Best Fish Fillet Knives

INTRODUCTION:

When you are looking for the best fillet knife for fish, it ought to have a very sharp and thin blade that should be flexible and strong. Filleting fish is an art, and you cannot perform it without proper tools. These knives have a unique design to separate thin fish bones from the flesh and are also useful for removing the skin. Once you have a fish knife, it should go well with all types of fishes and should offer the same performances on all sizes. Whether it is the delicate small fishes or huge sea bass, it should be able to slice through them like butter.

Professional chefs and even home cooks must have the right tools to use for their cooking. When you cook vibrant dishes that involve fish as the protein, you have to make sure that you have the right knives to make those beautiful fillets. Various designs are available in the market that come with different features, shapes, and prices.

There are folding knives, straight knives, curved knives, and many others, and they come in all shapes and sizes. Whether you should buy it or not depends largely upon what you need it for. There are different uses for these knives. For example, if you are just a home cook, you don’t need to go for those expensive ones. But if you are a professional chef, then you must have the best of the best.

Best Fish Filleting Knives – Our Picks

In the list that follows, we have introduced the top ten best fish fillet knives that range from the most affordable entry-level knives to the most top-rated professional fish filleting knives. If you want the best fish filleting knife, you might find something of use in this list. With these knives, you will be able to hone your skills and take them to the next level.

Before buying any knife from the following list, you must know that every chef knife might not be suitable for you, especially if you are not a professional chef. That is because professionals have developed and toned muscles to cut through the fish with almost any knife. On the other hand, you need a lightweight knife that cuts through fish like butter. Furthermore, it should be flexible enough to allow your hands to work through the fish smoothly.

10. Buck 0220BLS Folding Knife

If you are looking for the best fish filleting knife for saltwater fish, this professional fish knife is a great choice. Saltwater fishes are a bit tougher, and since this knife uses superior materials to manufacture the blade, this blade will cut through them with ease. The high-end materials used in the construction make this knife very durable and take it to the top of the premium knife category but at an expensive price tag.

Buck has established its name in this industry and has been the choice of many professional chefs, and for a good reason. First, the blade stays intact and sharp for a long time. Second, the blade offers a superior cut that makes your fillets sand out from other fillets only because of this knife’s precision. The cuts are smooth and precise. It is almost as if you are cutting with a precision knife. However, this level of sharpness also makes it dangerous, so we suggest using this knife with the utmost care.

When you hold the knife, you will immediately get the premium feel. Buck has been consistent in delivering the quality it promises, which is why it is one of the highly recognizable brands. This Buck knife is a folding creek knife, which means it is portable, and you can take it easily anywhere without having to worry about safety. It folds easily into the attached holder and doesn’t take a lot of space to put it in your pockets easily. So the razor-sharp blades won’t be of any harm unless you pull them out from the protective case.

It is one of the best fish filleting knives because it gives a superior cutting experience through its premium blades. This may be an ideal choice for most home cooks who like to do some serious cooking inside their kitchen. As this knife is a premium knife, it is also suitable for professionals as well.

As far as the aesthetics go, it consists of reinforced propylene with a blue hue with a semi-transparent look. This increases your kitchen’s beauty once you place it on the shelf with the rest of your tools. The grip is a TPE rubber grip to ensure that you get the best grip while filleting any kind of fish. One thing I can say that has a very smart implementation is the handle and knife joint. The part where the handle shaft joins the blade is stainless steel and has a shape that ensures nothing gets inside. This makes it very durable, as well as very easy to clean.

The cover also comes with a safety guard, making sure that it never opens on its own. The grip also ensures your safety as it never slips even if your hands are wet. This knife is a nice choice if you don’t have a lot of space in your bag. Although priced a bit high, we think that the price is justifiable if we consider the premium quality.

Pros

• Easy to carry
• Folding system makes it portable and safe
• Superior grip
• Best for filleting big fish

Cons

• Owing to the titanium coating, it is hard to sharpen the blades

Titanium Blades: One thing that we can say is the best about this knife is the titanium-coated steel blade, which increases its durability and strength tenfolds. The coating prevents the knife from any kind of possible rust or corrosion that other knives are so prone to.

9. Shun Cutlery Japanese Knife

If you have ever been to Japan, you will know that it is famous for its vibrant seafood cuisine like no other country. They are at the top when it comes to filleting the fish, and there is only one reason. They have top-of-the-line knives, and they know how to use them. So we thought of adding this Japanese styled knife to our list as well. Believe it or not, the moment I saw this knife, I just wanted to add this to my collection for no other reason other than how good this knife looks. If you love your kitchen like me, you might feel the same as I felt for this gorgeous piece of tool.

This medium-sized six-inch blade is a razor-sharp blade that is designed for the sole purpose of working with seafood. It is super sharp and is super effective in deboning flesh. Additionally, it comes with an elegantly shaped handle and is very ergonomic. It has beautiful stainless steel with 16 ply layers of high carbon stainless steel and 33 ply layers of premium quality Damascus steel that protect it from outer elements. This is what makes it very premium.

Owing to its extra layers, you are going to need a high-quality stone to sharpen it after using it. The handle is very ergonomic and is a blend of comfort, balance, and grip. It has a unique shape, which gives additional grip to it. Furthermore, the Pakkawood also increases its aesthetics, and it immediately catches your eye when you see it in any kitchen.

Pros

• A great choice for filleting and deboning
• Made of premium quality high carbon Damascus steel blend
• Dishwasher-safe
• Corrosion and rust-free
• Premium quality Pakkawood handle

Cons

• Very expensive for a six-inch knife

A Well-Balanced Knife: This knife is by far the most balanced of all when it comes to performance, comfort, and precision cutting. It just comes at a higher price and is meant for professional use. But trust me, once you get the feel of it, you may never want to switch to any other knife because the performance is miles ahead of most of the other knives on this list. If you want the best fish filleting knife, then consider this option.

8. Dalstrong Gladiator Knife

If you are into seafood or eat it as a staple food, then a filleting knife is common in your kitchen. But is your current knife perfect for your skills, or do you feel it isn’t as smooth as it should be? A professional fish filleting knife should be flexible and ergonomic enough to provide a good grip and cut smoothly. Thankfully, we have got a product for you that has all these qualities.

This time, we landed our hands on a Dalstrong knife; people know this as one of the best culinary brands out there. It manufactures different high-quality kitchen tools like spatulas and knives. The Dalstrong Gladiator series, as the name suggests, is a kitchen warrior’s knife. This knife is perfect for every home cook as well as professional cooks.

The blade is a whopping seven inches, but it is super strong and flexible at the same time. This blade has a higher angled edge and boasts only a 1.5 mm thickness, which makes it the best fish fillet knife for professional cooks. The blade uses high carbon steel made in Germany that has been hand polished to give it the best sharpness possible. This also gives the blades increased durability, and you won’t need to sharpen your knives for a long time.

This knife is perfectly good for skinning, peeling, cutting, deboning, and trimming as well. The blade has a hand-polished edge at 16 degrees, which makes it slide into anything it touches. This is best for cutting chicken as well as fish for making beautiful fillets out of it. We loved the handle, which consists of high-quality Pakkawood that offers outstanding balance and superior comfort. It has a nice tang hue to it, and the rivets give them extended durability. The cover cap also adds to the overall aesthetics of the knife, and that is why it looks so gorgeous in your kitchen.

The bolster is safe for fingers as it offers protection from having your fingers cut. With the tilted angle, it can’t cut your finger unless it comes near it. Furthermore, it also has an extra cover that you can use when you want additional safety, like taking it to picnics when putting the knives in a bag.

Pros

• Elegant design
• Satin blades that are hand polished to give it a premium look
• Easy to clean
• Does not require a lot of maintenance
• Very ergonomic design that offers a superior grip

Cons

• The blade tip is a bit weak and can break if you apply much force

Affordable: The knife is also very affordable, yet it still manages to look and function like premium knives. Because of this, it is a favorite of many home cooks for its robust looks and high functionality.

7. Bubba Flex Knife

The next knife on this list is suitable not only for fish but also for all kinds of meat. It is strong, flexible, and has a sharp seven-inch blade. It consists of industrial-grade steel and has a considerably large blade that allows you to effortlessly slice the fish and makes some beautiful cuts out of it. It has a tapered edge, which means that it is suitable for all kinds of fish. Whether it be small freshwater fish or salmon, this knife will run through any of them with the utmost ease.

The blade consists of high-quality stainless steel, which means that it will be highly durable and provide good performance without getting flat. Hence, you won’t need to sharpen it again and again. This knife certainly has the edge over other knives when it comes to durability because it is coated with Tri-Nitride to prevent it from rust. So you will never have to worry about the sharpness of the blade nor about the blade getting rusted.

I really like the logo, which is laser printed on the blade, making it aesthetically very pleasing and giving it a very premium look. The handle is of a non-slip textured material that ensures your safety and prevents it from slipping when you are in the moment.

Pros

• Extra thin blade made out of industrial-grade steel
• Premium look
• Strong synthetic rubber poly-alloy sheet for carrying it safely
• Tri-Nitride coating for extended durability
• Safety grip with a textured surface

Cons

• The blade can get flat after long usage

Design: We think that the overall design of this knife is very well thought out, and you get a very nicely made knife at a very low price.

6.  Rapala Soft Grip Knife

Are you tired of sharpening your knife again and again? This is a perfect solution for you if you want a knife that stays sharp even after years. This knife has an amazing quality blade that stays the same even after long usage. Furthermore, it comes with a knife sharpener as well, so that if it does get dull, you can easily sharpen it again. Although it doesn’t work as well as other high-quality wet stones, it does the job well. In just a few minutes, you can make your blades razor-sharp again.

It makes absolutely gorgeous cuts of fillet and works well in other tasks as well. But if you are a fish lover, then this should be a part of your collection. The sheer ease with which it cuts beautiful portions of the fillet is outstanding. If you occasionally travel the sea, then this knife should be with you at all times as it is very lightweight and doesn’t carry that much space.

This knife is an amalgamation of steel sharpened to its wits combined with a rubbery soft-grip textured handle to give a fantastic grip and excellent cuts. Also, the bolster protects your fingers from getting cut accidentally in case your hands are wet. This kind of grip is also suitable for sweaty hands, which are always prone to slips.

It also has a lot of options to choose from. Available in different sizes, it gives you the option to choose from 4 to 9 inches of blades so you can choose according to your hands and your cutting needs. Or you can just pick them all if you are a collector like me. I personally like the shorter versions of this knife more because you can also use them for various other purposes like routine cutting, slicing, and chopping small vegetables.

Pros

• Extended control made possible by the anti-slip handle
• Comes with a sharpener
• Suitable for multipurpose
• Very ergonomic

Cons

• The handle is a bit too small to hold comfortably

Sharpener: It is not common for knives to come with sharpeners. We welcome the addition of the one-stage sharpener with this knife, which can sharpen your knife in just minutes

5.  Morakniv Filleting knife

The Swedish knife pioneer is at it again, and this time, it has brought to us another fantastic product which is very lightweight and suitable for cutting and deboning all kinds of fishes. Morakniv has been around for quite a long time and has been manufacturing quality cutlery products since 1891. Since its inception, it has been the favorite of many home cooks and professionals.

This awesome knife is especially for people who fish every day. It comes in two variations – the 6.1 and the 3.5-inch variation especially made for deboning. You can use both variations for filleting and skinning the fish. If you are keen on understanding the art to produce beautiful cuts for fillets, this will be a good start.

What is really exciting about this knife is its price. With an affordable price tag, this comes out as a very cheap knife that still manages to provide decent quality. Before you intend to use it, it is better to know that it is an extremely sharp blade, so it is good to wear gloves before attempting to cut anything with it. As this blade is really sharp, you can effectively use it for tasks like deboning, filleting, slicing, and dicing vegetables and herbs, and even making handmade mince.

Pros

• Swedish steel
• Two different variations available
• An anti-slip handle which is very grippy
• Very easy to clean
• Comes with two belt clips

Cons

• The metal is stiff and not flexible, which means there are higher chances of breaking the blade

Anti-Slip Handle: What we loved about this knife is its high-quality rubber handle, which has an excellent grip because of its friction handle. This makes sure that it’s safe and sound to cut anything as it never slips from your hands.

4.  Mercer Fish Knife

Mercer is one of the biggest cutlery manufacturers in North America. It has been making quality products for over thirty years and is still not coming slow. It is the only manufacturer that has been approved by America’s knife testing. So here comes another quality product from Mercer culinary that has a design that precisely makes it suitable for filleting fish.

This is a knife with a very narrow design that is just perfect for deboning a fish. It is so flexible that it bends automatically according to the contours of the flesh and slides beautifully to give you outstanding cuts of the fillet. If you are looking for something more versatile, flexible, multipurpose, and premium, give this knife a shot. You may pay a considerable amount of money for this knife, but for what it’s worth, we would say that the price is justifiable. Not only is it NSF certified, but it is also the most popular choice of many professional chefs.

The blade consists of Japanese steel and is a very large blade. Boasting an 8-inch length, it is suitable for filleting, cutting, slicing, and chopping as well. The blade is tested for endurance and stability, and the results have been amazing. Since this is high-quality Japanese steel, this means that it will not rust and will keep on working as it is for many years.

The handle is something we need to talk about. The material is a blend between polypropylene and Santoprene, which makes it not only comfortable to hold but also increases its durability and grip. It almost feels like a matte rubber, but it’s not. That way, it provides excellent grip. Furthermore, there is a pretty nice little feature for your safety, its protective finger guard.

When it comes to price, it is a little bit expensive, but we encourage you to try this out if you are into some professional fish filleting.

Pros

• Certification from NSF and America’s test kitchen
• The grip allows anti-slip operation and maximum control
• Razor-sharp blade perfect for cutting anything
• The Santoprene blend alloy makes it extra durable

Cons

• It doesn’t come with any kind of protective case even though the razors are wicked sharp

Approved by NSF: Of the very few out there, this knife is one of those approved by the NSF. This means that you get the quality that you pay for. With an absolutely stunning design and high-quality blade, this blade is a professional’s favorite.

3.  Rada R200 Knife