What is the steel used for the blade? Will it rust?
This knife is made of 440C steel from Japan. 440C is a high-carbon stainless steel, meaning that it combines the property of high-carbon steel (very hard due to the high carbon content of 0.95%+ and the vacuum heat treatment, therefore very sharp and able to keep its edge for much longer than other steels) and stainless steel (ability to resist corrosion and stains).
So the blade will not rust, but you have to care for it properly by washing it with soapy water and drying it quickly after using it.
Do not put it in the dishwasher or leave it to soak in the sink.
Is it worth buying this knife or should I just get a 30€ knife from Ikea?
A “cheap” knife will end up costing you more in the long run, because it can break or turn dull. Low quality steel will not keep a sharp edge no matter how many hours you waste on sharpening, and you will end up having to buy a new knife every year or so.
There are plenty of “cheap” knives that cannot perform to decent standards and very few options for chefs who are passionate about cooking, need the right tools to assist them in their career or hobby but are not willing to overspend on a brand name. Get your KOTAI knife today for a lifetime of safe and delicious cooking.
How does the lifetime warranty work?
We believe that a good knife should be a chef's trusted partner for life.
That is why we are proud to stand behind our knives with a lifetime warranty.
If you find that your knife has any manufacturing defect, you may contact us at help@kotaikitchen.com and we will repair or replace it for free.
On top of the lifetime manufacturing warranty, you can benefit from the protection of a 90-day money-back warranty in case your KOTAI knife does not live up to your expectations.
Try a KOTAI knife risk-free and return it within 90 days if you do not like it. No questions asked.
What is the difference between Japanese and German steels? Which is better?
German chef knives are generally heavier, thicker and made of “softer” steel.
Thicker blades combined with a wider, more obtuse cutting angle (typically 20-25 degrees on each side of the blade) mean that chefs must apply more pressure to slice through foods.
The softer German steel (typically HRC 55-56) will get dull faster and require more maintenance, with many cooks having to hone their knives before each use.
Japanese steel has a higher carbon content, making the blades significantly harder (HRC 58 and above). Due to their harder steel, the blades can be thinner and the edges sharper (with a more acute angle) than German knives. KOTAI knives are hardened to HRC 59-60 and sharpened to a 15° angle on each side of the blade. The harder, thinner blades make Japanese steel knives like KOTAI extremely agile, precise, and more effortless to use.
This does not mean that knives made of German steel are bad - the “softer” steel allows them to take a bit more abuse than high-end Japanese equivalents.
But Japanese steel knives are a different thing altogether. If you are used to German knives, you might find that you need to refine your knife technique to make the best out of the added precision that Japanese steel knives have to offer.
For example, chefs who are used to simply pressing downward to make a cut with a German style knife would have to adjust and slice forward or backward with their new Japanese style knife.
This will slice the food instead of crushing it, making effortless and precise cuts.
