TYPES OF KITCHEN KNIVES: WHICH KNIFE SHOULD YOU USE FOR WHAT?

A chef's knife, Santoku knife, paring knife or perhaps a utility knife? There's a suitable kitchen knife for almost every cutting task. But which kitchen knife should you use for what? With the right knife, you can work more easily, precisely and safely.

We'll explain the different types of kitchen knives, what they're used for and, for example, the difference between a chef's knife and a Santoku knife. That way, you'll know exactly which knife to choose for your next cutting task.

TYPES OF KITCHEN KNIVES: WHICH KNIFE SHOULD YOU USE FOR WHAT?

A chef's knife, Santoku knife, paring knife or perhaps a utility knife? There's a suitable kitchen knife for almost every cutting task. But which kitchen knife should you use for what? With the right knife, you can work more easily, precisely and safely.

We'll explain the different types of kitchen knives, what they're used for and, for example, the difference between a chef's knife and a Santoku knife. That way, you'll know exactly which knife to choose for your next cutting task.

CHEF'S KNIFE OR SANTOKU KNIFE: WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?

Both the chef's knife and Santoku knife are true all-rounders. You can use them for many everyday cutting tasks, but there are a few important differences.

Chef's knife
A chef's knife has a wide blade with a curved cutting edge. This shape allows you to easily rock the knife back and forth while cutting. This makes it ideal for chopping herbs and cutting vegetables and meat. The wide blade is also useful for transferring chopped ingredients from the cutting board.

Santoku knife
The Santoku knife originates from Japan and has a straighter cutting edge than a traditional chef's knife. This makes it well suited to a more vertical cutting motion. You can use a Santoku knife for slicing, chopping and finely cutting vegetables, meat and fish. The indentations in the blade help prevent ingredients from sticking to the knife while cutting.

Which one you choose mainly depends on how you prefer to cut. Do you like a rocking cutting motion? Then a chef's knife is a great choice. Do you prefer a straight up-and-down cutting motion? Then a Santoku knife may suit you better.

CHEF'S KNIFE OR SANTOKU KNIFE: WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?

Both the chef's knife and Santoku knife are true all-rounders. You can use them for many everyday cutting tasks, but there are a few important differences.

Chef's knife
A chef's knife has a wide blade with a curved cutting edge. This shape allows you to easily rock the knife back and forth while cutting. This makes it ideal for chopping herbs and cutting vegetables and meat. The wide blade is also useful for transferring chopped ingredients from the cutting board.

Santoku knife
The Santoku knife originates from Japan and has a straighter cutting edge than a traditional chef's knife. This makes it well suited to a more vertical cutting motion. You can use a Santoku knife for slicing, chopping and finely cutting vegetables, meat and fish. The indentations in the blade help prevent ingredients from sticking to the knife while cutting.

Which one you choose mainly depends on how you prefer to cut. Do you like a rocking cutting motion? Then a chef's knife is a great choice. Do you prefer a straight up-and-down cutting motion? Then a Santoku knife may suit you better.

SHOP THE ESSENTIALS.

From precise peeling to chopping vegetables and slicing bread: discover the GRUUN Essential Collection. Choose the kitchen knives that suit the way you cook or opt for a complete knife set that brings together several essentials.

Gruun Utility Knife 12,7 cm
Looking for a versatile knife for a wide range of cutting tasks? Made from recycled stainless steel, this utility knife is a true all-rounder and a great choice for beginner home cooks too. Use it to cut meat and fish into pieces or slices, divide cauliflower and broccoli into florets, slice mango and melon, or chop generous bunches of fresh herbs. The blade is 12.7 cm long, with a total length of 23.9 cm.A smart choice:✓ Versatile for a wide range of cutting tasks✓ Ideal for meat, fish, vegetables, fruit and herbs✓ Recycled X50CrMoV15 stainless steel✓ Forged from a single piece✓ Safe, sturdy ergonomic grip✓ Hygienic✓ Always wash knives by hand, not in the dishwasherThe knives in the GRUUN Essential Collection are designed for conscious home cooks. Every GRUUN knife is thoroughly tested, so you can enjoy it for years to come. By choosing recycled steel and plastic-free packaging, you're also making a more sustainable choice.

€29.50
Gruun Paring Knife 7 cm
Looking for a sustainable, precise and compact kitchen knife? This razor-sharp curved paring knife is made from recycled stainless steel, provides excellent control and is ideal for delicate cutting tasks. Perfect for slicing and crushing garlic, peeling shallots and cutting chillies, cherry tomatoes and strawberries. The blade is 7 cm long, with a total length of 18 cm.A smart choice:✓ Suitable for small vegetables, fruit and herbs✓ Lightweight and compact✓ Recycled X50CrMoV15 stainless steel✓ Forged from a single piece✓ Safe, sturdy ergonomic grip✓ Hygienic✓ Always wash knives by hand, not in the dishwasherThe knives in the GRUUN Essential Collection are designed for conscious home cooks. Every GRUUN knife is thoroughly tested, so you can enjoy it for years to come. By choosing recycled steel and plastic-free packaging, you're also making a more sustainable choice.

€22.50
Gruun Steak Knife 2 pieces 12,7 cm
Steak knives are an essential addition to any knife collection! This set includes two knives – because good food is even better when shared. Made from recycled stainless steel, these durable steak knives glide smoothly through the grilled exterior of tender meat, BBQ meat, grilled chicken, ribeye or lamb chops without tearing. The serrated blades are also ideal for slicing larger vegetables and baguettes. The blade is 12.7 cm long, with a total length of 23.1 cm.A smart choice:✓ Effortlessly cuts through tender, grilled meat✓ Recycled X50CrMoV15 stainless steel✓ Forged from a single piece✓ Safe, sturdy ergonomic grip✓ Hygienic✓ Always wash knives by hand, not in the dishwasherThe knives in the GRUUN Essential Collection are designed for conscious home cooks. Every GRUUN knife is thoroughly tested, so you can enjoy it for years to come. By choosing recycled steel and plastic-free packaging, you're also making a more sustainable choice.

€39.95
Gruun Chef's Knife 20,3 cm
Looking for one knife for both heavy-duty and precision cutting tasks? This classic chef’s knife, made from recycled stainless steel, is the perfect all-rounder. It is the largest knife in the collection and ideal for chopping and slicing vegetables, meat, fish, fruit and herbs. Use it to chop onions, cabbage and carrots, portion larger cuts of meat, fillet fish, slice melon or finely chop generous bunches of fresh herbs. The blade is 20.3 cm long, with a total length of 33.3 cm.A smart choice:✓ Versatile chef’s knife✓ Suitable for both heavy-duty and precision cutting✓ Recycled X50CrMoV15 stainless steel✓ Forged from a single piece✓ Safe, sturdy ergonomic grip✓ Hygienic✓ Always wash knives by hand, not in the dishwasherThe knives in the GRUUN Essential Collection are designed for conscious home cooks. Every GRUUN knife is thoroughly tested, so you can enjoy it for years to come. By choosing recycled steel and plastic-free packaging, you're also making a more sustainable choice.

€39.50
Bread Knife 20,3 cm
A bread knife is a true kitchen essential. Whether it’s breakfast, lunch, drinks and nibbles or dinner, good bread is always welcome. Made from recycled stainless steel, this bread knife slices through bread without crushing or tearing it. The long blade with its razor-sharp serrated edge glides effortlessly through foods with a firm exterior and soft centre. Ideal for bread, baguettes, pastries and cakes, as well as melon. The blade is 20.3 cm long, with a total length of 32.5 cm.A smart choice:✓ Slices without tearing or crushing✓ Ideal for foods with a firm exterior and soft centre✓ Recycled X50CrMoV15 stainless steel✓ Forged from a single piece✓ Safe, sturdy ergonomic grip✓ Hygienic✓ Always wash knives by hand, not in the dishwasherThe knives in the GRUUN Essential Collection are designed for conscious home cooks. Every GRUUN knife is thoroughly tested, so you can enjoy it for years to come. By choosing recycled steel and plastic-free packaging, you're also making a more sustainable choice.

€39.50
Gruun Santoku Knife 17,8 cm
The all-rounder of Japanese cuisine. Made from recycled stainless steel, this large santoku knife is ideal for finely chopping vegetables and thinly slicing larger pieces of fish and meat – perfect for sushi and sashimi, for example. Use it to julienne carrots, peppers and courgettes, roughly chop nuts or easily slice pineapple. The blade is 17.8 cm long, with a total length of 31 cm.A smart choice:✓ Ideal for slicing, dicing and roughly chopping✓ Blade indentations help prevent food from sticking✓ Recycled X50CrMoV15 stainless steel✓ Forged from a single piece✓ Safe, sturdy ergonomic grip✓ Hygienic✓ Always wash knives by hand, not in the dishwasherThe knives in the GRUUN Essential Collection are designed for conscious home cooks. Every GRUUN knife is thoroughly tested, so you can enjoy it for years to come. By choosing recycled steel and plastic-free packaging, you're also making a more sustainable choice.

€39.50
Gruun Chef's knife 15 cm
This 15 cm chef’s knife is your go-to tool for finer cutting tasks in the kitchen. Compact in size, big on performance. Made from recycled stainless steel, forged from a single piece and finished with a sturdy ergonomic grip, it provides a safe and comfortable cutting experience every day.Thanks to its compact size, this knife is ideal for precision work: slicing small vegetables, finely chopping herbs, trimming mushrooms or halving garlic and shallots. It also offers excellent control when cutting fish or meat. The blade is 15 cm long, with a total length of 28.6 cm.A smart choice:✓ Compact chef’s knife with a 15 cm blade✓ Ideal for precision cutting and smaller hands✓ Recycled X50CrMoV15 stainless steel✓ Forged from a single piece✓ Sturdy ergonomic grip✓ Hygienic & durable✓ Hand wash onlyThe knives in the GRUUN Essential Collection are designed for conscious home cooks who value both quality and sustainability. Every knife is thoroughly tested for sharpness, balance and grip. So you can enjoy years of effortless cutting while choosing a knife with a smaller environmental footprint.

€35.00
Gruun Santoku Knife 12,7 cm
Looking for a knife that is powerful, agile and precise? This small santoku knife, made from recycled stainless steel, is perfect for finely chopping smaller vegetables and thinly slicing fish and meat – ideal for sushi and sashimi, for example. It also makes light work of slicing and chopping shallots, garlic, chillies and cherry tomatoes, as well as peeling fruit. The blade is 12.7 cm long, with a total length of 24 cm.A smart choice:✓ Ideal for thin slicing, dicing and finely chopping✓ Blade indentations help prevent food from sticking✓ Recycled X50CrMoV15 stainless steel✓ Forged from a single piece✓ Safe, sturdy ergonomic grip✓ Hygienic✓ Always wash knives by hand, not in the dishwasherThe knives in the GRUUN Essential Collection are designed for conscious home cooks. Every GRUUN knife is thoroughly tested, so you can enjoy it for years to come. By choosing recycled steel and plastic-free packaging, you're also making a more sustainable choice.

€32.50
Gruun Peeling Knife 8,8 cm
Looking for one knife for all your peeling and cutting tasks? This versatile, compact paring knife made from recycled stainless steel is ideal for the job. Perfect for thinly slicing cucumber, dicing avocado, peeling apples and pears, or finely chopping mint, parsley and basil. The blade is 8.8 cm long, with a total knife length of 20.4 cm.A smart choice:✓ Versatile: ideal for peeling, slicing and chopping✓ Lightweight and compact✓ Recycled X50CrMoV15 stainless steel✓ Forged from a single piece✓ Safe, sturdy ergonomic grip✓ Hygienic✓ Always wash knives by hand, not in the dishwasherThe knives in the GRUUN Essential Collection are designed for conscious home cooks. Every GRUUN knife is thoroughly tested, so you can enjoy it for years to come. By choosing recycled steel and plastic-free packaging, you're also making a more sustainable choice.

€22.50
Gruun Serrated Utility Knife 12,7 cm
Looking for a kitchen knife that easily cuts through soft ingredients without crushing them? Made from recycled stainless steel, this serrated utility knife is an everyday kitchen essential. Perfect for tomatoes, baguettes, cakes, cabbage, citrus fruits, peaches and plums, as well as cheese and small cured sausages. The blade is 12.7 cm long, with a total length of 23.9 cm.A smart choice:✓ Ideal for ingredients with a firm exterior and soft centre✓ Serrated edge helps prevent crushing✓ Recycled X50CrMoV15 stainless steel✓ Forged from a single piece✓ Safe, sturdy ergonomic grip✓ Hygienic✓ Always wash knives by hand, not in the dishwasherThe knives in the GRUUN Essential Collection are designed for conscious home cooks. Every GRUUN knife is thoroughly tested, so you can enjoy it for years to come. By choosing recycled steel and plastic-free packaging, you're also making a more sustainable choice.

€29.50
Gruun Peeling + Paring Knife
This compact knife set from GRUUN is an essential addition to any kitchen. The set includes a curved paring knife (7 cm) and a versatile paring knife (8.8 cm), both made from recycled stainless steel. Perfect for precise slicing, peeling and chopping tasks.The curved paring knife sits comfortably in the hand and is ideal for cutting small ingredients such as garlic, shallots, chillies, tomatoes and strawberries. Its curved blade provides excellent control while cutting. The slightly longer paring knife is highly versatile: perfect for peeling fruit, slicing cucumber or finely chopping fresh herbs.A smart choice:✓ Sustainable 2-piece knife set✓ Curved paring knife (7 cm) & paring knife (8.8 cm)✓ Ideal for peeling, slicing and finely chopping✓ Recycled X50CrMoV15 stainless steel✓ Ergonomic and razor-sharp✓ Plastic-free packaging✓ Always wash knives by handThe knives in the GRUUN Essential Collection are designed for conscious home cooks who value both quality and sustainability. Every knife is carefully tested for sharpness, grip and balance, helping you cut effortlessly and consciously – every day.

€29.95

SHOP THE ESSENTIALS.

From precise peeling to chopping vegetables and slicing bread: discover the GRUUN Essential Collection. Choose the kitchen knives that suit the way you cook or opt for a complete knife set that brings together several essentials.

THE RIGHT KNIFE FOR EVERY CUTTING TASK.

In addition to chef's knives and Santoku knives, there are kitchen knives designed specifically for particular cutting tasks.

Bread knife
A bread knife has a long, serrated blade that easily cuts through a hard crust without crushing the soft bread underneath. The serrated edge also makes it suitable for ingredients with a soft interior and firmer exterior, such as tomatoes.

Paring knife
Small knife, maximum control. A paring knife is ideal for precise cutting and peeling. Use it for peeling apples and pears, removing seeds and cores, cutting small ingredients or creating delicate garnishes.

Vegetable knife
A vegetable knife has a short, curved blade that easily follows the contours of fruit and vegetables. Ideal for peeling potatoes and apples, for example, and for small, precise cutting tasks.

Utility knife
A utility knife sits between a large chef's knife and a small paring knife in terms of size. This makes it useful for everyday cutting tasks where a chef's knife is just a little too large. Use it for cutting fruit, vegetables and smaller ingredients, for example.

Steak knife
A steak knife is used at the table for cutting cooked meat. A sharp blade cuts cleanly through the meat without requiring much force. Depending on the model, a steak knife can have either a straight or serrated blade.

THE RIGHT KNIFE FOR EVERY CUTTING TASK.

In addition to chef's knives and Santoku knives, there are kitchen knives designed specifically for particular cutting tasks.

Bread knife
A bread knife has a long, serrated blade that easily cuts through a hard crust without crushing the soft bread underneath. The serrated edge also makes it suitable for ingredients with a soft interior and firmer exterior, such as tomatoes.

Paring knife
Small knife, maximum control. A paring knife is ideal for precise cutting and peeling. Use it for peeling apples and pears, removing seeds and cores, cutting small ingredients or creating delicate garnishes.

Vegetable knife
A vegetable knife has a short, curved blade that easily follows the contours of fruit and vegetables. Ideal for peeling potatoes and apples, for example, and for small, precise cutting tasks.

Utility knife
A utility knife sits between a large chef's knife and a small paring knife in terms of size. This makes it useful for everyday cutting tasks where a chef's knife is just a little too large. Use it for cutting fruit, vegetables and smaller ingredients, for example.

Steak knife
A steak knife is used at the table for cutting cooked meat. A sharp blade cuts cleanly through the meat without requiring much force. Depending on the model, a steak knife can have either a straight or serrated blade.

WHY CHOOSE THE RIGHT KITCHEN KNIFE?

The right kitchen knife makes a big difference. A bread knife is designed to cut through crusts, a paring knife gives you control for precision work, and a chef's knife or Santoku knife helps you tackle larger everyday cutting tasks. By using each knife for its intended purpose, you can work more easily, precisely and safely.

At GRUUN, we look beyond ease of use. Our kitchen knives are made from recycled stainless steel and designed to last. So you're not only choosing the right knife for the task, but also making a conscious addition to your kitchen.

WHY CHOOSE THE RIGHT KITCHEN KNIFE?

The right kitchen knife makes a big difference. A bread knife is designed to cut through crusts, a paring knife gives you control for precision work, and a chef's knife or Santoku knife helps you tackle larger everyday cutting tasks. By using each knife for its intended purpose, you can work more easily, precisely and safely.

At GRUUN, we look beyond ease of use. Our kitchen knives are made from recycled stainless steel and designed to last. So you're not only choosing the right knife for the task, but also making a conscious addition to your kitchen.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What types of knives does GRUUN offer?
The Essential Collection includes a variety of kitchen knives, including a chef's knife, Santoku knives in two sizes, a bread knife, utility knife, paring knife, vegetable knife and steak knives. This means there's a suitable knife for every cutting task.
What is a Santoku knife used for?
A Santoku knife is ideal for finely slicing vegetables, herbs, fish and meat. The indentations in the blade help prevent ingredients from sticking to the knife, allowing you to cut faster and more precisely.
What is a chef's knife used for?
A chef's knife is the most versatile kitchen knife. You can use it for cutting vegetables, meat, fish, fruit and herbs, making it the ideal knife for everyday use.
Are the knives dishwasher-safe?
No. We recommend always washing the knives by hand and drying them immediately. Dishwasher detergents and high temperatures can damage the blade and cause a knife to become blunt more quickly.
How do I keep my knife sharp?
Regularly use a honing steel to keep the cutting edge aligned. Preferably cut on a wooden cutting board and avoid hard or frozen foods. Store your knives safely in a knife block or on a magnetic knife strip.
What type of steel are the knives made from?
All GRUUN knives are made from high-quality recycled X50CrMoV15 stainless steel. This steel combines long-lasting sharpness, good corrosion resistance and easy maintenance.
What does X50CrMoV15 mean?
X50CrMoV15 is a commonly used steel for high-quality kitchen knives. Thanks to the addition of chromium, molybdenum and vanadium, the steel stays sharp, offers good corrosion resistance and is easy to resharpen.
Why does GRUUN use recycled steel?
Recycled steel offers the same quality and performance as new steel but requires fewer new raw materials. This allows us to combine sustainability with knives designed to last for years.
Are the knives completely plastic-free?
Almost. The packaging is completely plastic-free. Only the recycled protective cover around the blade contains plastic. This keeps the knives safe during transport and storage while allowing us to minimise the use of new plastic as much as possible.
Why are the knives forged from a single piece of steel?
A knife forged from a single piece of steel is stronger, better balanced and more comfortable to hold. This gives you greater precision and control while cutting.