Greener Chef Japanese Chef Knife Review

The Japanese knife from a small business where they have a quality and organic focus.

By Timothy Hales | Updated: March 8, 2021

Materials and Construction

The Greener Chef Japanese Chef knife has a Damascus 67 layer design. The core is made with VG-10 steel with a Rockwell hardness of 60. This means the blade will retain its sharpness longer and require more time to sharpen when it becomes dull. The blade has a tsuchime finish (hammered finish) that allows the blade to cut through food with reduced friction and keep food from sticking. It also has corrosion resistanceIts edge is sharpened to a 12-15 degree angle on both sides. This Japanese knife has a G10 handle which is a military grade high-pressure fiberglass laminate. This ensures that the handle does not chip or crack with use. It is connected to the half tang blade with three rivets. The knife also comes with a bamboo sheath. The sheath is locked into place over the blade with a small bamboo pin. The pin seems like it will not stay in after multiple uses, but only time will tell.

Design

This knife has a compact design to match a standard Japanese cook’s knife. This style is also known as a Japanese Gyuto Chef Knife. The blade length is 8″, which allows for control when cutting. The overall weight of the knife comes in at 9 oz. You can feel the difference as compared to some of the other knives in my kitchen. I would consider the weight to add power to the knife’s performance. Although this knife has a half tang and half bolster, it is perfectly balanced. I can place my finger right on the bolster edge, and it remains balanced without tipping one way or the other.  The blade has a Damascus 67 layer design, which gives an elegant look. It also has a tsuchime finish to add a visual element, and it also provides a functional element with its ability to cut through food with minimal slicking. The edge is sharpened to a 12-15 degree angle. I am not sure why it has a range, but that information comes directly from Greener Chef. The ergonomic handle has a unique design with its teardrop shape. This allows for a firm grip using either a handle grip or a pinch grip. The G10 material of the handle is designed with a focus on durability. My only issue with the handle material is that it has a smooth finish, which allows it to have some slippage when it is wet or coated with oil.

Kitchen Usability

Each knife goes through a series of usage tests in my own kitchen over a period of several weeks. Trying a knife in an isolated test environment does not accurately represent a true home kitchen environment. I have cut various meats, vegetables, and fruits with this Greener Chef Japanese Chef Knife.

I have found this gyuto style knife to cut very well. The blade showed virtually no wear and maintained a sharp edge after many uses. I did notice the blade had a small chip near the tip. I am not sure what caused the damage, but it was minimal and can be sharpened to fit it.

Cleaning and Maintenance

It is not recommended that you wash the Greener Chef Japanese Chef Knife in the dishwasher. I recommend that you hand wash this knife to ensure its sharpness and longevity (see: Kitchen Knife Care). Be sure to rinse off after use immediately and then using warm water and soap to clean it thoroughly. Since the blade is made from high carbon steel, it can quickly form rust spots. To prevent this discoloration, make sure that you clean and dry your knife after using it to keep its amazing beauty. You will also want to coat the blade with vegetable oil to protect its finish. The bamboo sheath will also protect from damage. As this knife has a Rockwell hardness of 60, it holds its sharpness much longer than the average blade. I suggest honing this knife regularly to keep clean edges. If you find that the edge sharpness does not return after honing, you can use a whetstone to sharpen. Be careful of the tsuchime finish when you do sharpen it. Since this steel is a little harder, it will take a little longer to sharpen this knife using a whetstone. The handle is one piece with flush rivets. This design helps to prevent food liquids and particles from getting in any cracks. You will still need to wash it with soap and warm water. Remember that your knife purchase is an investment. Taking proper care of your knife will ensure that it will last for years to come.

Company

Greener Chef is a small business run by husband and wife, Brent and Laura (and baby Max). They are passionate about living a healthy lifestyle and using healthier products that respect their bodies. In their quest to find these products, they decided to create their own products because they wanted it to be done right.

With Greener Chef being as small as it is (and new: est. 2015), I could not find any lawsuits, class action claims, etc., against them. Reviews for the company’s products on Amazon raised a few concerns.

Several reviews have been deleted, although this may be in part to reviews mentioning being incentivized for the review. Amazon currently prohibits those types of reviews. Also, there may be some false impressions when looking at the reviews. Greener Chef carries multiple versions of the cutting board under a single Amazon product page. You can buy the cutting board by itself or a knife with a free bamboo cutting board. So the reviews do not apply directly to one product. I suggest reading through the reviews to make an adequate decision.

Return Policy

As an item that is exclusively sold on Amazon, you can use the Amazon return policy and return any item within 30 days. If you exceed this allotted time, then you will want to contact Greener Chef directly to work through your issue. They state on their listing that they will give you 30 days to return this knife for a full refund, including shipping.

Warranty

The Greener Chef gives you 30 days to return this knife for a full refund, including shipping. Based on several Amazon reviews, their customer service is outstanding, and they will go above and beyond to make things right.

Value

The price point for the Greener Chef Japanese Chef’s Knife is right at $75. Depending on what kind of knives you are used to buying, it may seem a little high. However, you should consider the Damascus layered design, the VG-10 steel, and the G10 handle material. Each of these is high quality and is worth every dollar spent. Also, at the time of this review, when you purchase the knife through the Greener Chef Amazon product page, it comes with a free XL bamboo cutting board (reviewed here).

Who Should Buy the Greener Chef Japanese Chef Knife?

Summary

The Greener Chef Japanese Gyuto style chef knife has some of the best materials and construction on the market. This kitchen knife has an amazing look and even better functionality. You should not hesitate to purchase this knife based on its qualities. The Greener Chef brand’s customer service is a bonus to this product.