Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)Victorinox CeramicLine Santoku Knife
I did some research on santoku and ceramic knives before I tried it out in the kitchen. I learned that the santoku knife is designed for slicing, dicing, and mincing and literally translates to three uses. The santoku apparently relies on a single downward cutting motion rather than rocking. As a result, the santoku is more appropriate for working with vegetables and fruits. They typically measures about 5"-7" and this Victorinox was a 7" model.
Ceramic knives are constructed out of hard ceramics like zirconium oxide. Victorinox claims this blade is made almost 100% out of high-purity zirconium oxide. The material is sharpened by diamond-dust coated grinding wheels, or grinding wheels with extremely hard materials. Zirconia is ranked 8.5 on the Mohs scale compared to 6.5 for hardened steel or 10 for a diamond. Industrial grade diamond sharpeners are recommended when sharpening a ceramic blade.
The handle is made of a polyamide plastic and the instructions give many warnings against using the blade for hitting or levering. The ceramic material is hard, but it is also very brittle. They recommend using a wood or plastic cutting surface, and to avoid hitting other objects in a dishwasher.
Cutting soft vegetables and fruits (like oranges) is easy, but it requires a lot of effort for raw meat and harder vegetables. This is not a 1 size fits all blade, it has its limits in the kitchen.
Pros: Lightweight, balanced, novel blade material. Doesn't rust and doesn't leave a metallic taste in foods.
Cons: Ceramic material is high maintenance - avoid hitting a hard surface or using it as a lever, but even with normal light-usage the blade will chip very easily.
Overall: 4/5 stars
UPDATE: After using the ceramic knife for a few weeks, I've noticed the blade being chipped in a few spots. I never hit anything hard with the blade. It is difficult to use for harder vegetables like thick lettuce/cabbage. It slices through oranges, apples, and pears very easily though.
UPDATE2: Someone in the household used this knife and sliced his finger accidentally. This knife is sharp, by no means is it a plastic picnic knife. The white blade material looks deceiving but it is sharp. I do not recommend using it for hard/stiff vegetables or meat, but it still works effectively on soft vegetables, fruits, etc...
Click Here to see more reviews about: Victorinox Ceramic Santoku Knife, 7-Inch
From the Manufacturer
What is a ceramic blade? For over 100 years, Victorinox Commercial Cutlery has become the tool of choice for professionals, and the brand continues to innovate with the introduction of the new ceramic blade collection featuring proprietary Fibrox® handles. Ceramic blades have recently gained popularity due to their outstanding edge retention and resistance to corrosion and acids.
Our ceramic blades are manufactured from high-purity zirconium oxide powder, compressed at very high pressures and sintered in furnaces at temperatures over 2700° F. The result is an extremely hard blade that is comparable to the hardness of a diamond. Each knife is then equipped with our classic Victorinox Fibrox handle with signature textured grip, helping reduce the chance of slippage.And with the handle designed to minimize wrist tension while still providing legendary cuts, it\'s no wonder that Victorinox Commercial Cutlery remains the true choice of professionals.Ceramic blades are as useable as metal blades.Ceramic knives have several distinguishing features.
Precision Sharpness:We compress materials at very high pressures resulting in a hard blade which is comparable to diamonds.This hardness allows us to apply an edge with microscopic precision.The edge will maintain its razor sharpness and is resistant to wearing.
No Odors:Ceramic material is not very porous; it keeps the blade from transferring odors from one food item to another. You can cut something spicy, give it a quick rinse and then cut something else. The spiciness won\'t transfer to the next food item.
Sanitary:Ceramic blades are very dense, with very little pores. Just like your face, the less pores there are, the less dirt and grime can get into the pores. A quick rinse in warm water will get your ceramic knife a lot cleaner than a thorough scrubbing on a metal knife.
Light Weight: Ceramic material is very light weight; half the weight of steel. The lighter weight means there will be less strain on your arms and shoulders. You can tackle any food preparation task with ease and precision, just like a pro.
No Rust:Because metal is not used in ceramic knives, they will never rust.This makes them the perfect knives for humid climates where risks of rust are high.
The benefits of Fibrox handles Our Fibrox handles are created with the unique hygienic needs of the home chef. They are designed to minimize wrist tension while providing a secure grip.They are also sanitary and easy to clean.They feature a lifetime warranty against manufacturer\'s defects.
How should I care for my ceramic cutlery? After use, clean ceramic knives with a mild detergent.Dishwashing is not recommended, unless the knife can be guaranteed not to come into contact with any other product.Never clean with a wire brush or hold in an open flame. We recommend the use of a special diamond sharpener like our Victorinox Ceramic Diamond Sharpener.Store your ceramic knives in the supplied protector.
Who is Victorinox? Although Victorinox is known the world over as the creator of the Original Swiss Army Knife, the company started out in 1884 as a cutlery workshop. By the time company creator Karl Elsener delivered his first pocket knife to the Swiss Army, his cutlery business was already booming. Over the next century, Victorinox cutlery became a top-rated choice among professionals worldwide, with over 300 blades to offer.
Victorinox knives have regularly appeared as highly ranked and recommended kitchen tools in Cook\'s Illustrated, Men\'s Health, The Cincinnati Enquirer, New York Magazine, and Natural Health, just to name a few. In 2009, the company announced a partnership with professional chef, Daniel Humm, of Eleven Madison Park in New York City. In addition, building on the success of its cutlery business, Victorinox has brought all the same quality and expertise to a wider range of products and accessories, including other kitchen tools, pocket tools, watches, luggage, and clothing.
Click here for more information about Victorinox Ceramic Santoku Knife, 7-Inch
