The 11 Best Slicing & Carving Knives for the Home or Pro Kitchen

When you think of a slicing or a carving knife, you generally think of a big family gathering, where you’re serving large cuts of meat to your guests, as they marvel around you and your ability to cook such a fantastic cut of meat.

You know, think of your Christmas turkey or your Easter ham. This is indeed what slicing and carving knives are for, which is why they may not be necessary for some cooks.

A small paring, utility knife or serrated knife may be all you need to accomplish most of your kitchen tasks and a slicing, or a carving knife won’t be able to accomplish these same tasks.

The long, thin and flexible blades of a slicing or carving knife can be a fantastic addition to your kitchen knife collection if you are serving up large cuts of meat or fish on the regular, as these tools can truly make or break your ability to properly cut and serve your roasts.

And the best part is, the majority of slicing and carving knives are multi-use. Although they are not ideal for tackling smaller chopping tasks, they are great for cutting open large, tough-skinned vegetables such as pumpkin and squash.

But, how on earth do you pick the right slicing and carving knife for your needs and what is the difference between the two in the first place, if any? In this article, we take a look at the 11 best slicing and carving knives for the home and pro kitchen, so we can save you a ton of valuable time.

What’s the Difference Between a Slicing and a Carving Knife?

You may be wondering why a slicing and a carving knife are so often grouped together. And if they’re so similar, why do they have two different names? Let’s take a look at the difference between a slicing and a carving knife.

Carving Knife

The carving knife, used mainly for carving bone-in roasts like ham or leg of lamb or poultry, contains a long, narrow blade that tapers to a sharp point.

Some don’t see the carving knife as an absolute staple if they have already mastered the skill of carving with a chef’s knife, but overall find it easier for precisely cutting those delicious slices of roast.

This is because a carving knife contains a thinner blade and extra length compared to a chef’s knife. So while some deem the carving knife an unnecessary luxury, others would consider it a mandatory staple in their knife collection.

Slicing Knife

While a slicing knife also contains a similarly long and narrow blade, it does not taper to a point. Instead, it has a rounded, bullnose tip and an even width along with its depth. A slicing knife is ideal for large roasts such as prime rib or a boneless leg of lamb and ideal for more delicate slices of meat.

Slicing knives will all contain a Granton edge, which contains shallow divots in the face of the blade. This incredibly useful feature keeps slicing of meat from sticking to the knife. The length of a slicing knife also allows a great amount of horizontal motion, which allows you to apply less pressure as you cut.

What to Look for in a Slicing or Cutting Knife

Now that we understand the difference between a slicing and a cutting knife, now is the time to look at each knife’s features, which have all played a factor in the 11 best slicing and carving knives for the home or pro kitchen that we have selected.

Blade Construction

In both a slicing and a carving knife, it’s ideal to look for a blade that doesn’t have too much flexibility, but is also not so stiff that it’s difficult to control, which begs the question: forged or stamped blades? A good-quality stamped blade is almost always your best bet when it comes to blade construction.

Stamped blades are lighter and have more flexibility than forged blades and are often less expensive.

While stamped blades used to be known as a “cheap blade”, this is certainly not the case with advancements in steel formulations. A good-quality stamped blade will also have the exact same stain, rust and corrosion resistance of a forged type.

A forged blade’s main advantage will be that a stamped blade may not have the same tensile strength or edge retention, often making the forged blade stronger and sharper.

Length of the Knife

How long should the length of your slicing or carving knife actually be? The blade length of either type of knife will typically range between 8 and 14 inches and should be chosen according to the length of your biggest roast.

If you are cooking an extra-large turkey, you’re going to want to steer towards a 14-inch blade. However, if you are cooking a small roast under 5 lbs, a 14-inch blade will be too large.

Edge Design

As mentioned, a slicing knife will most often feature a Granton edge, which may also be referred to by various other names (fluting, dimples, divots, etc.). Edge design is crucial for a smooth cut, as these edges create air pockets that ensure that your meat can easily be released.

The cutting edge angle is also an important part of choosing a slicing knife and usually ranges from 14 to 20 degrees per side. A good rule of thumb is that the deeper the angle, the sharper the knife.

Ergonomic Handles

If you’re a cook who is often using sharp and heavy knives, you will know that an ergonomic handle is one of the most important features of your knife and can often tell a lot about the quality and construction of the product. Handles may be constructed of a variety of materials, including lightweight thermoplastic polymers, wood and steel.

Your handle material largely comes down to preference, but it’s important to look for a handle that prevents slippage by incorporating texture, as well as a finger guard.

Lightweight materials may also be more prone to cracking when exposed to heat and wooden handles are more difficult to care for, so that’s another important factor to keep in mind.

The 11 Best Slicing & Carving Knives For The Home Or Pro Kitchen

Want to skip sorting through hundreds of slicing and carving knives yourself and let us narrow down your choice for you? Let’s look at the 11 best slicing and carving knives for the home or pro kitchen.

1. DALSTRONG 12” Slicing Carving Knife With Granton Edge

The DALSTRONG 12” Slicing Carving Knife is a high-quality slicing/carving knife and is precision forged from a single billet of high-carbon Japanese steel. This knife’s core is overlaid with 66 layers of Damascus, resulting in outstanding stain resistance and durability.

This knife is extremely high on the Rockwell hardness rating at 62+ and is ground to a tight 8-12 degrees per side. This gives the DALSTRONG 12” Carving knife scalpel-like precision and an incredibly clean cut.

Pros

• Hand-finished sharp scalpel-like edge is hand finished
• 8-12°degree angle per side
• Nitrogen cooled for enhanced harness, flexibility and corrosion resistance
• Full tang
• Triple-riveted for added resilience
• 62+ Rockwell hardness
• 66 layers of premium high-carbon stainless steel
• Stain-resistant
• Hand Polished ergonomic handle
• Lifetime warranty against defect

Cons

• Expensive
• Dull out of the box
• Loses sharpness quickly
• Soft meat knife only
• Not useful for roasts and other heavier cuts of meat

The Wusthof Gourmet 14-Inch Brisket Slicer is one of the best options for at home and in the restaurant for cutting brisket. This excellent knife is precision stamped from a singlepiece of high-carbon stainless steel and is constructed for superior stain and corrosion resistance.

Its hollow edge allows the user to cut clean portions with a single horizontal pull, achieving a clean cut every time, along with its Rockwell hardness rating of 56 and a blade that’s laser ground to 18 degrees per side.

Pros

• Polyoxymethylene (POM) handle for excellent strength and resilience
• Highly resistant to heat and impact
• Ergonomic comfort with deep finger guard
• Made from a single piece of chrome-molybdenum- vanadium steel
• Precise cut
• Super sharp offset blade
• Stain-resistant
• Triple rivet plastic handle
• Full tang for balance

Cons

• Expensive
• Sheath is made of thin plastic

The DALSTRONG Gladiator 12″ Slicing/Carving knife is forged from high-carbon German steel and created using exceptional craftsmanship. The elevated chromium levels ensure excellent stain and corrosion resistance and contain flexible blade technology. This allows the Gladiator to be used in various ways, including de-boning and filleting; however, this carving knife is specifically marketed towards softer meats.

Pros

• Affordable
• Outstanding craftsmanship
• Razor-sharp slicer
• Full tang
• Composed of imported high-carbon German steel
• Hand polished edge at 14-16 degrees per side
• Flexible blade technology
• Ergonomic and ambidextrous G10 Garolite handle with mosaic and engraving
• Triple-riveted design ensures superior strength and durability
• 100% satisfaction guarantee

Cons

• Dull out of the box
• Marketed for ham and soft meats

The Victorinox 12 Inch Fibrox Pro Slicing Knife is from the makers of the original Swiss Army knife. It delivers optimal cutting performance on a large variety of food items, from meat to bread. With a hardness level of 56 HRC and an 18-degree cutting angle, the Victorinox Fibrox Pro Slicing Knife boasts an extremely sharp edge, effortlessly producing clean, smooth cuts.

Pros

• Razor-sharp edge designed for maximum cutting performance
• Suited for slicing everything meats to cakes to sandwiches
• Granton blade creates pockets of air, preventing food from sticking to the blade
• Easier motion and higher efficiency
• Designed for professionals
• Lifetime warranty against defects in material and workmanship

Cons

• Knife’s grip handle slightly taller than the knife blade

The Mercer Culinary Millennia 11-Inch Granton Edge Slicer is truly one of the best options out there when it comes to budget slicing and carving knives. This 11-inch slicer is produced of high-carbon Japanese steel, with a stamped blade that boasts excellent stain and corrosion resistance.

With an impressive hardness of 56 HRC and a 15-degree cutting angle per side, you’ll find this budget-friendly knife to be sharp, long-lasting and easy to maintain.

Pros

• Affordable
• Good value for money
• Ergonomic handle
• Textured finger points for slip resistance, grip, and safety
• Protective finger guard
• Hardness of 56
• Highest quality Japanese steel allows for easy blade maintenance
• Razor-sharp edge
• One-piece high-carbon, stain-resistant Japanese steel

Cons

• Not sharp out of the box

The Wusthof Classic 2-Piece Carving Set is both a fantastic option for a holiday gift and also a necessity to have around for your own holiday meals.

This 2-piece carving set contains an 8-inch knife and a 6-inch fork and is perfect for slicing ham, turkey, or roasts. The Wusthof Classic 2-Piece Carving Set contains triple-riveted handles that mimic real wood in appearance and texture but are actually made of a tough synthetic polyoxymethylene.

Pros

• Stain-resistant
• High-quality high-carbon steel blade
• Retains sharp edge over time
• Ergonomic triple-riveted synthetic Hostaform-C handles
• Weighted bolster
• Full tang
• Made in Germany
• Limited lifetime warranty

Cons

• Expensive

This 8-inch slicing knife is part of the popular Zwilling J.A. Henckels Four Star series. It is made with Henckels’ Sintermetal Component Technology (SCT), allowing three different grades of steel to be combined to form a single piece. This means that this versatile slicing and carving knife will last you a lifetime. Plus, this small slicing knife can also easily double as a petty/utility knife for everyday use.

Pros

• Manufactured in Germany
• Special formula high-carbon steel
• SIGMAFORGE knife is forged from a single piece of solid steel
• Ice-hardened FRIODUR blade has superior resilience
• Stays sharper longer
• Full rat-tail tang
• Precision-honed blade and laser-controlled edge
• Ergonomic polypropylene handles
• 57 Rockwell Hardness
• Edge angle of 15 degrees per side
• Dishwasher safe

Cons

• Some users have found the handle to be poor quality

This 14-inch Granton Edge Slicing Knife by ICEL is composed of a high-carbon stainless-steel blade and is perfect for home or commercial use. The valuable Granton edge prevents any sticking to the knife, and it contains a bolsterless edge for the use of the entire blade and ease of sharpening. NSF approved and rust and stain-free, you’ll also enjoy a lifetime warranty against manufacturer defects.

Pros

• Safe, rounded tip
• Long, straight edge to maximize cutting surface
• Granton edge to prevent sticking
• High-carbon stainless-steel blade
• Ice tempered to sustain sharpness
• Blade stamped from cold-rolled steel
• Bolsterless edge for the use of the entire blade
• Easy to sharpen
• NSF approved
• Rust and stain-free

Cons

• Heavy
• Poor quality handle
• Does not come with cover/sheath

This excellent slicing knife will be your new go-to for all types of effortless carving and slicing. Whether you’re dealing with tough mutton, ham, beef or poultry, you’ll have no problems with the TUO 9-inch’s extra sharp edge. This excellent knife is made of high-quality imported AUS-8 Steel, which enjoys a high reputation in the industry.

It contains a pakka wood ergonomic handle, which boasts excellent anti-corrosion, wear-resistant and anti-slip abilities. The TUO 9-inch features special-forged technology with a precise vacuum heat-treatment and nitrogen cryogenic tempering. What does this mean? You’re getting superb hardness, flexibility, durability and stunning cutting performance.

Pros

• Affordable
• Ideal for all types of meat
• High-quality imported AUS-8 Steel
• Features special-forged technology
• Superb hardness, flexibility and durability
• Ergonomic handle
• Anti-corrosion and wear-resistant
• Aesthetically appealing pakka wood handle
• Sleek hand-polished bolster
• Elaborately polished

Cons

• Not full tang

The WALLOP 12-inch slicing knife is an excellent choice for effortlessly cutting through a large turkey to crusty bread. This knife is composed of a German stainless steel blade and an ergonomically friendly natural Pakka wood handle. The WALLOP 12-inch has been processed to achieve a 56+ Rockwell hardness rating and a cutting angle of 14-16 degrees on each side, making this slicing knife super sharp with excellent edge retention.

Pros

• Multi-use and versatile
• Natural Pakka wood handle
• German stainless steel blade
• 56+ hardness level
• Cutting angle of 14-16 degrees on each side
• Triple-riveted for a firm grip
• Ergonomic shape for the perfect balance

Cons

• Some users have received the handle unfinished

Finally, we have the highly-rated MAIRICO Ultra Sharp Premium 11-inch Stainless Steel Carving Knife. This excellent knife is known for its impeccable performance, with its ultra-sharp blade delivering highly precise cuts with minimal effort.

Created to effortlessly cut through all types of meats, this versatile knife is also fantastic for cutting fruits and vegetables. Its ergonomic design also provides well-balanced weight distribution and a secure grip, fitting perfectly in your hand.

Pros

• Affordable
• Professionally designed and delivers impeccable performance
• Blade is composed of superb quality, premium stainless steel
• Ultra-sharp blade to cut precisely with minimal effort
• Long-lasting
• Designed to cut all types of meat
• Versatile and can be used to slice fruits and vegetables
• Ergonomically designed
• Well-balanced weight distribution
• Secure grip
• Money-back guarantee

Best Slicing & Carving Knives for the Home or Pro Kitchen Comparison

Product Image	Product Name	Dimensions	Price
	DALSTRONG 12” Slicing Carving Knife With Granton Edge	20.2 x 3.7 x 1.3 inches	$$
	Wusthof Gourmet 14-Inch Brisket Slicing Knife With Hollow Edge	19 x 1.5 x 0.75 inches	$129
	DALSTRONG Gladiator 12″ Slicing/Carving Knife With Sheath	12 x 70.87 x 2 inches	$$
	Victorinox 12 Inch Fibrox Pro Slicing Knife with Granton Blade	18 x 2.25 x 1 inches	$94.00
	Mercer Culinary Millennia 11-Inch Granton Edge Slicer	5 x 1 x 20 inches	$37.38
	Wusthof Classic 2-Piece Carving Set	18 x 6.5 x 1.2 inches	$169.99
	Zwilling J.A. Henckels Twin Four Star Slicing Knife	16.5 x 2.75 x 1.7 inches	$99.95
	ICEL14-inch Blade Granton Edge Slicing Knife	20.91 x 4.02 x 0.39 inches	$44.99
	TUO 9-inch Slicing Knife	15.71 x 3.23 x 1.34 inches	$$
	WALLOP 12-Inch Slicing Knife	19.75 x 3.25 x 1.25 inches	$31.96
	MAIRICO Ultra Sharp Premium 11-inch Stainless Steel Carving Knife	17.9 x 5.1 x 1.8 inches	$25.95