If you’re interested in bread-baking or having a fully decked-out kitchen with all the best tools and appliances, then you’ll want to look for an everyday bread knife at some point. You could get a basic one that’s cheap and easy to find, or you could look into getting one with a more prominent design that you know will be of good quality.
If you’re looking to complete your set of knives with an illustrious bread knife, then you’re in luck. Today, we will be covering five of the best bread knives that you might be interested in that are a cut above the average, run-of-the-mill knives.
Bread Knives Reviews
Mercer Culinary Millennia 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
- BEST USE: The teeth on the wavy edge of the knife's blade easily slice through foods' crust or skin without tearing the soft inside. Ideal for slicing bread, angel food cake, meatloaf, fruits, and tomatoes
- EASY CARE: To maximize the performance and longevity of your Mercer knife, carefully wash cutlery by hand after each use with warm water and mild soap; rinse and dry completely with a soft towel. Do not place in dishwasher or submerge for long periods of time
- MERCER CULINARY MILLENNIA SERIES: Innovative features and unparalleled performance to meet the demands of today's professional chefs and home cooking enthusiasts
Last update on 2024-03-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Our first item to look at comes from the popular company, Mercer Culinary. This bread knife has a simple but effective design that we feel will set an excellent benchmark for the rest of this review.
Product Highlights
When you design something like a bread knife, there isn’t much wiggle room for innovative design. One aspect that Mercer Culinary honed in on is the ergonomics of this design. The handle is made with a combination of Santoprene for comfort and polypropylene for strength.
It’s shaped to fit the hand, with the blade extending down slightly beyond the handle for extra stability when cutting and sawing. This will also help keep your hand clean and off the cutting board.
The handle is textured to increase grip and slip resistance, and it has a lip that helps protect fingers from the extended blade. The blade is a fine-quality Japanese steel that is stain-resistant and keeps its edge for quite some time. Plus, it’s very sharp.
What We Liked
The ergonomic handle is a great design that helps a lot with ensuring that cutting is painless and easy. The dropped blade helps give you a slight mechanical advantage when it comes to slicing and sawing away at bread.
The high-carbon Japanese steel blade helps with maintenance, as you won’t need to sharpen it too often, and when you do, sharpening the knife won’t be very difficult.
What We Didn’t Like
While it does help in the cutting of bread, the dropped blade design also poses a slight safety concern. The handle’s lip does help somewhat, but the blade still extends beyond the handle and lip, and there is the possibility of a finger slipping and catching that corner edge.
Pros
- High-quality Japanese steel blade
- Ergonomic handle design
- Dropped blade for easier cutting
Cons
- Dropped blade can accidentally cut fingers
- Handle lip provides rudimentary protection
Orblue Serrated Bread Knife
- 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.
- SLEEK ERGONOMIC DESIGN: The knife was ergonomically designed with careful attention to detail, so you can slice comfortably and easily. The handle is made to perfectly fit any grip, making slicing harder loaves a breeze.
- ONE PIECE DESIGN: The entire knife is one continuous piece of stainless steel. There is no plastic, wood parts, or screws that tend to move and wear out over time, so you can be confident that your knife is built to last for years.
- NOT JUST FOR BREAD: This serrated knife is so sharp it easily grips and cuts through cake, crusty bread, bagels, pastries. Budget friendly, it's the perfect gift for all the bakers in your life!
Last update on 2024-03-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Our second item is a nice budget option for those looking for a good-quality option that is inexpensive. This knife follows a more conventional and contemporary design that you might enjoy.
Product Highlights
This stainless-steel knife by Orblue has an all-steel, one-piece design. The blade is eight inches long, which is average for bread knives. The blade is also ultra-sharp, but it comes with a rubber safety guard to protect against accidentally cutting yourself when not using the knife or grabbing it from a cutlery drawer.
The grip is shaped to fit the hand comfortably, so you can hold it easily. There is a rubber wrap that provides increased grip strength and prevents the knife from slipping. This is a durable knife with a well-thought-out design that you can rely on to be comfortable and easy to use.
What We Liked
This blade has a simple but effective design. The shaped handle is very comfortable to hold and makes the knife easy to handle and use. Plus, the rubber wrap gives you extra grip and prevents the knife from slipping out of your hand even when it is wet.
The solid, one-piece design adds to the durability of the knife and provides a sleek and contemporary aesthetic design. The blade is incredibly sharp, and the knife cuts very well regardless of the thickness or toughness of the crust.
What We Didn’t Like
While the one-piece design helps with the durability, steel handles aren’t always the best option, as they can be very slippery and difficult to grip.
The rubber wrap helps somewhat, but depending on how big your hand might be, you might find your hand slipping a bit. Stainless-steel blades are also infamously tedious to maintain, as they don’t maintain sharp edges for very long.
Pros
- Durable and well-made design
- Rubber wrap for extra grip
- Comfortably shaped handle
Cons
- Steel handles are slippery
- Stainless steel isn’t the best material for knives
Victorinox Swiss Army Bread Knife
- A COUNTERTOP ESSENTIAL: As the master of your kitchen, you deserve the right tools to express your creativity. Designed to enhance the slicing techniques used by professional pastry chefs and bakers, this knife brings palatable mastery to any kitchen.
- FIT FOR ALL TASKS: Victorinox kitchen knives are dexterous, ergonomic and universally adaptable. From classic styles to modern looks our premium-quality blades are an exceptional combination of quality, design, materials and craftsmanship for the value minded kitchen.
- EASY HANDLING: Inspired by our Fibrox Pro line, we've designed a contemporary, Swiss Classic textured handle with a non-slip grip -- even when wet. These exceptional knives are weighted and balanced for easy handling.
- A CUT ABOVE THE REST: Our superior lightweight Swiss stainless steel blades provide precision, stability, and accuracy. They are easy to clean, extremely sharp and the prefect gift for everyday use or the culinary professional.
- TRUSTED QUALITY: Made in Switzerland; Victorinox provides a lifetime guarantee against defects in material and workmanship.
Last update on 2024-03-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Our third knife is one by the famous Victorinox brand, and it is undoubtedly one of the higher-end options available in this review. If the previous two options didn’t interest you because their design wasn’t appealing to you, perhaps this one might interest you. This option is even recommended by a few different leading culinary magazines and publications.
Product Highlights
This stainless-steel knife is a much longer variation, as the blade measures 10.25 inches long. The knife is quite sharp and has a curve that helps with the sawing motion needed to slice and cut through bread properly.
The handle is quite long, too, so you can enjoy some knuckle clearance to protect your hands and fingers from getting accidentally cut. The handle is made with a durable and porous Fibrox Pro material that uses the standard ergonomic shape that we commonly see with most knives. This makes it easy to grip and helps make it non-slip and shatter-resistant.
What We Liked
As a larger, slightly curved knife, this option is more suited towards cutting larger loaves of bread and even fruits and vegetables. The handle is porous enough to grip easily, even when wet, and it is made with durable, wear-resistant material.
The blade itself is also quite strong and durable, as it would need to be when it’s as long as it is. All in all, this knife feels like a delight to cut with and will serve you well for a long time.
What We Didn’t Like
There is only one real gripe with this design, and that is with the length of the blade. It is longer than average and might be unwieldy for users who are not comfortable or used to using larger knives. The only other problem might be the price range that this knife falls into.
Pros
- Highly recommended by leading publications
- Long and curved blade for more versatile cutting
- Fibrox Pro handle
Cons
- Longer blade is more unwieldy
- Very expensive for a knife
Kutler Professional 10-inch Bread Knife
- Professional grade craftmanship: Crafted from high carbon stainless steel for top performance and durability. Our bread and cake cutting knife is extra-long in length, measuring 16" long overall, with a 10" razor-sharp serrated blade and an offset 6" handle.
- Comfortable grip: Designed with an ergonomic, textured non-slip grip handle for safe handling. This kitchen knife is perfectly balanced with just the right heft for ultimate control when slicing.
- Efficient: The ultra-sharp wavy tooth edge of the high carbon stainless steel blade allows you to masterfully slice through loaves of bread and cakes with clean cuts and minimal crumbs.
- Versatile, multi-tasking tool: This multipurpose knife is adept at effortlessly slicing everything from oversized crusty loaves, cakes, soft fruits, pineapples, bagels, brownies, and even tomatoes! Commonly called a "Baker's Knife", our bread knife is sure to be a welcomed addition to your cutlery collection.
- Lasting sharpness: The premium quality, ultra-sharp, stainless steel serrated blade offers precision and cutting flexibility, with easy maintenance and cleaning. Resists corrosion, stains, and wear to maintain an acute, like-new, wavy edge use after use with no sharpening required.
Last update on 2024-03-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
This bread knife is visually similar to the Mercer Culinary option we discussed earlier. However, there are some subtle differences in the details that set the two apart.
Product Highlights
Made with high-carbon stainless steel, this finely designed bread knife is quite long. It is almost as long as the last option, with a blade that measures 10 inches long. The grip is made with a durable and damage-resistant plastic material that is porous and shaped to better fit the hand and prevent the knife from slipping from your grasp.
The grip also features a lip that extends beyond that of the blade to provide knuckle and finger protection when cutting. Also, the knife itself is quite sharp, and the teeth will keep their edge for quite some time.
It’s also stain and corrosion-resistant, so cleaning and maintenance aren’t too much of an issue. There is such a focus on the blade’s quality that this option is perhaps the best quality and sharpest knife out of the bunch.
What We Liked
Out of all the knives we looked at, this knife is the sharpest and the most heavy-duty. Ten inches is quite long, especially for a straight blade without any curve.
The blade is also quite good at what it does, with the knife being described as almost too good because it is very sharp and versatile. The handle is durable and porous for a comfortable and firm grip.
What We Didn’t Like
The longer blade is quite clunky and hefty to use, especially since it’s a straight blade without any curvature. The edge is also very sharp, which can be a slight issue if you are accident-prone.
Pros
- Sharp, heavy-duty blade
- Durable, porous handle
- Long, straight blade is versatile for cutting
Cons
- Very sharp blade can lead to accidents
- Longer blades are clunkier to use
Zyliss Comfort Bread Knife
- Serrated inner blade helps cut uniform slices of bread
- High-quality stainless steel blade
- Comes with matching blade cover
- Features finger indents for additional comfort and precision when slicing
- Dishwasher safe - Hand wash recommended
Last update on 2024-03-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Our final item is an illustrious knife from Zyliss. This knife is another designer option that buyers on a budget will enjoy.
Product Features
With a blade made of durable Japanese stainless steel, this 8-inch knife is built to be versatile and efficient. It does this by creating a sharp and durable blade that works well as a standard kitchen tool that is always good to keep on hand. It’s not particularly fancy, but it gets the job done.
The handle is made with a strong plastic with a flat bolster for added grip firmness. Additionally, it has a soft-touch rubber grip for added comfort and grip strength. Finally, something we haven’t seen yet with any of the previous knives is a blade guard to protect from accidents when not in use.
What We Liked
The knife features a soft, comfortable handle and a durable Japanese steel blade. These properties make the knife quite durable and long-lasting, especially for a cheaper option. The edge is also quite sharp and comes with a blade guard that will help protect the blade and your hands when working around the knife but not using it.
What We Didn’t Like
This knife is a budget option, and there is a slightly cheap feel to its make. While it may be well-made and comfortable to use, the blade doesn’t keep its edge for a very long time and will need frequent sharpening for maintenance.
Pros
- Comfortable design
- Japanese steel blade
- Great budget option
Cons
- The blade doesn’t keep an edge for very long
- Cheap feel
Buyer’s Guide
When looking for any product, you’ll want to have some semblance of background knowledge so that you can make a more educated choice when buying. When it comes to getting your hands on a bread knife, there are certain aspects that you’ll want to look out for. Here is a short buyer’s guide to help you in that regard.
Blade Material
The material used to make knife blades has been a hot topic in the culinary world for quite some time now. It’s often debated what material is best for bread knives, and while steel is most commonly used, it isn’t always the best.
Because of the longer blades and their different shapes and edges, more rigid materials are great for bread knives. Ceramic blades are slowly becoming more popular, as they have several advantages over steel. Zirconium Oxide is second only to diamond in hardness and is quite popular in higher-end knives.
Handle Material
The handle material in bread knives and most knives, in general, is largely left up to the design. Some materials are preferred, and some are avoided for various reasons. The handle affects the grip of the knife and the feel of it in your hands. While common, steel handles are not preferred, as harder, non-porous materials are difficult to hold when wet.
Different plastics and rubbers are better suited for bread knives because of their functionality. ABS plastics are quite popular for their resistant and tough nature, while TPR rubber provides excellent grip that prevents slipping while remaining soft and comfortable.
Blade Edge
Bread knives are known for their iconic “toothed” edges. You’ll likely encounter two different bread knife edges when looking for these knives – the pointed edge and the scalloped edge. Far more common, the pointed edge is the one you are likely most familiar with, as this is the classic serrated knife that has the sharper, aggressive-looking teeth that are perfect for cutting into a bread’s crust without crushing it with its sawlike motion.
The scalloped edge is far less common and somewhat less popular, as it isn’t quite as effective as its serrated counterpart. Where it shines is in its longevity and consistency, so if you would prefer your bread knife to stay sharper for longer, then a scalloped edge might be what you’re looking for.
Dimensions
The importance of the dimensions of a bread knife is mostly dependent on the person. Longer and larger blades are more unwieldy and difficult to use, but you also don’t want an edge that’s too short, as that makes cutting larger loaves more difficult.
For the average home cook who is looking for a good bread knife, the average size of 8 inches – or 20 centimeters – will serve you well. Blades around this size offer you the right balance between performance when cutting and ease of use.
Larger blades might be attractive for those who are more serious about their bread-making or who work with larger loaves, but going bigger is generally not advised as it then becomes more cumbersome to get that clean cut.
Price
As with most culinary items, appliances, and tools, things can get quite expensive depending on where you look. A high-quality bread knife that will serve you well will generally cost anywhere between $20 and $30. As you go above that range, you’ll start to encounter higher quality knives that are more finely crafted and built with better materials.
FAQs
What does a bread knife look like?
Bread knives have an iconic and very easily identifiable appearance. They appear much like regular knives, but they have a serrated edge that can be either sharp-toothed like a saw blade or have the rounded teeth of a scalloped edge. The blade is commonly around 8 inches long and sometimes has a slight curve to it, which lends to the sawing motion that you use to slice through bread.
What is a bread knife used for?
A bread knife is specially designed to slice through bread. The sawed edge allows the blade to more easily break through the more hardened crust without crushing or squashing the bread so that you can get a clean cut and a perfect slice.
How to sharpen a bread knife
While many people are under the illusion that bread knives – and by extension, other serrated knives – are impossible to sharpen once they dull, this is far from the truth. You’ll need a specialized tool to help you hone and maintain the edge of a serrated blade.
This tool, which is like a regular blade sharpener but has the shape of a tapered rod, is used to sharpen each curved edge between the blade’s teeth. Focused on each divot, you’ll sharpen the knife by resting the sharpening tool’s bevel in the serration and sharpening it like you would a regular blade but on a smaller scale. It can be tedious, but it’s well worth the effort, as bread knives tend to hold their edge for quite some time.
Conclusion
In conclusion, we’ll leave you with some recommendations. The Victorinox Swiss Army Bread Knife is an excellent bread knife with a higher cost but good quality. A good budget option would be the Kutler Professional 10-inch Bread Knife.
