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What is a Fillet Knife?

Malcolm Tatum
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Updated: May 16, 2024
Views: 34,085
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Having a fillet knife or two around the kitchen is a very good idea. With a thin flexible blade that is ideal for filleting fish, this knife can also be used for several other applications as well.

Along with a blade that is thin and flexible, the fillet knife has a handle that is often made of stainless steel or sealed hardwood. This makes caring for the knife very easy. Washing it with hot soapy water will have the knife ready for use quickly. The knife can be sharpened with most types of sharpening tools, so no special care is required to keep it is top operating condition. Typically, the length of the blade varies from 6 to 11 inches (15.24 to 27.94 cm), which makes it ideal for a number of different jobs, including filleting.

The length and flexibility of the fillet knife is what makes it possible to get excellent results. As an example, filleting a fish properly involves making a clean cut along the backbone of the fish, getting into the areas around the bones, and being able to evenly slice the skin away from the flesh.

Because the fillet knife is both flexible and thin, the blade can easily get into places that would be impossible for a typical kitchen knife. Moving through the flesh and gently separating it from the bone and skin means there is much less effort exerted and the chances of getting some usable sections is greatly increased. The result is thin and evenly sliced sections that are all ready for grilling, battering and frying, or baking.

While the fillet knife is most often associated with filleting various types of fish, it is also helpful in other applications as well. For instance, it can be used to shave away thin sections of roast beef for baking, broiling, or pan frying. These knives also work very well for cutting thin strips of chicken and steak for use in a number of different dishes.

Essentially, if there is a need to prepare thin strips of some sort of meat for cooking, the fillet knife can easily make the effort a great deal easier. Whether part of the standard fishing and camping gear or a staple in the kitchen utensil drawer, it's a handy device to have around.

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Malcolm Tatum
By Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum, a former teleconferencing industry professional, followed his passion for trivia, research, and writing to become a full-time freelance writer. He has contributed articles to a variety of print and online publications, including DelightedCooking, and his work has also been featured in poetry collections, devotional anthologies, and newspapers. When not writing, Malcolm enjoys collecting vinyl records, following minor league baseball, and cycling.
Discussion Comments
By Fiorite — On Jan 30, 2011

@ GenevaMech- I bought a nice Swedish fillet knife from world knives. The knife has a sharp, thin blade perfect for preparing your catch, and it has a polished wood handle and brass hardware. Best of all, it is a folding knife. I prefer this because I always lost the sheath to my old fillet knives. Now I can just rinse it clean, fold it up, and put it in my pocket. It's a very functional knife.

By Glasshouse — On Jan 28, 2011

@ GenevaMech- I have a Rapala fillet knife and I love it. I spent about $25 on the knife, and it has lasted me years. The knife has a very thin blade, giving it great flex. The thin blade also holds an edge and gets razor sharp.

I think I bought my knife at a Bass pro shop, maybe Cabela's, and there was a large assortment of Rapala knives to choose from. They had cheap foam handle knives all the way up to hundred dollar collector knives. Rapala is known for its fishing lures and their knives are just as good.

By GenevaMech — On Jan 26, 2011

What is the best fillet knife for fishing? I have a Henckels fillet knife at home, but I don't want to take this expensive piece of cutlery with me camping.

Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum, a former teleconferencing industry professional, followed his passion for trivia, research, and writing...
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