The Best Bread Knife To Slice Your Way To Kitchen Success

As any experienced cook will tell you, the best bread knife is a necessity in any kitchen. The generally accepted standard set of knives is a chef’s knife, a paring knife, and a bread knife. Anything other knives can do, these three can do just as well.

But why is the bread knife included in this sacred trio? It may surprise you to know that the best bread knife will earn its keep even in a kitchen without much bread. A bread knife is a versatile tool.

Where the straight-edged chef’s and paring knives fail is at slicing tough and delicate objects. But what makes one specific knife the best bread knife, while others should stay in the knife block? It’s all about durability and precision for these knives.

A bread knife should be able to handle the tenderest vegetables and fruits, as well as the crustiest bread. No matter which way you slice it, a bread knife belongs in your kitchen.

Why Use A Bread Knife?

If you’re new to the kitchen, you may wonder why you need a bread knife at all. Honestly, a bread knife is one of the only knives you actually need! The serrated blade of a bread knife is useful for all sorts of applications that other knives with straight, smooth blades, literally can’t cut.

The best bread knife is one that can slice through both tough and tender without tearing or damaging the food in question. A bread knife is something of a paradox in the kitchen. Its serrated teeth dig into crusty bread, effortlessly slicing through what other knives can’t.

However, those same teeth let the knife glide through the soft crumb of the bread without mangling it. The principle is the same for products such as tomatoes and melons. While it doesn’t have the same versatility as a chef’s knife, a bread knife is a necessity in your kitchen. It just does what other knives can’t.

bread knife

How To Pick The Best Bread Knife

Serious Eats lists four primary considerations in their analysis of bread knives. These are:

  • Length
  • Shape
  • Serration
  • Cost

The length is pretty straightforward. Most bread knives are around 10 inches, which is suitable for pretty much any application. It can span the length of most loaves of bread, which helps it serve its original purpose. Overall, bread knives can range from around 7 to 12 inches in length.

You also have the option to choose a straight knife or one with an offset handle. A straight knife may leave you feeling like your knuckles will drag across the board. But, with the right length, you can avoid this. Offset knives give you clearance when your blade is close to the board.

Serration in bread knives varies between pointed teeth and scalloped teeth. There doesn’t seem to be much distinguishing one from the other. Performance changes widely between knives, even if they have the same shape of serration.

Finally, perhaps most importantly, is cost. It’s possible to sink a couple of hundred dollars into a bread knife. If you really want a high-end knife, go for it. But, serrated knives are nearly impossible to sharpen. This is a knife you’ll likely replace after a few years of use. The best bread knife is one that you will be able to replace frequently without breaking the bank.

One final thing to look for in all your knives — a full tang. This means that the metal of the blade runs all the way through the handle, so you don’t have to worry about it snapping off.

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How We Picked The Best Bread Knife

We based the selection of our first pick for the best bread knife on professional reviews. Often these reviewers are chefs or people who spend time in the kitchen every single day. They know what makes a knife last since they’ve seen what situations in a kitchen can really do some damage to your blade.

The experts also know how to pick the best knife out of a lineup, so their choices for the best knives formed the basis for our selection. We consulted Serious Eats and Wirecutter, among others, for knife recommendations.

But more important than the experts are the customers like you who use these knives on a daily basis. Customers may put these knives through tests that a reviewer may never think of. Also, you get to hear the voice of dozens, if not hundreds, of users, telling you which knife works best.

For user reviews, we set a lower limit. If the overall rating for any single knife was lower than 4.0 stars out of 5, we didn’t include it. You can’t find the best bread knife by searching for those that are only average.

Investing In Your Bread Knife

As we mentioned earlier, a bread knife is inherently a replaceable part of your kitchen supplies. Since sharpening it is either impossible at home, or a lot of trouble to send off for, the economical option is usually to buy another. With that in mind, we have included knives of high quality, but not too expensive to replace as they go dull.

All of our knives fall roughly in the $10 to $50 range. Price often is a stand-in for a brand, as the most expensive knives are from more prestigious knifemakers such as Victorinox, Dalstrong, and Tojiro.

All in all, spending a little more will get you a higher-quality knife. These knives are definitely worth the extra cost; it just means you’ll be spending that much more every time a replacement is due.

Reviews Of Best Bread Knives

We have listed our choices for the best bread knife here. We did not rank them in terms of quality — that depends on your preferences. But we have included them in alphabetical order.

Chicago Cutlery Walnut Tradition 10-Inch Bread Knife

Chicago Cutlery 10-Inch Serrated Bread Knife with Sharp Stainless Steel Blade for Slicing, Cutting, and Scoring Bread, Walnut Tradition Wood Handle Kitchen Knife
  • TIMELESS CLASSIC: Classic styling, walnut tradition handle that blends with any home decor and adds a rustic touch.
  • STAINLESS STEEL BLADE: Stainless steel blade resists rust, stains, and pitting, an industry standard amongst beginner and professional chefs.

The Walnut Tradition 10-inch Bread Knife by Chicago Cutlery is both a beautiful addition to your kitchen and an inexpensive one. At the same time, it is a stable knife that is good for durable, reliable slicing.

The high-carbon steel blade features a patented Taper Grind system. This technology is advertised to keep the blade sharper for longer and even make the knife easier to sharpen. With this special sharpening style, you can cut more precisely as well.

As you may have guessed, the walnut in the name refers to the knife’s handle. Make sure, when washing this knife, to keep it from being fully submerged. Chicago Cutlery’s Walnut Tradition 10-inch bread knife earned 4.8 out of 5 stars on Chicago Cutlery’s website. Additionally, this knife received an Amazon’s Choice award.

Dalstrong Gladiator Series 10-Inch Bread Knife

Dalstrong Serrated Bread Knife - 10 inch - Gladiator Series Elite - Forged High-Carbon German Steel - G10 Handle Kitchen Knife - Sheath Included - Razor Sharp Slicer - Slicing Knife - NSF Certified
  • The Dalstrong Gladiator Series Serrated Bread Knife. Featuring the signature Gladiator Series triple riveted handsome black G10 handle further laminated for extra strength, sanitation and water/stain resistance.
  • Incredibly razor sharp, full-tang, imported high-carbon German steel with a hand polished edge at 16-18 degrees. Geometrically angled serrations ensure effortlessly thin slicing with a single stroke, minimal crumb dispersion with breads, and painlessly smooth cutting of large fruits, cabbage, and boneless hams.

Dalstrong’s Gladiator series 10-inch bread knife is high quality, high-carbon German steel. This means your knife will last quite a bit longer than a standard stainless steel blade. The edge on this knife won’t be wearing away any time soon.

This knife is ambidextrous and uses a wooden handle that is treated both for strength and sanitation. With a firm and sharp blade such as the Gladiator 10-inch, you’ll be able to cut your bread and other produce thinly with precision.

The Dalstrong Gladiator 10-inch bread knife is also balanced and triple-riveted for sturdiness. 

Dexter-Russell Basics P94804B 10-Inch Scalloped Bread Knife

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Dexter-Russell Basics P94804B 10" Scalloped Slicer/Bread Knife with Black Polypropylene Handle
  • Scalloped slicer can be used to slice bread or other foods
  • Made of high-carbon steel, which resists corrosion, stains, and wear to maintain its edge

The Dexter-Russell Basics P94804B scalloped bread knife has a blade of high-carbon, hollow ground steel. Its handle is a simple polypropylene. It resists grime and residue, so you can wipe it clean easily. You don’t have to worry about food residue making you drop your knife.

Serious Eats recommended this bread knife for heavy-duty tasks. Their reviewer said that this knife stayed rigid no matter what it was cutting through. The plastic handle was snug and secure, and its weight made for better slicing on tougher objects.

Henckels Internation​​​​​Al Fine Edge Pro 8-Inch Bread Knife

HENCKELS Fine Edge Pro Bread Knife, 8-inch, Black/Stainless Steel,31467-201
  • The serrated blade will cut through the hardest bread crust or delicately slice through a tomato
  • Fine Edge Pro knives offer stamped high-carbon German stainless steel blades

The Fine Edge Pro 8-inch bread knife from J.A. Henckels is a bit unique, being one of the shortest bread knives available. Henckels has made the prongs of this knife exceptionally long. That makes for better cutting, leading you to more precise cuts for your bread and fruit.

This knife has a full-tang stainless steel blade that is stamped rather than forged, so you have a lightweight but sturdy piece of equipment. Like all serrated knives, this bread knife will also work for things like watermelon and tomatoes.

Mercer Culinary M23210 Millennia 10-Inch Wide Wavy-Edge Bread Knife

Mercer Culinary M23210 Millennia Black Handle, 10-Inch Wide Wavy Edge, Bread Knife
  • QUALITY CONSTRUCTION: Knife is crafted with one-piece high-carbon Japanese steel for easy edge maintenance and long-lasting sharpness
  • SUPERIOR DESIGN: Built to last ergonomic handle with textured finger points offers a non-slip grip with added comfort, durability, and safety

The Mercer Culinary M23210 Millennia wavy-edge wide bread knife is made with high-carbon Japanese steel for a razor-sharp bread knife. Mercer also claims that this type of steel makes for easy edge maintenance and quick sharpening.

It also has a synthetic, ergonomic handle that combines two types of plastic for durability and comfort. Plus, the handle has textured finger points. They help your hand grip the handle better, offering improved stability and control over your cutting.

Since the handle is not dishwasher safe, experts recommend that you wash this knife by hand. Otherwise, the handle may deteriorate and lose some of its grip or durability. Mercer Culinary’s Millennia is an immensely popular bread knife. Including a recommendation by Bon Appetit, this knife has over 3,000 reviews on Amazon.

Orblue Serrated Bread Knife

Orblue Serrated Bread Knife with Upgraded Stainless Steel Razor Sharp Wavy Edge Width - Bread Cutter Ideal for Slicing Homemade Bagels, Cake (8-Inch Blade with 5-Inch Handle)
  • ULTRA-SHARP, CUTS EFFORTLESSLY: The Orblue Serrated Bread Knife blade has an ultra-sharp serrated edge that grips and effortlessly slices the toughest loaves of bread, to provide a smooth, clean cut. The blade runs 8 inches long with a 5-inch handle. Included as an added safety measure on the knife’s sharp tip is a rubber safety guard.
  • HIGH QUALITY STAINLESS STEEL: Made with high quality stainless steel and only 2.2 mm and 0.1 mm thick, the quality is durable enough to withstand everyday use on the toughest breads.

Orblue’s Bread Knife is one of the shorter knives we’ve mentioned here. It only comes in at 8 inches. But anything between 8 and 12 inches works for slicing bread, watermelons, and other pieces of produce. Plus, with its sturdy construction and low price, size doesn’t matter all that much.

One of the main points of attraction for the Orblue serrated bread knife is that it is just one piece. The handle is the same metal as the blade, so none of your pieces will wear out. This also makes for a sturdier knife, since you have the whole knife as leverage. There’s no risk of anything breaking.

This blade is stainless steel. While it doesn’t have as sharp an edge as a high-carbon blade, it is sturdy and long-lasting.

Pure Komachi 2 Series Bread Knife

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Kai PRO Pure Komachi 2 Bread Knife 8”, Wide Serrations are Gentle on Bread, Comfortable Handle Offers Secure Grip in Wet Conditions; Serrated Kitchen Knife
  • SERRATED BREAD KNIFE: The Kai PRO 8-inch Pure Komachi 2 Bread Knife slices through both crusty and tender bread with ease. If you're a home baker or just like to buy whole loaves of bread, this knife is a must.
  • HIGHLY ENGINEERED SERRATIONS: This serrated knife doesn't have jagged teeth that chew through bread, but wide, sharp serrations that gently slice with less tearing and crumbling.

This bread knife by Pure Komachi brings a unique fun pop of color. You’ll easily pick this bright orange bread knife out of a lineup, and that’s the point.

Komachi advertises color as a way to keep your knives straight in the kitchen. You won’t have to worry about losing your knife or worse, cross-contaminating your meals by using the same knife for everything.

The Pure Komachi 2 Series bread knife is high-carbon steel, and its colorful coating serves a second purpose. It actually protects the blade from corrosion. Also, this orange coating does more than just alert you.

It makes cleaning easier since food won’t stick to the blade. ​Although this knife stands out for its color, it also stands out for being the least expensive knife we have mentioned here.

Tojiro Bread Slicer 235mm F-737 Bread Knife

TOJIRO Japan Hand Made Bread Knife Slicer Cutter, 14.75", Stainless and Wood - Reinforced Laminated Material
  • Fujiro (F part number) is a brand for international and limited routes such as knife specialty stores
  • Size (total length): 14.8 inches (37.5 cm)

This Japanese curved knife by Tojiro is stainless steel with a composite wood handle. Its slightly curved blade helps cut through whatever you need with ease. The knifemaking techniques used by Tojiro are adapted from those used by Japanese sword makers during the Edo period, and they continue to this day.

Serious Eats recommends this knife as the best bread knife. Their reviewer said it was lightweight and easy to use. Its teeth easily cut through anything they needed, and it easily cuts clean, thin slices out of tomatoes.

Victorinox Cutlery 9-Inch Wavy-Edge Bread Knife

Made by renowned Swiss Army Knife maker Victorinox, this offset bread knife has an ergonomically designed handle. Its handle sits above the actual blade of the knife, letting you slice without actually having to hit the board with your hand.

Fibrox, a sanitary and slip-resistant plastic material is used in the handle. This material will keep your knife secure even while slicing into a watermelon and other slippery or juicy fruits. The 9-inch wavy-edge bread knife boasts a blade of high carbon stainless steel, which Victorinox even claims you can sharpen over and over again.

Victorinox Swiss Army 10.25-Inch Bread Knife

Chicago Cutlery 10-Inch Serrated Bread Knife with Sharp Stainless Steel Blade for Slicing, Cutting, and Scoring Bread, Walnut Tradition Wood Handle Kitchen Knife
  • TIMELESS CLASSIC: Classic styling, walnut tradition handle that blends with any home decor and adds a rustic touch.
  • STAINLESS STEEL BLADE: Stainless steel blade resists rust, stains, and pitting, an industry standard amongst beginner and professional chefs.

Victorinox’s Swiss Army-branded bread knife uses a curved blade. This curve lets you slice with a rocking, not a sawing, motion. Because of this, your hand has clearance from the cutting board without requiring an offset blade.

The other main feature of this Victorinox bread knife is that it has a Fibrox handle. Fibrox is both lightweight, sanitary, and non-slip. That means however you need to use your bread knife; you can trust you’ll have a good grip.

Even though this knife is dishwasher safe, washing your knives by hand is always recommended. It prevents any unforeseen damage from coming to the blade or the handle.

bread knife

Which Is The Best Bread Knife For Your Kitchen?

Picking the best bread knife for your kitchen comes down to a matter of taste. None of the knives we’ve included here are too far out of anyone’s budget, and all of them are cut with flying colors.

The best bread knife for any purpose is, for most people, the Mercer Culinary M23210 Millennia 10-inch wide wavy-edge bread knife. This knife has a few things going for it. First, it has the support of the experts at Bon Appetit behind it.

Second, perhaps more important, it has the support of well over 3,000 Amazon customers. Their support for the knife is just about overwhelming. Finally, it has a considerable bonus based on price. The Mercer Millennia costs at most $15 or so. That means you can use it every day and replace it easily when it wears down in a few years.

If you want to go for something a little more refined, the Tojiro Bread Slicer 235mm F-737 is a good option. This knife is a delicate and precise slicing tool. Artisans make it and yet it costs little more than any other bread knife on this list. It is the best bread knife for those of you who want a knife that can effortlessly slice tomatoes into see-through slivers.

Ultimately, whichever knife you pick from the list, it is sure to be the best bread knife for you and your kitchen. Have you used any of the knives we included in our list? If so, share your experience with them in the comments below.

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