When it comes to kitchen knives, Japanese makers know their game. There are many varieties of Japanese knives, and the Deba knife is one such special knife.
Other Japanese knives include petty knives (utility knives or paring knives), nakiri knives (vegetable knives), santoku knives, and gyuto knives.
Deba knives can range from 100mm to 240mm in length. They are single-bevel knives with a pointed blade. The hardness is generally anywhere around 56 to 63 HRC. The blade on these knives is thick and heavy; it tapers towards the cutting edge of the knives.
Using the Deba Knife
Deba knives are pointed and are perfect for use in cooking tasks like carving, and prep like removing fish skin, fins, etc. from fish. Thus, filleting will be an ideal task for these knives. Needless to say, these knives are a sushi chef’s must-have.
They are sharp and strong enough to chop the bones of small and medium-sized fish. However, the use of Deba knives is not limited to fish filleting. They can well be used on shelled seafood, like crabs, to crack through the shell and claws. Deba knives can also be used to chop through tendons, smaller bones, and cartilage that might be present in poultry or similar meat, as well as shelled sea animals like crabs.
Since Deba knives come in a variety of lengths, smaller lengths are good for slicing fish or smaller bones (the tip is particularly used for boning), while much longer ones are strong enough to cut larger fish, fish heads, and other types of meat.
Materials and care
The blades of Deba knives can be made up of materials such as stainless steel or carbon steel, both of which have their own advantages in terms of maintenance, performance, etc. While carbon steel is the sharpest and easiest to sharpen, stainless steel is much easier to maintain given that it does not rust.
The handle on Deba knives is stout. It is typically made of real wood, such as Magnolia, or plywood. Just like regular kitchen knives, Deba knives are easy to wash, but they must be dried immediately to protect them and make them long-lasting.
Whether you are hosting a dinner party for friends or just making warm comfort food for your family on a cold day, take your pick of knives from The Cook’s Edge, a store that offers Atlantic Canada’s largest selection of beautiful handcrafted Japanese knives. The store also offers knife-sharpening services.