Santoku knife: how to choose and use correctly?

Having not only cooks, but also housewives dream of having an excellent cooking knife in the kitchen. Santoku is what you need. It is so practical that it replaces several knives. The country in which it was invented (Japan) is famous for its thoughtful approach to the cooking process, and this knife is very convenient and sharp.

The word "Santoku" in Japanese means "three good things" or "three uses." This is a versatile knife, which was invented in the land of the rising sun, to replace the French chef's knife for cutting beef. You can use it for cutting different products: meat, fish, poultry, vegetables. Some simply cut their bread. But the Japanese invented Santok for the needs of their kitchen, and it was originally intended for the preparation of rolls and sushi.

Its shape is similar to the "sheep's foot", which allows to minimize the distance between the blade and the board, from the very heel of the knife to its tip. Movement mostly straight down. At the same time the knife can, smoothly curving, cut into thin slices. According to its purpose it is able to chop, chop and cut into cubes or strips. This tool can quickly cut the meaty meat, but it is not recommended to chop bones, as from this it will quickly fail.

The difference between the chef-knife and santoku is not obvious to the inhabitants, but for the professional it is noticeable. The chef's knife is also universal, but it is heavier, the tip of the blade is narrowed, its length is from 15 to 36 cm. he is on the same line. Sometimes the blade is slightly narrowed, but only slightly.

Regular cook knife will not be able to cope equally well with slicing chicken fillet and boiled beef and then immediately cut fine greens or tomatoes into cubes. But for each person and cook there are individual preferences for the use of tools, so it is easier for someone to use one knife, for someone - another. A sharp, narrowed chef-knife will help when cutting hard foods and eliminate accidental cuts. So choose the one that suits you best.

At present, not only Japanese masters, but many other countries are engaged in the production of Santoku knives. Each brings something different in its appearance, but convenience and versatility remain unchanged. There are budget manufacturers who are available to everyone. There are expensive knives, which are made of a certain alloy, the handle can be further decorated. Let us analyze several types of Santoku knives most popular among such a variety of brands.

Kitchen knife Tefal Ingenio White is made of ceramic, has a sharp blade. It is white and stylish with a red edging on the handle and a cover for the blade itself, protecting it from possible damage. A great option if you want to make your kitchen special. This knife is not inferior to steel, but ceramics have some drawbacks:

• this knife is afraid of falls, each of them may be the last for him, since ceramics easily crack;
• they should not cut very hard products, you should avoid small bones, because the blade can break;
• chopping boards for such a knife should be selected from wood or plastic, on glass, as well as on the bone can not be cut.

Kitchen knife Rondell 0326-RD-01 falkata relatively inexpensive, only 1090 rubles. It has a simple ergonomic shape, with a straight handle and a steel blade. Blade length is 140 mm, and the total size does not exceed 255 mm. Sharpening is bilateral.

Such parameters make it easy for them to work, the palm is very comfortable on the handle, due to which it does not get tired even with prolonged use of the knife. This is true both for the housewife who decided to chop vegetables for closing salads for the winter, and for the chef, who cooks food all day. Blade hardness - 56 HRC, This characteristic determines how hard you can apply pressure to the knife when cutting something. This tool does not bend, which will allow to cut even very stringy meat or small bones.

Kitchen knife Rondell 0687-RD-01 from the Cascara series Made in China, this model is cheaper than the previous one (770 rubles). It has cavities on the blade, which creates an air cushion between the knife and the product and does not allow the latter to stick to the cutting surface. A great option for home use. Made of stainless steel, has a classic design, blade length - 178 mm, hardness - 52 HRC.

Knife Nadoba Ursa European origin, produced in the Czech Republic, the blade length - 17.5 cm, cost - about 899 rubles. Stylish design. The steel from which the knife itself is made, goes to the handle, bounding it from both sides. There are notches on the blade that will help with shredding.

Tescoma Azza 884532, 18cm, suitable for its laconic appearance and long blade more for men than for women, say about it and reviews. Many men appreciated its ergonomics and marked it as a plus, while women, on the contrary, considered it a minus. This model is worth about 2214 rubles, produced in China. The knife is made of a single piece of steel, blade hardness - 55 HRC. On both sides there are grooves, the so-called teeth.

Gipfel Rainbow, 18 cm, one can say, people's choice. Its cost is only 385 rubles, but the reviews are only positive. When using it, no one found any minuses, only pluses.

• The sharpness of the blade. It is equally easy to cut chicken fillet and other meats, as well as greens.
• Comfortable rubber gripthat provides ease of use. You can be sure that the knife does not slip out of hand.
• Stylish design. The knife is available in several colors: red, blue or black. You can choose for every taste.
• The presence of a rubberized coverwhich protects the knife from damage and you from accidental cuts. Convenient to store.

By the way, low cost and color range will help you to divide the knives by function. For example, a blue-colored tool to use for cutting or cutting fish, red for raw meat, and black, will be a faithful helper when chopping vegetables. This separation is useful not only for your health, but also for the long-term preservation of the cutting properties of the knife. From the name it is clear that the blade length is 180 mm, it is made of steel. Made a knife, like many others, in China.

Gipfel 6774 looks the same as its predecessor, but the blade length is only 110 mm. Small and practical. Such a small length and the presence of a cover will allow you to take it with you on a trip or on a picnic. Its handle is also rubberized, which is convenient to use. And it costs only 310 rubles.

Gipfel 8476 with blade length - 170 mm You can buy at a very attractive price - 370 rubles.The knife is made of steel, its blade to the tip is slightly narrowed, it will help with smooth cutting into thin slices of vegetables or meat. Production - China. Warranty period - six months.

Samura SBA-0093 / K 13.7 - another santoku. This is a high-quality product made of strong aus-8 steel with a blade hardness of 58 HRC. Looks laconic and stylish, made of a solid piece of metal. The handle looks like a bamboo trunk and for good reason, because this model belongs to the bamboo series. Packed knife in a blister and cardboard box. It costs 1728 rubles and produced in Japan.

Advantages: beautiful design, small size, high quality. This knife will be a real "chef" in your kitchen. Warranty - one year.

Excellent option from the manufacturer Samura - knife Santoku Kaidju collection from a mixture of materials of steel and mahogany. Blade length - 180 mm, made of steel hammered aus-8, has a corrosion-resistant coating, with a wooden handle. It is such a knife from 3199 to 5299 rubles. The warranty period is 12 months.

Victorinox "SwissClassic" produced in Switzerland. The steel blade, 17 cm long, with a polypropylene handle is perfectly balanced and easy to use. The price of such a kitchen product ranges from 2,660 to 3,000 rubles.

The highest quality rating presented in this review has Samura Company, the most popular are knives company "Gipfel". But how to choose the best?

A kitchen knife should be chosen for each cook or just a person who cooks at home, individually. But some rules will help you choose a suitable Santoku knife from hundreds of different ones:

• sharpening angle - 18 degrees;
• blade dimensions can vary from 110 to 200 mm, and the handle itself - 140-160 mm, depending on the size of the blade;
• the hardness of the blade quality knives is in the range from 52 to 58 units of HRC, the maximum is 60 units, large numbers will talk about its fragility;
• the handle is better to choose a wooden or rubberized, such a tool will fit well in the palm of your hand and will not slip out accidentally;
• having “air pockets” will help if the product sticks to the blade;
• Knives in the set can be cheaper, but it is better to choose the Santoku universal knife separately.

Learning how to use such a knife correctly is an important task, it will save your fingers from cuts and increase the speed of work. Please note that the use of this knife for splitting bones or other similar solid products is not provided. From this, he is at best - quickly blunt, and at worst - will break.

Care of the cooking knife must be careful not to damage the blade.

• If you go somewhere and take it with you, you need to worry about a durable case. Storage blade should be inserted into a special case.
• It is best to wash it by hand, but also in the dishwasher, if indicated on the manufacturer's packaging. After washing, wipe the knife dry.
• It should be noted that the Santoku knife cannot be used on glass and marble surfaces, its blade will either break or dull. For sharpening suitable Japanese water stone, this can be found in online stores.

It remains to choose the perfect option for you kitchen assistant and start cooking. With this knife, the cooking quality will improve several times.

See the next video for a comparison of Santoku and the chef's knife.