Every kitchen needs a strong and razor-sharp bread knife. Whether you need to cut up a fresh crusty loaf of bread or a baguette to go with cream cheese and salmon for a tasty snack or prepare garlic bread for a movie night, a bread knife is the best cutting tool for the job.
| Description | Length | Cost | |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Mac Knife Superior Bread Knife | 10.5 inch | $$$ |
 |
Tojiro 270mm F-687 Bread Slicer Knife | 10.5 inch | $$ |
 |
Wüsthof Classic Bread Knife | 10 inch | $$$$ |
 |
Victorinox Fibrox Pro Curved Bread Knife | 10.25 inch | $$ |
 |
ZYLISS Black Bread Knife with Sheath Cover | 8.5 Inch | $ |
Our Top Pick for the Best Bread Knife
Our top pick for the best bread knife is the Victorinox 10.25 Inch Fibrox Pro Curved Bread Knife. Whether you need to cut through a large crusty loaf of bread, a long baguette, soft rolls, slice up fruit or carve up a chicken, the Victorinox bread knife is a superbly designed knife that is lightweight and easy to control and as it comes at a great price, it is destined to be your new bread knife.
Bread Knives: Versatile Kitchen Utensils
Cutting and slicing up freshly baked bread can be challenging. Once you have brought home your favorite type of bread, whether it be a large crusty loaf, soft individual round loaves or a long baguette, the wrong type of knife can cause a lot of mess on your cutting board. You can also end up with bread that is ripped to shreds or crushed, which means that the bread will not be fit to be served to your family or guests and will only be good enough for making bread crumbs for stuffing. But if you invest in a knife that is specifically designed for cutting bread, you will have perfectly cut bread that is fit to be served to royalty.
As well as being your number one go-to kitchen utensil for cutting bread, a bread knife is a versatile cutting tool as it can be used for a wide range of cutting tasks such as slicing fruit and cutting thin slices of meat and poultry.
How to Choose the Best Bread Knife
Serrated Edge
The secret to a bread knife’s cutting success lies in its unique blade. A bread knife should have a long blade with scalloped or jagged teeth which are designed to cut through hard crusty bread and will glide effortlessly through the bread’s soft interior without ripping the bread or crushing it.
As the knife cuts into the bread, the blade’s serrated edge cuts with a smooth and cleaning action as you push and pull the knife through the bread.
The serrated edge is similar to that of a saw and has razor sharp teeth, which are measured in teeth per inch or TPI. The number of teeth can range from 33, 35, or 41, depending on the length of the blade. The more teeth the knife has the smoother the cutting action will be, but if it has less teeth, the cut may be rougher.
Scalloped Edge
Some bread knives have a scalloped edge blade with more rounded edges on the tips of its teeth, while others have a sharper point on their teeth. Rounded scalloped edges are ideal for cutting softer bread and fruits, vegetables and some meats. For hard crusty loaves, a bread knife that has sharper, jagged teeth can penetrate and cut through this type of bread a lot easier and will require less pressure as you use the knife, but it may produce more crumbs.
Types of Blades
When considering a bread knife, you also need to consider the shape of the blade. The best type of bread knives is designed with an off-set edge, a curved edge, a rounded edge or a pointed edge.
Off-set Blade
Offset bread knifes, like the Mac Superior Bread Knife, Tojiro Bread Slicer, or the Wusthof Classic Bread Knife, have their blades set to about 1 to 2-inches below the handle, which gives you plenty of knuckle clearance so that your knuckles do not graze against the cutting board as you cut down into thick bread.
Curved Edge
Bread knives that have a curved edge, like the Wüsthof and Zyliss, are a great choice for cutting all types of bread. The curved blade helps you to cut down into thick crusts and breads that are dense like Rye bread and allows you to keep your eye on the cutting action of the blade as it cuts and slices through the bread. It is one of the most versatile of knifes as you can also use it to cut larger pieces of fruit and vegetables.
Round Edge
A rounded edge bread knife, like the Victorinox Fibrox Pro Bread Knife, allows you to comfortably slice small and large loaves and soft fruits and vegetables with a gentle rocking motion. The rounded blade design also offers plenty of knuckle clearance for ease of cutting, and whether you prefer to cut wafer-thin slices of bread from a baguette or large hearty ones from a thick loaf, the rounded blade delivers a high precision cutting action.
Pointed Edge
A pointed blade bread knife, like the Tojiro and Mac, is the perfect type of blade for piercing and cutting into hard, thick crusty bread. This type of blade can also be used to piece fruit and vegetables that have tough skin and it is especially used for cutting large types of fruit like pineapples and melons.
Blade Length
A bread knife's blade will range from 8.5, 10, 10.5 or 10.25-inches in length. While shorter blades make quick work of cutting bread especially smaller sized loaves, longer blades are a very good choice for cutting and slicing long loaves like baguettes and they are just right for carving up roasts. Longer blade lengths are ideal for more demanding cutting tasks, but you may find that the knife is difficult to control when you are slicing through a long loaf as the blade may flex and bend more in the middle of its shaft.
Ergonomic Handle
The handle is also important, so look for an easy gripping handle that allows you to maintain a firm grip even when the handle is wet or greasy. A handle should also be securely riveted to the blade and be stain, fade, and color-resistant.
Best Bread Knife Reviews
1. Mac Knife Superior 10-1/2-Inch Bread Knife
It may be pricey, but the Mac Knife Superior Bread Knife is an exquisitely crafted knife that is well worth spending extra dollars on and as it has an excellent level of sharpness, it is a great cutting tool for all types of bread.
The Mac Superior bread knife is made in Japan and its serrated 2 mm, 10.5-inch tapered specially hardened full tang blade is exceptionally sharp and is made from tough rust-resistant high carbon steel, which is designed to keep the blade's razor edge sharper for a long time, so you can expect a high-level cutting performance.
Whether you are cutting through thick crusty bread or a roast, poultry or fruit, the Mac knife gives you a clean, smooth cut without any shredding of the bread or meat and the blade's extra length allows you to cut the thinnest slices in a long loaf of bread with minimal effort.
The Mac knife is very lightweight at 5.6-ounces and has a perfect well-balanced weight distribution and the offset blade and elevated handle design provides plenty of knuckle clearance and extra safety. It is very easy to control the blade when you need to apply extra pressure for more demanded cutting tasks.
The attractive black Pakkawood handle gives you a comfortable, ergonomic grip and the wood can resist any staining or fading over time and the handle is securely attached to the blade with three stainless steel rivets.
The Mac Superior bread knife is not dishwasher safe and needs to be hand washed and dried to maintain its sharpness and the quality of the handle.
Mac offers an extremely generous 25-year warranty that covers any defects in materials or workmanship from the date of purchase.
Pros
- High-quality
- Can be used for thick crusty bread, fruit, and meat
- Tough rust-resistant high carbon steel
- 10.5-inch tapered specially hardened full tang blade
- Exceptionally sharp 2 mm blade
- Excellent sharpness
- Attractive Pakkawood elevated handle
- Well balanced
- Very good weight distribution
- Plenty of knuckle clearance
- Easy to control
- Comfortable ergonomic grip
- Anti-staining and fading handle
- Securely riveted handle
- 25-year warranty
Cons
- Not dishwasher safe
- Expensive
- Has trouble cutting through very thick sourdough crust
2. Tojiro 270mm 10.5-inch F-687 Bread Slicer Knife
The Japanese made Tojiro bread slicer knife delivers a superior cutting performance, long-lasting sharpness, and with a high-quality level of craftsmanship, it is the ideal cutting tool for all sorts of cutting applications from cutting thick crusty bread, fruit, onions and all sorts of meat.
Whether you need to cut through a large loaf of bread, thick steak or poultry, the Tojiro knife makes all your cutting jobs so easy. The 270 mm, 10.5-inch blade is made from strong and extra hard forged molybdenum/vanadium stainless steel, which is well known for its outstanding durability, and high corrosion and stain resistance.
The serrated blade has been specially ground, and the 33 scalloped teeth are sharp as a scalpel and are guaranteed to stay sharper for longer and will only require the occasional sharpening.
One of the easiest bread knifes to use, the Tojiro is lightweight at 5.1-ounces and its overall design provides ample knuckle clearance, and enables to keep an eye on your cutting action, and gives you a good clean cut through tough crusty bread.
The black Pakkawood handle has an ergonomically comfortable grip, and the material is highly resistant to water, stains, and fading. You can be assured of a sturdy and solid knife as the blade is securely attached to the handle with three stainless steel rivets.
To keep your Tojiro bread knife in optimal condition, hand washing is recommended and keep it completely dry. Tojiro offers a lifetime warranty.
Pros
- Excellent value for money
- High-quality craftsmanship
- Superior cutting performance
- Long-lasting sharpness
- Well balanced
- Versatile
- High corrosion and stain resistance
- High level of sharpness
- Lightweight
- Ergonomic Black Pakkawood handle
- Sturdy and solid knife
- Lifetime warranty
Cons
- Blade can bend when cutting through long loaves
- Not dishwasher safe
3. Wüsthof Classic 10-Inch Bread Knife
Like a hot knife through butter, that is how the Wüsthof Classic 10-inch Bread Knife can be described. It is one of the pricier bread knifes but it has an excellent construction and superior blade strength and sharpness, which makes it a must-have bread knife for any kitchen.
The German company Wüsthof have been handcrafting top-quality knives for over 200 years, and their Classic 10-inch bread knife is a favorite knife for both professional chefs and the home cook.
Its superb ability to cut through tough crusts is due to its extra strong serrated edge blade that is forged from a single piece of Wüsthof's exclusive high carbon stainless steel, which has undergone a special tempering process and ground with Wusthof’s unique Precision Edge Technology (PET), to create an edge that’s 20% sharper than traditional methods and gives the blade long-term durability.
For a smooth and clean cutting performance through hard crusts, the blade has a curved edge and 35 scalloped sharp teeth that glide effortlessly through bread while minimizing any ripping or leaving any crumb residue behind.
The knife has a full tang blade that is triple riveted to the synthetic POM (polyoxymethylene) handle, which has a tighter molecular structure to resist fading and discoloration and gives the knife outstanding strength, durability, and excellent balance.
The handle also features the Wüsthof special red and white trident logo, a constant reminder of their core beliefs of passion, diligence, and perfection.
To keep your hands safe during more challenging cutting tasks, the handle has a full bolster and finger guard.
The Wüsthof bread knife can go in the dishwasher, but hand washing and immediate drying are recommended, to maintain its overall performance and its highly polished blade finish.
Wüsthof are proud to guarantee that their knives are free of defects in material and craftsmanship for the life of the knife.
Pros
- Superb German craftsmanship
- Excellent bread knife
- Ideal for cutting through thick crusts
- Scalloped sharp teeth
- Made from a single piece of high-carbon forged stainless steel
- Special Precision Edge Technology (PET)
- Extra sharp blade cuts cleanly
- Smooth cutting performance
- Full-tang, triple-riveted
- Comfortable synthetic POM (polyoxymethylene) handle
- Superior strength and balance
- Full bolster and finger guard
- Anti-staining, fading, or discoloration
- Wusthoff’s red and white trident logo
- Limited lifetime warranty
- Dishwasher safe
Cons
- Expensive
4. Victorinox 10.25 Inch Fibrox Pro Curved Bread Knife
The Swiss are famous for their watches, but they are also experts at making fantastic bread knifes that deliver an outstanding cutting and slicing action, so if you need a bread knife, the Victorinox Fibrox Pro Curved Bread Knife is the only knife you will ever need.
A top rating bread knife by many culinary publications and cooking professionals for its versatility, razor-sharp blade, and comfortable handle, the Victorinox knife comes at a very affordable price.
One of the most versatile bread knives available, the Fibrox Pro Bread Knife can accomplish almost any type of cutting task. As well as being able to cut through bread, this outstanding bread knife is destined to become your number one go-to knife for leveling cakes, cutting sandwiches, slicing tomatoes, hard-skinned fruits, vegetables, and roasts.
The 10.25-inch Fibrox Pro Bread Knife has a sharp curved edge and the thin serrated blade with 41 medium-sized scalloped teeth can pierce and cut into hard crusty loaves, soft loaves and it can even be used to slice up soft-skinned fruits and veggies. It gives you better control throughout the slicing process and has the ability to pierce even the hardest of crusty loaves and soft fruits without crushing their delicate skin. If you need to cut long bread loves like a baguette, the 10.25-inch blade can glide effortlessly through the bread but it is still able to cut small food items like tomatoes or fruit.
For ease of cutting, the blade is optimally weighted and balanced with high-quality, lightweight European steel. The ergonomic, non-slip patented, durable and lightweight Fibrox Pro handle gives you a comfortable and secure grip regardless of the size of your hand, and even when the handle gets wet or greasy, you will have complete control over all your cutting tasks.
The bread knife is dishwasher safe, but Victorinox recommends that you hand wash the knife and dry it straight away so that the knife can keep working with an optimum cutting performance. To keep the blade's super sharp edge, the knife should be honed after every couple of uses.
The Fibrox comes with Victorinox’s lifetime guarantee.
Pros
- Great value for money
- Affordable price
- Fantastic bread knife
- Razor sharp blade
- Made in Switzerland
- Outstanding quality
- High cutting versatility
- High-quality, lightweight European steel
- Strong and durable blade
- Serrated blade has 41 scalloped teeth
- Optimal cutting control and balance
- Can be used to leveling cakes, slice soft and hard fruits and vegetables
- Can be used for cutting roasts
- Ideal for cutting long loaves of bread
- Comfortable ergonomic handle
- Dishwasher safe
- Lifetime guarantee
Cons
- Extra-long blade can be hard to maneuver with some types of bread
5. ZYLISS Black 8.5-inch Bread Knife with Sheath Cover
This uniquely designed bread knife from Zyliss is the ideal bread cutting tool for both home use and camping. With a choice of two different types of blades and a top-quality cutting ability for all types of bread, this stellar bread knife provides great value for money.
In crafting this bread knife, Zyliss has taken the humble bread knife to a whole new level. A highly versatile bread knife for all types of food preparation, you have two blades to choose from, a standard high carbon stainless steel blade or a non-stick high-carbon black stainless-steel blade. For quick and easy cutting through hard crusty rolls, the standard stainless-steel blade has a long-serrated blade that is made from high-grade Japanese steel. As Japanese steel has an extra Rockwell hardness of 50-52C, the knife holds its razor-sharp edge well and the blade is very easy to re-sharpen.
If you want to prepare soft loaves for sandwiches, the Zyliss Bread Knife can easily cut through the bread’s crust without tearing the soft interior and as it cuts cleanly and smoothly without ripping or crushing the bread, it is just perfect for slicing a cake into layers before you add your favorite filling. As well as cutting through bread and cakes, you can even use the knife for slicing up fruit.
These knives have a sculpted, ergonomic handle with a textured soft grip that is easy to hold and reduces hand fatigue and allows for complete precision and control throughout the cutting process, even when your hands are wet or greasy. The non-stick stainless-steel knife has a bright yellow colored resin coated handle that is very easy to identify in your drawer or in your camping gear. The standard stainless-steel knife has an attractive matt black design.
For quick and easy storage or for traveling, each knife has its own safety blade guard, yellow for the non-stick and black for the standard stainless-steel knife, which also protects it from getting damaged.
The knives are dishwasher safe but Zyliss recommends that you hand wash them to maintain their overall cutting and aesthetic integrity. Zyliss also offer a very generous 5-year warranty.
Pros
- Exceptional quality
- Excellent value for money
- Choice of 2 blades: stainless steel and non-stick
- High-carbon construction
- Rust-resistant blade
- Super sharp razor edge
- Perfect for cutting hard or soft rolls, cakes, and fruit
- Cuts smoothly and cleanly
- High level of precision and control
- Safety blade guard protects knife for travel and storage
- Easy to use and resharpen
- Ergonomic handle with soft touch rubber grip
- Black or bright yellow handle
- Non-stick knife has a bright yellow blade guard
- 5-year warranty
- Can be washed in the dishwasher
Cons
- Smaller sized blade is not ideal for cutting long loaves
Our Top Pick for the Best Bread Knife
Our top pick for the best bread knife is the Victorinox 10.25 Inch Fibrox Pro Curved Bread Knife. Whether you need to cut through a large crusty loaf of bread, a long baguette, soft rolls, slice up fruit or carve up a chicken, the Victorinox bread knife is a superbly designed knife that is lightweight and easy to control and as it comes at a great price, it is destined to be your new bread knife.
