What Is a Santoku Knife Used For? The Essential Guide for Every Kitchen

What is a Santoku knife used for? This is one of the most asked questions whenever people begin exploring kitchen tools. Santoku knives are quickly gathering popularity in home kitchens and also in the professional world, and for a good reason.

“Santoku” literally means “Three Uses,” and that hints at cutting, chopping, and mincing. Whether you're prepping a quick beef stir-fry or crafting a restaurant-level dish, the best use for a Santoku knife always comes down to efficiency and precision.

Why not take a look at what makes this knife so special and why you should have it in your kitchen?

What Is a Santoku Knife Used For? The Best Uses

If you have used a blunt knife before for chopping or cutting vegetables, you will instantly feel a difference when you hold a Santoku Knife for cutting vegetables. So, here is where it excels:

1. Slicing

The Santoku knife is basically designed for slicing. It has a flat edge and a thinner blade, which makes it perfect for making slice cuts. It is perfect for making:

• Clean, even cuts of meat and fish
• Paper-thin tomato slices without crushing
• Smooth fruit segments like mangoes, apples, and melons

With a Santoku knife, you have the perfect knife for basic kitchen tasks like slicing an onion, and take on more complex tasks like slicing ingredients for sushi.

2. Dicing

A santoku knife is also perfect for slicing. Its shorter, lighter design means you can easily use it for dicing.  With a Santoku knife, you can easily achieve any of the following dicing tasks:

• Dice onions, garlic, and shallots with precision
• Cut perfect cubes of cheese or tofu
• Work with harder veggies like carrots and potatoes

Learn how to dice potatoes, another dicing task you can accomplish with your Santoku knife.

3. Mincing

The curved tip and wide blade allow for easy mincing of:

• Fresh herbs like cilantro, parsley, and mint
• Aromatics like ginger and garlic
• Nuts or chocolate for toppings and baking

So, what is the best use for a Santoku knife? It really excels in the day-to-day preparation of food, where speed, control, and clean cuts are of utmost importance.

What Else Can You Use a Santoku Knife For?

Besides the three major functions of slicing, dicing, and mincing, there are many more ways you can use a Santoku knife in the kitchen. It is an all-rounder and offers a lot more. Here are 4 additional ways you can use a santoku knife:

1. Vegetarian Meal Prep. The broad blade is suited to picking up chopped vegetables and putting them directly into a pan.
2. Fish Filleting. This is a blade, not a fillet knife. Plus, it has a sharp, fine edge, and it can fillet fish without tearing.
3. Portion Control. It is ideal for cutting consistent cuts of desserts or meat.
4. Quick Chopping Without Rocking: The Santoku knife is not about the rocking action like with the chef’s knife. You use more of a straight-down chop, which, by some, is said to be quicker and easier to get hold of.

A lot of individuals have stated that Santokus are particularly convenient to use when one has small hands or limited countertops. They are not as fierce-looking and thicker as an 8 chef knife, but are even more efficient.

The Best Santoku Knives from Kyoku

If you’re ready to upgrade your kitchen game, here are three incredible options from Kyoku that I’d recommend:

1. 7" Japanese Santoku Knife Damascus VG10 | Shogun Series

This 7-inch Japanese Santoku knife is made of solid Damascus steel, with a hollow edge that prevents sticking as you cut. It is perfect for slicing, dicing, and mincing, especially meat and tougher food items. 

Here’s what you get from this knife:

With a gorgeous herringbone pattern and lifetime warranty, this is a Santoku knife made for a home cook and/or professional who wants both appearance and performance

2. 7" Santoku Knife VG10 Damascus Steel with Silver-ion Coating | Gin Series

The 7-inch Santoku knife from Kyoku’s Gin Series comes with a silver-ion coating, and is made for precisely for a home kitchen that prioritizes hygiene and safety, or a commercial kitchen with lots of food items to cut on a daily basis.

Here’s what you get from this prim and neat Santoku knife:

This knife comes with a protective sheath and case, and is currently on sale!

Each knife is perfectly made and combines form, function, and long-term reliability. Kyoku not only offers you knives with good blades but also helps you improve your cooking experiences. 

Final Thoughts: What Is a Santoku Knife Used For?

So, what is a Santoku knife used for? You use it when you want an accurate slice, fast dicing, and pain-free mincing. And what is the best use for a Santoku knife? Pretty much everything from cutting and chopping to mincing. 

Kyoku provides one of the best quality Santoku knives, which marry the heritage of Japan with contemporary technology. It can be an upgrade of your tools or a gift to someone, so either way, these knives will not disappoint.

So, are you eager to turn your preparation time into a professional-level experience? Visit Kyokuknives and get your hands on the best knives available on the market.

Santoku Knife vs Chef Knife: What Is the Main Difference?

This is a great question and one that many people ask before buying their first high-quality blade.

If your prep style leans toward quick, clean, and controlled cuts, then the Santoku is probably the better fit for your kitchen.