A great kitchen knife is one of those tools you don’t truly appreciate until you use one that completely transforms your cooking experience. We were lucky enough to be gifted the JKC AUS10 Nakiri 180mm from Japanese Knife Company, and it has quickly become one of the most-used items in our kitchen.
The Nakiri is traditionally designed for vegetables, but we found it to be incredibly versatile. From finely slicing onions and herbs to chopping root vegetables, carving fruit, and even tackling tougher ingredients, it handled everything with ease. The razor-sharp AUS10 steel glides effortlessly through food, making prep work quicker, cleaner, and far more enjoyable. Once you’ve used a knife this sharp and well-balanced, it’s difficult to go back to an ordinary chef’s knife.
The craftsmanship is exactly what you’d expect from Japanese Knife Company. The knife feels beautifully balanced in the hand, the edge retention has been excellent, and it has a premium feel that makes cooking a genuine pleasure.
Our only minor criticism concerns the packaging. The knife arrived in a simple cardboard sleeve, and during our very first use it sliced straight through the sleeve while we were removing it, resulting in a cut to my hand. In one sense, that’s a testament to just how incredibly sharp the blade is, but we’d love to see a more protective sheath or guard included to make first-time handling a little safer.
Aside from that small detail, we have nothing but praise for the JKC AUS10 Nakiri 180mm. It’s an outstanding knife that combines exceptional performance with beautiful craftsmanship, and it’s become the knife we reach for every single day. If you’re looking to invest in a quality Japanese knife that will elevate your cooking, this is one we can wholeheartedly recommend.
