The dream of every chef is to have a safe and effective knife to work within the kitchen. With knives such as Santoku and Utility knives, you have excellent tools to help you chop and slice foods. Due to both knives’ many functions, many users have trouble making the right choice.
This article will set up Santoku vs Utility Knife and provide you the right information to make the best choice.
What is a Santoku Knife best used for?
Although the Santoku knife originated from Japan, it has become popular in the United States over the years, with several versions made in the US and abroad. However, they all follow the original Japanese style. Santoku, which translates as “three uses” or “three virtues” to solve a problem, refers to the best types of cut the knife is crafted for: dicing, mincing, and slicing.
Moreover, the Santoku knife measures between 5 and 8 inches. It features a blade with a flat cutting edge. The end of this blade features a rounded curve popularly known as a sheep’s foot. That’s a departure from a sharp point that is quite common with Western blades.
Thanks to its light and narrow blade, the Santoku knife is ideal for precision work, making very thin and refined cuts. Besides, the blade can feature a single or double bevel. Bevel is known as the surface, which has been ground to form the edge of the knife.
What is a Utility Knife Used for?
When you read or hear the word ‘utility’, the first thing you picture is a tool designed to satisfy the needs and wants of the user. That’s almost exactly what you get from the utility knife. Trust us; it is a reliable all-rounder in any kitchen. The utility knife is shorter than a chef knife but longer than a paring knife. Essentially, it measures around 4 to 9 inches in length.
Besides, the utility knife comes in different varieties. It is available in both a straight and serrated blade style. With the serrated blade style, you can easily slice meat or a roll in half. The straight edge is also perfect for other kitchen tasks.
Due to the utility knife’s relatively short size, it’s reasonably easy to maneuver for some precision cuts, although it won’t do others like mincing and peeling. It’s also important to note that this type of knife is not the best for rocking back-and-forth, but provides you excellent leverage as long as you have a solid grip on the handle.
Whether for your home or restaurant kitchen, the utility knife is a wise choice.
Santoku vs Utility Knife Features (Face to Face)
| Feature | Santoku Knife | Utility Knife |
| Construction | Hand-forged or Stamped | Hand-forged or Stamped |
| Size | 5-8 inches | 4-9 inches |
| Blade Material | Carbon steel, stainless steel, or ceramic | Japanese stainless steel, V- Gold-10-series steel, or German stainless steel |
| Blade Edge | Flat or Granton | Serrated or Straight |
| Weight | Lightweight | Lightweight |
| Handle | Ergonomic | Ergonomic |
Standout Features Between Santoku vs Utility Knife
Undoubtedly, both the Santoku and Utility knives are the chef’s dream, but they perform different functions that make them stand out. We will explain the procedures below:
1. Slicing
If you need to create skinny slices of foods, the Santoku knife is an easy and smart choice. Thanks to its light and narrow blade, you will get the right cuts – from vegetables and seafood – needed for your favorite recipe. Although the Utility knife can also slice through vegetables, it won’t give you the thin slices that improve the overall aesthetics of your dishes. If you need slice bagels, English muffins, you can count on the utility knife to help out.
2. Dicing
If you want a knife that won’t just slice through foods but also dice them, the Santoku knife offers you that. For example, if you want a meal of Crispy Diced Potatoes, get yourself a Santoku knife.
3. Chopping
While both the Santoku and Utility Knives can chop foods, they offer more than each other. For instance, the Utility knife can chop smaller fruits and vegetables, but the Santoku knife can do even more by chopping meat. So if you’ll like a knife that can help you chop meat, you need to choose the Santoku knife over the Utility knife.
4. Cutting your sandwiches and toast in half
Trust us; sandwiches cut diagonally taste best. A knife is the best tool that can get you a diagonal shape. The Santoku knife won’t give you that, but you can trust the Utility knife to help you out.
Conclusion
You can’t dispute the huge benefits both the Santoku and Utility knives bring to the table. Although they both help with several kitchen tasks, they differ in how they slice, dice, chop, and cut.
