Best Knife For Filleting Salmon

Are you in a hurry and need a new knife for filleting salmon? For us, this is the best model on the market: DALSTRONG Fillet Knife Gladiator Series.

Fish is one of the finest foods we can bring to the table. Atlantic salmon is a very popular food in kitchens around the world. In addition to having a good taste, it also has many nutritional qualities. Salmon, in fact, is rich in proteins, vitamins, minerals, but above all, it is an excellent source of omega 3.

To savor this dish at its best, one should not underestimate the fact of cleaning it carefully. For this, you need to choose the best knife for filleting salmon. Without this tool, it could be difficult to be able to better clean the fish, but also to cut it precisely. Buying the right knife will not only make preparation easier but also faster.

Choosing a good knife for filleting salmon will allow you to avoid waste. You will be able to separate the meat from the bone precisely. To remove the skin of the fish without taking away the pulp. To cut the fish cleanly, without fraying. So the dish will be more pleasing to the eye and you will make a good impression with relatives and friends.

What To Consider Before Buying A Knife For Filleting Salmon 

Before buying the best fillet knife for salmon, thus, you must first know what needs it must meet. Salmon is a very large fish and for this, you will need a long blade knife.

To avoid making a mistake, take into consideration all the characteristics that a better filleting knife must-have. Only in this way, you will not regret your buy.

In the following, we offer you the principal characteristics that a great knife can not miss.

Knife Size: Blade Length

As you can imagine, the length of the blade depends on the type of fish in front of you. The bigger the fish, the more you will need a long blade.

To fillet the fish you can use blades from 4 “to 10″. In the case of salmon, it is advisable not to choose a length below 7”. Only in this way will you be able to clean the fish precisely.

A blade of this length retains certain flexibility, which allows you to also be quick in cleaning and threading. That would otherwise be more tiring.

Whatever size you want to cut the salmon in, make sure you have a blade that helps you be precise. Don’t waste meat, remember that salmon is an expensive fish.

Blade Flexibility

The most important feature, which must have the best salmon filleting knife, is flexibility. Flexibility allows the knife to bend without breaking. This is very important when cleaning large fish such as salmon.

Furthermore, a flexible blade will allow you to fillet any fish without straining your wrist, and to be precise without wasting pulp.

Blade Material 

The knives can be made of different materials. The best we find on the market are those in stainless steel or carbon steel.

The stainless steel blades are the most resistant, but because of this, they are more difficult to sharpen. Their great advantage is that they lose the effectiveness of the cut only after a long time and a lot of wear.

The carbon blades are the most flexible ones. These types of blades are very simple to refine. Also, they are resistant to rust and corrosion. Unlike stainless steel blades, yet, they have a shorter life span and must be changed more often.

Knife Handle

The importance of the handle should not be underestimated. The correct handle allows you to have the right grip and balance for filleting.

On the market, there are three types of handle: in wood, in rubber and in plastic.

The wooden handle is very robust but tends to become slippery when wet. Also, over time it may absorb the smell of fish.

The rubber handle offers an ergonomic grip and also has a greater anti-slip function.

Finally, the plastic handle can be immersed in water without damaging the knife and guarantees excellent workmanship.

The choice will depend on your preferences, the purpose, and frequency of use of the knife, but above all on your personal preferences.

What we can advise you is to avoid a filleting knife that has a handle with molds for the fingers. Because each handle is different and risks worsening your grip on the knife.

Full Tang Vs Half Tang

A half tang knife is one where the blade does not extend fully to the handle end. The point where the handle ends and begins in the blade tends to be the weakest point of a knife. This is because all the applied force will be discharged only on the handle of the knife and the resistance will depend only on the material used for the handle.

Vice versa, in a full tang knife, the knife is forged from a single piece and therefore the blade extends to the end of the handle.

This increases the amount of force needed to break a knife and makes these knives more durable and long-lasting. Unfortunately, it is not always easy to check what type of knife you are going to buy so if you cannot understand the difference ask the clerk near you if it is a full tang or half tang knife.

Safety Features

Salmon filleting knives are very dangerous. Their main characteristics such as strength and flexibility, if used incorrectly, can have a negative impact on those who use it.

One way to protect your fingers is through the use of gloves that ensure a greater grip on the handle.

The best salmon fillet knives come with a reinforced handle that allows you to keep your fingers away from the blade ( finger-guard ). For the greater safety that these knives offer, they are the ones most used by expert fishermen and chefs.

Best Knife For Filleting Salmon: Top Reviews

Now that we have listed the characteristics that the best knife for filleting salmon should have. We show you the list with the best knives not to be missed.

For each knife, we ​​have listed some features and the pros and cons to help your choice.

DALSTRONG Fillet Knife Gladiator Series

Dalstrong is a young company that has been operating in this sector since 2012. It bases all its activity on innovative ideas to guarantee chefs all over the world tools to improve their performance.

The first knife in our ranking is the Dalstrong Gladiator Series fillet knife. It has been designed and built for boning, filleting and trimming all types of fish and poultry in a simple and efficient way.

It is very flexible and maneuverable so it will be easy for you to juggle flesh and bones, skin and tendons. All this because it is carefully designed to improve the hardness, flexibility, and resistance of the blade.

Built with carbon steel, the blade is razor-sharp with a hand-polished edge to 14-16 degrees per side. We are talking about a full tang knife able to guarantee maximum resistance to the applied force and avoid dangerous breakages during use.

The handle is designed with high-quality materials, in black Pakkawood. With a grip that guarantees comfort and maneuverability. Perfect for both busy and outdoor kitchens.

The knife is accompanied by two covers. One to store it safely and hygienically in the home, another to be able to take it safely away from home.

Confident of its quality of construction of knives for the most disparate uses, Dalstrong satisfaction or money-back guarantee. It’s up to you to try it and decide if it’s right for you.

Pros

– Built with carbon steel

– The high flexibility of the blade

– Full tang design for greater resistance

– Two covers for the safety and hygiene of the blade

– Award-winning design

– 100% satisfaction or money-back guarantee

Cons

– Only 7” blade available

KastKing Professional Fillet Knife

The Kastking company was founded in 2011 by university students who are passionate about fishing. They made their work their passion, moving towards constant improvement. The goal is continuous innovation with new products and ingenious designs.

The second best knife for filleting salmon that we present to you is KastKing Professional Fillet Knife. You can choose many length options according to your preferences. What we propose is a 9-inch fillet knife.

Its blade is made of high quality and extremely sharp German stainless steel. It is highly resistant both when applied for water and for saltwater. It allows you to fillet fish of all sizes and to remove the fish pulp from the bone in impeccable ways. 

In addition to this, it is ideal for thinner or more delicate cuts of meat like other types of fish or chicken.

The handle is made of non-slip polymer and feels great in your hand. It is designed for your safety and comfort. This material is easy to clean and makes the knife durable.

A protective, light and resistant sheath is also included with the Kastking filleting knife. The unique design of the sheath increases safety when removing the knife from the drawer and avoids unpleasant injuries. The sheath is also characterized by open slits which are designed to allow water to drain and keep the knives dry and sharp.

Pros

– High-quality stainless steel blade

– Flexible blade ideal for even the most complex cuts

– Non-slip polymer handle

– Protective sheath for the blade and for your safety

– Available in different sizes

Cons

– Not the perfect grip after getting wet

Bubba 9 Inch High Carbon Fillet Knife

Bubba was born about 10 years ago. Its aim is to satisfy its customers with its innovative products for success on the water, be it a trip or a fish. Its strength is to introduce innovative products on the market that are useful for all fishermen all over the world. Being able to satisfy the fishermen in the cutting operations would be enough to conquer a place in our selection of the best knives for filleting salmon, but there is much more.

The blade of this knife is coated with titanium nitride and being very flexible it makes cutting easy and fast. The ease of using the knife without any effort allows you to remove the meat in an optimal way and avoid waste. The quality of the sharpening lets you fillet anything from sea bass to large water salmon

Bubba has not only thought about quality but also about safety. The handle is super safe for your fingers and being non-slip it is impossible to lose control of the knife. In addition to this, on the handle, there is a trigger that locks the fingers before the blade. A feature that makes it stand out from many knives and convinced us to include it in our selection of the best filleting knives.

Finally, it comes with protection for the blade, so that you can store it in a totally safe and hygienic way before its next use.

Pros

– Titanium nitride blade

– Flexible blade

– Non-slip handle, equipped with finger guard trigger

– Protective sheath for the blade

– Rust-resistant for longer life

– Great versatility: from sea bass to salmon

Cons

– Texturing in the grip is hard to clean

Rapala Superflex Fillet Knife

Rapala is a large company, which sells different ranges of products and for this reason, it has decided to group them into different groups. Each group has its own focus and skills but all aimed at satisfying the needs of its customers.

The Rapala Superflex Fillet Knife is the one that we have included in our list of the best salmon fillet knives and fully respects the quality of the products of the company.

It has a birch wood handle and as we have seen above the wooden handle stands out for its strength and robustness. The wood provides you with a good grip even in case you have wet hands.

The blade is very flexible, built in stainless steel and coated with PTFE. All this facilitates the use of the knife and allows you to be precise in the cuts. In addition, the non-stick coating on the blade helps to remove the fillet from the skin more evenly.

The knife comes with a leather sheath. This cover will protect you from the sharp blade when you have to store it after use and keeps the knife compliant with all hygiene rules.

Pros

– Birchwood handle

– Handle designed for a firmer and safer grip

– Flexible blade in stainless steel

– Protective leather sheath for safe storage

– Great for most all fish

Cons

– The handle may be a little short for those with large hands

Wusthof Classic Fillet Knife

Wusthof is a company founded in 1814. It has grown on a family basis thanks to the commitment handed down from generation to generation. All this aimed to grow the company and continuously improve its products. Its longevity is the demonstration of the excellent work done.

The Wusthof Classic Fillet Knife is one of the few still made by hand. Forged with great precision, it is part of the Classic collection of this company. The classic series of this company is one of the best known in the world and this would be enough to choose it with your eyes closed.

The blade is thin to best fillet fish and poultry, without wasting ports of meat that would otherwise remain attached to the bone and thrown away. The blade is made of carbon steel with a stain-resistant precision alloy. Its composition allows it to be sharpened like a razor. This knife does a great job of removing skin from fish and we had no doubt in including it among the best salmon fillet knives around.

Also in this knife, there is greater attention to safety in the use. Before the blade, there is a finger guard that avoids unpleasant injuries during the salmon filleting. In addition to this, the full tang design makes it very resistant and able to face even high forces during use.

Wusthof has also thought about how to simplify cleaning operations at the end of use. All construction materials are dishwasher safe to avoid the hassle of always having to wash it by hand.

Pros

– Handmade, precision-forged

– Very thin and flexible blade

– Carbon steel material

– Handle equipped with support for finger protection

– Full triple riveted tang to enhance balance

– Dishwasher safe

Cons

– A little more expensive than the other models

Mercer Culinary Millennia Narrow Fillet Knife

Mercer Culinary defines itself as synonymous with highly professional knives. It has been a leader in its market for over 30 years. It combines tradition and innovation to meet the needs of professional and amateur chefs. The company collaborates with industry-leading chefs. In this way understand what their needs and problems are so it can solve these problems with innovative products.

The blade of this knife is made of Japanese high carbon steel. This type of steel stands out for its very high quality, thanks to which it will be easier to maintain the blade and faster sharpening. Japanese steel is stain-resistant, resistant to rust and corrosion. All this will help to cut and make fish filleting easier and faster.

The handle is ergonomically built with the highest quality materials. Made of Santoprene to guarantee grip comfort and polypropylene for greater resistance and durability. The knife is designed to offer protection for the fingers so as not to let them get close to the blade during its use.

Mercer recommends to not wash the knife in the dishwasher because the high heat and aggressive detergents could ruin the handle. It’s better to wash the knife by hand with warm soapy water.

Pros

– Blade made of Japanese steel with high carbon content

– High-quality blade and easy to sharpen

– Stain-resistant blade

– NSF certified

– Ergonomic handle with finger guard

– Limited lifetime warranty

– Excellent value for money

Cons

– Better to not use the dishwasher

– It is not full tang

Kershaw Clearwater High-Performance Fillet Knife

Kershaw is a company founded in 1974. From its origins, it has always focused on the quality of its products. This has allowed the company to be known worldwide for the high performance of its knives in terms of design and materials used.

The model in our list of the best knife for filleting salmon is the Kershaw Clearwater High-Performance Knife that is perfect for large fish.

Its blade is made of Japanese stainless steel. It is very flexible and thin to simplify cutting and cleaning fish and the main advantage is resistance. In fact, you can use it even in humid environments without risking rusting or corroding.

The handle is made of co-polymer material to provide resistance, and shaped for comfort. The shape of the handle makes it comfortable to use and ensures a firm grip to let you work safely. This makes use less tiring and avoids pain in the wrists after use.

The main feature of this knife is the presence of neon green highlights at the ends of the handle which make the knife more visible in particular environments such as marine ones. You practically have a knife that you can use in the kitchen or on a day of fishing.

The knife is accompanied by an ABS ( engineering plastic ) sheath to store it safely when you are not using it. A protective sheath is useful both for safety reasons and to avoid chipping of the knife blad

Pros

– Japanese stainless steel blade

– Excellent knife for filleting larger fresh 

– Co-polymer rubber grip for a comfortable in-hand feel

– Neon green highlights to be seen better

– Protective sheath in ABS

– Limited lifetime warranty

Cons

– Not too sharp when it arrives

Rada Cutlery Fillet Knife

Rada Mfg. Co. is an American company specialized in the production of knives since 1948. In all these years it has earned the trust of its customers thanks to the quality of its products. His goal is to continue on this path, offering the best products his customers could wish for.

The Rada Cutlery salmon fillet knife is one of the best we have selected for you. It is manufactured in the United States and the company mission is: “providing our customers the best value of kitchen knives for their dollar.”

Every fisherman should carry this knife in his toolbox. Light and flexible, it is an excellent ally for any fishing enthusiast. The blade is made from surgical grade, T420 high carbon stainless steel that is hand sharpened. Its flexibility will allow you to fillet a fish in a practical, simple and fast way. The hollow ground blade also ensures a precision concave surface for maximum edge retention.

The handle of the knife is in black non-slip rubber for perfect adherence in the hand and greater safety of use even in the most humid environments.

The knife is equipped with a black leather sheath to ensure the greatest protection when you are not using it. Thanks to the sheath you can carry it on your belt in a completely safe way.

The company offers a lifetime guarantee on all its products. It will replace any knife that will be returned home to defects in materials or workmanship.

Pros

– Completely Made in the USA

– Stainless steel blade with high carbon content

– Hollow ground blade, highly flexible

– Non-slip rubber handle

– Leather sheath to be transported even in humid environments

– Hassle-free lifetime guarantee

Cons

– The sheath could catch the smell of fish

Morakniv Fishing Comfort Fillet Knife

The history of this company goes back a long way. It was born in 1891 as a company of wooden sleds and manufactured knives to use only inside the company. Their production began to increase when they realized that they were also appreciated externally. 

The strengths of this company have always been ecological, economic and social sustainability. All aim at giving not only a good product but also a positive impact on the environment. Thought that in today’s times everyone should emulate.

The Morakniv Knife is a Swedish fillet knife with a cold-rolled stainless steel blade. Stainless steel is known for its high hardness and corrosion resistance. Sandvik 12C27 stainless steel is known for the high hardness and exceptional toughness. The 6.1-inch blade length is versatile enough for most fish, from the smallest to the largest.

The molded friction handle in TPE rubber locks the knife in your hands during use even if they are wet. This material is not a heat conductor and makes sure that you can use it throughout the year. 

The knife is equipped with a grooved plastic sheath, easy to clean. It comes with two clips to allow you to hang it on your belt and it does not absorb bad smells that can sometimes cause nausea.

Pros

– Swedish stainless steel blade

– TPE rubber handle, stable and usable grip all year round

– Sheath with clips for the belt

– The blade length is versatile enough for most fish

– It does not absorb bad smells

– Limited lifetime manufacturer’s warranty.

Cons

– The plastic scabbard is fairly cheap

Shun Cutlery Classic Fillet Knife

Shun Cutlery was born in Japan in 1908. Today it is part of the KAI group and distributes its customers in over 30 countries. The group continues to maintain the tradition of handcrafting its knives. Before being completed, each piece requires 100 individual steps. All these quality steps would be enough to insert it among the best knives for filleting salmon but this knife offers much more.

With the Shun Classic Knife, tradition combines innovation. Modern, quality materials and cutting-edge technology are used to provide excellent performance to all its users.

The Damascus coated blade ensures a tight and easy cut and makes threading a breeze. The construction material used is authentic, high-performance VG-MAX steel to increase the retention of the sharpening. Having to continually sharpen the knife is just an old nightmare.

Thanks to this knife you can get excellent results whether you are an expert chef, a simple cooking enthusiast, or a novice amateur.

The D-shaped handle allows for a balanced and secure grip for excellent control. it is made of PakkaWood ebony and is aesthetically beautiful and functional. We are talking about a full tang knife in which the blade and the handle complement each other to create a stunning kitchen essential.

The shape of this knife and the dimensions differ from those typical of the other models. Yet the quality of the knife has made it widely used to fillet salmon.

Pros

– Handcrafted

– Damascus-clad blade offers close, easy cutting

– Ebony Pakkawood handle

– D-handle for a secure grip

– The slight curve really helps you slice through fish

– Comes really sharp

Cons

– It comes with a cardboard sheath

FAQ

Before moving on to our conclusions and the model that we believe to be the best knife to fillet salmon, we have collected a series of very common questions on the web that could help you clear the last doubts.

What Is The Best Size For A Fillet Knife?

A standard knife can usually have a blade length that varies from 4 to 9 inches.

First of all, we would like to clarify that what we are going to tell you is a simple first guide to orientate yourself to the length of the knife, since at the end of the day it is always a matter of personal preferences.

A 6-inch blade is ideal for cutting sea fish such as perch. While for a trout or sea bass, a 7-inch blade or more is the one you usually work best with. As far as we are concerned, we think that even with salmon the minimum length is 7 inches.

What Can You Use A Fillet Knife For?

Fillet knives are intended to separate the bones from the pulp of the fish. The blade of these knives is generally very thin in order to make the separation between the skin and the meat simple. Some chefs also use these knives to fillet cuts of meat, but if you are a beginner we do not recommend it because the operations are much more difficult.

Do You Remove Skin From Salmon?

This depends on the type of cooking you want to use to prepare the salmon. If you need to boil it then we advise you to remove the skin, but only in this case. Otherwise, if you are roasting, grilling, cooking in a pan or grilling, then we advise you not to remove the salmon skin. Hard, oily skin is the best protection you have against overcooking.

What Does A Filleting Knife Look Like?

The shape is that of a typical kitchen knife only that the blade is typically longer than the common ones and is slightly curved. The fundamental characteristic that all filleting knives have is the thin blade which usually ranges from 2.5 to 3.5 mm.

This is because the blade must be able to bend and flex in order to simplify the removal of the pulp from the bones or that of the skin from the pulp.

The Winner

We hope to have provided you with a purchase guide and a list of knives to fillet the salmon that has helped you in choosing the best knife that best suits your needs.

The brands and models that we have proposed are among the most used and each offers unique characteristics. Surely all of them are built with excellent materials and are able to fillet a salmon without any problem.

As far as we are concerned, we believe that the Dalstrong Gladiator Series is the best knife for filleting salmon in terms of value for money. We know that the 7-inch blade length is the only one available but we believe that this is the perfect length that also offers greater versatility in use.