Article By: Suraiya Fardous
- December 9, 2023 , Last updated on : December 10, 2023
What makes sushi so popular all around the world can be attributed to some specific factors. One of those factors is the presentation of the ingredients, which is more important than you would think. The best knives for cutting sushi will allow you to present those ingredients in a way that your guests will not be able to resist.
Buying guide for the best knives for cutting sushi
The requirements for buying the best sushi knives will not be the same as the requirements for buying other types of knives. For example, if you want to buy the best oyster knives, you need to get knives that can pop open the oysters. Here is how you can select the best knives for cutting sushi.
Type
First and foremost, you need to be familiar with various types of sushi knives. Some of the most popular ones are Deba knives, Yanagiba knives, Usuba knives, Santoku, etc. If you do not want to fuss over knife types, you can go with regular old chef’s knives that are made from the appropriate materials.
Materials
The best materials you can look for when selecting a sushi knife are stainless steel and high-carbon steel. You can also look for premium handle materials as well if you have the money to spare. However, remember that an ergonomic handle is preferable to a handle made from premium material.
Balance
This is where it gets tricky. The knife with the best balance will depend on some of your personal factors. For example, your experience, the strength of your wrists, and your cutting style. While a heavier blade makes it easier to cut, it makes the knife harder to handle.
Size
Last but not least, the length of the knife you want to get will depend on personal preference. If you do not know what your personal preferences are, a bigger knife can cut more easily, while a smaller knife will be easier to maneuver. The ideal size you can go for if you are confused is an eight-inch chef’s knife.
Best knives for cutting sushi | Top 11 Picks
Since sushi roll knives are in such high demand, there are a lot of manufacturers producing such knives. While more competition results in better products, it also makes it harder for consumers to select a knife for themselves. That is why we have selected the best knives for cutting sushi on the market and ranked them based on personal experience and user reviews.
List of the best knives for cutting sushi
Dalstrong Phantom Series Yanagiba Sushi Knife
MAD SHARK Santoku Knife
Lucky Cook Sashimi Sushi Knife
Dalstrong Shadow Black Series Yanagiba Sushi Knife
PAUDIN Nakiri Knife
FINDKING Nakiri Knife
Zelite Infinity Nakiri Knife
TUO Falcon Series Nakiri Knife
Regalia Santoku Knife
KYOKU Samurai Series Nakiri Knife
Mercer Culinary Asian Collection Deba Knife
Dalstrong Phantom Series Yanagiba Sushi Knife
Blade Material: High carbon steel,Titanium
Blade Length: 9.5 inches
The Dalstrong Phantom Series Yanagiba sushi knife is the overall best knife for cutting sushi rolls on the market because of its outstanding features. It is a perfectly balanced knife that anyone can use to prepare and cut sushi. As a result, it is also the best sushi knife for beginners, and we will suggest it to anyone who is just picking up the hobby of making sushi.
Even though it is the ideal knife for beginners, this Dalstrong knife is an excellent professional sushi knife as well. Besides that, it has a long-lasting corrosion-resistant build and excellent edge retention. Lastly, it comes with an aesthetic sheath that you can use to stow the knife when you are not using it.
Besides serving the sushi, this knife excels at preparing it as well. The ultra-sharp pointed edge of the knife ensures you can thinly cut fish and vegetables just as you want it. It makes the sushi chef’s life so much easier, which is why it comes first on our list.
Pros:
Perfectly balanced knife
Corrosion resistant build
Excellent edge retention
Includes an aesthetic sheath
Cons:
Very expensive
While the Dalstrong Phantom Series Yanagiba sushi knife has some of the best features you can expect in a sushi knife, it is also very expensive. However, if you can meet the price tag, its corrosion-resistant build, combined with its excellent edge retention, makes it one of the best knives for cutting sushi.
Blade Material: German military-grade Damascus composite steel
Blade Length: 8 inches
If you want a stylish Damascus knife for cutting sushi, the MAD SHARK Santoku Knife is the one you should get. It is very durable thanks to its build from German military-grade Damascus composite steel. Additionally, it also has the iconic Damascus steel pattern, which you can proudly display when serving sushi to your guests.
Besides its outstanding build material, the MAD SHARK Santoku Knife is a functional sushi knife as well. It has an ingenious hollow edge design that ensures that the ingredients do not stick to the sides of the knife when you are cutting sushi. Lastly, it has an ergonomic handle design, which ensures you can use the knife comfortably for a long time.
Mad Shark imports their steel from top steel manufacturers in Japan and Germany. As a result, they have some of the most durable knives on the market. Usually, sushi knives need to be carefully washed and stored for longevity, but this knife can hold its own pretty well.
Pros:
Ingredients do not stick to the sides
Ergonomic handle design
Beautiful Damascus steel pattern
Comes with a finger guard
Cons:
Can be too heavy for beginners
The only issue you might face with the MAD SHARK Santoku Knife is its weight, which might be awkward for you if you are a beginner. There are more beginner-friendly knives for people who are just starting out. Other than that, its Damascus steel build makes it one of the best knives for cutting sushi.
The Lucky Cook Sashimi Sushi Knife is an affordable option for knife enthusiasts who cannot afford the Dalstrong Phantom series Yanagiba sushi knife or the MAD SHARK Santoku knife. Even though it is an affordable option, it still outperforms some of the more premium sushi knives on the market. That is why we have placed it third on our list.
The non-slip wooden handle on the Lucky Cook Sashimi Sushi Knife not only makes it easy to use but also makes the knife aesthetically pleasing. The blade on the knife is 10 inches long, which is ideal for cutting long slices. Additionally, the blade retains its sharpness for a long time thanks to its high carbon stainless steel build. Lastly, it comes in a beautiful box, which makes the knife giftable.
This knife is perfect for people who are just getting started on their journey to become a sushi chef. This is because it is a great low-budget choice for amateur chefs. Additionally, higher-quality blades need more maintenance. However, the stainless steel blade on this knife is very easy to maintain.
Pros:
Non-slip wooden handle
Easy to use
Retains sharpness for a long time
Comes in a beautiful box
Cons:
The tip can be bent easily
The biggest issue we have with the Lucky Cook Sashimi Sushi Knife is that the tip of the knife can be bent rather easily because of its thin and long structure. However, if you strictly use the knife for cutting sushi, you will not come across this problem. Other than that, its non-slip wooden handle makes it one of the best knives for cutting sushi.
Dalstrong Shadow Black Series Yanagiba Sushi Knife
Blade Material: High carbon steel
Blade Length: 10.5 inches
The Dalstrong Shadow Black Series Yanagiba sushi knife has a beautiful black design that sets it apart from other knives on the market. You can use it to master the art of making sushi, then use the knife to serve sushi to your guests or customers with style.
If you want a knife that is certified by the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) for using safe construction materials, then the Dalstrong Shadow Black Series Yanagiba sushi knife is the one for you. Besides that, it has a nonstick surface that ensures that your ingredients do not stick to their sides. Lastly, it comes with an aesthetic black sheath for safely storing the knife.
We loved the futuristic design of this knife. While we initially thought that the design would not be functional, we were surprised by how good the knife felt on our hands. It fits snugly in your hand and allows you to cut both the ingredients and the finished sushi with ease.
Pros:
NSF certified for safety
Nonstick surface
Comes with a matching black space-saving sheath
Cons:
The unique handle might not be ideal for everyone
While the Dalstrong Shadow Black Series Yanagiba Sushi Knife is a beautiful knife that might seem ideal for cutting sushi, its unique handle knocks it back to fourth on our list. Other than that, its NSF-certified build, combined with its nonstick surface, places it among the best knives for cutting sushi.
The PAUDIN Nakiri Knife has an ergonomic handle that lets you comfortably use the knife continuously for a long time. So, if it is your job to make, serve, and cut sushi, then you can get this knife. Besides the handle, the blade is very easy to resharpen, clean, and maintain, which ensures the knife lasts a long time.
This blade is forged from 5Cr15Mov steel, which is considered one of the best materials for making a knife. Additionally, the Pakka wood handle is non-slip and very comfortable to use. The blade and the handle combined make the knife a fan favorite.
Nakiri knives are a mix of meat cleavers and vegetable kitchen knives. Since sushi uses both of these ingredients, a Nakiri knife is a great choice for sushi chefs. Additionally, Nakiri knives allow you to cut and present the sushi as well since you can easily lay a piece of sushi roll on the flat side.
Pros:
Easy to resharpen, clean, and maintain
Ultra-sharp edge
Ergonomic handle
Cons:
Blade length can be small for some users
The only issue we have with the PAUDIN Nakiri Knife is its blade length, especially when compared to its handle length. The total length of the blade is 12.13 inches, and only 7 of those inches consist of the blade. Other than that, its ultra-sharp edge, combined with its ergonomic handle, makes it one of the best knives for cutting sushi.
The FINDKING Nakiri Knife is one of the best Japanese knives on the market because of its outstanding build quality. It has a beautiful hammered dimpled design that is not only good looking but functions well as well. It ensures that the ingredients do not stick to the surface of the knife. Lastly, it has an optimal weight-size ratio.
What we loved about the FINDKING Nakiri knife was how easily we could use it to cut sushi. It allowed us to cut our sushi without damaging the integrity of the ingredients. Its dimpled design allowed us to cut other generally sticky food as well.
Pros:
Beautiful dimple design
Food does not stick
Optimal weight-size ratio
Cons:
Could be easier to use
While the FINDKING Nakiri Knife might seem like the perfect knife for cutting sushi, it is still essentially a vegetable clever. As a result, the skill cap required to use the knife optimally is higher. Other than that, its beautiful dimple design, combined with its optimal weight-size ratio, makes it the best knife for cutting sushi that you can get.
The Zelite Infinity Nakiri Knife has a durable full tang build, where the metal runs from the top of the blade to the end of the handle. This ensures that the blade will not snap off from the handle easily. Besides that, the knife is very easy to maintain thanks to its stainless steel build, which makes it corrosion and rust-resistant.
We loved the quality of the German stainless steel used to make the knife. Even though we used the knife for an extensive period of time, it did not lose its sharpness. Additionally, the handle made it easier to use the knife than its competitors.
Pros:
Durable full tang build
Easy to maintain sharpness
Comfortable to hold
Cons:
Food can stick to the surface
The only drawback of the Zelite Infinity Nakiri Knife is that the ingredients can stick to the side of the blade when you are cutting the sushi roll. However, if you are a professional who makes tightly packed sushi, then this will not be an issue for you. Other than that, its durable full-tang build makes it one of the best knives for cutting sushi.
If you want an Asian cleaver for cutting sushi that is easy to handle as well, the TUO Falcon Series Nakiri Knife is the one for you. The blade of the knife consists of high-carbon steel, which gives it an ultra-sharp edge that can get through any ingredients you might want to put in your sushi. Additionally, the blade is stain and corrosion-resistant, which ensures you can easily maintain it.
We loved how easy it was to handle this knife. Besides having an ultra-sharp edge, the handle of the knife was also very ergonomic. Both of these features combined made it very easy to cut sushi with this knife.
Pros:
Stain and corrosion-resistant
Ultra-sharp edge
Easy to handle
Cons:
Handle could be more durable
While the blade of the TUO Falcon Series Nakiri Knife is corrosion-resistant and durable, its handle could have been sturdier. However, since the knife is easy to maneuver and handle, you are unlikely to drop and damage it mistakenly. Other than that, its ultra-sharp edge places it among the best knives for cutting sushi.
The Regalia Santoku Knife stands out from the competition because of its aesthetic Pakkawood handle, which is the ideal choice for many chefs around the world. Besides the aesthetic blade, the knife has a razor-sharp edge that can get through your sushi rolls like butter. Lastly, the Damascus steel blade is very durable as well.
This knife has a durable build with 67 layers of Damascus steel. We loved the Damascus pattern on the blade, which made us feel like professional chefs when cutting ingredients and also when cutting and serving the sushi.
Pros:
Razor sharp edge
Aesthetic Pakkawood handle
Durable blade
Cons:
Transition from handle to blade is awkward
The only drawback of the Regalia Santoku Knife is its awkward transition from the handle to the blade. However, it will not affect your sushi-cutting techniques. Other than that, its aesthetic Pakkawood handle, combined with its razor-sharp edge, makes it one of the best knives for cutting sushi.
The KYOKU Samurai Series Nakiri Knife is another knife with a durable full tang build. Besides that, it has an ergonomic and well-balanced structure as well, which makes the knife very easy to maneuver. Lastly, it has a functional hollow edge design that ensures that your sushi ingredients do not stick to the side of the blade.
KYOKU has been producing high-end Japanese cutlery for quite some time now. We received firsthand proof of that when using this knife. Besides sushi, it also excelled in cutting other tougher ingredients like steak.
Pros:
Outstanding full tang build
Ergonomic and well-balanced
Functional hollow edge design
Cons:
Sharpness retention could be better
While the high carbon steel build gives the KYOKU Samurai Series Nakiri Knife a razor-sharp edge, its sharpness does not last if it is not maintained. Other than that, its outstanding full tang build, combined with its functional hollow edge design, places it among the best knives for cutting sushi.
The Mercer Culinary Asian Collection Deba Knife stands out from the crowd because of its traditional wooden handle that is very easy to use. Besides the handle, the knife also has a durable blade that is very easy to maintain. Additionally, it has a durable edge, so the sharpness of the blade lasts a long time. What we loved about this knife was how easy it was to maintain compared to other competing knives on this list.
Pros:
Easy to use the traditional wooden handle
Easy to maintain
Durable edge
Cons:
Length can be an issue for some people
The only issue you might have with the Mercer Culinary Asian Collection Deba Knife is its blade’s length, which is only 6 inches long. However, it is in the Deba knife’s characteristics to have short blades. Other than that, its traditional wooden handle, combined with its durable edge, makes it one of the best knives for cutting sushi.
The best knife for cutting sushi for you will depend on your personal requirements. For example, if you want a sushi knife with beautiful packaging that you can gift someone, go for the Lucky Cook Sashimi Sushi Knife. Alternatively, if you want the best Japanese sushi knife, go for the Dalstrong Phantom Series Yanagiba Sushi Knife, which is made from Japanese steel.
If you liked our top picks, check out our other choices:
