When it comes to knives, there are tons of options to choose from. That can easily make you confused about which one to pick.
In short, Nakiri Knife is a Japanese-style knife usually used for chopping vegetables while a Santoku and Chef knife are pretty much the same in their uses but have a different user interfaces. Santoku is thinner than the Chief which is why it is not recommended for tougher food.
This comprehensive guide will go over the difference between three mostly used knives: Nakiri knife, Santoku Knife, and Chef’s Knife.
We will take a look at their uses, and we will compare each of these knives with the other two. So, without further ado, let’s dive right in.
What is Nakiri Knife?
The Nakiri knife is a Japanese-style knife made especially for chopping, slicing, or dicing vegetables. In the Japanese language “Na” stands for Vegetable and “Kiri” which means chopper.
You can easily opt for it by its squared-off tip and straight blade edge. This type of Japanese knife is pretty light in weight and perfect for giving you thinly sliced vegetables.
The handle of a Nakiri knife is usually designed ergonomically for precise control. You will get a better result in cutting vegetables with an up and down motion. Make sure to provide the right amount of force that is needed while chopping vegetables.
Read this article to learn how to use the Nakiri Knife like a Pro!
What is Santoku Knife?
Santoku is also a Japanese-style all-purpose knife. You can notice lots of similarities between a Chef’s knife and a Santoku knife. A Santoku knife is thinner than a Chef’s knife, which is good for less tough food.
It is light in weight, and that is the reason why it is suitable for less tough food. With an up and forward motion, you will get a good result while using Santoku.
Santoku knives usually come with 7 inches of lower length. Nowadays, most professional cooks tend to look for a long knife. In that case, we can mark it as a limitation of the Santoku knife.
What is Chef’s Knife?
The chef’s knife is an all-rounder in your kitchen for its versatility. It is also known as the cook’s knife. This knife is mainly designed for slicing and disjointing large sizes of beef.
The modern chef’s knife is used for doing multi-purpose activities such as slicing, mincing, and chopping vegetables along with disjointing bones and slicing meat or fish.
The midsection or belly of the blade has enough sharp edges for the usual chopping, cutting, and slicing. Lastly, the heavy heel or back portion of the knife provides a strong thick edge for cutting, slicing, and disjointing large pieces of beef.
Nakiri vs Santoku vs Chef’s knives
| Features | Nakiri | Santoku | Chef’s |
| Uses | Best for Chopping Vegetables | Slicing, Dicing, and Mincing less tough food | Multi-purpose knife |
| Structure of Blade | Straight, Thin, and Rectangular | Sheepfoot, Thin and Flat Edge | Rounded or Straight |
| Blade Length | 5-7 Inches | 6-7 inches | 8-12 inches |
| Blade Weight | 7.5 to 9.4 ounces | 6.5 to 8.5 ounces | 8.2 to 9.2 ounces |
| Cutting Action | Straight Up and down | Rocking, Straight Up and Down | Rocking |
Difference Among the Nakiri, Santoku, and Chef’s knives: The Key Points
Santoku VS Chef’s Knife
Both the Santoku and Chef’s knives are pretty much the same as they are used as multi-purpose knives. However, Santoku is slightly lighter than a Chef’s knife which means you are not recommended to cut tougher food.
Santoku is a Japanese-style knife while Chef’s knife is a western adaption of Santoku that mostly comes from Germany or France.
Chef’s knife is the most versatile, usually called the multi-purpose knife in your kitchen. On the other hand, Santoku is also known for its versatility, but when it comes to cutting small bones or something tough like that it may not be an ideal option.
Besides, you can easily notice the difference between these two knives by their blade shape. The Santoku has a thinner and sheepsfoot blade while the chef’s knife features a rounded blade. Though you can also find a straight blade in a chef’s knife.
Nakiri VS Santoku Knife
As we have mentioned, the Nakiri knife is made especially for cutting vegetables. For getting optimal output while chopping vegetables it is designed ergonomically.
Simple up and down motion is recommended while cutting vegetables using a Nakiri Knife. Make sure you are not providing extra force while chopping. That may ruin the edge of the knife.
Santoku is called an all-purpose knife. Though it features a thin knife that’s why you may face trouble while playing with a bone or any other tough food.
You can use it for chopping, mincing, and dicing less tough food. Simple up and down-cutting actions should give you satisfactory results. However, you can cut food items using a rocking or chopping motion as well.
Chef’s Knife VS Nakiri
Chef’s knives are the most versatile knives out there. It is pretty handy for chopping, dicing, micing, and many more without putting a lot more effort. Usually, a Chef’s knife seems to be heavy that is why it is pretty good for cutting small bones or other tough food.
Besides, they are longer than Santoku and other knives out there which is one of the reasons why most professional cooks like Chef’s knife. You can use a rocking motion while using a Chef’s knife for getting an optimal output.
While a Nakiri Knife can deliver its expertise only on cutting vegetables as we already know that it is made especially for cutting vegetables. You can easily identify a Nakiri knife by its straight blade and rectangular shape.
Some of the Nakiri knives come with hollow edges that can reduce the food sticking to the knife. The cutting motion should be simple straight up and down. Excessive force may destroy the edge of the knife therefore it is highly recommended to provide the right amount of force that is needed.
Uses of Nakiri, Santoku, and Chef’s knife
The Nakiri knife is ergonomically designed for chopping vegetables. Its flat, straight-edge rectangular blade can easily cut your vegetables effortlessly. The slices of your vegetables won’t be stuck together as nowadays most the Nakiri knife comes with a hollow edge blade. You will get a clean, sharp, and individual slices experience after cutting with a Nakiri knife.
A Santoku knife is an all-purpose knife. You can use this knife for slicing, chopping, or dicing fruits, vegetables and nuts frequently. Moreover, It can be used in cutting meat, mincing meat or herbs, cheese slicing, and creating fine slices for vegetables and seafood.
A chef’s knife is mostly used as a cutting tool for food preparation. It is exceptionally designed for slicing meat and disjointing large cuts. It is also a multi-purpose knife. You can use it for mincing, slicing, and chopping effortlessly.
A chef’s knife will let you cut tougher food items as well. Because of the long length, versatility, and ergonomic design, it becomes one of the most common knives in professional cooks’ kitchens.
Bottom Line
Hope this comprehensive guide will help you get a clear concept of Nakiri VS Santoku VS Chef Knife. We have tried to cover everything you need to know. Nakiri is completely different from the other two types of knives as they are specially made for cutting vegetables.
On the other hand, you will find lots of similarities between the Chef’s knife and the Santoku knife. Though Santoku is lighter in weight than a Chef’s knife. Besides, there are some differences between their blade shape and cutting motion as well.
If you have any thoughts regarding this whole guide don’t hesitate to leave them in the comment section below. We would love to hear from you. Make sure to share it with your friends and let them know.
Happy Cooking!
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