Last Updated: May 3, 2024, 5:26 a.m.

Nothing beats a loaf of toasted bread directly from the oven. However, without a bread knife, you’ll be stuck with an uncut loaf of bread, and that’s impossible to enjoy! That’s why I highly recommend that you purchase one of the best bread knives on the market in 2024. To the untrained eye, all bread knives will look the same, but that’s why we created this guide for you. But if you asked me, I’d say the Mercer Culinary Bread Knife is a perfect place to start.

If you plan to make sandwiches or bake loaves of bread yourself, you will need a sharp knife to cut it precisely without wrongly crushing the edges. Though you can do it with a simple knife that may be present in your kitchen, if you want greater precision and smoother cutting, you must think of having a proper, dedicated bread knife for the job. We have put together this comprehensive buying guide to help you make an informed decision. This guide provides all the information you need to pick the appropriate bread knife to cut your lovely bread, whether you are preparing an amazing sandwich, smearing it in butter, or soaking it in olive oil and vinegar.

What Can Bread Knives Be Used for?

Bread knives, as the name implies, are meant to cut through bread easily and uniformly. You may not think you would need a bread knife if you do not usually make your own bread or purchase unsliced bread, however, if you ever get your hands on an unsliced bread, a serrated knife will make the cutting process super easy! Bread knives are ideal for cutting anything that has a tough exterior and a mushy interior, thanks to their serrated blades.

Slicing tomatoes

Due to the obvious surface tension of the skin against the soft inside, cutting tomatoes with a flat knife without squeezing them can be difficult. Bread knives, on the other hand, make slicing tomatoes a breeze.

Cutting cakes

The serrated blade of a bread knife is less prone to break the crumbs if you make cakes and wish to cut them into two or three pieces crosswise to stack with icing.

Peeling pineapples

Since peeling a pineapple is really a pain, many people choose the more costly precut kind, however, the covering may be simply removed with a bread knife.

Slicing baked items

With a bread knife, slicing batch baked goods like cookies or cookie cakes is a joy. The serrated edge not only provides a superior cut, but the long blade also allows you to divide them in one stroke.

Cutting chocolate bars

The tiny edges of a bread knife slice through chocolate bars fast, allowing you to melt or incorporate them into the batter for chocolate chunk biscuits. Types of Bread Knives

Forged bread knives

A singular piece of steel is melted and pounded into shape to make forged bread knives. (This was once done manually, but nowadays it is more likely to be done by machinery). A big piece of steel is used to cut out stamped bread knives. Forged bread knives are tougher and sturdier due to the way the metal molecules are twisted during the machining operation, and they keep their blade sharp for longer.

Stamped bread knives

Stamped knives are lighter and less expensive than forged blades, however, they are not as sturdy or enduring. While some individuals prefer stamped knives because of their mobility and reduced weight, forged blades are typically considered finer.

What to Consider While Buying a Bread Knife?

Blade’s length

Most bread knives have blades that are between eight and twelve inches long. Long blades cut smoothly and do not get stuck in the loaf. Your bread knife's blade must be larger than the breadth of the bread you usually cut - any smaller, and you will not get nice, even slices. An 8 inches bread knife would definitely suffice if you only ever cut loaves made in a regular five-inch bread pan. If you frequently cut enormous boules or corn loaves, though, a much longer blade would be beneficial. However, make sure the blade isn’t too thin to end up bending when you’re cutting with it or it can just as easily become a safety hazard.

Balance

The balancing of a bread knife is vital, as it can make an impact between a knife that is fun to use and one that can cause a safety hazard. Make sure that the handle is balanced for stability if you are buying a bread knife with a very long or hefty blade. For additional stability, the handle may also include a bolster or be packed with sand or another material if the knife has an empty steel grip.

What Materials Are Used to Make the Handles of the Bread Knives?

The handle of a bread knife can be made of a variety of materials. Plastic, wood, and steel are the most popular materials. Based on the sort of plastic used, plastic handles can be both durable and cheap. Bread knives with rough plastic handles sometimes appear and feel cheap, whereas knives with polished plastic polymer grips are both sturdy and appealing. Wooden handles offer a classic design, provide ample grip, and are warm to the touch. However, getting them wet will cause them to deteriorate over time, so you will need to manually wash them cautiously and avoid using the dishwasher. Steel handles emerge from the edge of some one-piece blades. Since there isn’t any space between the edge and the grip, they are incredibly simple to wash, and they are also usually well-balanced. Nonetheless, unless covered with rubber, they feel chilly and give no traction.

Top Picks

• Best Overall: Mercer Culinary Bread Knife
• Best For Uniform Slices: Victorinox Swiss Army 8-Inch Serrated Bread Knife
• Stain-Resistant: Mercer Culinary Bread Knife
• Most Versatile: Mercer Culinary Millennia Green Handle Bread Knife
• Long Bread Knife: Mercer Culinary Millennia 10-Inch Bread Knife

Reviews

Is a bread knife really necessary?

A bread knife should be part of your culinary arsenal unless most of your meals come from a box or are microwaveable food. Even if you just use a bread knife to split uncut bread on rare occasions, you will find it beneficial for a variety of other purposes, like cutting tomatoes.

Is it safe to put bread knives in the dishwasher?

Certain bread knives are dishwasher-safe, but it is still advised that you hand-wash your bread knives for better longevity and durability.

Can I sharpen my bread knife?

Yes, you can sharpen your bread knife. However, you'll need a specialized tool to do this, such as a porcelain sharpening pole or an inclined sharpening rod. You can also have your knife polished by an expert if you are uncertain as to how to go about it yourself.