# Ultrasonic Chef's Knife **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 19, 2025, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultrasonic-chefs-knife/1024098 "2025-10-19T20:04:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MindsEye\_Watering](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindseye_watering/32/3619_2.png) [@MindsEye\_Watering](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MindsEye_Watering)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2025, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultrasonic-chefs-knife/1024098/1 "2025-10-19T20:04:37Z")
Just stumbled on this video of a new type of knife - [an Ultrasonic Chef’s Knife made by Seattle Ultrasonics.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXjbSVt9XNM) There are other ultrasonic blades available but they seems to be for mostly industrial applications.[The Seattle Ultrasonics](https://seattleultrasonics.com/) knife is made for home use. This looks amazing and doesn’t seem to rely on any mad pro-sharpening skills. It’s pricey but so is a very high quality and ultra-sharp knife. I would like to at least try it. I’m curious about what other other home chefs in Doperland think about this. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2025, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultrasonic-chefs-knife/1024098/2 "2025-10-19T20:22:32Z")
I know it’s not what you’re looking for, but youtuber This Old Tony [made an ultrasonic knife](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFeek0a8s7Q). For a DIY project, it worked pretty well. It did, at least his knife did, require the object he was cutting to have some rigidity so it didn’t vibrate with the knife (kinda like a saw for cutting off a cast). ---
**Author:** ![MindsEye\_Watering](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindseye_watering/32/3619_2.png) [@MindsEye\_Watering](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MindsEye_Watering)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2025, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultrasonic-chefs-knife/1024098/3 "2025-10-19T20:33:59Z")
On Amazon, I see quite a few [ultrasonic blades somewhat similar](https://www.amazon.com/HOZO-NeoBlade-Wireless-Ultrasonic-Cutter/dp/B0FK9SB5KR/ref=sr_1_49_sspa?crid=112B847WI0GU2&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.M3v2-bLGzK_C1xFrN-574VZTi4jKJyBMHGT0lKRNJtIGfuk5zswMn_MRS0SyiOuWIB2n44aDPNZIpUCmlXHAI4efJz1BhWtYPm5EnxvRmoDVeo91iugOqwD75uxqL1M1GW3JHK_cwQWVkTTsj57DG_BsXX-ehLQfkok019-v5BP02G4MqKg77lSUeb0WQzqFh5Hr1RvBmIPdLX5D107yPgKyUzjc_NNs7pfpD7mmA1hscAUxXKUyT8s2iA_41uLXsfQXKFE8fM5nlBFltdmudetE5c3cunRCKabrGDi2L6w.dsfAu_be03QzGtpAwEnrwfjcPGGxw4UwQJfky-zK3vw&dib_tag=se&keywords=ultrasonic+knife&qid=1760905801&sprefix=ultrasonic+%252Caps%252C128&sr=8-49-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9idGY&psc=1) to what you posted. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2025, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultrasonic-chefs-knife/1024098/4 "2025-10-19T20:37:15Z")
There was a discussion on another forum about this very knife not long ago, with a few hundred replies: [Ultrasonic Chef's Knife | Hacker News](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45314592) ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2025, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultrasonic-chefs-knife/1024098/5 "2025-10-19T20:41:27Z")
> [@MindsEye\_Watering](#): > > [somewhat similar](https://www.amazon.com/HOZO-NeoBlade-Wireless-Ultrasonic-Cutter/dp/B0FK9SB5KR/ref=sr_1_49_sspa?crid=112B847WI0GU2&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.M3v2-bLGzK_C1xFrN-574VZTi4jKJyBMHGT0lKRNJtIGfuk5zswMn_MRS0SyiOuWIB2n44aDPNZIpUCmlXHAI4efJz1BhWtYPm5EnxvRmoDVeo91iugOqwD75uxqL1M1GW3JHK_cwQWVkTTsj57DG_BsXX-ehLQfkok019-v5BP02G4MqKg77lSUeb0WQzqFh5Hr1RvBmIPdLX5D107yPgKyUzjc_NNs7pfpD7mmA1hscAUxXKUyT8s2iA_41uLXsfQXKFE8fM5nlBFltdmudetE5c3cunRCKabrGDi2L6w.dsfAu_be03QzGtpAwEnrwfjcPGGxw4UwQJfky-zK3vw&dib_tag=se&keywords=ultrasonic+knife&qid=1760905801&sprefix=ultrasonic+%252Caps%252C128&sr=8-49-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9idGY&psc=1) What you linked to has a blade the size of an X-Acto knife. There’s no way it could be used for cooking prep. The OP’s knife looks very cool and I’d love to try one. I don’t think I’d be willing to spend $400 to buy one though. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2025, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultrasonic-chefs-knife/1024098/6 "2025-10-19T21:02:26Z")
> [@MindsEye\_Watering](#): > > I’m curious about what other other home chefs in Doperland think about this. That video is mostly bullshit. Yes, ultrasonic cutting devices are used in commercial food processing for consistency but not in the way that a chef’s knife is used, and usually with frozen foods or slabs of firm meat. It is possible that the ultrasonic motion _might_ help prevent some foods from sticking to the face of the blade (I’m dubious about warm butter) but the finite element animation of the vibrating blade (starting at 2:23) and the description of the system “producing shockwaves with enough energy that _the metal of the blade itself stretches and contracts_” [emphasis of the narrator] is one of those statements that is technically true insofar as any shock or vibration will cause some response from a physical material but is of such a minuscule effect as to not matter. The blade itself is made from VG-10 that is used in a lot of plastic-handled commercial kitchen knives but is nothing special and I can tell by looking that the ergonomics of the blockish handle and the activation button are poor. The blade is by necessity just a stub tang (i.e.the metal that forms the tang is only slightly longer than the sharpened edge instead of having a full length tang going the length of the handle) which males it less resilient in regular use and will probably just break at some point. In general, the video is a bunch of marketing hype in that video about how amazing his product is and how bad ‘traditional knives’ are in comparisonthat isn’t really grounded in fact. But at least it isn’t a [CornBaller](https://youtu.be/ZmwYF-28nZY?si=32oXtc0V57qOjrsl). I’d save your money and instead just buy a decent diamond honing stone or sharpening kit to tune up your knives every few weeks which will take you a couple of minutes per blade. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2025, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultrasonic-chefs-knife/1024098/7 "2025-10-19T21:02:27Z")
I’d be irresistibly compelled to feel the blade edge while it’s vibrating to feel how sharp it is, and would slice open my finger. It should come with a coupon for one free ER visit. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2025, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultrasonic-chefs-knife/1024098/8 "2025-10-20T12:29:07Z")
> [@MindsEye\_Watering](#): > > Just stumbled on this video of a new type of knife > **[Vibroblade/Legends](https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Vibroblade/Legends)** > > Vibroblades were a type of bladed melee vibroweapon that used ultrasonic vibrations to increase cutting effectiveness. A vibroblade resembled a short sword with a high-tech look and feel and consisted of the same basic design as other vibroweapons:... ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2025, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultrasonic-chefs-knife/1024098/9 "2025-10-20T17:46:28Z")
I have to agree with Stranger above. The video is mostly gimmicks - who cuts goat cheese with a chef’s knife? Who cares about the patterns if you cover it in salt? - and bad technique, if you use a sharp knife on a tomato you can just pull it towards you a bit to start the cut easily. And no matter what, that knife is going to dull over time and need sharpening, at best you’ll just be able to put it off a bit because you can get away with a duller knife due to the ultrasonics For 1/3 of the price, you can buy a good chef’s knife with much better ergonomics. And for 3/4 of the price, you can buy a fantastic chef’s knife that will outperform that one in every way. ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2025, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultrasonic-chefs-knife/1024098/10 "2025-10-20T22:33:04Z")
As a longtime fan of science fiction, I’m glad to see that we’re finally getting vibroblades. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2025, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultrasonic-chefs-knife/1024098/11 "2025-10-20T22:55:44Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > That video is mostly bullshit. Next, a DOD Ludicrous-Power Tactical Laser For The Kitchen! Cut that Thanksgiving turkey in perfect slices. No need to cook beforehand, the laser does that! And a JPL Centrifuge for stirring egg whites… ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2025, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultrasonic-chefs-knife/1024098/12 "2025-10-20T23:00:53Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > I’d save your money and instead just buy a decent diamond honing stone or sharpening kit to tune up your knives every few weeks which will take you a couple of minutes per blade. Yeah, a good quality chef knife if properly sharpened can cut through meats and vegetables with very little effort. You don’t need the latest technological fad to do it. ---
**Author:** ![MindsEye\_Watering](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindseye_watering/32/3619_2.png) [@MindsEye\_Watering](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MindsEye_Watering)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2025, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultrasonic-chefs-knife/1024098/13 "2025-10-20T23:06:01Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > You don’t need the latest technological fad to do it. Except for the “properly sharpened” bit. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2025, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultrasonic-chefs-knife/1024098/14 "2025-10-20T23:10:41Z")
> [@MindsEye\_Watering](#): > > Except for the “properly sharpened” bit. Yeah, there are some techno fads for knife-sharpening, granted. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2025, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultrasonic-chefs-knife/1024098/15 "2025-10-20T23:18:25Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > if you use a sharp knife on a tomato you can just pull it towards you a bit to start the cut easily Or use a bread knife like I do. Every once in a while someone else comes up with a new super knife that will do it all. I remember when my parents bought an electric knife, where the twin blades scissored back and forth to carve your roast. I’ve been using some version of a chef’s knife for the last 60 years without a problem. As someone pointed out, buy a steel or a stone and hone it from time to time and Bob’s yer uncle. ---
**Author:** ![MindsEye\_Watering](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindseye_watering/32/3619_2.png) [@MindsEye\_Watering](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MindsEye_Watering)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2025, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultrasonic-chefs-knife/1024098/16 "2025-10-21T00:03:02Z")
Please don’t misunderstand - I have some okay knives that I keep reasonably sharp with my Work Sharp tool. But to me, knives that must be sharpened every now and then is a bit like LP records that must be cleaned. After a while I’ll get tired of cleaning records and just go with CDs. The cheese bit was especially interesting as my wire cheese cutter broke and I recently had to cut a zillion slices of fresh mozz for pizza, and using an actual knife for that is a pain. The salt thing is just a demo to skeptics to prove that knife is actually _doing_ something. At the $400 price I won’t be buying this at all, but if it’s got any real value at all the knife might be around for a while and the price will have to come down. As I said, I would like to try this thing (or see a bunch of honest reviews) and see how much is overblown hype. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2025, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultrasonic-chefs-knife/1024098/17 "2025-10-21T00:28:13Z")
> [@MindsEye\_Watering](#): > > The cheese bit was especially interesting as my wire cheese cutter broke and I recently had to cut a zillion slices of fresh mozz for pizza, and using an actual knife for that is a pain. Take the balls of fresh mozzarella, dry them with a clean linen towel, and put them on a tray in the freezer for 20-30 minutes (long enough for them to firm up but not to frostburn). Take them out and slice them with a fillet knife to get them as thin as you like. > [@MindsEye\_Watering](#): > > The salt thing is just a demo to skeptics to prove that knife is actually _doing_ something. Oh, there is no question that the knife is “actually _doing_ something”. It is just that what it is doing is not materially improving its food cutting ability; instead it is neatly carving away a chunk of money from the purchaser for something that will likely end up in the bottom of a junk drawer. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![seattlefoodgeek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seattlefoodgeek/32/20076_2.png) [@seattlefoodgeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seattlefoodgeek)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2025, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultrasonic-chefs-knife/1024098/18 "2025-10-21T05:53:56Z")
Hey folks, Scott here, the guy in the video. I know it’s dangerous for me to wade into the comments section, but I wanted to address a few points. First, commercial ultrasonic cutters are not just used for frozen foods. They’re commonly used for baked goods, cheeses, and produce as well, as shown in the video. Second, I understand the concern about the short tang of the knife. We just posted a [video showing 50lbs of force applied to the handle](https://youtu.be/KzmJLbYMi3Q), which is much more than I could apply with both hands and all my arm strength. (Note, however, that I do, in fact, skip arm day at the gym, regularly.) A lot of engineering went into the bolster/handle connection to make sure it’s strong enough for any cooking task. Also, the steel is Japanese AUS-10 in a san mai construction, hardened to 60C. This is similar to, but slightly different from VG-10. And finally, I understand the skepticism. I’d be skeptical of the claims, too. Which is why [I’ve taken objective measurements that show a 50% average force reduction for on vs. off when cutting tomatoes](https://youtu.be/cXjbSVt9XNM?si=xXOSfXCepdSR2HeC&t=207), as an example. More foods and more data to come, as will independent 3rd party testing and reviews. This knife isn’t for everyone, and that’s OK. However, I do not bullshit. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2025, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultrasonic-chefs-knife/1024098/19 "2025-10-21T07:16:56Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > > [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > > > I’d save your money and instead just buy a decent diamond honing stone or sharpening kit to tune up your knives every few weeks which will take you a couple of minutes per blade. > > Yeah, a good quality chef knife if properly sharpened can cut through meats and vegetables with very little effort. You don’t need the latest technological fad to do it. Agree with both of those. I have a couple of Henckels knives that I love – the kind with the two little men in the logo rather than just one – I believe these are now branded Zwilling and are the professional quality ones; the others are now branded Henckels International. But keeping them perfectly sharp is a challenge. I have a Henckels manual sharpener with slots for coarse and fine sharpening and for both standard and Asian blade angles, but I must say its performance is disappointing. For fine sharpening, I actually get the best results from a good old-fashioned Henckels sharpening steel. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2025, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultrasonic-chefs-knife/1024098/20 "2025-10-21T13:10:58Z")
Thank you for replying. One question I’d like to ask - will this knife require sharpening over time? There seems to be an impression that it will not: > [@MindsEye\_Watering](#): > > Please don’t misunderstand - I have some okay knives that I keep reasonably sharp with my Work Sharp tool. But to me, knives that must be sharpened every now and then is a bit like LP records that must be cleaned. After a while I’ll get tired of cleaning records and just go with CDs. But it seems to me that no matter what, it’s going to dull with regular use. The ultrasonics may assist with that, but at some point you’ve got a totally blunt edge and at best the ultrasonics mean you’re bashing your way through a tomato instead of cutting it. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultrasonic-chefs-knife/1024098.md?page=2)