According to experts, there are only three types of knives that you need to have at home – paring knife, chef’s knife, and bread knife.
A bread knife is designed with a long blade that has a serrated edge. This can easily cut through thick or crusty bread and sandwiches. When splitting cakes, this is also the best knife to use. It can even double as a carving knife.
What is the best bread knife to buy?
If you are asking this question and you are clueless which one will make the top pick, keep on reading this post and we will guide you through some of the options that should definitely be a part of your list.
Why Do Bread Knives Have Serrated Blade?
Taking a look at some of the top-rated options for a bread knife, you will realize one thing – they have a serrated blade, similar to a steak knife. A serrated blade is great in cutting even soft bread without worrying that it will crush. Even if the bread is crusty, the serrated blade will glide smoothly. The slices will be tidy and the crust will not end up crumbling if you use a knife with the right edge.
What are the Best Materials for a Bread Knife?
A bread knife has two basic parts. The first one is the blade, which cuts directly through the bread. The best materials for the blade is stainless steel, especially one that is made in Germany or Japan. It should not only be durable, but should also not be prone to rust, corrosion, stain, and other external problems that can affect its quality.
The second part is the handle, which is the part that you hold. Steel, wood, and plastic are the common materials. It should be ergonomic so that it will be comfortable to hold. It should also have an excellent grip so that it won’t slip out of your hand when you are slicing.
Should I Buy an Electric Knife?
To be honest, the traditional bread knife will be more than enough. Cutting bread is actually easy once you have the right knife. An electric knife for cutting bread can be seen as more of a luxury than a necessity. However, let us say that you have a bakery and you make bread as a business, an electric knife can definitely make your life easier in more ways than one.
How to Take Care of Your Bread Knife
The secret to having a long-lasting knife that can deliver clean cuts is to pay attention to its care and maintenance. Make sure to wash it right after every use and dry it before storing. Do not use a soap with a strong odor as this can affect the taste and smell of your bread.
Do not soak the knife when it is cleaned, especially with bleach or any harsh cleaning solution.
Wash the knife by hand, even if the manufacturer says that it is dishwasher-safe. After all, washing the knife won’t require too much of an effort on your end.
From time to time, you should also use a serrated blade sharpener. This is a handy tool that helps to maintain the sharpness of the blade of the knife. Do not immediately throw the knife when the blade gets dull as it can still be saved, especially if you have an expensive one!
Our Top Picks for the Bread Knife to Buy
Here are some of the products that should be included in your list of choices, as well as the reasons why we found them to be exceptional.
1. Mercer Culinary Millenia Wavy Edge Bread Knife
If you are on the lookout for an offset bread knife, this is one option that you should not miss. It has a length of 8 inches. It is made of a high-carbon and razor-sharp Japanese steel. To make it withstand the test of time, it is also constructed in a way that it is stain-resistant.
It has an ergonomic handle. The handle is made of Santoprene and polypropylene. The combination of these materials offers the benefit of comfort and durability. It is also textured, which makes it easy to grip and not easily prone to slipping. This is important for your safety.
Take note as well that the knife is NSF certified. It means that it has been through a series of rigorous tests to ensure performance and safety of the knife.
To provide you with peace of mind about the quality and performance of the knife, the company also offers a limited lifetime warranty.
2. Victorinox Swiss Army Serrated Bread Knife
Made by one of the most trusted brands of knives in the world, this 8-inch serrated bread knife has a Fibrox Pro handle, which is one of its best features. It makes it easy to handle even when it is wet and gives you a sure grip. It is non-slip, and hence, good for your safety.
It is also worth noting that this is an optimally-weighted knife to provide you with the perfect balance. This will help in minimizing fatigue in the wrist or hand. In fact, as some people commented, the handle feels like an extension of your hand.
The blade has scallops between each point. The main benefit of the latter is that it minimizes friction, making you it effortless to slice even on the most delicate surfaces. It also prevents the knife from crushing the bread. This is also the reason why it works great even on tender items, like tomatoes.
3. J.A. Henckels International Fine Edge Pro 8-inch Bread Knife
Premium construction at a price that won’t hurt the wallet – this is what you can expect from this bread knife. It comes with a German stainless steel blade. The blade has a satin finish for an elegant look. It can also resist rust and stain.
More so, it has a full-tang triple rivet handle, which is also comfortable to hold and easy to control. It is contoured, making the design ergonomic. It also has a black polypropylene finish.
It has a high-quality serrated blade, which can effortlessly cut through the hardest bread crust or the most delicate tomato.
The knife is dishwasher-safe, although the manufacturer recommends that hand-washing is best to maintain its peak quality.
If you still have doubts, one thing that can make you change your mind is the fact that the manufacturer offers a lifetime warranty for this knife.
4. Global G-9 Bread Knife
The first thing that you will most probably notice in this bread knife is the price. Yes, it is expensive, but it will be worth your money.
The stainless steel handle of the knife is perhaps its most notable feature. It has a dimpled and molded design, which makes it fit comfortably in your hand while also lessening the likelihood that it will end up slipping. The handle is hollow and filled with sand, making it offer the perfect balance so that it will be easy to hold.
On the other hand, the blade is constructed mainly of molybdenum/vanadium stainless steel that has a long taper. It also has ground edges that make it perform better when slicing.
Lastly, the manufacturer also provides a lifetime warranty. They assure you that it will be free of defects and breakage.
5. Shun DM0705 Classic Bread Knife
This is another high-end knife that you might want to include in your options. Its blade core has high-carbon VG-10. The latter is a super steel from Japan that is known for its edge retention. With this, you can expect that the knife will be sharp even after years of use. The 16-degree angle of the knife is also a plus, allowing it to deliver superior sharpness.
The Damascus-clad blade is also a plus. It does not only add a hint of style but also makes the blade more durable. This is known for being stain-resistant and easy to maintain. It also has air pockets that will reduce the friction when slicing.
Meanwhile, it has a D-shaped ebony Pakkawood handle. More than the aesthetics, it also has an ergonomic design for your comfort.
As it is expected from a knife that comes with a steep price, the manufacturer is also offering a limited lifetime warranty.
6. Sabatier Resin Bread Knife
For something stylish but functional, this is a must-have in the kitchen. This bright pink knife will add a splash of color to the kitchen. It comes with a serrated blade that can easily cut a crusty bread without crushing it.
The blade of the knife is made of high-carbon stainless steel, which can be considered as one of its best assets. One thing that makes this even better is the resin coating, which prevents the food from sticking on the surface of the blade. For will not also tear or stick while it is being cut. The blade also comes with a cover to protect it from external elements during storage.
The handle, like most of the bread knives that are recommended in this post, has an ergonomic design to provide the highest level of comfort when you are slicing bread.
7. Oxo Good Grips Pro 8-inch Bread Knife
Value for money – this is one of the things that you can expect from this bread knife. It has a fully-forged blade with scalloped edges. It is made of German stainless steel and infused with carbon fibers to provide unrivalled durability.
To add, there is also a contoured bolster. The latter provides the support that is needed by your forefinger and thumb so that you will never complain of discomfort when you are cutting bread.
Lastly, the manufacturer is also offering a satisfaction guarantee for this knife. If you are unhappy in any way with its performance, get in touch with the manufacturer and they will repair or replace the knife.
8. KitchenAid Classic Forged Series 8-inch Bread Knife
The high-carbon German stainless steel blade is perhaps one of the best features of this bread knife this will provide an assurance that the edges will remain razor-sharp, even after years of use. Whether it is for thick or thin bread, this will be a great pick.
Meanwhile, it is incorporated with a full-tang handle. This has an ergonomic design so that it will be effortless for you to hold. It also has triple steel rivets to make sure that the handle will stay in its place.
It also comes with a limited lifetime warranty to provide you with the confidence in its quality.
9. Tojiro 10-inch Bread Slicer
This bread knife has a total length of 410 mm. The length of the blade, meanwhile, is 270 mm. Overall, it weighs 145 grams. It is pretty much lightweight, which will make it easy to use.
One thing that makes this impressive is its high-quality construction. Each knife is made in Tokyo and reflective of the superior quality that Japan is known for. The blade is made of molybdenum vanadium steel. The handle, on the other hand, is a laminated reinforced wood.
It is also good that it comes with a scalloped edge. Whether the bread is soft or hard, the knife will be able to cut it in the most effortless manner.
10. Cuisinart CEK-40 Electric Knife
If there is one thing that sets it apart from all the products mentioned above, it would be the fact that it is an electric knife. It comes as a set with two types of blades. The first is for bread and the second is for carving. It also comes with a beautiful butcher block holding tray.
It features a one-touch on/off switch that is pressure-activated. This button is strategically-positioned in the ergonomic handle. There is also a button for blade release and lock.
The knife comes with a 4-foot cord for flexibility.
Lastly, the knife comes with a limited three-year warranty.
Conclusion
At this point, we hope that you now have an idea on what to choose in your search for the best bread knife. It is a must-have in the kitchen, but this does not mean that you can choose just any knife. Keep an eye on the products mentioned above to end up with the right decision.
