The Mercer Culinary Millennia 8-Inch Narrow Fillet Knife is one of the sharpest chef’s knives available for filleting. It comes from a brand that has a great reputation for producing quality professional cutlery, and if it meets the same standards as their other products, it should be an excellent addition to any chef’s toolkit.
In our review of the best fillet knives this model came out as our first choice.
Mercer Culinary 8-Inch Narrow Fillet Knife Review
The Millenia 8-inch fillet knife is an exceptional product from Mercer Culinary’s collection of kitchen equipment. It was first seen on the market in 2018, and since then it has become one of the bestselling knives of its type.
At 8 inches, the knife is an ideal length, and although it could cut through most food you care to put on your cutting board such as poultry or meat, being a fillet knife, its main use will be in the preparation of fish.
Who Is This Product For?
This knife from Mercer Culinary is specially designed for chefs at the highest levels. It is approved by chefs who use it regularly for filleting fish when cooking professionally in restaurant kitchens, for example. That being said, this should not exclude those whose cooking exploits are at home.
What’s Included?
With kitchen knives being a relatively simple product, you will not be surprised that this is going to be a very short section. The box includes the 8-inch-long filleting knife which is pre-sharpened. A compatible blade cover is provided, which is black and very useful for storing the knife safely when not in use.
Overview of Features
This Millenia knife has a length of 8 inches which puts it right in the middle of the normal lengths of filleting knives which are generally between 6 and 11 inches long.
The blade of this knife is made from a single piece of top-quality high-carbon stainless steel from Japan. There is a Mercer shield symbol on the blade which marks the center of gravity for this knife, and this shield is also an assurance of quality.
To provide the best possible tool for filleting fish, the blade is narrow, but it is also flexible too, which will help enormously when trying to fillet delicate fish, or when trimming fat from pieces of meat or poultry.
Regardless of which type of food you are preparing, after you have finished using the knife, it simply needs a rinse with some water to render it clean and ready to use again. This is also aided by the fact that all the materials used are stain-resistant
The molded handle is made from a combination of Santoprene and polypropylene, which provide an ideal combination of durability and comfort. It has raised bumps on both sides which facilitate pinch grips. The grip is the same as the one used on other Millenia knives and is very comfortable to hold for a long duration.
To further enhance the usability of this knife, textured finger points can be found on the handle, and these help to maximize grip. For safety, there is also a shaped finger guard on the part of the handle closest to the blade. Safety is also the reason that a useful blade guard is provided with the knife when purchased.
How to Use
As this is a filleting knife, it is used somewhat different to many other kitchen knives, given that filleting fish is a reasonably delicate process which requires a degree of precision. For the perfect fillet use the back of the blade to descale the fish. You should then remove the fins, skin, and the fish’s innards before rising it with cold water.
You should then cut the fish along its length and remove the spine. A great tip is to use a pair of tweezers to remove any stubborn bones which remain. Slice horizontally through the middle of the fish to determine the fillet sizes. If you wish to create fish steaks, you can then cut the fillets to the appropriate portions.
Pros
- High-grade stainless steel
- Ergonomic handle
- Blade is flexible
- Lightweight
- Easy to clean
Cons
- Takes some skill to fillet
- Not suited to general use
Alternative
2001 Filet Stainless Steel Fillet Knife
If you’d prefer a fillet knife that is smaller, not only in terms of its blade length, but in its purchase price too, then we have a great alternative. It is the 2001 Filet Stainless Steel Fillet Knife which has a 6-inch blade, and a price which is 50% lower than the Mercer Culinary model.
Admittedly it does not have the same brand reputation, nor the high-grade blade, but it is ideal if you only occasionally fillet fish and want a value for money knife to do so.
Conclusion
Filleting fish is one of those jobs in the kitchen that requires a degree of skill and precision cutting so having a knife which aids, rather than hinders that task, is highly desirable. The Mercer Culinary 8-Inch Narrow Fillet Knife is the perfect solution for those who want to fillet fish or trim fat from meat and poultry, thanks to its high-quality blade and user-friendly handle.
