Good, quality knives are important if you want to take your cooking seriously. And that’s exactly what my husband has been doing lately. He has been learning how to cook Indian food from scratch and has now turned his attention to Chinese and Japanese cuisine. So when Knivesandtools got in contact about a collaboration, I went straight to the Japanese kitchen knife section to have a look.
I saw a stunning set of three quality knives which I knew my husband would love.
About Knivesandtools
Knivesandtools is an online retailer established in 1999 that specialises in selling knives, outdoor and survival gear, kitchen tools, and related accessories. They offer a wide range of products, including pocket knives, knife sets, chef’s knives, hunting knives, camping equipment, sharpening tools, and more. The company is known for carrying high-quality brands and products for outdoor lovers, chefs, and hobbyists.
One of my favourite things about Knivesandtools is that it provides detailed product information and customer reviews, helping buyers make informed decisions about their purchases. The company offers a wide selection of products from reputable brands, so customers have access to a variety of choices to suit their specific needs, preferences and budgets.
Eden Hammered Damast Knife Set
I picked the Eden Hammered Damast 3-piece knife set. I knew I wanted some Japanese knives and these stood out to me due to the stunning dents and crafting on the blades. The core of the blades is made from strong and stainless AUS-10 steel. The hardness level is 60 HRC which means they are tough enough to retain their sharpness but also can be sharpened at home.
The core is decorated in stainless Damascus steel with a hammered finish. This finish is called Tsuchime.
The knives look great – you can tell they are high quality. They have a nice heaviness to them and are a joy to use. My favourite is the Nakiri. I’ve never used a knife like this before. We usually just use a chef’s knife for everything.
The knifes cut effortlessly. Whilst cutting an onion and peppers, it was like slicing through warm butter. I was shocked at how much easier it was to cut with these knives than our normal knives.
The set also comes in a beautiful presentation box. This is great for us as it means we can put them away after use and put them high on our kitchen shelves out of the way of our toddler.
Now let’s learn a bit more about Japanese knives.
About Japanese knives
Japanese kitchen knives are known for their exceptional craftsmanship, sharpness, and beautiful design. Each Japanese knife performs specific culinary tasks.
The types of Japanese knives you can get are:
- Bunka
- Gyuto
- Santoku
- Kirisule
- Yanagiba
- Sujihiki
- Garasuki
- Boning
- Deba
- Usuba
- Nakari
- Petty
- Peeling
- Burja
- Higonokami
That’s a lot of knives! But I’m going to focus on the three knives that came with our set: the Chef’s Knife (Gyuto), Nakiri, and Paring Knife (petty).
The Chef’s Knife
The Chef’s Knife, known as Gyuto in Japan, is the most famous Japanese kitchen tool and is great for both versatility and functionality.
The Gyuto, literally translating to “beef sword,” is a combination of Western and Japanese knife-making traditions. This knife has the robustness of a Western chef’s knife and the skill and precision of a Japanese blade. The Gyuto’s curved blade facilitates a rocking motion, making it effortless to mince, dice, and chop a variety of ingredients.
The Gyuto has a slightly curved, razor-sharp blade and pointed tip, perfect for precision work. The blade lengths typically range between 180mm and 300mm, perfect for many cooking needs. The blade’s thinness and sharpness are achieved through techniques used in crafting Samurai swords, ensuring a clean cut that locks in the flavour of the ingredients.
The Gyuto is used for a variety of things such as slicing meat, chopping vegetables and mincing herbs. The Gyuto proves is a perfect all-rounder. Its balanced weight and comfortable grip make it a good choice for both professional chefs and home cooks.
Nakiri
Now on to vegetable knives, we come to the Nakiri. The Nakiri knife is characterised by its rectangular blade and is the perfect tool for chopping vegetables. Nakiri, which translates to “leaf cutter,” is designed specifically for chopping, slicing, and dicing vegetables with ease.
The Nakiri has a broad, straight blade with a squared-off tip. Its thin, light blade makes it perfect for making precise, thin cuts. The straight blade allows for a simple up-and-down chopping motion.
Whether you’re chopping hard root vegetables or making delicate garnishes, the Nakiri knife makes vegetable prep easy.
Paring Knife
Petty, which translates to “small,” is the Japanese equivalent of the Western paring knife. This knife is perfect for small, detailed tasks that require precision and control.
The Petty knife’s design is characterised by a small and lightweight blade, making it easy to manoeuvre. It typically measures between 120mm to 180mm, making it ideal for delicate tasks where larger knives may struggle.
The Petty knife is a versatile tool, perfect for peeling, shaping, and slicing fruits and vegetables, chopping herbs, and making garnishes. It also works for more intricate tasks like hulling strawberries or deveining shrimp, making it a must-have in any kitchen.
Head over to Knivesandtools now!
So, whether you’re a professional chef, a home cook, or a cooking enthusiast, Japanese knives like the Chef’s Knife, Nakiri, and Paring Knife are worth exploring. But Knivesandtools have more than Japanese knives on offer. They have every knife you can think of. Plus they sell pots and pans, utensils and outdoor gear. So head on over and see what they have for you. I’ve got my eye on for the Le Creuset frying pans!
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I’d imagine if we had these I’d realise just how bad our knives are at home. We’ve not bought new ones in years! And even then ours are cheap ones. Eeep! Dan’s getting into making Indian food from scratch – It’s great! Haha.
Claire.X
http://www.clairemac.co.uk
We desperately need a good set of knives and these look great! We’re going to Japan next summer too <3
Claire
This is so cool, never had this type of knife before but honestly how good it is. I want to get one.
I’ve been looking to improve my kitchen knife collection, and this seems like just the thing! Thanks for sharing–need to snag these ASAP.
I never realised that there were so many different types of Japanese knives! x
Lucy | http://www.lucymary.co.uk
I’m actually on the hunt for new knives and a new knife block. Mine seem to have died a death and I need some new ones for all of the cooking I do. These look good and if you’re recommending them they’ve got to be good as I know you’re a bit of a foodie like me!
Rosie
Ohh we love a good set of knives in this house, I love the hammered effect! Definitely putting these on my Christmas list!