Nakiri Knives
The Nakiri knife from Japan is ideal for cutting vegetables and herbs thanks to its long rectangular blade, renowned for its precision and ease of use. At ZWILLING, we offer a curated selection of Nakiri knives from our trusted brands, ZWILLING and MIYABI, combining traditional Japanese craftsmanship with modern engineering. These balanced knives feature sharp, straight edges and sturdy handles, making them perfect for slicing, dicing, and chopping a wide variety of vegetables with minimal effort. Whether you are a seasoned chef or a home cook, our Nakiri knives provide exceptional performance, durability, and comfort to elevate your culinary experience.
FAQ
A Nakiri knife is a traditional Japanese vegetable knife, also known as nakiri bōchō, which literally translates to "leaf cutter." It features a long, rectangular blade with a straight cutting edge designed specifically for chopping, slicing, and dicing vegetables with precision and ease. The blade is typically thin and sharp, allowing for clean, vertical cuts without bruising the produce.
Nakiri knives are primarily used for vegetable preparation. Their design excels at chopping vegetables such as carrots, cucumbers, sweet potatoes, and leafy greens with precise cuts. They are ideal for push cutting, a slicing technique where the blade is pushed straight down and forward rather than rocked. While mainly for vegetables, some Nakiri knives can also handle soft proteins like boneless meats, but they are not suited for cutting through bones or very hard foods.
Unlike ordinary vegetable knives, which are often shorter, curved, and thicker, Nakiri knives have a straight cutting edge and a flat blade shape, which allows for precise, straight cuts and efficient chopping without rocking. They often have double bevel blades, making them easier to use and sharpen compared to single bevel knives like the usuba. The blade length usually ranges from 6.5 to 7 inches, and the blade height provides ample knuckle clearance. Additionally, Nakiri knives typically have a balanced, comfortable handle designed for long vegetable prep sessions.
To maintain a Nakiri knife's sharpness, it is best to sharpen it using a whetstone, which ZWILLING offers from a wide array of knife sharpeners and steels. Start with a medium grit stone between 800 and 1200 grit to reshape the edge, then finish with a finer stone ranging from 3000 to 8000 grit, depending on whether the blade is stainless steel or carbon steel. Sharpen both sides evenly if it has double bevel blades. Avoid using the dishwasher and always hand wash and dry the knife immediately after use to preserve the blade's performance and durability.
Nakiri - Japanese Vegetable Knives
Buy Nakiri knives at ZWILLING
With our Nakiri knives you receive exceptional cutting tools that blend sharpness, handling, and design seamlessly. Japanese knives from MIYABI and ZWILLING elevate your kitchen experience when preparing all kinds of vegetables. Typically, you might need different knives for carrots, tomatoes, or leafy greens. However, this “leaf cutter” — which is the meaning of Nakiri — is perfect for anything green, red, or yellow! Discover everything essential about Nakiri knives in our collection: the unique steel they are crafted from and why they can be a standout addition to your kitchen.
What does Nakiri actually mean?
Nakiri knives are named for their primary function, as "nakiri" literally means leaf or vegetable cutter. This name perfectly reflects the knives' specialty in handling vegetables. Their fine blades allow for precise, millimeter-accurate cuts, making them ideal tools for preparing vegetables with exceptional precision.
What is it like to handle a Nakiri knife for cutting vegetables?
As finely as the Nakiri knife cuts vegetables into small pieces, it visually resembles a cleaver used for meat preparation. However, there are significant differences in its use, as the Nakiri knife features a fine blade suited for very precise work. Additionally, the knife's extra-sharp blade is paired with an ergonomic handle. This combination ensures visually balanced cutting but is not intended for chopping through bones.
All you need to know about the Nakiri knife’s blade
Now, let's delve a bit deeper into the blade of our Nakiri knife, as there are still some interesting details to learn. The blades are ground on both sides, allowing for wafer-thin, millimeter-precise slicing of vegetables, herbs, and even meat and fish if desired. Crafted from high-quality steel and precision-forged, your Nakiri knife's blade material is corrosion-resistant, durable, and maintains flexibility for comfortable handling.
A very special knife, also suitable for beginners
Our Nakiri knives possess numerous qualities valued by professional chefs from Japan to Germany, yet they are also ideal for beginners and amateur cooks. The knives have a relatively heavy feel, giving their grips enough heft to be more approachable and easier to control for those less experienced. Moreover, thanks to their exceptional features, Nakiri knives deliver professional-level cutting performance when preparing vegetables and various other dishes.
Nakiri knives from MIYABI — originals from Japan
Our products in this category uniquely blend the best of two knife-making traditions, as Nakiri knives combine Japanese craftsmanship with German engineering excellence. You can purchase our tested Nakiri knives from ZWILLING, crafted in Solingen, or Miyabi knives, produced in Japan. The latter are easily identifiable in the ZWILLING online store by their distinctive Japanese design etched on the blades. Each knife is one of a kind, even within your knife block!
Want to see more of what Japanese knives we have available? Check out our selection here, including Santoku knives, Gyutoh knives, and more. Pick out the right cutting board to pair with your knives here. Feel free to explore our knife set options or check out what ZWILLING items are currently on sale.
