Every home cook needs a high-quality bread knife. Want to cut a fresh, homemade loaf or to cut up a baguette to go with salmon and cream cheese for a mid-afternoon snack? Then a handy bread knife is just the tool you need.
This article is dedicated to helping you find the best bread knife for your personal use. We’ll explain what constitutes a good bread knife and take a look at a few of the best bread knives available today. Without further ado, let’s jump right in.
Bread Knife Review Center
| Image | Bread Knife | Rating |
|---|---|---|
 | #1 - Mercer Culinary Millennia 10-Inch Wide Bread Knife | 99% |
 | #2 - Victorinox Swiss Army 10-1/4" Serrated Bread Knife with Fibrox Handle | 97% |
 | #3 - Shun DM0705 Classic 9-Inch Bread Knife | 95% |
 | #4 - DALSTRONG Bread Knife - Gladiator Series - German HC Steel - 10" | 94% |
 | #5 - Wusthof Gourmet 8-Inch Serrated Bread Knife | 90% |
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Now that you’ve seen our top 5 picks, we’re going to go into more detail on why we chose each of them. After each review, you’ll see a yellow button that will take show you the best price on Amazon, as well as more verified customer reviews!
#1 – Mercer Culinary Millennia 10-Inch Wide Bread Knife
Right off the bat, I have to say that the best bread knives rarely look this good at this price. It’s safe to say that Mercer Culinary Millennia performs as well as some of the best knives out there at half the price.
The edge is perfectly curved, and it boasts a comfortable handle that will allow you to cut as many bread slices as you want. It can go through a loaf of bread with precision and leave the crust almost intact. But this Mercer model isn’t just great for loaves of bread and other pastries – it also works well with soft fruits and veggies.
Unlike most bread knives, Mercer Culinary Millennia comes in a wide variety of handle colors, including green, purple, blue, and several others. You just need to pick the color that goes with your kitchen, and you’ll just love how it looks hanging from your knife block or knife strip magnet.
What we liked about it – If you’re focused on value, you won’t go wrong with Mercer. The cutting precision compares to some of the best knives, and Mercer also ranks high in ease-of-use and comfort. It’s a few ounces heavier than other models, but this just means that it’s sturdier than others as well. The thick spine on the blade ensures that the knife remains rigid, no matter the task.
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#2 – Victorinox Curved Swiss Army Knife 10-1/4″
The Swiss might be best-known for their high-end watches; however, they are also quite proficient at making bread knives that deliver an astonishing cutting and slicing action. So the fact that many cooking publications and professionals rate Victorinox knives highly isn’t a surprise.
The most versatile knife on the least can complete almost any task you throw at it. The curved edge, doubled with 41 teeth, can cut into soft and hard loaves without a problem and can also slice a ton of different meats, fruits, and vegetables.
Victorinox’s blade is excellently balanced and weighted with top European steel, and the lightweight handle allows for a secure grip, no matter your hand size. Even if the handle gets greasy or wet, you’ll have complete control over the cutting process at all times.
What we liked about it – Due to its design, you have complete control of the knife during the slicing process. Additionally, the knife can go through the hardest of loaves without crushing their skin. When you want to cut long loaves – such as a baguette, for example – this is the best bread knife for you.
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#3 – Shun DM0705 Classic 9-Inch Bread Knife
To start the list off, we have a knife from one of Japan’s most well-known blade-makers, with almost a century of accomplished craft, which has earned them a respectable spot in the kitchen knives market. This Shun knife is made of VG-Max steel and has 16 layers of high-carbon steel cladding, which makes is it one of the best Japanese
Shun classic is not only incredibly sharp, but it’s also a beautifully-designed knife with a ton of aesthetic appeal. What’s more, the blade has a Damascus steel finish, which reduces any friction, which gives you clean bread-cuts. The handle is also slightly curved, which allows you to grip it easily and gives you more control over the knife.
While this Shun model falls into the category of “bread knives,” you can still use it to cut cheese, chocolate and, even roasts with it. All of Shun products come razor-sharp straight from the factory. However, all of them come with a lifetime of sharpening service, so with this knife, you won’t have to worry about its sharpness.
What we liked about it – This is a fine-crafted tool, which makes a great addition to any kitchen out there. The blade can handle the crust of sourdough with no problem. And the spaced scallops allow you to produce even bread slices with little to no effort.
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#4 – DALSTRONG Bread Knife – Gladiator Series
Next up, we have one of the strongest knives on the market. The Gladiator Series knife is constructed of stainless steel. If you don’t know too much about the manufacturing process, you’re probably now wondering why this is so important.
First, you need to understand that forging a knife from steel is perhaps the strongest way to construct one. Forging metal, contrasted with pressing or stamping one, makes it a lot stronger. Second, the fact that the handle and the blade are one piece means that it’s impossible to break this knife while performing standard tasks in the kitchen.
And fear not, the handle is coated with laminated Pakkawood, so it feels comfortable in your hand while you’re slicing bread. Last but not least, the knife doesn’t require any special treatment, so it’s very easy to take care of – you can simply hand wash it and leave it on your countertop to dry out.
What we liked about it – Some blades – usually the cheap ones – sometimes come apart from their handles and hurt the user in the process. With DALSTRONG, you’ll be able to cut bread for years, without fearing for your safety. Amazingly sharp German steel also allows for clean and straight cuts.
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#5 – Wusthof Gourmet 8-Inch Serrated Bread Knife
Wusthof has been manufacturing some of the best kitchen knives for more than two centuries at this point. Also, Wusthof’s Classic series has been one of the top-selling collections for both home cooks and professional chefs for quite a while.
The 8-inch blade is made from a single piece of steel and then tempered to 58 HRC hardness. The manufacturers then ground the blade with Wusthof’s proprietary PET technology. The technology makes the edge 20% sharper than traditional grinding methods do. Consequently, the blade can cut through tough skins and hard crusts without affecting the soft interior.
Wusthof Classic is an online top-seller for a good reason. As soon as you grab the knife, you see that weight is perfectly balanced. It gives a great feel, due to the excellent craftsmanship and top-notch materials used in the production of the knife.
What we liked about it – The 27 pointy teeth make cutting any easy material work, and the blade is easier to sharpen than its Japanese counterparts. This bread knife is also one of the cheapest on the list. If you don’t want to spend a ton of money on a kitchen utensil, you can still buy a high-quality knife that will last you for a few decades.
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How We Chose the Top Bread Knives?
When it comes to choosing a bread knife, some people don’t put too much thought into it. This isn’t all that surprising since people are almost always under the impression that all kitchen knives are the same. If you paid any attention so far, you already know that this is not the case.
As a person who tried numerous bread knives in their life, I can help you differentiate between a useful, well-designed bread knife and an inferior, second-rate one. And there a few things you should pay special attention to when looking for the best bread knife:
- Look for knives with thin edges
- A scalloped edge is a must
- Find a knife with at least an 8-inch blade
What should you avoid? For starters, avoid any knife with spaced and jagged teeth. Also, you should check and see if the blade is flimsy because this will make it hard to go through crusty loaves. If you don’t have an opportunity to check the knife out in person, make sure to read the bread knife review and see what other people think about it.
Why You Need the Best Bread Knife?
We talked so much about bread knives so far, but have you ever wondered – why do you even need the best bread knife anyway? In short, this is the tool most people overlook. And if you don’t bake your bread often, you probably don’t appreciate bread knives. Only bread connoisseurs know just how important bread knives are.
Even though there’s a ton of reasons why they are important, we’ll talk about two main reasons why your kitchen should be equipped with the best bread knife:
- A great bread knife goes through both the crustiest and the softest loaves with no trouble
- Even the best knife for cutting bread won’t hurt your budget that much
And keep in mind that the cost of the knife isn’t the most important thing. Some cheaper knives are better than more expensive ones. Likewise, unless you’re planning to open a bakery, you shouldn’t spend too much money on your bread knife. Some sets will cost you four digits, but if you’re not a professional chef, you should avoid them.
Now, let’s see some of the benefits you’ll be able to enjoy when you finally pick the best bread knife for your kitchen:
- You’ll be able to relax because the right blade will save you time and keep your stress levels low
- You’ll also be able to prepare sandwiches in the morning without worrying about making a mess
- And you’ll be able to use your bread knife for more than cutting bread since these knives are great for any food that’s soft on the inside and hard on the outside
If you’ve ever tried slicing a loaf, bagel or, a baguette with a utility knife, you know just how difficult it is to cut through these pastries without squishing them and making a mess. In some cases – usually, when the loaf you’re cutting is too soft – you can even hurt yourself.
These are just some of the reasons why having the best bread knife in your kitchen is a must. Even if you don’t use your knife that often, you’ll be thankful, you have it when the occasion does arise.
Which Is The Best Bread Knife Brand?
- Best Budget-Friendly Bread Knife: Mercer Culinary Millennia 10-Inch Wide Bread Knife
- Best Handgrip Bread Knife: Wusthof Gourmet 8-Inch Serrated Bread Knife
- Best Blade Quality Bread Knife: Victorinox Swiss Army 10-1/4″ Serrated Bread Knife with Fibrox Handle
- Best Woodengrip Bread Knife: DALSTRONG Bread Knife – Gladiator Series – German HC Steel – 10″
How to Use Your Bread Knife?
Using a bread knife is not that hard, but here a few helpful tips that will help you not injure yourself and make the process much simpler. Firstly, always use a wooden board, because plastic surfaces will dull your blade and possibly even damage it.
If you’re preparing home-made bread, make sure that the loaf is cool before you start slicing it. Worm bread is much more difficult to slice and can become meshed in the process. At least allow the bread to cool down to room temperature before you start slicing. When you’re done cutting, store the bread in the best bread box!
Other than slicing bread, there are a few more ways you can put your knife to work. The best bread knife can also be used to cut tender tomatoes into small pieces. It also works great on thick-skinned fruits, such as nectarines and peaches.
Final Thoughts
Hopefully, this article will help you find the best bread knife for your personal taste and use. The choice largely depends on your priorities and budget. For instance, if you like fresh bread made from the best bread machine, the Wusthof Gourmet Knife is the best-serrated bread knife for you.
On the other hand, the Mercer Culinary Millennia knife is the best cheap bread knife, and if you’re working on a tight budget, you should definitely buy it. All in all, five knives we discussed above are a great addition to almost any kitchen so that you won’t go wrong with any of them.