Best Bread Knife
Bread knives are invaluable when it comes to perfectly slicing bread. There is little more satisfying than a cleanly sliced loaf, but the wrong bread knife can mean disaster. Nobody wants their freshly baked bread to get squashed when cutting a slice for a sandwich, so it can be to your advantage to seek out a reliable and strong knife option.
Which bread knives are the best, though, at cutting cleanly and evenly? This article looks at eight of the best options, in our opinion, and also offers the essential information on what to look for when choosing a bread knife.
- 10-inch blade tackles the thickest loaves of bread
- Textured finger point for non-slip grip
- High-carbon Japanese stainless steel
- Ergonomically designed handle for comfort and grip
- Comes with a lifetime warranty for peace of mind
- Dimensions: 5 x 1 x 18
- Weight: 4.8 oz
- 7-inch blade
- High-carbon stainless steel blades for core strength and sharpness
- Patented Fibrox handle increases the grip, even when wet
- Made from cold rolled steel for added durability
- Swiss made
- Dimensions: 15 x 3.8 x 1
- Weight: 3.36 oz
- Constructed from Red Alder American hardwood
- Slices all bread and bagels
- Stainless steel double-ground serrated blade
- For right-handed people (a left-handed version is available)
- Even slices through bread just out of the oven
- Dimensions: 16 x 2.8 x 0.6
- Weight: 1.6 oz
- 10-inch blades for the thickest loaves
- ThyssenKrupp high-carbon stainless steel
- Full tang for balance and weight
- Scores 56 on the Rockwell Hardness Scale
- Ergonomic handle that’s safe and easy to grip
- Dimensions: 15.3 x 1 x 1.3
- Weight: 9.4 oz
- Scores 62 on the Rockwell Hardness Scale
- Ultra-sharp Japanese steel blade
- 10.25-inch blade for the thickest loaves
- Comes with a lifetime warranty for peace of mind
- Military grade G-10 handle
- Dimensions: 14.4 x 1.3 x 0.1
- Weight: 8.3 oz
- 8-inch blade for perfect cutting action
- High-carbon German stainless steel blade
- Anti-rust, corrosion, and staining
- One-piece precision forged construction
- Full tang
- Dimensions: 17.5 x 0.6 x 4.1
- Weight: 4.2 oz
- Brightly colored knife at a great price
- Lightweight, ergonomic handle for comfort and grip
- Non-stick resin coated blade for smoother cutting action
- High-carbon stainless steel
- 8-inch blade
- Dimensions:13 x 0.8 x 1.5
- Weight: 3.52 oz
- 8-inch blade
- One-piece design for durability and balance
- The blade is ultra-thin; measures just 2.2 and 0.1 mm
- Sharp serrated blade glides through the softest bread
- Hand-wash only for the best results
- Dimensions: 15.1 x 2.2 x 1.2
- Weight: 8 oz
This Mercer bread knife is a particular favorite on Amazon, and looking at the price, we can understand why. It’s made from Japanese high-carbon steel, and it’s easy on your hands and wrists thanks to its ergonomically designed handle. The lifetime warranty also reassures you that this knife will be good for years to come.
Pros
- High-carbon Japanese steel blade
- 10-inch blade for thicker loaves of bread
- Lifetime warranty
- Ergonomic handle
Cons
- The handle feels too large for the knife
- The packaging is incredibly hard to open
This Swiss-made Victorinox bread knife has a patented Fibrox handle that’s soft to grip and comfortable to use. The blade is constructed from cold rolled steel and has a high carbon content for added durability.
Pros
- 7-inch blade
- Cold rolled stainless steel blade
- Made in Switzerland
- Patented Fibrox soft-grip handle
Cons
- The blade dulls quickly
- The smaller size blade doesn’t work with all bread
This bread and bagel slicer is different because it has a bow shape that is much like a saw. The blade is made of double-ground stainless steel, and the body of the slicer is made from durable American hardwood. This thing is sharp enough to slice through bread fresh from the oven.
Pros
- Unusual design
- Made from Red Alder American hardwood
- Comes in a right or left-handed model
- Double-ground and serrated blade
Cons
- Only useful for smaller loaves
- Because of the design, it can only be used as a knife for bread
This 10-inch Zelite Infinity knife has a German high-carbon stainless steel blade, and it scores a respectable 56 on the Rockwell Hardness Scale. It has an ergonomic, safe grip handle and comes with a 15-year warranty. The only downside is this knife is heavy, weighing in at 9.4 ounces, which is nearly twice the weight of the Mercer Millennia bread knife.
Pros
- Looks great, with sleek lines
- Reasonably priced for a premium knife
- High-carbon stainless steel
- Full tang
Cons
- The handle feels small and thin
- Too heavy causing hand and wrist strain
This Dalstrong bread knife is by far the most expensive on the list, but it does look stylish. It scores a respectable 62 on the Rockwell Hardness Scale, and the ultra-sharp Japanese steel will make light work of slicing bread. It also has a G-10 military grade handle.
Pros
- G-10 military grade handle
- Japanese steel blade
- Sharpened using the Honbazuke 3-step method
- Perfectly balanced knife
Cons
- Expensive compared to others in its class
This is the second Mercer bread knife on the list and is another popular option among consumers. This triple-riveted forged bread knife has a full tang for balance, and it handles well despite its 8-inch blade. The blade is formed from one piece of high-carbon German stainless steel and is resistant to staining, pitting, and corrosion.
Pros
- High-carbon stainless steel
- Ergonomic handles are comfortable to grip
- Full tang
- Reasonable price compared to the Dalstrong bread knife
Cons
- Only has an 8-inch blade, so may be too small for some
- Getting the knife out of the packaging can be dangerous
This brightly colored Komachi bread knife is super value for money. That’s why we’ve chosen it as our budget pick. The high-carbon stainless steel blade is coated in a non-stick, food-grade colorant that makes the blades slide easier when slicing. It is also lightweight and ergonomically designed to be comfortable to use.
Pros
- Fun color and design
- Non-stick coating for a better slicing action
- High-carbon stainless steel
- Very cheap to buy
Cons
- The blade dulls quickly
- It feels cheaply made
This 8-inch knife by ORBLUE is primarily a bread knife, but it is also a multi-use tool that can slice other foods like tomatoes and pineapples. The one-piece design and the ultra-thin blade means that there is a better balance and less drag when slicing through soft bread.
Pros
- One-piece design
- Ultra-thin blade for better cutting action
- 8-inch blade
- Excellent price
Cons
- The blade dulls quickly
- The handle feels heavy
- Doesn’t come with any cover or sheath
Bread Knife Buyer’s Guide
When selecting the right bread knife, try and think about certain aspects of the blade, like a serrated cutting edge or the thickness of the steel. As a general rule of thumb, the thinner the blade, the less drag when cutting through bread. You’ll also want to consider the balance of the blade, as you don’t want to buy a knife that feels awkward or is uncomfortable to hold.
There are some additional elements to consider, including:
Functions
Think about what the knife will be like while cutting through fresh bread and also consider if you want a knife that is dedicated to bread cutting or that can do more. For a multi-functional knife, like the ORBLUE. The blade design and serrated edges will help, but also the thickness of the blade will make a difference.
Power
The power of the best bread knives comes from the technology of the high-carbon blades. Couple that with the serrated edge and even non-stick coatings and you’ll get the best performance possible.
Styling
For sheer style, the Dalstrong is hard to beat. It is striking with classic lines and a classy looking handle. On the other extreme, the Pure Komachi 2 Series injects a lot of fun into the design to make your kitchen cutlery stand out.
Clever Technology
As we’ve said in previous knife reviews, the clever advancements have come in the blade technology. Adding carbon to the stainless steel blade has increased the robustness of the bread knife considerably. Technology also plays a crucial role in the development of ergonomically designed knives that are balanced correctly and are comfortable to grip.
Product Warranty
Most manufacturers offer a lifetime warranty on their bread knives, but makers like Zelite only guarantee their knife for 15 years. Longer warranties can bring greater peace of mind, so keep these offers in mind as you finalize your selection.
Brand loyalty
Interestingly, the cheaper knife brands fare much better than the premium brands like Dalstrong. The best selling knife by far is the Mercer Millennia, which sells in the thousands. The online reviews are pretty amazing and come with incredibly high satisfaction ratings.
FAQ
Can you use a bread knife for other things, like slicing brisket and turkey?
The great thing about bread knives is they do have dual uses. A sharp bread knife can be used to cut larger sides or roasts of meat. Avoid cutting frozen items, however, as this will dull the serrated edge.
How do bread knives handle really crusty bread?
Bread knives can easily tackle crusty loaves because they have serrated edges and sometimes tapered ends as well. Though it might take a bit of effort to break through that crispy crust, once it is broken these knives can slice well indeed, even if the loaf is still warm from the oven. Look out for the thickness of the blade as an indicator of how well they glide through freshly baked bread.
What does “full tang” actually mean?
Full tang is the term used when a knife is cut from the same piece of steel, and that piece, which includes the blade and the tang, or the shank that extends from the blade through the entire length of the handle. It makes the whole thing extremely robust because it isn’t welded from two separate parts.
Final Thoughts
To give you an idea of which knife will work best for you, look at the reviews on Amazon as well as the overall sales volume. Buying the most expensive isn’t always the best policy, especially when you could buy ten of one brand of knife for the cost of one knife in this list.
With that in mind, we chose the Mercer Millennia as our top pick. It has the sales, the price, and best of all if you combine the four and five-star reviews, this knife comes out with an incredible percent rating. That’s impressive for a knife that retails at just over $10.
