What is a nakiri knife used for?

vegetable cutting

A nakiri knife is a traditional Japanese vegetable cutting knife with a thin, flat blade. The blade is usually around 16-18 centimeters long and 4-5 centimeters wide, and it is made from high-quality steel. The blade is squared off at the tip, which makes it perfect for cutting and chopping vegetables.

The blade's flat edge allows for quick, straight chopping motions, making it an essential tool for preparing vegetables like onions, lettuce, and carrots. The blade’s thickness, coupled with its flatness, provides excellent resistance when chopping through dense vegetables and can make mincing, chopping, and dicing vegetables considerably easier.

Nakiri knives are lightweight, easy to handle, and usually come with a wooden or resin handle. They are comfortable and balanced in the hand, and their composition allows them to maintain a razor-sharp edge to slice through delicate vegetable flesh with less damage and bruising. They are perfect for anyone who takes cooking as an art form, particularly those who specialize in Japanese cooking or preparing plant-based meals.