Cut through your food preparation in half the time with Global's Santoku knife!
Written: Dec 15 '05 (Updated Dec 15 '05)
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Pros: Strong, long-lasting blade, one piece construction, good looks
Cons: More expensive than our previous complete knife set
The Bottom Line: Treat this knife right and it will serve you for years to come!
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| ivplay's Full Review: Global Santoku Knife |
Within the past year I have become more and more interested in cooking, and my wife seems to like this hobby much more than my other passion, computers. I have been cooking and trying new recipes most every weekend and some days during the week, and I have developed a new addiction to all things kitchen. As such, I realized that our knife set that we received as a wedding gift was woefully inadequate. The search was on for some new knives and I was not interested in purchasing an 'economical' set that wouldn't stay sharpened for long. Quality cooking requires quality components, or so I tell my wife…
After searching the web and consulting some friends who have been interested in foodie items for much longer than I (Pippadaisy's husband, G), I decided upon a Global brand knife. They are not the most expensive knives on the market, but they carry a good edge and have a good reputation. After reading up on the company and their construction, I was sold. Global knives are produced by Yoshikin Steel of Japan, and they generally hold their edge longer than most knives produced in the west due to the blade composition. The edge of the blade is straight as opposed to beveled, creating a much longer cutting surface in comparison. The steel used is a proprietary alloy called CROMOVA 18 consisting of a mixture of Chromium (CRO), Molybdenum (MO) and Vanadium (VA). The 18 in the name designates the percentage of chromium present in the steel, or 18%. The composition and the blade edge contribute to a strong, long-lasting edge.
When deciding which Global knife to buy, I went with a Santoku knife as I liked the looks of them. I found one at a good price at CutleryAndMore.com. There are two different 7" Santoku knives available from Global; the regular Santoku (G-46) and the fluted (or hollow edge) Santoku (G-48). I personally liked the looks of the fluted Santoku, and had read that the flutes allow for faster slicing of meat products. The flutes reduce the surface area and friction associated with slicing through the material, thus reducing the force required. The knife is composed on one solid piece of steel and perfectly balanced via a hollow handle filled with exactly the right amount of sand and then sealed. The knives are particularly easy to keep clean as there are no seams for food and other bits to collect in. The handle is dimpled and then these dimples are colored black. This lends itself to a striking appearance and also allows for a good grip while cutting.
I use this knife for almost all of my slicing needs including cutting up meat, vegetables and fish. The blade is 18 cm in length, or a tad over 7 inches. This is similar in size to a chef's knife, or the 'big' knife in your knife block. The Santoku blade is easily distinguishable from other chef's knives as the edge of the blade has very little curve to it, thus giving more cutting edge to use. At 168 grams (slightly under six ounces) this is not a heavy knife by any means, and the blade is very, very sharp. After using an almost-8-year-old knife set for so long it was simply amazing to see how easily this knife sliced through almost anything. My wife and I both learned the hard way with a few knicks and one or two minor cuts that you need to be much more careful with this blade than the older blades we had previously! We are very careful to keep this up high and out of reach of our children.
Cleaning of any expensive knife should always be done with soapy water and a dish rag. Towel dry the blade immediately after rinsing to avoid water spots and put the knife up out of the reach of children. Never wash via a dishwasher, although it is dishwasher safe. The goal with purchasing an expensive knife is to have it for years to come, and hand-washing will facilitate this goal. Take care in storing the knife to keep the blade somewhat protected, as you don’t want the knife to become dull due to dropping items on it.
Overall I am very pleased with my 7" Santoku knife from Global, and I plan on buying a few more of their knives in the future. After using this knife for some time I now realize that if you have a good, quality knife, your preparation of food items for cooking goes much quicker and easier. I don't think I need a wide assortment of knives anymore, as just a few high quality knives should be more than enough. The Global Santoku knife is a definite keeper with its great balance, quality blade and good looks. I recommend this knife with a five star rating!
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 89.95
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