Today we’re going to be covering 3 highly recommended Japanese Chef Knives that you should consider for your next big addition to the kitchen. Whilst these may seem expensive when you first look at them, remember that these chef knives are expected to last a very long time.
Hopefully, this gives you a good sense of what’s available out there and perhaps aids you in making the right decision when it comes to the perfect chef knife for your style of cooking.
1. Shun Classic 8-Inch Chef Knife
First up in today’s list of the top chef knives is the Shun Classic 8-Inch (20cm) knife. Shun are a very well known and highly popular Japanese brand and it’s no surprise that their flagship ‘Shun Classic’ collection is so stylish and sharp.
This knife is produced in Seiki City which happens to be one of the top knife-making destinations in the world along with Solingen.
What makes the Shun Classic 8 inch chef knife so good then? This knife is suitable for a variety of culinary uses like cutting, slicing, chopping, dicing and more. But I wouldn’t be featured a kitchen knife simply on those aspects now would I?
What makes this knife so appealing is how it’s comprised of 32 layers of the best quality folded Damascus steel that gives you this sharper and more durable cutting edge. This process of folding the Damascus steel also provides you with this really beautiful watermark effect on the side of the blade which you have to admit, is pretty aesthetically pleasing to the eye.
The metal used for the blade is a combination of SUS410 high carbon steel and VG10 steel, together this gives you a blade that’s highly resistant to corrosion.
The knife has been put together with an ergonomically shaped and nicely weighted handle that provides you with extra comfort during use and prevents slippage. The Pakka wood and resin coated handle also has quite the sophisticated look to it don’t you think?
There really aren’t many chef knives that can compare to the quality and performance in terms of value for money that the Kai Shaun Damascus blade offers you.
2. Mac Knife Professional Hollow Edge Chef Knife
The second chef knife I’m featuring is the MAC MTH-80 from MAC. You may have seen MAC knives endorsed by famous chefs like Charlie Trotter and Thomas Keller who both seem to love this brand you’ve likely never heard of.
It’s another Japanese designed and produced knife that makes use of a harder and thinner Japanese steel. The dimples along the blades’ edge help to cut foods like apples and squash.
The blade holds its very well and can remain extremely sharp for a long time. It’s best to hand-wash and dry your chef knife immediately after use of course.
If you’re looking for a surprisingly light extra sharp Japanese chef knife, then this is certainly worth checking out.
3. Global G-48 18cm Fluted Santoku Slicer
The third and final Japanese knife I’m featuring is from Global. Global are known for their high-performance knives that are not only extremely sharp, they’re also fashionable pieces of kitchenware with some stunning design put into them.
Global put a lot of work in to make sure that the handles of their kitchen knives are perfectly balanced in your hand. They also made use of ice tempering and hardening to ensure the knife can hold its razor sharp edge for longer than any other steel. The seamless construction of this blade eliminates many food and dirt traps you can have on other types of knife. This provides you with a much more hygienic blade for the kitchen.
If you’re after a quality chef knife that not only has a sharp edge but also some sharp style, then make sure you check out the Global G-48.
Conclusion
So there you have it, 3 of my most recommended Japanese made chef knives that I think would suit anyone’s cooking style. The Shun Classic has to be my personal favourite, not only is it super sharp it also has a really beautiful look to it with the Damascus steel leaving a watermark effect on the blade.
Which of these is your favourite Japanese Chef Knife? Or would you recommend any others you’ve owned in the past? Comment below and join the discussion!