The 5 Best Santoku Knives – Whether you’re just learning how to cook or are already an expert in the kitchen, knives are one of the most important purchases a home chef can make! Read more to learn about the BEST Santoku knives and WHY you’ll love these knives as much as I do! They’re great for slicing and dicing veggies to effortlessly cutting chicken or perfectly scoring a pan of brownies, and you’ll want to get your hands on one of these knives!
It’s really, really important to know about the best Santoku knives because they are your BFF while prepping meals. There’s a reason why I rely so much on Santoku knives: they’re an absolute workhorse in the kitchen!
I sliced and chopped everything for Grilled Basil Chicken and Veggies (photo above) with my favorite Santoku knife – more on it, below!
Their roots go back to Japan, where they were created during the 1940s, and many Japanese chefs still swear by them today.
Santoku knives effortlessly slice through everything from raw chicken breasts to vegetables, fruits, and sandwiches. Believe it or not, 99% of my slicing, chopping, and cutting is with just ONE knife.
To create my list of the best Santoku knives, I started in my own kitchen and then evaluated other popular knives from reputable brands like Shun and Kitchenaid. Whether you’re on the hunt for the best-rated Santoku knife, a budget Santoku knife, or a Santoku knife set, there’s guaranteed to be an option available for EVERYONE.
My Top Picks:
In My Kitchen:
1. My Favorite: Shun Fuji 7” Santoku Knife – $459.95 at Williams-Sonoma
2. Runner Up: Shun Premier 7” Santoku Knife – $149.95 at Amazon
Other Great Santoku Knives:
3. Best for Beginners: KitchenAid 7” Santoku Knife – $24.99 at Amazon
4. Best Blade Design: MAC MSK-65 6.5” Santoku Knife – $119.95 at Amazon
5. Best Mid-Range: Wusthof 7” Santoku Knife – $170 at Amazon
Reviews of The Best Santoku Knives
1. What’s in My Kitchen: My Favorite: Shun Fuji 7” Santoku Knife
I have owned this knife for seven years now. Ever since I bought it at a Williams-Sonoma store in San Diego, I have turned to it nearly EXCLUSIVELY when cooking. Crafted in Japan, it’s my favorite workhouse knife and exclusive to Williams-Sonoma.
I mean, look at that beautiful handle! I love that the blunt end of the knife is at an angle. You can also get this knife monogrammed, which is a great luxury touch.
Cooking Tip with Santoku Knives
If I’m making my DELICIOUS Thai Chicken Coconut Curry, which is an EASY and healthy one-skillet curry that tastes like comfort food even though it’s super healthy, I prefer a knife that’s lightweight and has a straight edge, unlike a chef’s knife. This helps keep the onions, garlic, ginger, and raw chicken from sticking to the blade.
The Specs:
- Weight: 8.5 ounces
- Blade Length: 7”
- Handle Length: 5¾”
- Materials: Blade: Damascus steel with 80 layers of nickel and stainless steel, Handle: Tagayasan wood, end cap: Damascus steel
The Pros:
- Lightweight
- Easy to use
- Lifetime sharpening. Note: It’s free at authorized dealers or a $5 shipping fee otherwise
The Cons:
- Expensive
- Heavy handle
- Not dishwasher-safe
What Others Are Saying:
Besides being my FAVORITE Santoku knife to use, it also has a 4.5-star rating on the Williams-Sonoma website.
Buy the Shun Fuji 7” Santoku Knife:
2. What’s in My Kitchen: Runner Up: Shun Premier 7” Santoku Knife
This 7-inch knife is great to use, but it does feel a little boxier in my hand. This is because it’s a little heavier. It’s not quite as perfect for me as my favorite from Williams-Sonoma, but it’s still a great option. Plus, it’s a lot more affordable.
A knife like this is VERY useful when making my Grilled Vegetables with Basil Vinaigrette because it performs well while chopping all the goods: bell peppers, zucchini, cauliflower, yellow squash and portobello mushrooms.
The Specs:
- Weight: 5.44 ounces
- Blade Length: 7”
- Handle Length: 5¼”
- Materials: Blade: 34 layers of stainless Damascus cladding; Handle: pakkawood and resin composite
The Pros:
- Lightweight
- Versatile
- Precise blade
The Cons:
- Expensive
- Not dishwasher-safe
What Others Are Saying:
Among more than 930 Amazon reviews, this knife earned a 4.8-star rating. Forbes also named it among the top Santoku knives, dubbing it as the best traditional santoku knife.
Buy the Shun Premier 7” Santoku Knife:
3. Best for Beginners: KitchenAid 7” Santoku Knife
If you’re just getting started in the kitchen or a newbie to Santoku knives, this KitchenAid pick is a good option. It would be great for making sheet pan dinners like my Sheet Pan Sausage and Potatoes.
It’s affordable and has a nice, long 7-inch blade, though it is on the heavier side at 1.14 pounds. Simply put, it’s going to make the job of cutting up veggies and proteins galore less stressful.
The Specs:
- Weight: 1.14 pounds
- Blade Length: 7”
- Handle Length: 4”
- Materials: Blade: Japanese steel, handle: alloy steel
The Pros:
- Dishwasher-safe
- Includes blade cover
- Ridges on blade
- Affordable
The Cons:
- Heavy
What Others Are Saying:
More than 1,180 Amazon reviews gave the KitchenAid Santoku knife a 4.7-star average rating.
Buy the KitchenAid 7” Santoku Knife:
4. Best Blade Design: MAC MSK-65 6.5” Santoku Knife
Made in Japan, this knife would work well if you’re making a batch of brownies or bars like my Soft and Gooey Loaded Smores Bars. This Santoku knife is sharp and precise enough to slice through layers of baked graham crackers and chocolate chips!
While it’s on the pricier side, it’s for good reason: Complete with a steel blade and an alloy steel handle, it offers precise cuts and stays sharp even with frequent use.
At 8.8 ounces, it may not be the lightest in weight in this guide but it definitely FEELS the lightest.
The Specs:
- Weight: 8.8 ounces
- Blade Length: 6.5”
- Handle Length: 5½”
- Materials: Blade: Steel blade; Handle: alloy steel
The Pros:
- Sub zero tempered steel
- Very sharp
- Lightweight
The Cons:
- Not dishwasher-safe
What Others Are Saying:
SeriousEats.com calls this the Mac Santoku Knife its favorite santoku knife. Food Network also named it as the best overall in their roundup.
Buy the MAC MSK-65 6.5” Santoku Knife:
5. Best Mid-Range: Wusthof 7” Santoku Knife
This knife is another popular choice among chefs,and it has a middle-of-the-road price point that’s still an investment — but a worthwhile one! German-engineered, Wusthof’s knives are known to be super efficient and this one is extremely lightweight — just four ounces — so it’s great if you’ve got A LOT of food prep to do.
People also love how this knife FEELS in their hand, and although there’s a lot of personal preference when it comes to this subject, this Santoku knife is consistently ranked for comfort.
The Specs:
- Weight: 4 ounces
- Blade Length: 7”
- Handle Length: 4½”
- Materials: Blade: high-carbon alloy steel; Handle: stainless steel and polypropylene
The Pros:
- Eight handle colors are available
- Blade has hollow-edge depressions
- Lightweight
The Cons:
- Not dishwasher-safe
- More expensive than some options
What Others Are Saying:
More than 1,350 Amazon shoppers give the Wustof Santoku Knife a 4.8-star average rating.
Buy the Wusthof 7” Santoku Knife:
Other Santoku Knives I Own
Global Classic Hollow-Ground 7” Santoku Knife
While I have this knife in my kitchen, I don’t use it as often. With this one, you can get it monogrammed if you wish, which I think would make a cool gift for your favorite foodie friend.
I got this knife and another Global chef’s knife as a set, for a Black Friday special a few years ago. Honestly, I don’t like this knife as much because the metal handle feels a little harsh and I prefer the feel of my favorite Shun knife. However, my husband always reaches for it when he’s cooking. Who knows – this cook be the perfect knife for any male cooks you have in your life. Father’s Day is just around the corner!
The Global Classic Hollow-Ground 7” Santoku Knife is available at Williams Sonoma for $129.95.
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Why You Can Trust Me
Want the recipe? It’s my Sheet Pan Lemon Garlic Butter Salmon
Hi, I’m Averie! Besides being the brain behind Averie Cooks, I was also named one of the Ten Best Food Bloggers by the Huffington Post, and my work has appeared in Better Homes and Gardens, Martha Stewart’s Martha’s Circle, Gourmet Live, Glamour, and countless others over my 15+ year blogging career.
But on top of these credentials, I know what it’s like to chop, dice, and mince in the kitchen. I began blogging in 2009 as a way to share recipes and then decided to also share my favorite kitchen tools.
I’ve also published two books: Peanut Butter Comfort: Recipes for Breakfasts, Brownies, Cakes, Cookies, and Frozen Treats Featuring America’s Favorite Spread and Cooking with Pumpkin: Recipes That Go Beyond the Pie.
If you look through my website, you’ll see I focus on easy-to-make recipes that don’t take long to cook on the stovetop or ones you can pop in the oven. I also factor in prep time and want you to not get stressed out over steps that take WAY TOO LONG.
Having a good Santoku knife like the ones I recommend here is part of this.
What to Know About Santoku Knives
Want the recipe? It’s my Grilled Sweet and Spicy Basil Chicken
Things to Consider when Choosing a Santoku Knife
Knives are extremely personal. What one person loves, another may find meh, similar to cars, phones, or the perfect T-shirt. You may need to try a few to find your perfect knife. I suggest looking at the size of the blade, how it feels in your hand, and if it’s easy to clean. Check out some of the main factors you should consider below.
Size
Are you going to be dicing garlic or cutting up a chicken breast? Blade sizes tend to range from 5 inches to 7 inches, but when in doubt, I suggest buying a bigger knife! Personally, I find that 5-inch or 5.5-inch knives are way too small for me.
If you’re chopping carrots or zucchini, chicken, or desserts, you will want that extra blade length. Better to have a bit too much blade than not enough. Plus, it takes extra time and work to chop when you have a smaller knife!
Grip
If you’re ordering your knife online, you won’t know how it feels in your hand. However, you can always go to a local kitchen-goods store and hold that same knife or a comparable one in size and weight. You don’t want it to feel clunky or clumsy.
Cleaning
A lot of Santoku knives say that they are dishwasher-safe, but you’re better off prolonging its life by handwashing after each use with some hot water and dish soap. This isn’t like you’re cleaning out a LASAGNA dish, just both sides of the blade, and it doesn’t take long at all.
Don’t let it sit dirty with food caked on it while you enjoy a two-hour dinner. Quickly wash it off right away. It literally takes ten seconds.
What is a Santoku Knife Best For?
Want the recipe? It’s my Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Toffee Bars
You can use a Santoku knife for nearly every culinary ingredient in your kitchen — raw meats, fruits, vegetables or even slicing desserts and breads or rolls.
How to Sharpen a Santoku Knife
Sharpen as regularly and often as you need to with a sharpening or honing steel. If you know what you’re doing, and even if you don’t, get your knives professionally sharpened annually.
Sharp or very sharp knives are safer because you’re not sawing or working too hard to slice through something like you need to with a dull knife.
When to Use Santoku vs. Chef Knife
The exceptions to using a Santoku knife — and when you want to turn to a chef knife instead — are pumpkins, butternut squash, watermelon or any other foods with an extremely hard rind.
This also applies to bone if you’re doing some serious butchering at home. This is because the blade is very thin and you can chip or break the blade on a Santoku knife.
Some of My Favorite Recipes
You can use a Santoku knife on a variety of dishes, not just one kind. Here are my favorite recipes to use with a Santoku knife, from savory to sweet.
- Thai Chicken Coconut Curry
- Ham and Cheese Sliders on Hawaiian Rolls
- Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Bars
Prices were accurate at time of publication.