, what is a santoku knife? Santoku knife is a typeโฆ
โฆof Japanese kitchen knife. It is used by the traditional Japanese to cut foodโฆ
โฆin a variety of ways. The name derives from โshinโ (ๆฐ, shin) meaning newโฆ
โฆ.and โkotoโ (ๅ, katana) meaning sword. However, this term does not haveโฆ
โฆ.any official definition within Japanโs Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry..
โฆor its National Police Agency, thus it is often misusedโฆ
โฆamong Japanese people as well as non-Japanese visitors.
In fact, there are no formal definitions of what exactly a santoku knife isโฆ
โฆand the only way to identify one is through usage. In actualityโฆ
โฆeven at home, most Japanese knives can be used as santoku knives. For exampleโฆ
โฆa standard chefโs knife can be used to paring onions, but evenโฆ
โฆ.a regular Japanese knife can be used to thinly slice an apple.
Most Japanese chefs prefer their santokus to have a curved tipโฆ
โฆ.rather than a straight tip. This is done to make sure that the userโฆ
โฆdoesnโt accidentally stab themselves when they are tryingโฆ.
โฆto use the knife to make cuts. Additionally, the curve makes it easierโฆ
โฆ.to hold onto the knife because the hand naturally curves around the shape.
The size of a santoku knife varies greatly dependingโฆ
โฆon where you buy it. A typical santoku knife will weighโฆ
โฆbetween 4.5 ounces (130 grams) and 7.0 ounces (195 grams)โฆ
โฆ.although we see some weighing over 8.8 ounces (250 grams)โฆ
โฆnowadays due to the popularity of the knives. They typically measureโฆ
โฆbetween 12.5 inches and 16 inches long and 2 inches wide. As suchโฆ
โฆthe length ranges from just under 3.3 inches to almost 5.9 inchesโฆ
โฆand the width ranges from slightly over 1 inchโฆ
โฆto just under 2 inches. A santoku knife has been used since ancient times in Japan.
Even today, many modern Japanese still rely on these knivesโฆ
โฆ.in their daily lives. In here, we have story from Alves about his experienceโฆ
โฆusing santoku knife.ย
Let us hear Alvesโs story
I really love cooking and I also investing a good quality of kitchen toolโฆ
โฆand appliance for my kitchen. And thereโs a thing that I really love from my kitchenโฆ.
.โฆ a santoku knife! My santoku knifeโs handle was very nice. I bought this santoku knifeโฆ
โฆfew years ago and now I am still happy with it. When I cook at homeโฆ
โฆI always use this santoku knife to do all kinds of things. There is no other knivesโฆ
โฆ.like this santoku knife. It is very easy to sharpen and clean. Because it has no blade guardโฆ
โฆit is very dangerous while using. But it is not easy to lose. If you lost itโฆ
โฆ.you must spend a lot of money to replace it. You should pay attentionโฆ
...to how to protect it. So please keep it safe. This is a really worth a money for you to have!
From this blog, we can see that having santoku knifeโฆ
โฆis a good investment for your kitchen, so why donโt you have it too? Donโt worryโฆ
โฆ.in this blog we also have an article about best santoku knifeโฆ
โฆ.that you might want to read about it.
The History Of The Santoku Knife
The oldest known mention of the santoku was during the Edo Periodโฆ
โฆapproximately 400 years ago. However, the word โsantokuโโฆ
โฆwasnโt the same as it is now. At that time, the word meantโฆ
โฆ.โa kind of knife produced by Shikoku islandโ. During the Meiji Periodโฆ
โฆ.the word was redefined to mean โa knife for cutting vegetablesโ.
Then during the Taisho Period, the word changed again. This timeโฆ
โฆ.it was defined as โa knife to be used after a short period of sharpeningโ. Finallyโฆ
โฆ.during the Showa Period, the word was finally redefinedโฆ
โฆ.to mean โthe Japanese traditional kitchen knifeโ. Since that point onwardsโฆ
โฆ.the word has remained unchanged, and refers solelyโฆ
โฆto a traditional Japanese kitchen knife.
Types of Santoku Knives
- The first is called a tetsuji santoku, which translates as โsword shaped santoku.โ These knives were traditionally made with a single piece of high carbon steel. Due to the strength necessary to produce them, all of the blades had to be thin, making them extremely difficult to sharpen. These were primarily used by farmers who would go out into the fields to harvest crops. Because of the difficulty involved in using these knives, the knives were very expensive compared to other types of santoku. Today, however, these knives are more affordable due to advances in technology.
- The second type of santoku is called a benshin santoku, or simply โbenshiโ. These are also called โbanana knivesโ in English speaking countries, due to the shape of the blade. Like the tetsuji santoke this style of santoku can only be sharpened once before being discarded. However, there are no restrictions regarding how thick the blade can be. These kinds of santokus range in price from under $10 USD up to about $50 USD.
- Lastly, there is a third type of santoku, which is called a katana santoku. These are similar to the tetsuji santoke but include a full tang so that they can be resharpened multiple times without discarding the entire knife. In addition, the blade is usually thicker than a banana knife, making it much stronger. Itโs not uncommon for someone to spend thousands of dollars on a single santoku knife. While a santoku knife can take practically any task, its primary use is for slicing foods such as cucumbers, tomatoes, carrots, onions, peppers, etc.
What Does A Santoku Knife Do?
At its most basic level, a santoku knife is designed to cut food. Becauseโฆ
โฆthe best-quality santoku knives have a strong and lightweight handleโฆ
โฆitโs easy to hold onto and maneuver around food. The longer the knifeโฆ
โฆthe easier it is to control while itโs in your hand. Thereforeโฆ
โฆ.if you want to slice something quickly, you should chooseโฆ
โฆa shorter knife. If you want to slice an onion, then youโll need a longer knife.
Santoku And Chefโs Knife โ The Key Differences
The main difference between a santoku knife and a chef knifeโฆ
โฆ.is the shape of the blade. A santoku has a curved edge and is used for slicing foodโฆ
โฆ.while a chef knife has a straight edge and is used for chopping food. Both knivesโฆ
โฆ.are made from high carbon steel and are designed to withstand heavy use.
Knives are similar tools that are used for many different purposes. Both are made outโฆ
โฆ.of various materials and designed for specific uses. Professional chefsโฆ
โฆ.prefer stainless steel knives because they are durable and do not rust easily.
Japanese knives are usually made out of a thin, hard bladeโฆ
โฆthat allows them to be used precisely.
A Santoku is a Japanese chefโs knife with a wide blade. It is usedโฆ
โฆfor cutting vegetables, meat, fish, etc. It is thinner than a Chefโs knifeโฆ
โฆ.allowing you to get closer to the object while cutting. A Santokuโฆ
โฆcan also be single-beveled or double-beveled.
Knives vary in size depending on what type you want. A knifeโฆ
โฆmay be larger than your hand or smaller. Usually no bolster. Balanced weight.
Lightest to hold. May have an honed edge. Knifeโฆ
โฆ.may be longer than your arm.
Japanese knives are generally more expensive than American onesโฆ
โฆbecause they are usually made of higher quality materials. Howeverโฆ
โฆ.Japanese knives are also thinner and sharperโฆ
โฆ.than American knives. They are better suited for precise cuts.
How Maintain Your Santoku Knife
You will always need to maintain your knife. When using a knife properlyโฆ
โฆyou must sharpen it regularly. If you donโt, itโs possibleโฆ
โฆ.that you could damage the tip or the blade, causing you to lose money.
Here are some guides to maintain your santoku knife:
Keeping It Sharp
To keep your santoku knife sharp, first make sureโฆ
โฆit is cleaned. This includes removing all dirt, grease, and grime from the blade. Thenโฆ
โฆ.soak it in water overnight before drying it off. You should also rinse itโฆ
โฆwith hot water after every time you use it. After soaking, dry it offโฆ
โฆand put it away until next time. Keep it stored on a wooden blockโฆ
โฆwhen itโs not being used. Some people like to place a small towelโฆ
โฆunder their knife so it doesnโt slip.
Using The Right Technique
When using a knife, the angle at which you hold it affectsโฆ
โฆ.how well you can manipulate the food. Hold the knife at about 45 degreesโฆ
โฆto the surface and position yourself close to the item you are cutting.
Use your entire forearm as a guide as you move through the material.
When cutting onions, try to avoid touching the exposed root endโฆ
โฆwith the tip of the knife. Instead, gently slide the knifeโฆ
โฆalong the side of the onion without making contact. Doing this preventsโฆ
โฆthe raw onion juice from staining your hands and clothes.
Never let the tip of the knife touch anything else other than the board. This includesโฆ
โฆyour fingers, tablecloth, countertop, etc. This creates frictionโฆ
โฆ.and can cause dulling. Make sure to remove any residueโฆ
โฆ.such as tomato sauce or ketchup immediately. To prevent these stainsโฆ
โฆwipe down the knife with a damp cloth after each use. Be careful not to dropโฆ
โฆ.the knife too much during cleanup. Do not submerge the blade into water.
Storing Your Knife
After you finish cleaning up your knife, store it carefully. Place it on a dish rack or other nonporous surface. If you have a plastic storage container, make sure to clean it periodically. Store it upright in its case or box. Donโt stack large amounts of knives together.
If your knife gets dirty again, wash it thoroughly and dry it off completely. The best way to clean your knife is by sandblasting it. Sandblasting requires special equipment and is very hard on the knives. If you choose this method, follow the manufacturerโs instructions. Otherwise, just put a little oil on the knife and rub it vigorously.
Sum Up
Santoku knife has been designed basedโฆ
โฆ.on Japanese traditional techniques. A good quality santoku knifeโฆ
โฆ.is essential for slicing and dicing vegetables and fruits. A santoku knifeโฆ
โฆis an excellent addition to your kitchen. It allows you to cut foodโฆ
โฆwhile keeping your hands safe from cross contamination. With proper careโฆ
โฆand maintenance, youโll be able to enjoy this wonderful kitchen tool for many years.
Conclusion
To conclude, santoku knife is one of the most popular kitchen toolsโฆ
โฆamong chefs and home cooks alike. It offers versatilityโฆ
โฆ.and precision that comes with a great price tag. Its design makes it easyโฆ
โฆ.to handle, but its blades are durable enough to withstand heavy usage.
In terms of functionality, it is quite versatile. Whether you want to slice breadโฆ
โฆchop meat, peel fruit, or dice vegetables, it will do the job perfectly.
Additionally, it is easier to maintain than other types of knives. When comparedโฆ
โฆto other type of knives, it may seem expensive. Howeverโฆ
โฆ.if you invest in a high-quality santoku knife, youโll get value for money.
Thatโs all for now, do you have any question regardingโฆ
โฆ.what is santoku knife? Just drop it in the comment section belowโฆ
โฆthanks for reading! Cao!
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Hi there! Iโm a food enthusiast and journalist, and I have a real passion for food that goes beyond the kitchen. I love my dream job and Iโm lucky enough to be able to share my knowledge with readers of several large media outlets. My specialty is writing engaging food-related content, and I take pride in being able to connect with my audience. Iโm known for my creativity in the kitchen, and Iโm confident that I can be the perfect guide for anyone looking to take their culinary journey to the next level.
