Top Best Bread Knives, Tested Kitchenthread

Some people might think of a bread knife as a one-trick pony, but it’s actually as useful in the kitchen as a chef’s knife or paring knife. Bread knives are often included in knife block sets, but a good bread knife can make all the difference in the kitchen, so it may be worth it to buy one separately. The best bread knife can cut through the crustiest bread without making too many crumbs or taking too much effort. It can also cut through the softest loaves without crushing or tearing them. Also, a bread knife should be able to cleanly slice tomatoes and cakes, which are smaller and more precise tasks. We put 10 of the best bread knives on the market to the test to find the four best ones for home cooks.

Our Top Bread Knife Picks

Best Overall: Victorinox Swiss Army 10-1/4-Inch Serrated Bread Knife with Fibrox Handle
Another Favorite: Kai Wasabi 9-Inch Bread Knife
Best Value: Mercer Culinary Millennia 10-Inch Wavy Edge Wide Bread Knife
Best Splurge: Shun Cutlery Classic 9-Inch Bread Knife

How We Tested

We looked at 10 bread knives that had good reviews. Before we started cooking, we thought about the length of the blade, the length of the handle, and the weight of each knife. We looked at the packaging, how it was used and cared for, and how easy it was to clean. We cut Roma tomatoes, crusty sourdough bread, soft challah loaves, and full cantaloupes and watermelons to see how well the knives cut. We tried to make each cut the same, comfortable, and accurate. We made sure the knives didn’t tear, shred, or squash the things we cut. We also cleaned each knife by hand, which is our preferred method, and took note of which blades the manufacturer said could go in the dishwasher.

1. Best Overall: Victorinox Swiss Army 10-1/4″ Serrated Bread Knife with Fibrox Handle

The Victorinox was one of the knives that worked well most of the time. It cut through crusty sourdough bread without breaking the crust and making a lot of crumbs. It cut tomatoes and challah bread cleanly and easily with very little effort. The blade was 10 14 inches long, so it was easy to cut through both cantaloupes and watermelons. The serrations are curved instead of sharp, so the slices are smooth and didn’t tear or shred anything we tried. It has a big, plastic handle, but it is easy to hold and feels very safe and secure. Not only did we love how well this knife worked, but we also liked that it cost around $60 (sometimes $50 on sale).

2. Another Favorite: Kai Wasabi 9-Inch Bread Knife

The Kai Wasabi came in first, which was a surprise. Made in the same Japanese style as our splurge, the Shun Classic, it is made of high carbon stainless steel and sharpened at a 16-degree angle. This makes a stronger edge that stays sharp for a long time. Unlike some European knives, the blade is only sharpened on one side, which helps keep food from sticking. We found that it cut smoothly and cleanly through everything we tried. Cuts on bread and tomatoes were clean and even because the serrations were small and smooth. It is easy to hold, light, and costs less than a third of what the Shun Classic does.

3. Best Value: Mercer Culinary Millennia 10-Inch Wavy Edge Wide Bread Knife

At about $19, the Mercer knife is the best value for money you can find. The knife is well-balanced, easy to hold, and cuts evenly and smoothly. Even though we had to use a little more pressure and a back-and-forth motion when cutting bread and melon than we did when cutting the other things on our list, the difference was small.

4. Best Splurge: Shun Cutlery Classic 9-Inch Bread Knife

The Shun Classic bread knife is just as impressive in how it works as it is in how it looks. The blade of this knife is in the style of Damascus. It is made of 69 microthin layers of stainless steel, which makes it very strong. It is a Japanese-style knife that has been sharpened at a 16-degree angle, which helps it stay sharp for longer. Some of the knives we tried were sharp and high, but this one has serrations that are wide and low. This makes it easy to cut through everything from tomatoes to crusty bread. It is easy to hold and has a good balance. It is a beautiful knife with a handle made of Pakka wood and a blade that has a unique damask grain pattern. It was one of the most expensive of our picks at around $170, but it comes with free sharpening for life, making it a good buy.

Conclusion

After conducting research and analysis on bread knives, I can conclude that a good bread knife is an essential tool for any kitchen. Bread knives are designed to effortlessly slice through bread without squishing or tearing the delicate interior, making them an indispensable tool for anyone who enjoys freshly baked bread.

When choosing a bread knife, it’s important to consider the blade length, blade material, handle design, and overall quality. The best bread knives typically have a long blade, made of high-quality materials such as carbon or stainless steel, and a comfortable handle that provides a good grip.

Some of the most popular bread knives on the market include the Wusthof Classic 10-Inch Bread Knife, the Victorinox Swiss Army Fibrox Pro 10.25-Inch Bread Knife, the Global G-9 8.75-Inch Bread Knife, the Shun Classic 9-Inch Bread Knife, and the Mercer Culinary Millennia 10-Inch Bread Knife.

Overall, a good bread knife is a worthwhile investment for anyone who loves bread and wants to slice it perfectly every time.