Each knife in a knife set has its specific function and purpose. Don’t be the type of cook who uses the same knife for all purposes. When you want to prep vegetables for your blender or juicer or just want to slice and dice veggies to make a salad, nakiri knives are the best for such purposes.
You can easily differentiate them from other knives by their squared-off tip and straight blade. They easily and precisely cut through thick or thin bunches of vegetables due to their peculiar sharpness.
If you want to buy a nakiri knife set but find it difficult to choose one, we have compiled some of the best ones for you. Below are our five (5) best nakiri knife set reviews.
Best Nakiri Knives
| Image | Best Nakiri Knife Sets | Rating |
|---|---|---|
 | 1. Wusthof WT4193 Classic Nakiri Knife | 99% |
 | 2. Shun Premier Nakiri Knife | 96% |
 | 3. Mercer Culinary Genesis Nakiri Knife | 92% |
 | 4. Miyabi Mizu SG2 Nakiri Knife | 89% |
 | 5. Enso Nakiri Knife | 85% |
Want to learn more?
Here are our Best Nakiri Knife Sets reviews.
1. Wusthof WT4193 Classic Nakiri Knife
We know you prefer a fully forged, well-made knife set in your kitchen. If you want a top-quality Nakiri knife set, the Wusthof WT4193 Classic Hollow Edge Nakiri Knife set is ideal for you. Though made in Germany, this knife boasts the same effectiveness and durability that Japanese nakiri knives offer.
With blades that are not as hard as other nakiri knives, brittleness is out of the question. This 7-inch superiorly crafted knife is very versatile. It can be used for peeling, dicing, and slicing a wide variety of vegetables.
The Wusthof WT4193 is constructed with High Carbon Stainless Steel and sports a blade that is angled on both sides. Whether you’re right-handed or left-handed, you’ll love this knife. We like the fact that it features a non-stick Granton edge blade that releases food from its edge due to the air pockets it creates while cutting through.
With its triple-riveted Polyoxymethylene (POM) handle, it stays firmly in your hand without slipping. Caution should be taken as this nakiri knife is extremely sharp.
Remarkably, this knife is very sturdy and easy to maneuver. This is due to its full tang design. We recommend that you hand wash this knife to protects its sharpness.
Why do we like it?
- Has a Rockwell Hardness of 58
- Easy to use due to its perfect balance
- Retains edge for longer
2. Shun Premier Nakiri Knife
Perhaps you want a nakiri knife that is equally sharp, hard, and lightweight. The Shun Premier Nakiri Knife is what we recommend for you. Featuring a thin blade that’s ideal for slicing a variety of vegetables, you do not need any other knife to help you out when you need to make salads or soups. Extremely fine-grained steel that has gone through precise heat treatment is used to make the blade of this nakiri knife. This offers you the impressive performance and strength you crave for in a knife. Interestingly, it sports a hammered tsuchime finish that helps release food when slicing. With a VG-MAX cutting core, you can be fully assured of a sharp and long-lasting cutting edge.
The Shun Premier Nakiri Knife also features a 16-degree one-sided cutting edge. In general, the 5.5-inch blade has a quick taper and flat ground and is really easy to hone. Its walnut-colored Pakkawood handle is comfortable to grip, and it is durable. Additionally, this handle won’t harbor bacteria and features a full composite tang that gives it great balance and strength.
To keep your Shun Nakiri Knife in great condition, we recommend that you hand wash it when it gets dirty because dishwashers are known to have a negative effect on sharp knives like this one.
Why do we like it?
- Sophisticated and elegant
- Great for both small and large hands
- Handcrafted by skilled Japanese artisans
3. Mercer Culinary Genesis Nakiri Knife
For rust and corrosion-resistant stainless steel nakiri knife, we recommend the Mercer Culinary Genesis 7-Inch Nakiri Vegetable Knife. We like the fact that the full tang goes all the way through the entire handle. A wonderful balance is what you get for such a design. You can precisely dice more vegetables for a long time without experiencing hand fatigue. Interestingly, the handle is made of Santoprene. This means you can be assured of a handle that will not slip even when used with wet hands. More so, it is resistant to extreme temperatures and is comfortable to hold.
The blade of this 7-inch Mercer Culinary Nakiri Knife has a taper-ground edge that is amazingly stable when slicing through tough veggies. Do not lose your guard when slicing away if you don’t want deep cuts. It is important to note that you shouldn’t leave this nakiri knife soaking in water for a long period. Doing this will damage it.
Storing in a knife block is recommended to prevent its edges from getting dull. Unfortunately, the Mercer Nakiri Knife is not dishwasher safe and should not be washed with chlorine bleach. Hand wash this knife with mild detergent and warm water only.
Why do we like it?
- Sleek and sturdy design
- NSF certified
- Outstanding performance
4. Miyabi Mizu SG2 Nakiri Knife
Japanese knives are popular for their incredible sharpness. The Miyabi Mizu SG2 is one of the best nakiri knife set available on the market. A special Cryodur process that first heats the steel then cools it to room temperature before freezing to about -196 degree Celsius gives this knife a superior cutting performance. Its corrosion resistance is heightened so is its flexibility.
Dicing and slicing vegetables with this nakiri knife is easy. Remarkably, it rates 63 on the Rockwell hardness scale. This hardness makes it a bit brittle; therefore, care should be taken when sharpening to avoid chipping. Professional artisans hand-hone the blade of this exceptional nakiri knife to a 9 – 12 degree angle.
The blade is sharpened with an ancient 3-step process that sharpens it twice on a whetstone and mirror-polishes it on a leather wheel. The ultimate sharpness this 6.5- inches Miyabi Mizu Nakiri Knife offers you is unbeatable. You can practically slice through thick chunks of vegetables with the slightest effort. Featuring a stunning D-shaped Micarta handle, you will have a comfortable grip during usage.
Balance is added to this knife by a metal end cap on the handle. Even if you have big hands, this specially designed knife will give you a satisfying experience.
Why do we like it?
- Sports a hammered Damascus textured finish
- Lightweight
- Highly durable and reliable
5. Enso Nakiri Knife
The Enso Nakiri Knife set is the ideal vegetable slicer. With its 37-layer stainless steel construction, it boasts corrosion resistance, and its rust-proof properties make it an awesome piece to have on your kitchen countertop. Additionally, its excellent edge retention capabilities are due to its VG-10 steel cutting core. To give this nakiri knife the hardness that gives it super vegetable slicing abilities, it is heat-treated to a 61 on the Rockwell scale. Subsequently, it is hand ground to a 12-degree cutting angle.
The blade of the Enso Nakiri Knife features a double beveled edge. This makes it particularly suitable for any user, whether right-handed or left-handed. Its black canvas Micarta handle with a bolster, end cap, and three stainless steel rivets offer a comfortable grip. The shape and feel of the handle are similar to wood, but then, it won’t crack like other wooden handles. Since this knife is constructed with an enclosed full tang handle, the balance it offers reduces hand fatigue to the minimum during usage.
The blade length of the Enso Nakiri Knife is 6.5-inches, the blade height is 1.75-inches at the heel, the spine thickness is 2mm, and the overall length is 12-inches.
Why do we like it?
- Highly versatile
- Has a hammered finish
- Lifetime warranty
Nakiri Knife Buyer’s Guide
The fact that there are many nakiri knives on the market can make choosing the best one quite confusing. There are major things to consider in a bid to purchase the best nakiri knife sets. Read our buyer’s guide below and get enlightened.
Blade
Stainless steel is the most common material that nakiri knives are made of. It is important to understand that not all stainless steel are of the same quality. A high carbon stainless steel is harder and retains sharpness for longer. Low carbon stainless steel knives tend to be softer, get dull faster but are more flexible than high carbon steel. For utmost performance, always go for high carbon steel nakiri knives. Though they are more expensive, they are known to be quite durable
Finish
While slicing vegetables, there is always a tendency for the veggies to stick to the knife. Most times, this can be frustrating. We recommend that you go for knives with a hand-hammered finish or a Granton edge. These features allow the knife to easily release the veggies you are chopping and also reduce the friction for faster slicing.
Handle
The handle of a knife is a major determinant when it comes to functionality. Always go for the best nakiri knife sets with handles that reduce hand fatigue and are comfortable to grip. It is also important to purchase models with water-resistant and non-slip.
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