Cutting fillets with an ordinary sharp knife can be a bit of a struggle, as it does not cut perfect fillet pieces. Unfortunately, many people use a chef knife to perform all kinds of cutting and filleting, but the precision, accuracy, and convenience you get from a fillet knife are unbeatable. They are structured to get through all types of meat and fish without damaging the fillets.
The firm yet lightweight handling and flexible blades of fillet knives make it very easy to separate the flesh from bones. However, boning knives also serve the purpose but to be more accurate, and you need one of these fillet knives in your kitchen. Once you use them, you will understand the multiple benefits they offer. A thought might pop up in your mind, what’s so different about these fillet knives? What makes them so special for filleting purposes? Let’s first answer this question:
Fillet Knife — Explained
The purpose of these knives is to make the filleting process easier with excellent control and perfect sharpness. They originate from the boning knife family that serves a similar purpose. The blades of fillet knives usually are 15 to 28 cm long, making them stand out from the rest of the knives.
Best Fillet Knives
There are thousands of fillet knives currently available on the market, but not all are made to correctly serve this purpose. Some of these knives have weaker blades and slippery handles, while others do not have sharp or long edges. So, we shortlisted some of the best fillet knives based on several factors such as sharpness, blade length, handle, and sturdiness. Here’s the list of the best fillet knives to purchase, according to your needs:
Our Top Picks
Best overall – Victorinox Swiss Army Cutlery Fibrox Pro – Curved Boning Knife
This professional-chef standard knife comes from the boning knife family with 5 different variants. The blade length for each variant falls around 6 inches. The knife has a sharp blade that swiftly aids your filleting process. You can use the Victorinox Swiss Army Knife to remove any flesh from bones with ease.
Pointed Tip
A pointed tip is necessary for every fillet knife, and this fillet knife also features a sharp cutting-edge tip that pierces through the meat and fish. The curved edge near the blade’s tip allows smooth cutting with precision accuracy.
Delicate Cutting
It’s always a little complicated to debone delicate poultry with the best accuracy, but this knife makes it much easier. The blade is a little flexible, which is a pro point of this knife because it allows you to cut through the thin pieces of meat without totally messing it up.
Blade Variants
This fillet has 5 blade variants to choose from. Some blades are stiffer, while others are a little flexible. It totally depends on your personal preference to buy the one that can easily get your work done. The blade variants include:
- Curved and Flexible Blade
- Curved and Semi-stiff Blade
- Straight and Flexible Blade
- Straight and Stiff Blade
Best Handling
If your fillet knife’s grip is slippery, you will not be able to obtain that filleting perfection. Gladly, this knife features an ergonomic FireBox Pro Handle, which is non-slippery and sturdy. The overall weight of this knife is balanced for the most optimized performance.
Pros
- Lightweight European Steel
- Ergonomic Handle Design
- 5 Blade Variants
- Pointed Tip for accurate cuts
- Approved by NSF
Cons
- Not Flexible Enough
- Non-Slippery Grip
KastKing Fillet Knife – 9″ Extra Long
This eye-catching knife comes with the sharpest G4116 German Stainless-Steel blades. The black blade finish and orange handle make this knife excellent for professional chefs looking for an elegant option. The best thing about this knife is that there are 5 blade sizes to choose from. The longest blade is 9 inches, which allows you to cut through big fillet pieces.
Curved Blades
A perfect fillet knife always has a little curve and flexibility to get the job done. KastKing used the same rule to construct their sharp, thin, and flexible knife that ensures perfect filleting with greater accuracy.
Sharp Tip
The tip of a fillet knife is also an important factor because it really helps in deboning the fillet pieces. If your knife’s tipping point is not sharp, then that fillet knife is of no use. KastKing’s fillet knife, fortunately, offers you the sharpest tip to easily get your tasks done.
Blade Sizes
The length of your blade knife affects its flexibility. If your blade knife blade is long enough, then it will be more flexible. There are 5 blade sizes of this boning knife; these sizes range from 5 to 9 inches. If you need more flexibility to pierce through the fillet, then a longer blade will do the work, while if you need more stability, then a 5″ Bait-knife or 6″ blade will do the work.
Polymer Grip
The polymer is a grippy material that provides both safety and comfort at the same time. This knife features an organic polymer grip with a grippy pattern over it to make it more slip-resistant.
Protective Sheath
You might need to carry your fillet knife somewhere else. In this case, you need a protective sheath that will prevent sharp blades from cutting anything. A protective sheath makes your knife portable and safe, and KastKing fulfills the use with its excellent quality orange-colored sheath.
Pros
- Flexible stainless steel blade
- Non-slip handle
- Easy to clean
- Excellent value
- Includes protective sheath
Cons
- Can loose sharp edge easily
Rapala Fish ‘N Fillet Knife – Includes Sheath
If you are a fan of traditional classic knives, you can’t ignore this Fish ‘N Fillet Knife by Rapala. This premium-looking knife has a sturdy birch handle attached with a full-tang sharp blade and is sharp as a sword.
Tapered Blades
Tapered blades are a little different from ordinary blades. They are thick from the start and get thinner towards the tip, making the blade more sturdy and easily cuts through the meat. The length of this blade is also considerable for filleting.
Birch Handle
The Rapala used their special reinforced birch handle here, which is very durable. The problem with this handle is that it can be a little slippery when comparing it to a polymer grip.
Leather Sheath
Not many fillet knives come with such a traditional leather sheath. The genuine and high-quality leather sheath makes your knife portable and easy to carry if you are going fishing. The traditional design gives you a premium feel while you are holding it.
Includes Sharpener
A single-stage sharpener is provided along with this knife. You can use it whenever you feel like your blade is not sharp enough.
Pros
- Classic & Traditional Look
- Reinforced Birch Handle
- Tapered Blade
- Leather Protective Sheath
- Free Single-Stage Sharpener
Cons
- The handle can be slippery.
Mercer Culinary Millennia Narrow Fillet Knife – 8.5 Inches Blade
Mercer Culinary pretty much offers you everything that you need to look for in a fillet knife. Their Millennia Narrow is leans more towards performance, safety, and reliability. The blade on this knife is a little longer and more flexible than other fillet knives, but at the same time, it’s also much sharper.
Japanese Steel Blade
Nothing can easily beat Japanese steel in terms of durability and quality. This steel prevents blades from rusting or corrosion. The blade is also easy to sharpen, and it stays sharp for longer periods.
Ergonomic Handle
The Handle is probably the main highlight of the Millenia Fillet Knife. Most fillet knife makers do not focus on safety while designing their handles, but the knife offers the best protection with a protective finger guard. The handle is made from Santoprene and polypropylene materials to offer top-notch comfort and durability. There are finger points on the handle to make the grip even more sturdy.
Long Blade
The blade on this fillet knife is a little longer (8.5 inches long). It’s thin at the same time; hence flexibility is another excellent point of this knife. It allows you to pierce through the big pieces of meat or fish. It is also a great option for cutting thin slices with more accuracy.
Simple Look
The knife looks pretty much ordinary with a sharp fillet blade, and there is also no protective sheath included. It’s best for kitchen use with a fresh, simple look.
Pros
- Japanese Steel Blade
- Ergonomic Handle with Protective Finger Guard
- 8.5 Inches Long
- Stain-Resistant
- Flexible and Thin Blade
- Stain-Resistant
Cons
- No Protective Sheath
Best outdoor – BUBBA 7 Inch Tapered Flex Fillet Knife – Non-Stick Blade
Suppose you are looking for a multi-purpose fillet knife that you can carry while fishing, boating, or hunting; BUBBA 7″ is made for you as it has the perfect blade, grip, and sheath for outdoor usage. The blade length is neither too long nor short, which balances its flexibility.
Sharp Blade
The blade on this knife is very different from ordinary steel blades. BUBBA used an 8Cr13MoV blade for effortless filleting with unmatchable sharpness. This sharpness makes this fillet knife a perfect option for fishers.
Rust Resistant
The blade is not extraordinary, but its Tri-nitride coating further makes it more convenient to use. This coating prevents the blade from rusting or corrosion. The pointed tip further aids in piercing through hard meat or fish.
Perfect Grip
The grip handle for this knife is designed with great care to prevent your fingers from getting any cuts. A lanyard hold can also be seen at the grip. The trigger-like grip keeps your hand protected no matter how hard you go on the meat.
Synthetic Sheath
The blade is extra sharp, and that’s why it comes with a synthetic sheath so that you stay protected while carrying the knife with you.
Multi-Flex Interchangeable Set
If you are a meat or fish supplier, this complete fillet knife set will undoubtedly fulfill all your needs. It includes a range of knives with different variants such as stiff, flex, tapered flex, and ultra flex.
Pros
- Super Thin Blade
- Tri-Nitrate coating to Prevent Rust
- Perfectly shaped grip
- Sharp tip and curvy blade
- Multipurpose Knife
- Synthetic Protective Sheath
Cons
- The handle is a little bulky
Best for fishermen – American Angler PRO Electric Fillet Knife
This is the only electric fillet knife on our list. If you want to go hard with hard meat or bones, turn American Angler on to get the work done.
110 Volt Electric Blade
A titanium-coated stainless steel blade is used on this electric knife, which moves whenever you use the knife to cut through hard pieces. The length of its blade is 8 inches.
40mm Motor
A 40mm motor is fitted in the grip that powers this whole electric knife to provide the best filleting experience.
Nylon Mesh Storage
A Nylon Mesh storage case comes along with this knife to store all your components. No knife sheath is available for this one.
Pros
- Extra Torque and Power
- Best for Fishermen
- Titanium Coated Stainless Steel Blade
- Santorini Grip Pad
- Sharp Pointed Tip
Cons
- Not for regular filleting
Dexter P94813 Narrow Fillet Knife – 8 Inches
This one’s from the Dexter-Russel store. If you are not a fan of curvy blades and want something simple with a straight blade, then P94813 Narrow Fillet Knife will probably be your best choice. The knife is simple, sharp, straight, and long enough for the perfect filleting.
Straight Blade
We normally see straight blades on our ordinary knives, and this fillet knife is no exception. Despite its straight blade, it easily cuts down through the fillet pieces to get the job done. If you are used to straight knives, then this might be the right choice.
High-carbon Steel Blade
The blade is made from top-notch steel material, which is durable and rust-resistant at the same time.
Polypropylene Handles
A normal and durable polypropylene handle is used that offers a non-slip grip and a protective finger edge. The handle has a nice curve in the center to hold it easily.
Easy Resharpening
If you think that the blades are not sharp enough on this knife, you can easily use a sharpener because of its hollow ground.
Affordable
The knife is pretty affordable and simple if we compare it to some high-end fillet knives. It is designed with a sturdy grip and, features a razor sharp blade with a pointed tip.
Pros
- Sharp rust-resistant blade
- 8 Inches long
- Simple Design
- Rapid re-sharpening
- Non-slip grip
- Rapid re-sharpening
- Simple Design
Cons
- A little dull even after re-sharpening
Our Best Pick
Overall
Victorinox’s Swiss Army Boning Knife is our winner, and we can’t recommend it enough. From premium curvy steel blades to durable, non-slippery grip, this knife aces it all. On top of that, it has 5 different blade variants with different curves, flexibility, and sizes. So, you can never go wrong with this one.
For Outdoors
If we move out of the kitchen fillet knives, then BUBBA 7 Inch Tapered Flex Fillet Fishing Knife is our best outdoor winner. You can carry it while going fishing, boating, or hunting. The blade is extra-sharp, and the grip is protective and non-slippery.
Check our boning knife review.
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Last updated: September 24, 2023
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