7 Best Sushi Knives of 2021
Photo: Kitchen + Home
A sushi knife is a handy piece of cutlery that every chef and sushi lover should have. Professional chefs tend to have more than one sushi knife.
This knife is unique because it features a long sharp blade that can cut through uncooked sushi, fish, meat, and even vegetables, with unrivaled precision. Sushi preparation is an age-old tradition in Japan, which is why their knives tend to be the best.
The Japanese have demonstrated exceptional craftsmanship in making sushi knives, especially because their experience dates back generations.
When choosing your sushi knives, its build materials will probably be the most important consideration you make. Many of the knives in the market are made of different stainless-steel variants, many of which are strong, durable, and rust-resistant.
In our top 7 sushi knives review and buying guide, we will help you choose the best piece cutlery for preparing sushi and other delicious meals.
7 Best Sushi Knives – Review
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1. Kitchen + Home SE-009 (Multipurpose Sushi Knife) |
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2. Yoshihiro HDSU24 (Best Premium) |
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3. Zelite 8541907252 (Great for Professionals) |
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4. Culina Sushi Knife (Best Budget) |
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5. Kai 6721Y (Good Yanagiba Sushi Knife) |
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6. Tatara VG10damchefknife8in-Tatara (Best Portable & Professional) |
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7. JapanBargain 1553 (Easy-to-Use) |
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PRODUCT |
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1. Kitchen + Home SE-009 (Good Multipurpose Sushi Knife) |
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2. Yoshihiro HDSU24 (Best Premium) |
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3. Zelite 8541907252 (Great for Professionals) |
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4. Culina Sushi Knife (Best Budget) |
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5. Kai 6721Y (Good Yanagiba Sushi Knife) |
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6. Tatara VG10damchefknife8in-Tatara (Best Portable & Professional) |
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7. JapanBargain 1553 (Easy-to-Use) |
1. Kitchen + Home SE-009 – Good Multipurpose Sushi Knife
Photo: Kitchen + Home
- Blade length: 8 inches
- Blade material: Stainless steel
- Handle material: Plastic
- Overall length: 13 inches
Kitchen + Home SE-009 is one of the best multipurpose sushi knives on the market today. It boasts of high-quality build materials, and just the perfect length for slicing through sushi, fish, meats, fruits, and vegetables.
The knife’s 8-inch blade is made of premium surgical stainless steel, which combines flexibility and razor sharpness for precision cutting.
The blade’s standard length makes it suitable for a variety of cutting tasks. Its blade’s 10-hole design minimizes fiction and cutting effort, making it easier to control the knife.
A unique feature of this sushi knife that you won’t find in many others is a PFOA-free non-stick Teflon coating. Grease and other oils from raw fish, meat, and cheese won’t stick on this knife.
This knife is offered with a lifetime warranty and a 30-day money-back guarantee. This offer gives you confidence in the quality of the product.
We did note, however, that the knife becomes dull rather fast and you may need to sharpen it frequently to maintain restore its sharpness
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2. Yoshihiro HDSU24 – Best Premium Sushi Knife
Photo: Yoshihiro
- Blade length: 9.5 inches
- Blade material: VG-10 stainless steel
- Handle material: Wood
- Overall length: 14.4 inches
Yoshihiro HDSU24 is the best premium sushi knife on our list. It is a great knife for chefs who desire an elegant, quality, and long-lasting piece of cutlery.
This knife has a 9.5-inch-long blade. It is the longest blade of our list and works best when slicing full-size fish along its cross-section.
The blade is made using 16 layers of VG-10 Damascus hammered stainless steel. This material makes the knife harder and stronger than those made of basic stainless steel.
It is the exceptional hardness of this blade that makes it cutting edge only 2mm thick for cutting through meats and vegetables while preserving their freshness.
Yoshihiro HDSU24 also comes with a premium handcrafted mahogany handle, which ergonomically fits in the hand for comfort, optimal handling, and flawless use.
The only issue we noted with this knife is its premium pricing, which may lock out budget buyers.
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3. Zelite 8541907252 – Great Sushi Knife for Professionals
Photo: Zelite
- Blade length: 8 inches (also available in other lengths)
- Blade material: VG-10 carbon steel
- Handle material: G-10
- Overall length: 13.13 inches
If you’re a professional chef looking to add a sushi knife to your arsenal of cutlery, then the Zelite 8541907252 is a great fit for you.
This knife features a blade made of 67-layer AUS-10 super carbon stainless steel. The blade is thin, strong, sharp and cuts professionally with minimal slicing resistance.
The 8-inch blade on this knife is non-stick, rust and stain resistant for durability. These qualities also make it ideal for handling food because it prevents contamination.
It’s cutting edge boasts of a 12⁰-15⁰ sharpness for safe and precise slicing of sushi, meats, vegetables, and many more ingredients.
But, just like the Yoshihiro HDSU24 , the Zelite 8541907252 sushi knife is also pricey and may not appeal to budget buyers.
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4. Culina Sushi Knife – Best Budget Sushi Knife
Photo: Culina
- Blade length: 8 inches
- Blade material: Carbon steel
- Handle material: Plastic
- Overall length: 13.3 inches
Culina Sushi Knife is the best budget sushi knife on our list. This inexpensive and high-quality knife is ideal for the absolute beginner in sushi and fish slicing.
The knife features an 8-inch-long blade made of carbon steel. It is a high-quality blade that will slice through fish, vegetables, and different meats.
The blade also has a food-grade nonstick coating, which provides effortless cutting of sushi rolls, sashimi, meats, vegetables, and fruits.
It comes with a plastic handle, which has an ergonomic design to provide the comfort and balance you hand needs for safe use.
For your safety and preservation of the knife’s sharpness, it comes with a protective sheath, which is notably absent in even the premium models we have reviewed.
A key issue we noted with the budget Culina Sushi Knife is that the protective sheath does not lock in place and often slips off.
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5. Kai 6721Y – Good Yanagiba Sushi Knife
Photo: Kai
- Blade length: 8.25 inches
- Blade material: Daido 1K6 carbon steel
- Handle material: Plastic
- Overall length: 13.2 inches
Kai 6721Y is a great Yanagiba sushi knife, which the Japanese specifically use for making ultrathin slices of sushi and sashimi.
The knife is preferred for this task because of its unique thin-blade profile, which allows it to make sushi slices that other knives cannot.
Its 8.25-inch-long blade is made using Daido 1K6 high-carbon stainless steel, which boasts of superior edge retention.
It comes with a plastic handle, which is clean and sturdy and helps to maintain the low weight of the knife. It is one of the lightest sushi knives in the market at only 1.76 ounces.
For ease of cleaning, the knife is dishwasher safe, although the manufacturer recommends washing it with your hands.
We did notice, however, that the plastic handle tends to get slippery and can prove awkward to hold.
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6. Tatara VG10damchefknife8in-Tatara – Best Portable Professional Sushi Knife
Photo: Tatara
- Blade length: 8 inches
- Blade material: Stainless steel
- Handle material: G-10
Tatara VG10damchefknife8in-Tatara is a top-of-the-range sushi knife that professional chefs will love for its portability and ease of storage.
The knife comes with a black and red wooden case, which is not only elegant but makes it possible for professional chefs to move around with their favorite knife especially for off-location jobs.
This knife also boasts of an 8-inch ultra-sharp blade made of 67-layer Damascus stainless steel for exceptional slicing performance and minimal resistance.
The blade has an 8⁰-12⁰ cutting edge for slicing delicate foods with laser precision. It is also hard and flexible. At the blade’s end is an ergonomic handle made of military-grade G-10 for excellent grip and comfort.
Some, however, may find Tatara VG10damchefknife8in-Tatara sushi knife’s pricing to be on the mid-to-high range especially if they are on a budget.
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7. JapanBargain 1553 – Easy-to-Use Sushi Knife
Photo: JapanBargain
- Blade length: 9.45 inches (240mm)
- Blade material: Stainless steel
- Handle material: Wood
- Overall length: 14 inches
Using a knife may sound like a straightforward task, but there are a lot of factors and features that go into achieving ease of use, and the JapanBargain 1553 sushi knife has them.
It has a rust-resistant stainless-steel blade, which boasts of a razor-sharp edge. The long 9.45-inch (240mm) blade is ideal for preparing sashimi and slicing raw fish and other seafood.
The knife’s handle is wooden to provide maximum comfort to your hand. It also has a plastic bolster, which improves the ease of controlling you’re the knife, especially when sharpening.
Speaking of sharpening, you can accomplish that easily by using a damp whetstone. Simply place the whetstone on a flat surface and proceed to sharpen the knife.
You can also use the blade for other purposes including slicing meat, vegetables, chopping, and even cutting hard foods.
A key issue with the JapanBargain 1553 is that very thin and may bend under slight pressure. Thus, it may not be ideal for professional chef work which is intensive.
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How to Buy the Best Sushi Knife
Photo: allianceonline.co.uk
1. Blade
The type of blade the greatest factor to consider when choosing your sushi knife. This is because the blade is responsible for all the cutting.
Many of the sushi knives have Japanese-designed blades, which are made using different variations of steel. We noted some of the most common types of steel used include VG-10, AUS-10, and high-carbon stainless steel.
You can’t go wrong with blades made of these types of steel because they package strength, sharpness, and durability in a very thin profile.
Blade length is another key consideration to make. Most sushi knife blade lengths fall in the range of 8-10 inches. This length is enough to handle all your sushi, meat, roast, vegetable, and fruit cutting needs.
2. Handle
Safety, precision, and efficiency are key when working with a sushi knife. That is why you can’t overlook the knife’s handle, its material, and design.
Many of the sushi knives in the market come with ABS plastic or G-10 handles. These materials are preferred because they are lightweight, durable, and resistant to chemicals.
More premium sushi knives will feature wooden handles such as the mahogany one we reviewed. Wood is also durable when reinforced to the blade using strong rivets.
Make sure to check the handle’s ergonomics. A simple handle that provides a firm grip is comfortable in the hand is better than a premium one with handling issues.
3. Flexibility
The flexibility of your knife’s blade has a great impact on its slicing performance, including precision and safety.
Flexible blades are preferred because you can cut through different kinds of fish, meats, and even vegetables with minimal effort and resistance. They are also ideal for carving different meals such as a roast.
If your sushi knife is a very flexible one, it is likely it is also lightweight and that combination comes in handy when you’re using the tool for extensive slicing cutting.
It’s worth noting, however, that too much flexibility is not good for heavy cutting and slicing because the knife could bend and put your safety at risk when working it.
4. Weight
Sushi knife manufacturers have done an excellent job in maintaining their cutleries’ weight at the minimal.
That is a good thing because most of the sushi knives you encounter when shopping will have the optimal weight for your operation.
Many of the knives we reviewed have a weight not exceeding 10 ounces, which makes them easy to handle even for extended usage.
However, you may encounter a sushi knife weighing over 1 pound probably because of its premium build quality. You can still depend on this knife to deliver excellent slicing especially if you’re using it in short intervals.
How the weight of your knife feels in the hand may ultimately boil down to your personal experience and what you regard as being heavy or light, but you can be assured most sushi knives won’t feel bulky.
Conclusion
Having looked at the features of sushi knives and how they excel in slicing sushi, fish, meats, and vegetables, you’re all set to get choose the best one for you.
Remember to confirm the blade length and build material of your sushi knife. The most standard length that will deliver on all your slicing tasks is about 8 inches. Stainless steel is the best material for your blade because it is strong and durable.
Also, while shopping, hold the knife in your hand to get a feel of its weight, handle, and blade flexibility.
Remember our top 7 sushi knives review and buying guide are a handy companion for helping you choose the ideal knife.
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7 Best Sushi Knives – Review
- 1. Kitchen + Home SE-009 – Good Multipurpose Sushi Knife
- 2. Yoshihiro HDSU24 – Best Premium Sushi Knife
- 3. Zelite 8541907252 – Great Sushi Knife for Professionals
- 4. Culina Sushi Knife – Best Budget Sushi Knife
- 5. Kai 6721Y – Good Yanagiba Sushi Knife
- 6. Tatara VG10damchefknife8in-Tatara – Best Portable Professional Sushi Knife
- 7. JapanBargain 1553 – Easy-to-Use Sushi Knife
- How to Buy the Best Sushi Knife
- Conclusion