While chef’s knives are well-known for their versatility in the kitchen, there’s another multipurpose tool worth adding to your arsenal: the bread knife. Despite its name, this knife is helpful for much more than just slicing crusty loaves of bread. They’re strong enough to sever juicy tomatoes, delicate pastries, thick cakes, and other foods.
Serrated bread knives are a necessary kitchen tool. It is handy for slicing bread because of the small groves or serrated notches on the blade that allow the knife to cut through the crusty exterior of the bread without smashing or pushing through the interior.
Due to the abundance of bread knives accessible now, we sent them to expert chefs to suggest which ones are worth purchasing. Regardless of how experienced you are, this list will have a serrated bread knife to fulfill your needs. These are the top bread knives of 2021, ranging from an economic Amazon bestseller to a famous direct-to-customer brand:
The Best Bread Knives of 2021
When purchasing bread knives, there are a few different factors to consider. If you already have a favorite knife brand you regularly reach, you can select its serrated bread knife. Otherwise, you’ll want to consider your budget, as the bread knives on this list range in price from $17 to $155.
Then determine the length of the blade you require. A 7-to-9-inch blade, we’ve discovered, is sufficient for most bread. However, if you prefer large loaves of bread, you will require a longer blade.
Continue reading to learn more about each of the best bread knives, as recommended by experts.
- 10.25 Inch
- High Carbon Stainless Steel
- Ergonomic Fibrox Pro Handle
- 10-Inch
- Japanese Stainless Steel
- Ergonomic Handle
- 9.25" blade
- High-Carbon Stainless Steel Blade
- Natural Wood Handle
- 9.5-Inch
- Authentic thin Japanese blade profile
- comfortable handle won’t slip
- 9 Inch
- Alloy Steel
- Custom Engraved
- 10 inch
- High-alloy stainless steel
- Hand honed to the ultimate edge
- 9-Inch
- i High Carbon Steel
- Ergonomic handle
- 8.25 Inch
- Stainless Steel
- Pakkawood Handle
- 7 inch
- High-quality German stainless steel
- Ergonomic handle
- Stainless steel blade
- Convenient hanging thong
- Comfortable wood handle for a safe.
| Image | Product | Details | |
|---|---|---|---|
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Best Overall
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Victorinox 10.25 Inch Bread Knife |
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Best Value
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Mercer Culinary Millennia 10-inch Wavy Edge Bread Knife |
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Most Flexible Blade
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Tojiro 9.25-inch Bread Slicer |
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Best Splurge
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Miyabi Kaizen Bread Knife |
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Easiest Bread Knife to Use
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Wusthof 9 Inch Double Serrated Bread Knife Classic |
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Best Heavy-Duty Bread Knife
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Dexter 10 inch Bread Knife |
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Best Offset
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Mercer Culinary Millennia 9-Inch Offset Bread Knife |
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Sturdiest Bread Knife
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Shun Classic 8.25-inch Bread Knife |
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Best Short Blade
|
HENCKELS CLASSIC Bread Knife, 7 inch |
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Check Price |
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Bread Knife Fiddle Bow Design |
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Check Price |
#1 - Victorinox 10.25 Inch Bread Knife
Victorinox 10.25 Inch Bread Knife | High Carbon Stainless Steel Serrated Blade For Efficient Slicing, Ergonomic Fibrox Pro Handle
We adore this Victorinox classic because it is equally adept at sawing through thick bread crusts and bagels as slicing paper-thin tomato and strawberry slices.
Additionally, if appearance is important to you, rest assured that the edges of all foods you slice will be perfectly clean and pristine. This knife is well-balanced, allowing you to maintain complete control over the task at hand.
Its thin, sharp, and curved stainless steel blade is ideal, and the 10.25-inch length is perfect. It is noticeably comfortable to use because the Fibrox handle does not slip and is also soft to the touch.
#2 - Mercer Culinary Millennia 10-inch Wavy Edge Bread Knife
Aside from being an Amazon bestseller, this affordable bread knife by Mercer comes highly recommended by many chefs in the culinary community. It is manufactured from a single high-carbon Japanese stainless steel, meaning that it keeps a long sharp edge for an extended period if properly maintained.
The handle available in eight different colors is made with a plastic and rubber combination easy to hold because of the textured grips that prevent slippage.
The Mercer Culinary Millenia knife glides through bread and soft fruits like butter and doesn’t require much force, but keep in mind that the more expansive, deeper serrations on this knife provide slightly less control and result in marginally thicker slices with imperfect edges.
Nevertheless, you cannot go wrong with its great value, and if you are not concerned with precision when it comes to chunky crusty bread, this knife is a fantastic choice. In addition, with prices starting at just $17, the Mercer bread knife represents an exceptional value for money.
#3 - Tojiro 9.25-inch Bread Slicer
We love the Tojiro bread slicer so much that it has replaced our kitchen knife. It’s a little more flexible and thinner, making it ideal for softer bread.
The Tojiro knife is made with a high-carbon stainless steel blade and a natural wood handle. This bread knife is razor-sharp while remaining extremely lightweight. It will last a long time if properly cared for.
Additionally, we love it because it is affordable and accessible regardless of where you are in your bread adventure, whether amateur or professional.
This bread knife has over 1,000 five-star reviews on Amazon, with one reviewer stating that it slices artisan sourdough bread in the thinnest slices that she has ever seen.
#4 - Miyabi Kaizen Bread Knife
This is by far the most beautiful bread knife we’ve ever seen — and it performed admirably as well. It features a Damascus steel blade, which features a visible grain pattern created by layers upon layers of stainless steel.
It worked wonders with tomatoes, crusty and soft bread, and sandwiches. Its blade remained sharp throughout testing, and its smooth handle felt great in hand, despite was less grippy than the Mercer Culinary knife.
#5 - Wusthof 9 Inch Double Serrated Bread Knife Classic
You cannot go wrong with this knife if you have the money to spend. For a slightly less expensive splurge, this Wüsthof model performed admirably as well.
Compared to the Mercer Culinary and the Miyabi knives, it is somewhat less sharp and features a squared handle rather than a rounded one. We prefer a round handle. However, this is a timeless knife from a reputable brand that will not let you down.
#6 - Dexter 10 inch Bread Knife
You can use this Dexter bread knife for various tasks other than slicing deli rolls, thanks to its rigid and lightweight blade. It will perform admirably when challenging tasks such as cracking open a honeydew melon or cutting roast beef.
And while it may not have the cleanest edges or feel as balanced in hand as some of the other bread knives we reviewed, we believe it is acceptable given the blade’s versatility (and the knife’s relatively reasonable price point).
Despite the plastic handle, the Dexter no-frills knife isn’t elegant, but it doesn’t slip in your palm, so it’s a safe pick for cutting through bread loaves and bagels.
#7 - Mercer Culinary Millennia 9-Inch Offset Bread Knife
An offset bread knife has a slightly shorter blade than the handle, which provides a bit more leverage while cutting through crusty loaves of bread. Some people like an offset bread knife, but we find that when you use a minor task, like cutting through a tomato, you feel less under control.
However, these things are great for cutting bread! This offset bread knife is unmatched in its class: It features sharp, wide teeth that remained sharp during testing, and a gripping, ergonomic handle. Additionally, it is around $20!
#8 - Shun Classic 8.25-inch Bread Knife
Shun Classic 8.25 Inch Bread Knife, Japanese, Stainless Steel Slices with Efficiency Scalloped Serrations and Offset Handle, Black
Like this from Shun, an offset bread knife has a design slightly distinct from the other knives in this list. The blade is somewhat lower than the handle, which prevents knuckles from coming into contact with the cutting board.
We also love that because of its sharp Japanese steel, and the bread knife is lightweight. Although Shun was one of the chefs’ most common brands, you do not need to be at their level to use it.
#9 - HENCKELS CLASSIC Bread Knife, 7 inch
Bow bread knives, so named because they sound like you can play fiddle with them, are constructed of wood and assist you in cutting equal slices.
The stainless steel blade on this bread knife and bagel slicer allows you to safely and efficiently cut through the thickest homemade bread and crusty rolls without damaging them.
The wide serrated knife edge will not crush warm bread or even fresh tomatoes from the garden. It still retains the sharpness and does not require re-sharpened.
For a comfortable grip, the handle is beautifully carved from wood. It has an extremely handy hanging thong. This is a must-have item for any bread baker’s collection.
#10 - Bread Knife Fiddle Bow Design
Bow bread knives, so named because they sound like you can play fiddle with them, are constructed of wood and assist you in cutting equal slices.
The stainless steel blade on this bread knife and bagel slicer allows you to safely and efficiently cut through the thickest homemade bread and crusty rolls without damaging them.
The wide serrated knife edge will not crush warm bread or even fresh tomatoes from the garden. It still retains the sharpness and does not require re-sharpened.
For a comfortable grip, the handle is beautifully carved from wood. It has an extremely handy hanging thong. This is a must-have item for any bread baker’s collection.
Consider the Following When Purchasing a Serrated/Bread Knife
Length
We believe that around 10 inches is the ideal length — this is just long enough to cut through a round loaf of crusty sourdough or a whole melon in one smooth slice. Additionally, we use a second, shorter serrated knife in our kitchens for cutting small items such as tomatoes.
How Effective Is It at Slicing?
This is unquestionably true of serrated and bread knives. We looked for a blade that would slice tomatoes, crusty and soft loaves of bread, and sandwiches effortlessly. There was no point if a knife jaggedly sliced, squished, or tore any of these.
There was one significant difference between the best- and worst-performing knives: their serrated points. The best bread knives were razor-sharp. My preferred model, made by Victorinox, had the most expansive, deepest serrations of all and remained razor-sharp throughout testing.
Serrations that were shallower, less pointed, and even rounded had a more challenging time cutting through bread — particularly crusty loaves.
Additionally, loaves with shorter, spike-like serrations and knives with grooves above their serrations gave me the impression that we were “sawing” through food, including tomatoes, resulting in more jagged slices.
The blade thickness of the knife also affected how well it sliced. Simply put, the thickest blades were more challenging to control and achieve clean slices with — particularly with something soft like tomatoes — and were more likely to squish tall BLT sandwiches, causing the filling to escape the sides. Thinner blades were more maneuverable, produced crisper slices, and were more agile.
Shape
While most serrated knives have straight blades, some have curved blades, and others have an offset blade that sits below the handle. We advise you to stick to straight or curved edges (a curve may facilitate slicing with a rocking motion and offer extra knuckle clearance).
Handle
Like other knives, bread knives may have handles made of wood or plastic. On the other hand, wooden handles can sometimes feel rougher to the touch, depending on the finish. Plastic handles frequently provide more non-slip support, which is beneficial in messy situations.
While the handle of my favorite bread knife resembles a bicycle tire, it is incredibly grippy. It has a textured grip, which eliminates the possibility of my fingers slipping around. We prefer knives with rounded handles over squared handles because they are more comfortable to hold in our testing
Sharpening and replacing
It’s unlikely that you’ll need to sharpen your bread knife because you won’t use it as frequently as your chef’s knife, but if you think it needs it, we recommend sending it to a professional knife sharpener. With moderate use, plan to replace your bread knife every decade or so.
What Makes a Good Bread Knife?
We determined the overall effectiveness of the bread knives by evaluating the following criteria:
• Performance: Was the knife clean and precise in its cutting? Was it capable of slicing even the most crusty loaf of bread without exerting excessive force?
• Durability: We sliced tomatoes at the start and end of the testing period to determine how the knife initially handled the tomatoes and whether the blade dulled with use.
• Handle comfort: How comfortable was the handle of the knife? Was it grippy or, on the other hand, was it too slippery in hand?
FAQs
If you notice that your knife is becoming dull, you can take it to your local hardware store and have it sharpened, though we’ve discovered that we continue to cut cleanly years later.
While chef’s knives are well-known for their versatility in the kitchen, there’s another multipurpose tool worth adding to your arsenal: the bread knife. Despite its name, this knife is helpful for much more than just slicing crusty loaves of bread.
Unlike chef’s knives, Bread knives are difficult or impossible to re-sharpen, limiting their useful lifespan and necessitating replacement every five years or so.
Bread or serrated knife is best known for slicing bread (hence the “bread knife”). It can, however, be used to cut fruits and vegetables such as lemons, limes, and tomatoes.
Never cut meat with a bread knife. Serrated edges on bread knives enable them to cut through foods with a hard exterior and a soft interior, such as freshly baked bread. By cutting meat with a bread knife, you will dull the bread knife and produce a poor-quality cut of meat.
Unlike a chef’s knife, which has a smooth, straight edge, a bread knife’s edge has serrations. This functions similarly to a saw, slicing through food as you move the knife back and forth, rather than utilizing downward pressure as with a chef’s knife.
An offset bread knife has a lower blade than the handle, which provides a bit more leverage when cutting through particularly crusty loaves of bread. While some people prefer an offset bread knife, we find that when we use one for smaller tasks, such as slicing through a tomato, we feel less in control.
Conclusion
Whether you use your bread knife just for slicing loaves or for various cutting tasks like cutting tomatoes or carving a prime rib, a few basic features will give the best results.
A sharp edge, well-designed serrations, and sufficient knuckle clearance contribute to maximum comfort and performance, such as thin, even slices and smooth, clean cuts.
The Victorinox bread knife is absolute perfection, in our opinion. We were pleased with every single slice. Not only is it aesthetically pleasing, but we think the pricing is an excellent value.
Even though it can be tempting to buy a cheap bread knife to replace it with a new one as it gets dull, this is unnecessary. Good bread knives can last a decade or more and rarely require sharpening. So please take a look at our top-rated kitchen knives and get ready to become a master baker in no time!
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