Next up on the knife shape appreciation roster is the versatile gyuto knife. This week we will be offering some great deals on all gyuto knives, so if you were thinking about upping your knife game, now is the time!
What is a Gyuto Knife?
The gyuto (pronounced Gyou-toh) is the Japanese version of a Western chef knife. While the name translates to "cow blade", the gyuto is not simply for slicing meat, it is truly an all-purpose knife.
Quick Facts About Gyuto Knives:
- If you are just discovering the world of Japanese knives, the gyuto is the perfect knife to start with and build your knife kit around.
- The gyuto ranges in size from 150mm all the way up to 360mm.
- The most common length gyuto for a home cook is 210mm, while professional chefs usually like them a bit longer at around 240-270mm.
- They are tall at the heel with a wide blade and a pointy tip. The edge of the blade is flat throughout and rounded toward the tip to allow for rock chopping (if that's your thing).
- The pointed tip is great for precision cutting.
- They are most commonly found as double bevel knives (the edge is sharpened on both sides of the blade) although single bevel gyuto knives are available for those with that preference.
What Can You Use a Gyuto For?
- Slicing meat
- Prepping vegetables (anything from large dice all the way to brunoise)
- Butchering fish
- Pretty much anything and everything (except cutting through bones, use a meat cleaver for that)
Considerations When Choosing a Gyuto Knife:
Size: The size of your hands, how big your workspace is and your comfort level with larger knives are things to consider when choosing the length of your gyuto.
Steel: Would you like a carbon steel knife that will be extremely sharp but require more care to prevent rust? Or perhaps you need a more low maintenance stainless steel or stainless clad knife.
Handles: Some gyuto knives feature a Japanese Wa-handle while others have a Western Style handle. The handles come in a variety of materials such as natural wood, pakka-wood, stabilized wood, stag horn and micarta.
Finish: We have tsuchime, damascus, nashiji, migaki, kurouchi or mirror-polished gyuto knives to choose from, a finish for every taste!
Three of Our Favorite Gyuto Knives:
-
Sakai Kikumori x Yoshikazu Tanaka Gokujyo Gyuto 240mm- A solid kitchen tool, this gyuto has a robust spine and a thin grind. A great everyday working knife.
- Hatsukokoro Inazuma AS Damascus Gyuto 210mm- This super thin and super sharp gyuto is perfect for doing laser fine cuts.
- Masutani VG10 Damascus Gyuto 180mm- An affordable knife featuring an excellent finish and a sharp edge. A real people pleaser.
If you have any questions or need help to choose the perfect gyuto knife, please don't hesitate to contact us! We love helping our customers find their dream knife.