How To Pick The Best Bread Knife – 6 Expert Tips

If you’ve tried to slice bread with a regular chef’s knife, you know that it doesn’t usually go well. Other types of knives crumb the bread as they try to cut through the outer crust into the soft, fluffy, inners of the bread. This is why you should invest in a good quality bread knife.

There is such a wide range of bread knives on the market that it can be challenging to choose one. This article provides 6 expert tips for choosing the best bread knife.

6 Expert Tips for Choosing a Bread Knife

1. Serration: Choose a Single Edge Serrated Knife Over a Double Edge Serrated Knife

The best bread knives have a serrated edge. The serrated edge provides a firm grip, making it easy to cut through tough crusts and the soft parts of the pastry or bread without compressing or crumbling.

Serrated knives have three types of serrations:

• Single Edge Serration. The cutting edge is serrated on one side but flat on the backside. As long as the serrations have depth, the knife cuts smoothly and effortlessly. This is the most ideal serration pattern for bread and tomato knives.

• Double Edge Serration. The cutting edge is serrated on both sides. In most cases, the serrations on one side are of different sizes from those on the other side. As a result, the cuts are not as smooth as those of a single-edge serrated knife. This serration pattern is commonly found in cheaper bread knives.

• Micro Serration. Although most common in steak knives, some cheap bread knives have this serration pattern. They are usually made of low-quality steel, and the sharp edge is jagged. They leave lots of particles when cutting bread. Unlike the other two serration patterns, this one makes it difficult to sharpen the knife blade.

Although not mandatory, whenever possible go for a serrated bread knife with a slightly curved edge. It improves the cutting efficiency as it enables you to cut through the last part of the bread crust with ease. The curve should be hardly noticeable so as not to compromise the knife’s ability to cut straight and evenly.

2. Handle: Choose A Knife with An Ergonomic Handle

The handle of any knife plays a crucial role. It determines ease of maneuverability, control, and comfort of the knife. Ideally, the handle should offer a non-slip grip. This way you have great control of the knife even when using it with wet hands. It should feel comfortable on the hand and provide generous knuckle clearance. The handle should also have a simple, seamless, and sturdy design.

Below are factors to consider when determining if a given bread knife has an ergonomic handle.

Handle Construction Design. Ideally, your bread knife should have a full-tang handle design. This design offers unparalleled strength. A full-tang design is particularly important if the knife has a long blade. It gives it more balance and movement leverage.

Handle Material. The handle material should offer a comfortable, non-slip grip. It should also be durable. For instance, rubber offers a non-slip grip while steel gets slippery when handled with wet hands.

Handle Length. The best bread knife should have a handle long enough to accommodate the width of your pam and leave about one or two inches of space. When determining if a certain knife’s handle length is suitable for you, measure the width of your palm at the widest point (below the thumb). Add one or two inches to the measurement you get and compare it against the knife’s handle length specifications. 

 Handle Shape. The shape of a knife’s handle determines how easy and comfortable it is to use it. Handles with an ergonomic design fit the natural curve of your hands while providing additional support in the main areas of pressure.

Handles that have a palm swell at the middle provide a more relaxed and comfortable hold even when using the knife for a long time. It allows your hand to naturally pivot when cutting. The handle should also have a bolster to prevent your hand from slipping toward the sharp serrated edge.

3. Blade Length: The Ideal Blade Length for Home Kitchen Use is 8 Inches

The right blade length for a bread knife depends on the size of bread or fruits it will be used on. The larger the bread, the longer the blade should be. On average, most bread knives’ blade lengths range between 8 and 11 inches. Smaller ones are 6 to 8.5 inches long, while longer ones are 9 to 11 inches long.

Keep in mind that the longer the blade, the heavier it is and more cumbersome to use. Also, the ideal length of the blade will vary according to the purpose of use. For instance, a pastry chef at a bakery will require a longer knife than a home kitchen user. The ideal blade length provides you with a balance between performance and ease of handling.

4. Blade Material: Go for a Blade Made of High Carbon Steel or Ceramic

Blade material plays a crucial role in the knife’s maneuverability, durability, and edge retention. Ideally, the blade should be made of a material that is durable and retains an edge. Also, since the blade is long, the material should be stiff with no flexes to enable straight cutting with ease.

Stainless Steel. Most bread knives on the market are made with a stainless steel blade. While steel bread knives do a decent job and are quite affordable, steel is not the best material. It is prone to corrosion, rusting, and loses edge fast.

High Carbon Stainless Steel. High carbon steel is the best material for bread knives. It is inflexible and durable, and it has better rust and corrosion resistance than steel. It also retains sharpness for longer. Bread knives made of high carbon steel, however, are more expensive than those with a steel blade. Both high carbon steel and stainless steel offer adequate blade stiffness.

Best High Carbon Steel Knives. If you are considering purchasing a high carbon steel knife, below is a brief review of the three best on Amazon.

Best Overall:  Linoroso MAKO Series 8″ Serrated Bread Knife

This bread knife is also forged from high carbon German steel and has a full-tang handle design. Its handle has a unique tapered shape for comfort and agility. The blade is ice-tempered to improve its stiffness and durability. The geometrically-angled serrations ensure you get smooth cuts with a single stroke. Besides pastries, the knife can also be used to cut boneless ham, cabbage, and sandwiches without squishing them.

Best Premium: Cutluxe 10″ Serrated Edge Bread Knife

This knife has a premium-quality forge for top performance. Its serrated edge is tapered for easy cutting. It has a full-tang handle design made of triple-riveted pakkawood for stable handling. The pakkawood is laminated for a comfortable and non-slip hold.

Best Budget: Tuo 9″ Serrated Bread Knife

It is forged using premium high carbon German steel in a high-tech vacuum treatment process to enhance its strength, durability, and edge retention. Each side of the blade is honed at 18 degrees to offer sharp, smooth cuts. It has a full-tang handle design made of waterproof pakkawood for a sleek look and ergonomic handling.

Ceramic. Manufacturers such as Kikusumi, Zenko, Kyocera, and Cestari have introduced ceramic bread knives to the market. Ceramic also makes an excellent material for a bread knife. It is up to 50% harder than steel offering rigidity and excellent edge retention. Also, ceramic never rusts or corrodes, and it does not retain odor.

Best Ceramic Bread Knife. One of the best ceramic bread knives on the market is the Cestari Advanced Ceramic Revolution bread knife. Although it is specially designed for use with homemade bread, it can be used with all types of pastries and soft vegetables.

It comes packaged in a luxury gift box as a set that includes a safety sheath. It is available in four blade lengths including 3-inch, 4-inch, 6-inch, and 8-inch. It has an elegant black mirror finish and a non-slip rubber handle.

5. Blade Thickness: Opt for a Bread Knife with a Thin Blade and Narrow-Angled Bevel

This type of knife performs better even when cutting crusty bread. The thin blade with a narrow-angled bevel enables the knife to penetrate the crust with ease. Ideally, it should be beveled at a 16-degree angle or less, while the blade thickness should be a maximum of 2.2mm. This angle and thickness give minimum friction when slicing. If the blade has a wider angle, it will feel blunt when slicing.

Even though the blade should be thin, it should still be sturdy. Extremely flexible blades will work for cutting soft pastries and fruits, but they will not work for crusty bread as it will flex in the middle of cutting.

6. Price: The Best Bread Knife Is Not Necessarily the Most Expensive

The price of bread knives ranges from under $20 up to and above $100. You don’t have to buy the most expensive bread knife on the market to get a good quality knife.

Numerous affordably-priced knives deliver excellent performance – ergonomic handling and smooth straight cuts. Do your due diligence for the bread knife you are considering whether top-priced or affordable to determine whether it is worth buying.

Review: 3 Best Bread Knives

1. Best Overall: Victorinox Swiss Army Fibrox 10.25-inch Bread Knife

This is a versatile, expertly designed bread knife. It is made in Switzerland and can be used to cut cakes, delicate pastries, and crusty bread. It is dishwasher safe though it is best to hand wash it to avoid dulling the blade.

Unlike most bread knives, it has a curved blade that provides adequate knuckle clearance for better control when slicing. It is affordable and delivers great value through durability and cutting efficiency. It comes with a lifetime warranty.

2. Best Budget: Mercer Culinary Millenia 10-inch Bread Knife

The Mercer Culinary Millennia bread knife is not only affordable, but it is also an Amazon Bestseller. Like the Victorinox Swiss Army Fibrox, it is quite versatile as it can be used to cut a wide range of foods.

It is made of high carbon steel for excellent edge retention. Its handle is made of a combination of santoprene and polypropylene with a textured design for a comfortable, durable, non-slip grip. This knife is available in 8 handle color options including black, blue, gray, green, purple, red, white, and yellow.

3. Best Premium: Shun Classic 8.25-Inch Bread Knife

The Shun Classic bread knife is a Japanese-style knife, intricately designed to offer an excellent cutting and handling experience. Its most unique features are the narrow blade and offset handle design.

Its premium price can be attributed to the 60-61 Rockwell hard steel used to make the blade. As a result, the knife is durable and retains a razor-sharp edge for a long time. This knife is a favorite among experienced chefs, aspiring chefs, professional bakers, as well as amateur cooks.

Conclusion

A good bread knife is an essential tool to have in your kitchen. It should purchase the best regarding design, efficiency, and durability. The expert tips discussed above will help you choose the right one for you.

Bread Knife FAQs

Below are concise answers to the most common bread knife FAQs:

What are the Qualities of the Best Bread Knife?

The best bread knives have the following characteristics:

• Serrated blade with a narrow-beveled angle
• Cuts through the bread with ease
• Retains the softness and fluffiness of the bread without crumbling it
• Has an ergonomic handle
• Slices evenly
• 8 inches long or larger 
• Made of high carbon steel
• Slightly bowed cutting edge
• Single edge serration
• Pointed serrations with slight separation
• Has a thin blade, but sturdy
• Has a bowed cutting edge

Can a Bread Knife Be Used for Other Purposes?

The best bread knives can be used for a wide range of purposes. They can be used for any other purposes that a straight, non-serrated knife is not good for. For example:

• Slicing and cutting different types of bread i.e., sourdough bread, bagels, baguettes, etc.
• Slicing sponge cakes
• Slicing soft fruits and vegetables i.e., kiwi, tomatoes, etc.
• Slicing fruits and vegetables that are soft on the inside but have tough skin i.e., watermelon, pumpkin, squash
• Cutting tender meat

How to Use a Bread Knife to Slice Bread

Below is a step-by-step process for slicing bread using a bread knife:

1. Place the bread on a wooden cutting board
2. Hold the knife correctly. Hold it with your dominant hand near the blade.
3. Place the knife at a 45-degree angle to the bread.
4. Use your other hand to hold the bread. Curl your fingers under into a claw and gently rest them on the bread.

• To slice the bread, point the tip of the knife toward the cutting board and begin to make gentle back and forth, sawing motions.
• Repeat this process for each slice.

 Are there Alternatives to a Bread Knife?

People with wrist injuries, disabilities, or arthritic hands may find it difficult to use a bread knife. Or, you simply might not like doing the manual work of using a bread knife. An electric bread knife is a great option.

It is designed to be as effective as a good quality bread knife except that it is powered by electricity instead of manual effort. It has a serrated blade.

To operate it, connect it to the manufacturer’s recommended power source. Position the serrated edge of the blade on the bread. Once you power on the electric knife, the blade makes quick back and forth motions as it smoothly cuts through the bread. You do not need to exert any force, just hold the handle of the knife. Generally, electric bread knives are more expensive than manual bread knives.

How to Store a Bread Knife

You can store your bread knife on a magnetic strip that is mounted somewhere safe or in a knife block. If you are storing your serrated knife in a drawer, ensure that it is in a sheath or a drawer insert. Avoid storing your bread knife, or any other type of knife loosely in the drawer as it knocks around causing the blade to dull. It might also cut you as reach into the drawer to remove it.

Do You Need to Regularly Sharpen Your Bread Knife?

Most bread knives do not require sharpening for two main reasons. First, the best bread knives are made of high-carbon steel which offers excellent blade retention. Secondly, the knife mostly cuts through soft and fluffy foods which does not exert too much friction on the blade.

Should you need to sharpen your bread knife, you can do so easily using a sharpening rod. Place the rod on the serration and make downward movements until the tooth is adequately sharpened. Repeat this process for each tooth on the blade.

The Best Bread Knife Comparison

Product Image	Product Name	Dimensions	Price	Blade Size
	Victorinox Swiss Army Fibrox 10.25-inch Bread Knife	15.13 x 1.63 x 0.75 inches	$$	10.25 inches
	Mercer Culinary Millenia 10-inch Bread Knife	5 x 1 x 18 inches	$19.00	10 inches
	Shun Classic 8.25-Inch Bread Knife	15.5 x 3.1 x 1 inches	$154.95	8.25