Congratulations, you have managed to catch some delicious fish! Filleting those fish comes to mind, but it may not be all that easy. Walk into any kitchen, and you will see there are knives that come in all shapes and sizes. Which one is best for your application? This article will discuss the range of options for knife selection and the importance of choosing the right tool. By the end, you should have a better understanding of how to choose and when to use a boning knife vs fillet knife.
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What Is A Boning Knife?
A boning knife is a medium length knife with a thin but sturdy blade. These have a blade length between five inches and seven inches which is straight and sharp. These are great for separating meat from bone, not only on fish but on any meat or poultry. A boning knife needs a tough blade because it sometimes gets used to not only cut but pry bones from meat. The boning knife is usually used to supplement a fillet knife in most scenarios but can be used as a makeshift fillet knife in special situations when fillet knives are not available.

What Is A Fillet Knife?
A fillet knife is exactly what you think of when you picture someone cleaning fish. Traditional fillet knives are between five and nine inches long. They have a distinct upward curve that makes them ergonomically comfortable when removing the fillets from fish. In conjunction with the slender, flexible nature of the blade, this shape makes it great for separating the meat of the fish from skin and scales. These are purpose-built for cleaning fish.
Boning Vs. Fillet Knife: Key Differences Explained

People Also Ask (FAQs)
Can you use a boning knife to fillet a fish?
You can use a boning knife to fillet a fish in certain scenarios, but it is not ideal. The knife is too stiff to contort and twist around the spine and ribcage of a fish. You will end up collecting too many unwanted bones in the fillet, or you will end up accidentally cutting through the fish's spine and damaging both fillets on the fish.
Do I need a fillet knife?
You do need a fillet knife. If you plan to keep your catch and prepare it for a meal, you will absolutely need this tool. If you do not have a fillet knife, you will have more anxiety when it comes to cleaning your catch, you will have to work harder, and it will take longer for you to perform the simple task of filleting. This will ultimately lead to eating less of your catch, and worse, could kill the desire to go fishing!
Should a boning knife be flexible?
No, a boning knife should have a sturdy, rigid blade. When cutting through tendons or joints, you will appreciate having a knife with a solid backbone. A flexible knife would be dangerous in this scenario and could break or deflect off the meat in an unpredictable manner.
Is a boning knife necessary?
Yes, boning knives are an important piece in cleaning or preparing not only fish but any meat. Removing bones is always part of any fish cleaning and almost any butchering.
What are the best fillet & boning knife brands to buy?
The best brands to buy can be found in the "10 Best Fillet knives" section on our website! In our opinion, you can not go wrong with the KastKing, the Morakniv, or the Rada Cutlery knives. Something we did not touch on in this article is electric fillet knives, which are amazing when cleaning large or large amounts of fish. Check out the Rapala brand electric fillet knife.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, when asking yourself, "is a boning knife the same as a fillet knife?" Remind yourself what we have discussed here in this article. A boning knife is not a fillet knife, and the same goes for a fillet knife being a boning knife. They each have their respective pros and cons. The flexibility and slenderness of the fillet knife seamlessly removes meat from spines, skin, and scales. The backbone of the boning knife is tough enough to separate meat from tendon and bone. To be prepared for your next fishing trip, we suggest having both at your disposal.