santoku
Asian kitchen knife
A santoku is a Japanese kitchen knife with a flat blade and rounded tip, typically five to seven inches long.
The name means "three virtues," referring to its versatility with meat, fish, and vegetables.
Santokus are lighter and shorter than Western chef's knives, with a thinner blade suited to precise slicing rather than rocking cuts: I reach for my santoku when I'm mincing garlic or slicing vegetables.
Cutting into cubes
- slicingCutting into portions
- mincingAffectedly delicate in manner
- julienneCut into thin strips
- chiffonadeThin-sliced leaf ribbons
chopping · cubing · rough chop · fine chop · sectioning · halving · quartering · segmenting
Edible plants, not fruits
- herbsPlants for seasoning
- garlicPungent culinary bulb
- onionsPungent layered cooking bulbs
- gingerPungent culinary rhizome
shallots · scallions · peppers · meat · fish · tofu · mushrooms · leafy greens
Of or from Nippon
- steelCarbon-hardened iron alloy
- flat edgeNon-curved perimeter segment
- hardenedMade tough or unfeeling
- forgedMade by smithing, or faked
sharp · balance · tang · handle · polymer · sheepsfoot · Damascus · ceramic
Suitable for everything
- home cookingMeals prepared at residence
- meal prepAdvance food preparation
- food prepReadying ingredients for cooking
- multipurposeUseful for varied applications
Stone for sharpening blades
- honingGradual sharpening or refining
- steelCarbon-hardened iron alloy
- stropLeather sharpening strip
- sharpening stoneAbrasive for honing blades
grit · burr · edge · maintenance · diamond plate · leather strop
dicing
Cutting into cubes
chiffonade · chopping · cubing · rough chop · fine chop · sectioning · halving · quartering · segmenting · cutting board
vegetables
Edible plants, not fruits
ginger · shallots · scallions · peppers · meat · fish · tofu · mushrooms · leafy greens · root vegetables
Japanese
Of or from Nippon
forged · sharp · balance · tang · handle · polymer · sheepsfoot · Damascus · ceramic · stainless
all-purpose
Suitable for everything
- home cookingMeals prepared at residence
- meal prepAdvance food preparation
- food prepReadying ingredients for cooking
multipurpose · general-purpose · kitchen essential · workhorse
whetstone
Stone for sharpening blades
sharpening stone · grit · burr · edge · maintenance · diamond plate · leather strop
chef's knife
Kitchen's primary cutting tool
petty · Chinese cleaver · MAC · Victorinox
- kniveschef's knife, pocket knife, utility knife, steak knife, boning knife
- bladesblade, edge, knife, razor blade, cutting edge
- Asian kitchenwarewok, rice cooker, bamboo mat, steamer basket, rice paddle
- kitchen knivesparing knife, chef knife, cleaver, utility knife, tomato knife
- knife skillsknife grip, pinch grip, claw grip, chopping, slicing
- Japanese knivessushi knife, fish knife, vegetable knife
santokufillet knife
Narrow blade for deboning
boning knife · paring knife · cleaver · oyster knife · cheese knife