The Best Bread Knives

Orblue Bread Knife

The Workhorse

This knife is an all-around performer that's great for bread, fruit, meat, and whatever else needs fine cuts.

Best Overall

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One look at Orblue’s bread knife, and you can tell it’s a sturdy, long-lasting tool. The blade is made of high-quality stainless steel and finished with a sharp serrated edge with a subtle curved design. The knife is made of a single piece of stainless steel, meaning it’s built to last, and it looks sleek and uniform. The handle feels substantial in your hands, and the curved design allows for a steady, comfortable grip. This knife is the complete package when it comes to form and function.

Pros:

• Slightly curved design adds comfort and ease when slicing
• Handle is ideally sized and shaped to fit any grip

Cons:

• Some prefer a handle with a grippier material for even more control

Victorinox Bread Knife

Sharp and Well-Rounded

Comfortable to use and versatile to boot, this knife brings precision to the kitchen.

Best Classic

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Turns out the makers of the Swiss army knife also do bread knives — and, we have to say, they do them well. The attention to detail here is critical, like the slightly curved design that allows you to slice with a smooth, rocking motion so your knuckles won’t be hitting any kitchen counters. The handle is made of Fibrox, Victorinox’s patented ergonomic, non-slip material for superior control, even if your hands are greasy. The knife tip is rounded, for those who prefer it, and the blade is constructed of stainless steel. We recommend this for leveling cakes, too, as the blade is slightly longer than the average bread knife and can slice through thick but delicate cake layers.

Pros:

• Lightweight and handles easily
• Great for pastries, but still durable enough for more “heavy-duty” foods
• Handle is perfect for non-slip, and the design allows for extra room for your knuckles as you’re slicing

Cons:

• Handle is more compact and doesn’t feel as sturdy as others

Tojiro Bread Knife

A Natural Touch

The wooden handle on this knife adds to its warm, elegant charm.

Longest

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The first thing you’ll notice about Tojiro’s bread knife is how eye-catching it is, with its longer-than-average blade and beautiful wood handle. The anti-rust stainless steel blade is thin and extremely sharp, so do handle with caution. We like how the natural wood handle offsets the stainless steel to add a warm accent to the sleek blade. This knife is ideal for soft, airy loaves of bread or ripe tomatoes or fruit. The blade’s length also makes it versatile for carving delicate slices from larger pieces of meat while minimizing the amount of back-and-forth sawing.

Pros:

• Very lightweight and easy to handle
• Wooden handle adds a nice touch and looks great

Cons:

• Some might prefer the feel of a heavier knife

Mercer Offset Bread Knife

Get a Grip

An ergonomic handle and offset design boost this knife's grip and safety.

Best Offset Knife

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While there’s some debate over offset versus straight-edged bread knives, it mostly comes down to preference. As long as you’re investing in a high-quality, sharp blade that’s made of stainless steel and has a comfortable handle, it’s hard to go wrong. That said, some do like offset knives, which feature a handle that slopes downward. The blade will sit lower than the handle to give your fingers and knuckles more room and gives your fingers more space from the food. Mercer’s offset stainless steel knife has a beautifully curved design, so if you like having that extra space, this might be an ideal knife for you. The ergonomic handle has textured finger points at the top to provide a superior grip.

Pros:

• Longer handle for a comfortable grip
• We think this ultra-sharp knife is particularly great for carving meat

Cons:

• Not necessarily the most “aesthetic” knife, but the offset design itself is striking

Wüsthof Bread Knife

The Upper Crust

This premium knife is sleek, durable, and impeccably designed.

Best Splurge

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The name says it all, and Wüsthof shines when it comes to premium, well-crafted, timeless knives. Of course, there are plenty of more value-oriented bread knives on the market, but if cost is not an object, we say go for this top-of-the-line knife. The blade is exceptionally well-balanced and performs well, and the riveted handle comfortable to hold and has just the right amount of heft to it — it doesn’t feel too bulky or flimsy. The knife looks beautiful, too, and Wüsthof always strikes a perfect balance between looking industrial and elegant.

Pros:

• Durable and built to last for many, many seasons
• Excellent for cutting through tougher foods, from thick-crusted breads to hard fruits and vegetables

Cons:

• Not as sharp as other bread knives out of the box

Frequently Asked Questions

Why can’t I just use my regular knife for cutting bread?

Some foods have tough exteriors, from baguettes to butternut squash, and you can damage the blade on your chef’s knife using it to saw through those surfaces. Bread knives are made to provide clean, easy cuts for these kinds of surfaces. Plus, a bread knife is a practical multitasker, which is a worthwhile investment to us.

What knives do I need in my kitchen?

Though you can certainly build quite the knife collection, we recommend that you at least have the three basics: a chef’s knife, a paring knife, and — of course — a bread knife. All of these knives have uses that span the culinary spectrum, so you’ll have a great foundation to get you started.

How should I care for my knife?

We recommend handwashing with warm water and detergent to prevent corrosion so that your knife will last longer.