10 Best Japanese Chefs Knives UK 2024 | Kotai, DALSTRONG and More
A good knife can be the difference between a triumph and a disaster in the kitchen. If you're shopping for the best of the best, you've likely come across Japanese knives on your search. These knives are world-renowned for their sharp edge, tough blade, professional finish and luxurious handles and are designed to elevate your home-cooking and enhance your skills.
We'll walk you through the advantages of carbon and Damascus stainless steel blades, the potential benefits of whetstone sharpening, and the various styles and types of knives with their unique functions. To make your search even easier, we've also rounded up the top 10 best Japanese chefs knives currently available through popular UK retailer Amazon. From singles to sets, expensive to under 100, there's plenty of choice for everyone.
Quick List - Top Japanese Chefs Knives
Kotai
A Top-Quality Carbon Steel Santoku Blade With a Hammered Texture to Prevent Food From Sticking
DALSTRONG
Meet Every Cooking Challenge Head on With This 6-Piece Set Covered by a Lifetime Warranty
FANTECK
An All-Purpose High Carbon Blade With a Unique Black Finish
Joyspot
An Excellent Introductory Blade Featuring an Ergonomic, Pakkawood Handle
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Table of Contents
How to Choose Japanese Chefs Knives in the UK
- Choose the Right Blade Type for Your Required Tasks
- Consider the Benefits of Each Steel Type
Consider Petty, Nakiri or Kiritsuke Knives for Intricate Work or Opt For Gyutou or Santoku if You Need an All-Purpose Blade
- Gyutou is one of the most common styles, and an all-purpose knife that can be used for various tasks. Translating to ‘beef knife,' it can, of course, be used for meat but it's versatile enough for fruits and vegetables too. The slightly curved blade makes them great for gentle rocking cuts and slicing.
- Santoku is another all-purpose option featuring a taller blade. The name translates to 'three virtues' due to this knife's proficiency in cutting fish, meat and vegetables. The flatter cutting edge makes santoku ideal for more vigorous up/down chopping motions.
- Petty knives are smaller and ideal for more intricate work, such as chopping herbs or delicate fruits and vegetables. They can be especially useful if you're just starting out and find the larger knives too cumbersome for certain tasks.
- Nakiri knives are mainly for focussing on precision cuts for vegetables and make julienne, brunoise and allumette feel like second nature. They're also great for tackling hard-skinned vegetables such as pumpkin or squash, but if you're looking for entry-level options, these may be a little lower down your priority list.
- Kiritsuke is the go-to option for sashimi or other small fish, but it can also be used as an all-purpose knife if you prefer a lightweight option. It's traditionally only used by the Executive Chef in Japanese restaurants, but as long as you don't let that intimidate you, you could be a master in no time.
Take a look at our list of the Best Kitchen Knives for some alternative options!
Choose Stainless Steel Blades for a Cheap and Low-Maintenance Option or Carbon Steel for Premium Quality
When it comes to Japanese knives, stainless steel is sometimes considered inferior. Stainless steel is an alloy typically made of iron, chromium, nickel, molybdenum and small amounts of carbon. It's relatively soft, so it will often become blunt and require frequent sharpening. However, it tends to be the cheapest option but is great for easy maintenance and rust resistance, so it's often favoured as an entry-level option.
High carbon steel is similar in most aspects, but the alloy contains more carbon than a typical stainless steel knife. These knives are slightly higher quality and maintain their edge for a little longer. This type is usually preferred as a middle ground between budget and quality.
Carbon steel is the toughest of the three, and the harder metal allows the knife to hold its sharp edge for longer. This reduces the frequency of sharpening and is actually much easier to sharpen than stainless steel alternatives. Because of the sharper edge and higher price tag, this steel type is usually seen in higher-end knives.
Get all you need in one with our Best Kitchen Knife Block Sets!
10 Best Japanese Chefs Knives in the UK
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Kotai Santoku Chef’s Knife | | A Top-Quality Carbon Steel Santoku Blade With a Hammered Texture to Prevent Food From Sticking | |
2 | DALSTRONG Knife Block Set - 6-Piece | | Meet Every Cooking Challenge Head on With This 6-Piece Set Covered by a Lifetime Warranty | |
3 | FANTECK Professional Cooking Kitchen Knife | | An All-Purpose High Carbon Blade With a Unique Black Finish | |
4 | Joyspot Japanese Santoku Knife | | An Excellent Introductory Blade Featuring an Ergonomic, Pakkawood Handle | |
5 | FineTool Professional Chef Knives Set Japanese | | A Comprehensive 6-Piece Set of Stainless Steel Blades for a Bargain Price | |
6 | Kotai Professional Chef’s Knife - Japanese | | Achieve Chef-Standard Sashimi With This Carbon Steel Kiritsuke Blade | |
7 | Zelite Infinity Chef Knife 6 inch | | A 6-Inch Nakiri Carbon Blade, Ideal for Vegetarian and Vegan Cooking | |
8 | Hajegato Professional 6 Inch Japanese Chefs Knife | | A High Carbon Petty Blade With a One-Of-A-Kind Design That Makes It Feel All the More Special | |
9 | Zelite Infinity Chef Knife 8 Inch | | A High-Quality Gyutou Blade, Forged Using the Traditional Honbazuke Crafting Method | |
10 | TUO Japanese Chef Knife 7 inches | | A Stylish Wood Grain Handle and Stainless Steel Blade That’s Been the Subject of Countless Rave Reviews |
A Top-Quality Carbon Steel Santoku Blade With a Hammered Texture to Prevent Food From Sticking
This carbon steel blade is 3x harder and sharper than stainless steel, making its edge last much longer before blunting. It will naturally resist rust, and the traditional hammered sides will prevent food from sticking to the knife while cutting.
The knife also comes in a stylish bamboo display box with a wooden sheath to protect the blade when not in use. This elegant design makes it an excellent gift for any budding chef in your life.
Meet Every Cooking Challenge Head on With This 6-Piece Set Covered by a Lifetime Warranty
With a 100% satisfaction guarantee, you can be sure the investment in this set won't go to waste. Plus, if you do decide to keep them, you'll be protected by a lifetime warranty.
An All-Purpose High Carbon Blade With a Unique Black Finish
Vacuum heat treatment and nitrogen cooling have been utilized while forging the blade to create a unique black finish that stands out from other options on the market. An excellent choice!
An Excellent Introductory Blade Featuring an Ergonomic, Pakkawood Handle
The pakkawood handle allows for an ergonomic and comfortable grip, making it ideal for beginners who are just starting out and need a chance to get comfortable with the basics of chopping.
A Comprehensive 6-Piece Set of Stainless Steel Blades for a Bargain Price
The set also comes with a handy 1-year warranty which will keep you covered in case of damage. That said, the blades are durable and the handles are made of strong pakkawood, meaning these should last you a quite a long time.
Achieve Chef-Standard Sashimi With This Carbon Steel Kiritsuke Blade
Unfortunately, it's not the best starter knife, as it's specifically targeted toward one type of cooking. Because of this, it won't be the best option for everyone, but if you already have all the basic styles, this knife could be the perfect choice to complete your set.
A 6-Inch Nakiri Carbon Blade, Ideal for Vegetarian and Vegan Cooking
Tackle thick-skinned fruits and precision cuts with this high carbon 6-inch blade from Zelite Infinity. The nakiri will serve you well with all manner of fruit and vegetable cutting, so it could be ideal for vegetarian or vegan cooks.
However, the characteristic thick blade won't provide the best versatility if you're just starting out. It's much more cumbersome than other blade varieties and should only be chosen for its specific intended uses.
A High Carbon Petty Blade With a One-Of-A-Kind Design That Makes It Feel All the More Special
If you're worried about the aesthetics of your knives, you might feel safer opting for another product, but we're sure this set is a gamble that will pay off because every one of their knives is expertly crafted.
A High-Quality Gyutou Blade, Forged Using the Traditional Honbazuke Crafting Method
The quality of this all-purpose blade is a great advantage compared to other options on the market, but we feel there are other gyutou options that offer better quality whilst still providing excellent value for money.
A Stylish Wood Grain Handle and Stainless Steel Blade That’s Been the Subject of Countless Rave Reviews
Although it's one of the more popular options on the list, we do believe that there are better low-budget knives on the market that deserve a higher ranking. Still, if you want a reliable purchase that won't break the bank, this is a wonderful choice.
Make Sure You've Got Yourself a Decent Sharpener
You've no doubt come across knife sharpeners online and in stores, and these are a perfectly viable option for your knives. You can buy a manual or electric knife sharpener at a relatively low price, making the sharpening process simple. However, some people have concerns over the potential damage these may cause to the fine blade edge of Japanese knives.
Many chefs recommend using a whetstone to sharpen your Japanese knives. This method has been used for centuries and essentially entails grazing the knife edge along the flat stone surface at specific angles. This method has the potential to create the perfect cutting-edge, but it's important that you learn how to use a whetstone correctly, as it can be a little more challenging than a generic sharpener.
Make that purchase even easier with one of our Best Knife Sharpeners!
Top 5 Japanese Chefs Knives
No. 1: Kotai｜Santoku Chef’s Knife
No. 2: DALSTRONG｜Knife Block Set - 6-Piece
No. 3: FANTECK｜Professional Cooking Kitchen Knife
No. 4: Joyspot｜Japanese Santoku Knife
No. 5: FineTool ｜Professional Chef Knives Set Japanese
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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