Nakiri bōchō and usuba bōchō are Japanese-style vegetable knives. They differ from the deba bōchō in their shape, as they have a straight blade edge suitable for cutting all the way to the cutting board without the need for a horizontal pull or push. These knives are also much thinner.

What is a nakiri used for?

A nakiri knife is a Japanese knife that is ideal for cutting up every type of veggie or mincing the smallest pieces of garlic. It is a unique kitchen knife because of its flat straight edge blade and its blade length which tends to be longer than many other prep knives.

Are nakiri knives good for meat?

The Nakiri knife is a Japanese-style knife mainly used to chop, mince and slice vegetables. It can also be used on fruits. It has a broad, straight-edged blade with a square tip, and can be confused for a mini Chinese Cleaver, but it is thinner and lighter. It also can't be used to cut hard materials like meat bones.