The Wusthof Classic Ikon Creme 7" Santoku Hollow Ground Edge Knife (4176-6) features a distinctive, double bolster design (and colour) for professional-style heft, exceptional balance, and beauty. The handle is made of a highly durable synthetic material – Polyoxymethylene (POM) – which has a tighter molecular structure to resist fading and discoloration. The elegant shape of the handle is designed for a comfortable grip. The Wüsthof Creme Ikon 7" Santoku is designed with a thinner blade than the traditional chef’s knife, at a 11° cutting edge, and gradually curves up at the very end providing a straighter edge. The hollow edge contains evenly spaced vertical indentations that create small air pockets between the blade and the food. These small air pockets gently push food off the blade and reduce the friction and drag when slicing. A Santoku is the Asian version of the chef's knife and features more of a sheep's foot blade with a spine that drops sharply to meet the hardened, acutely-ground cutting edge. The Santoku does not have the sharp tip of the chef's knife and is not as easy to use for removing stems and cores from fruits and vegetables. However, although the ultra-thin blade is not as well-suited for general chopping, the Santoku excels when it comes to slicing starchy vegetables and cross-grain cuts of poultry, fish, and meats. And no knife works better than a Santoku for cutting paper thin slices of potatoes and garlic, or juliennes of peppers, cucumbers, and other fruits and vegetables. The Wusthof Classic Ikon 7" Santoku with Hollow Ground Edge is also available with a black POM handle. Take care of your Wusthof knives by using a high-quality Flexible Cutting Board, storing them in a Wusthof Knife Block with horizontal slots, and maintaining a great edge using a Wusthof Sharpening Steel.