We all get affixed watching a sushi chef slicing and dicing the ingredients to make sushi with their special knife that you might wonder if the particular knife is necessary for achieving perfect sushi? The answer is yes. And there’s a reason behind it, and we reviewed a couple of sushi knives along the way.
A sushi knife is essential in sushi making as the whole craft requires a precise slicing and cutting to create perfect sushi. The knives are made with the highest quality, and they’re extremely sharp to suit for specific tasks involving sushi making.
Basically, the knife comes with a slender blade that’s flat in one side to prevent the food from sticking on the blade (especially sushi rice, as they tend to get sticky). Most sushi knives are made with high-carbon stainless steel — instead of regular stainless steel like your kitchen knife — to ensure the sharpest edge as much as possible.
For a traditional sushi knife, the handle (usually made from long-wearing wood) is shaped so it has a D-shaped cross section for a comfortable handle that you can use for long periods of time. When buying a good sushi knife if you’re a beginner, it’s always a good idea to opt for short blades with a decent handle instead of the long and sleek sushi knife that can be tricky to handle and maneuver when using (don’t worry, even the pros regularly use a short sushi knife to get the work done).
Which sushi knife is the one you can buy?
1. Kitchen + Home Non Stick Sushi Knife – The Non Stick Multipurpose Chef Knife
This is one of our favorite sushi knives that we reviewed that it’s best to put it at the top of the list. An 8-inch knife created for multiple uses in making sushi, the blade is crafted from the pharmaceutical, aerated grade stainless steel blade that provides both precision and flexibility in slicing ingredients that you need.
The benefit from using an aerated blade is the whole slicing job gets easier as it minimizes friction, easier to maneuver and control, as well as simply being a lightweight knife. Plus, the blade is also coated with PFOA to make it a non-stick knife, so there won’t be any food that gets stuck on the knife while doing the whole slicing and dicing (after all, sushi rice is generally sticky).
Use to cut not only fish and vegetable, but also beef, poultry, fruits, and even herbs for multipurpose use.
And we love that the purchase of this blade comes with full money-back guarantee within 30- days, as well as a lifetime warranty.
2. Kai Wasabi Black Yanagiba Knife, 8 1/4-Inch
The sleek-looking sushi knife right here is the kind of knife that makes a superb purchase. Kai Wasabi Black Sushi Knife is designed based on the Japanese Yanagiba blade style. The ultra-thin knife is at 8.25 inches in length.
The blade made from top quality Daido 1K6 high-carbon stainless steel that has superior edge retention compared with other types of steels, coupled with a uniquely blended knife handle; polypropylene polymer mixed with bamboo power for antibacterial properties (a handy feature as you’re slicing food here).
Despite the steep price of this sushi knife, you can’t beat the quality, and craft level of this tool (and it’s made in Japan too) that gives you a good hand feel and excellent control. In fact, this knife is favored by the chef and pros in sushi making, as it comes with multiple length and style to choose from.
If you’re looking for a sushi knife that is made to last, then this is the one that you should have.
3. Mercer Culinary Asian Collection Yanagi Sashimi Knife, 12-Inch
The Mercer Culinary Asian Collection Yanagi Sushi Knife is sure is lengthy. But don’t let the length put you off (especially for beginners) as this knife gives you an effortless cutting, slicing and dicing in preparing sushi, without dragging or snagging.
The blade is 12 inches long (total at 16 inches) and made from high-grade carbon, razor-sharp German stainless steel that is resistant to corrosion, rust, and discoloration. The handle, on the other hand, is made from balsam wood that is known for its durability and slip-resistant.
A sleek, straight to the point kind of knife, using it takes a bit of time to get used to but once you get the hang of it, the preparation gets easier.
The Mercer Culinary Asian Collection Yanagi Sushi Knife offers a limited lifetime warranty. If you’re serious about sushi making and preparation consider this knife for your purchase.
4. Premium Sushi & Sashimi Chef’s Knives – Set of 4 Knives – Ultra High Carbon Steel Blades
For any beginners out there looking for a sushi knife that’s not too daunting-looking, we highly recommend that Premium Sushi & Sashimi Chef’s Knives for a start. Comes in a set of four – a gutou chef knife, a nakiri (for slicing veggies), a multipurpose knife and a delicate type of knife – the knives here are reasonably priced that you can make a purchase and try out which that works for you.
The knives are hand-forged and assembled in a traditional Japanese method, to ensure it’s quality and durability. The blade is made from high-grade carbon stainless steel that is stain and rust resistant. And we love that the handle is made from ultra-light wooden that’s perfect for any newbies looking for a suitable knife to start practicing – this also means you can use for long hours without hurting your hand.
Additional point? This set comes with a full money back guarantee and it’s a budget-friendly kind of product that you can use freely without any worry.
5. Yoshihiro Shiroko High Carbon Steel Kasumi Yanagi Sushi knife
Yoshihiro Shiroko High Carbon Steel knife is surely a beautiful piece of tool that not only aesthetically pleasing to look at but also being a super sharp knife as well. That said, this tool is a bargain compared to other knives in the high-end group as the Yoshihiro sushi knife is made from Japanese White high carbon stainless steel material, coupled with a traditional grind shape blade for superb hardness and durability.
This type of knife is what you need if you’re looking for a good piece that will slice through fish in making sushi or sashimi. In fact, this knife is coveted by the chef for its superb handle and maneuver that it slices through in long, uninterrupted movement to preserve the integrity, shape, and freshness of the fish.
The knife comes with a limited lifetime warranty, and it’s perfect for both beginner and intermediate levels (both commercial and home use).
6. Yoshihiro Hongasumi VG-10 Stainless Steel Yanagi Sushi Sashimi Japanese Knife
Another Yoshihiro knife range that we think it’s best to include in this list, the knife offers a Hongasumi top grade edge retention and VG carbon stainless steel knife for reliability that will last you a lifetime. The knife has a traditional grind and features a flat rim at the back, a concave ground, and the handle is made from handcrafted Japanese Rosewood Shitan for it’s lightweight and superb construction – a major point if you’re planning to use a sushi knife for long hours.
To put it simply, the features from this knife is suitable from beginners to experts that this can be your best purchase if you’re looking for a knife that you can work with for a long time. Don’t let the steep price worry you – we are sure that this knife is the kind that is made to last, with consistent result in every use.
Comes with a limited lifetime warranty, only a handful of this beauty is produced and packaged together in an equally-beautiful wooden packaged box.