10 Best Fillet Knife for Your Kitchen

If you don’t already have a fillet knife, getting one is definitely a must. It will immensely improve your experience in preparing and serving food. Furthermore, with a good knife, you will be able to feel the taste of meat at its best.

Here are the best fillet knife brands:

• Best Flexible Fillet Knife: DALSTRONG Boning Knife – Shogun Series – VG10
• Best Wooden Handle Fillet Knife: Shun TDM0774 Premier Gokujo
• Best Metal Handle Fillet Knife: Global Cromova G-21
• Best Budget-Friendly Knife: Bubba Blade 9″ Tapered Blade
• Best Classic Fillet Knife: Shun DM0743 Classic Gokujo

As with many similar products, the market offer is huge and varied. Finding the best fillet knife to meet your needs can be confusing and difficult, so here’s some help. We’ve chosen ten high-quality fillet knives available on the market. They are all extremely useful kitchen tools of sophisticated design. However, we’ll help you hit the bullseye in your choice of the right one.

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Now that you’ve seen our top 5 recommendations, we’ll give you more detail on each of them, including why we liked them. When you’re ready, click the yellow button to get the best price on Amazon!

#1 – Shun TDM0774 Premier Gokujo Fillet Knife, 6’’, Silver

For starters, we looked at the brilliant Premier Gokujo fillet knife, recently manufactured by Shun. Here is the perfect combination of strength, precision, and elegance that Shun regularly manages to achieve. Premier Gokujo has a thin double-bevel blade with the Asian style 16-degree cutting angle on both sides. That means that it is ideal for cutting slim pieces of meat and fish.

It also means that it is sharper than Euro/American-style knives so that it can separate meat from the bone with more precision. Premier Gokujo is wonderfully used when serving fish because it is sharp and flexible enough to cut small pieces. And with its design reminiscent of fish scales, it makes you think your kitchen has become the setting for a Japanese fairy tale.

What We Like About It: Elegance and stylishness are definitely the strong points of this boning fillet knife. Everything is there: a hand-hammered decorative silvery surface and dark wooden handle. But the irresistible thing about it is that style serves the main purpose, which is quality – and you’d expect that from the best Japanese knife. The decorative surface prevents the meat from sticking to the blade. Furthermore, the strong handle ensures that you have a good grip on your knife.

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#2 – Wusthof Classic 6-Inch Flexible Boning Knife

A real traditional evergreen classic whose very design promises to stay with you for a long time. Wusthof Classic is very popular for its strength and durability. It stands out from the rest of the market offer. That is mainly due to the specific ways in which they made the blade and the handle. While the cutting angle is not precisely as sharp as with the Asian-style models, the blade is forged. That makes this model extremely strong and able to cut through all sorts of meat.

The handle is triple-riveted, which makes it blend naturally with the blade. This gives you a sense of reliability, strength, and power when you take the knife into your hands. At the same time, the strength is no obstacle to minute precision. Wusthof Classic is still a solidly sharp tool for filleting.

What We Like About It: Wusthof Classic is a truly reliable fillet knife, and praising it for strength is not an over-statement. When we tested it, Wusthof proved that it glides with ease and without any problems not only through poultry but also more fibrous meat such as venison and pork.

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#3 – DALSTRONG Boning Knife – Shogun Series – VG10 6’’

We tested three recent models from DALSTRONG for this review. While the most expensive among them, Shogun proves to have the most efficient performance too. Its cutting angle is supreme in its sharpness: 8 degrees on one side and 12 on the other. It makes the blade thin, but it remains well adapted to cutting even beef and pork – not just fish and poultry as you might expect. This we tested, and if you need a universal boning knife for frequent use, this model is a great option.

The neatly pointed tip helps you make sure that you have cleanly separated all the meat from the bone. In addition to high performance, this model also boasts stylish design and comes with the matching sheath. Not having to order the sheath separately is a great advantage in comparison to most of the other models.

What We Like About It: DALSTRONG Shogun is a good budget choice if you liked the Shun Premier Gokujo design. So, the design is definitely what we loved about it, but it’s not all about beauty. Its blade is exquisitely sharp, and it is even better suited to cutting tough meat than the Premier Gokujo.

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#4 – Global Cromova G-21 – 6 ¼, 16cm Flexible Boning Knife

The Global Cromova model has a modern design and high-performance results, based on an original technological solution. The handle blends in with the blade, all composed of a single piece of stainless steel. That significantly reduces the risk of defect. It is also hollow, which makes this boning knife lightweight despite the durability and firmness of the material. In addition, they filled the handle with sand, which creates the right balance when you use the knife.

Therefore, you shouldn’t be afraid that it will slip from your hand and maybe hurt you. It is, in fact, strong and reliable. This is one of the flexible models too. We tested its slim blade with smoked salmon, and it proved to be very good in filleting. It is also easy to wash, though you have to be careful with the handle dimples and make sure to dry it well before putting it away.

What We Like About It: The stainless steel hollow handle is what we liked best about this model. It is easy to clean and maintain, and it preserves the perfect balance when carving. This is a boning knife that will not let you down. Furthermore, it will keep its shine and polish for a long time.

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#5 – Shun DM0743 Classic Gokujo Fillet, 6-Inch

 

As with Shun’s Premier Gokujo, Classic Gokujo offers an equal measure of strength, precision, and style, at a more affordable price. The cutting angle is the same, of 16 degrees on each side, and the total of 66 layers of stainless steel (as compared to 64 in Premier Gokujo) makes this boning and cutting knife successfully prone to corrosion. And the black wooden handle is supposed to make your grip firm and prevent any possible mishandling.

This model is also designed first and foremost for fish and softer meat such as poultry. You should bear in mind, however, that Classic Gokujo, like any other Shun’s model, should be carefully maintained. It is better to do handwashing, although this particular model is suitable for dishwashing too. Just to be on the safe side, you should wash it by hand and always make sure to dry it well.

What We Like About It: Shun’s models are generally high-quality and supreme design fillet knives. What we like about Classic Gokujo is that you get the same quality for less money, compared to Premium models. Classic Gokujo is of equally beautiful classic design and value as its more expensive relative.

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#6 – Bubba Blade 9’’ Tapered Blade Flex Fillet Knife

This Bubba Blade model is, like the Global Cromova we reviewed, based on the latest technology and innovation in its construction and design. Although this might sound pretentious, it doesn’t mean there is anything false about it. The Tapered Blade Flex Fillet knife has a blade coated with a special material which prevents the knife from rusting.

And that’s not all. The coating makes it easier for meat to slide off the blade. You won’t have to think about how to remove the remaining bits of meat from your knife. The blade is also very long, 9 inches plus the 5-inch-handle. That makes this model flexible and well adapted to boning soft meat and filleting fish. Another innovation in its design is the handle, which has a rubber coating. Hence, the Bubba Blade Tapered Blade Flex Fillet a safe and firm model to use, despite its length.

What We Like About It: With all the innovations introduced in this model, we were delighted with the handle. What we also liked about it is that it comes with a sheath, which always turns out to be a useful little gadget.

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#7 – DALSTRONG Boning Fillet Knife – Phantom Series 6.5’’

DALSTRONG’s Phantom is equally well crafted as its Shogun, but with a slightly less sharp cutting angle. It is more adapted to carving tough meat than fish. Like all the other models in this review, it is semi-flexible. This means that you can apply it to anything. Even this particular model is not difficult to use with fish or other soft meat.

This is because it has a sharply pointed tip which complements the angle. You can use the tip to carve out smaller bits of meat that might otherwise stick to the bone. In addition to its sharpness, Phantom’s blade is also engraved. That does not only add to its beauty but also helps you remove those stubborn small bits from the bone.

What We Like About It: As with the other DALSTRONG models, we liked the quality. The excellent value for money that you get with this particular boning knife is what makes it a great choice.

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#8 – DALSTRONG Boning Knife – Gladiator Series Flexible – 6’’

This is the thickest of the three DALSTRONG knives we tested. It is also one of the largest and heaviest of all the knives we reviewed. The cutting angle here is 18 degrees, which is slightly more than the European and American standards. This is one sturdy knife, and stiffer than all the other models we reviewed. It is a good option if you frequently bone and cut game or any tough meat.

This, however, doesn’t mean that you can’t carve chicken with it. On the contrary – if it works fine with venison it will also be excellent for boning poultry. It is also a great choice if you need a boning knife for professional use. Its strong structure needs a reliable handle, and this model has one. In addition, it also comes with an ergonomic thumb notch that adds to your safety as you handle the knife.

What We Like About It: Its sturdiness is not a disadvantage. This is the boning knife you should use if you’re in for a game. Gladiator slices venison, deer, horseflesh and other kinds of meat true gourmets might be interested in. We’ve tested it with venison, and it works like magic.

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#9 – Deik Knife Set 6 Piece with Damp-proof Wooden Block

This is a set of five knives made for different purposes. It might, therefore, be a good option if you are just beginning to equip your kitchen with the necessities. What you get here is a general-purpose chef knife, bread knife, carving knife (for boning and filleting), utility knife and a paring knife. The sixth item in the set, which the offer promises, is a pinewood knife block for keeping the knives safe, dry and clean.

This holder is quite stable, and you can place it in a cupboard or on top of even very high surfaces. You don’t have to fear it will fall or topple over. As it is, the set is not well suited if you intend to carry the knives anywhere with you, despite having a utility knife which you might carry on a picnic or camping.

What We Like About It: Good value for money. Both quality and quantity are on offer. Furthermore, this is the perfect choice if your purchase needs to cover several gaps in your kitchen. The set also makes a nice and practical gift. It can also be an option to consider for someone who has just moved into a new apartment.

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#10 – Victorinox Cutlery 10-Inch Curved Knife Fibrox Handle

Here is a fine tool from the manufacturers of the Original Swiss Army Knife. The very name inspires confidence. In addition, this is a good endurable model even if you are on a budget. We can say that this is a classic in the truest sense of the word. It is very popular with a great many people using it, and extremely sharp despite its crude look. Furthermore, it is greatly enduring with the least chances of corrosion or damage.

You can use this knife for breaking large pieces of meat into smaller ones. Though it cannot cut a bone in halves, it moves through the toughest of meat with great ease and speed. You don’t even feel the effort in handling it. The old-school-style handle is good and reliable, but the blade is long and curved. Therefore, you should already be a bit of an expert if you want to use this model.

What We Like About It: You get a great tool at a reasonable price. This is a high quality, nearly professional knife and also one that you will easily come to appreciate. You can do practically anything with it and use it for all kinds of meat too.

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How We Chose the Top Fillet Knife in Our List?

Trying different models of fillet knives, we made a shortlist of desirable features that actually attest to the quality. The list is here to help you decide what model is best suited to your needs. You should first determine whether you will use the knife more often for carving fish and poultry or more fibrous meat such as pork, mutton, beef, veal, or perhaps for a game such as venison or deer.

The flexibility of the blade – the more flexible the blade, the softer the meat it carves. Stiff blades are for cutting up tough meat. Most of the boning and fillet knives we reviewed are semi-flexible, meaning that you can use them for most types of meat we generally eat. If you need a fine, sophisticated knife for fish exclusively, Shun’s Premier Gokujo or the Global Cromova model are your best choices. However, if you like the serving game, you will not make a mistake using DALSTRONG’s Gladiator.

For precision and sharpness, we paid special attention to the cutting angle degree. All the models we tested are outstanding in this respect, with the angle less than the standard 16 degrees, which makes them very sharp. Still, for very fine cutting, try DALSTRONG’s Shogun, and you will not miss it.

An important criterion for choosing these top ten boning knives was also their reliability of use, that is, the handle and grip. You will be safe when holding these knives: they designed the handles to fit perfectly in your hand. Bubba Blade is perfect in this respect, but you won’t make a mistake with any of the models.

Why You Need a Fillet Knife in Your Kitchen?

You may very well wonder, “Why should I need another knife and what is so special about a fillet knife?” You have so many knives already and use them daily for cutting and slicing and spreading everything, from soft cheese too, yes, even meat. Maybe you could simply take one of the sturdier knives from a kitchen cupboard and cut pieces off a smoked veal brisket. And you could easily use a thin knife to fillet and arrange trout for your dinner party guests skilfully.

Not quite so. Boning and fillet knives are not just a marketing trick to lure you into spending money on yet another kitchen tool you might never use. Yes, they do what they say they do – boning and filleting. But, getting one of these knives is also an advantage that will make your food tastier and your meals a pleasure for the whole family.

Meat and fish get much of the fresh, salty and savory taste from the bone. If you use just any kitchen knife to carve meat or fish, you won’t manage to separate the meat from the bone precisely. The juiciest slices of your meal will remain stuck to the bone and keep the true flavor with them. With a good boning knife, you get the authentic experience of eating the real and substantial meat and tasting its full, rich flavor.

As some of the knives, we reviewed come with a sheath, you could easily take them to camping or an outing, in case you are a fan of, say, freshly caught fish. You will enjoy preparing food with one of these knives, and it will also be easier and faster for you to serve it. (And, if you are eating with your family or friends, think of the time saved. Carving and serving the meal done in a minute, no trouble at all, and then you have the whole time in the world to enjoy the food with your loved ones.)

Another issue is the price. While a boning and fillet knife may seem like a high investment for your budget, think about how long-lasting they are. Most of them come with a lifetime warranty, which definitely means they will be around for years. The investment you make pays out, and the product justifies any price. With some of the reviewed knives, it is as if you are buying a work of art. The elegance and sophistication of the design indeed add a lot to the usefulness and purpose of this cutting tool.

Finally, never forget your culinary skills and think about what a good boning knife can do to your kitchen experience. With a minimum of effort and in only a couple of minutes, you become a real kitchen virtuoso, a wizard of the dinner table with a marvelous-looking plate of delicious meat as a triumph of your culinary artistry.