Bread Knives, How To Pick The Best Bread Knife

There's nothing worse than bread that's been cut badly, and that usually happens when a wrong knife is used that’s why you must pick the best bread knife around. Bread is hard on the outside and soft on the inside and if you apply too much pressure on the crust, you might squish the bread and destroy its shape.

The best knife to use on bread is a bread knife. The best bread knife is one that will cut smoothly into the bread without crushing or tearing it. So let's look at some features of a typical bread knife and some of the best bread knives out there.

Features of the Best Bread Knife

Serrations

Bread knives have a saw-like serrated edge, which consists of pointed tips with hollows called gullets in between. This jagged edge makes it easier to cut through items with a hard exterior and a soft interior like bread, or those with a slippery exterior, like tomatoes. The pointed teeth pierce the surface, while the gullets reduce friction between the knife and the food and prevent tearing.

Unless you have a rock-steady hand, you've probably gone off course when cutting different ingredients with different knives. The risk of going off when using a bread knife is reduced by the serrated edge.

Types of Serrated Edges

You've probably noticed that not all bread knives are equal. Some have more teeth than others. Some have sharper teeth. The types of serrations in bread knives differ depending on the brand. Some knives feature sharp teeth with deep hollows in between, while others have a gentler profile with rounded teeth.

Sharp pointed serrations require less pressure when cutting. They cut into hard surfaces better, but they also produce more crumbs. Rounded teeth require more pressure but produce less crumbs.

Number of teeth

Sometimes bread turns out rough rather than smooth when you cut it. The number of teeth on a bread knife determines how rough or smooth the cut will be. The fewer they are, the greater the size of the gullet between the teeth. Remember, the gullet is what reduces friction between the knife and the food. So the bigger the gullet, the less the friction, and consequently the smoother the cut will be.

The Shape of the Blade

Bread knives are mostly straight and have the handle aligned to the blade. Some, however, have the blade positioned slightly lower than the handle. This is to prevent your knuckles from rapping the cutting board when you get to the bottom of the item you're cutting. An offset blade also allows you to control what you're doing. Because you can see how you're cutting, you have better results.

Tojiro DP3 Series Bread Knife 21cm

The Length of the Blade

In general, bread knives average between 8 -11 inches. Long blades are always preferable because they require less back and forth motion when cutting. Long blades also allow you to cut cakes into layers in one sweeping stroke without having to break the action into two.

Right or Left Handed

Bread knives can be right-handed or left-handed. A right-handed bread knife has serrations on the left-hand side of the blade to help keep your hand straight as you cut. A left-handed knife has serrations on the right side for the same purpose.

Finding the Best Bread Knife

So, now that you know what to look for in the best bread knife, here are some of the best brands available on the market.

Shun Kai Seki Magoroku Shoso Bread Knife 24cm

We've seen that bread knives can be left-handed or right-handed, meaning that only one side of it is sharpened. With this knife, the blade is double-bevel, so both sides are sharpened. Other features of this model include:

• A stainless steel 5Cr15MoV alloy with a Rockwell hardness of between 57 and 5.
• An ergonomic stainless steel handle that guarantees extra hygiene as there is no danger of it absorbing water and becoming damp.

Furi Pro Scalloped & Serrated Bread Knife 23cm

The serrations on this knife are rounded, which makes slicing easier and prevents tearing when cutting. Sometimes the bread crust is so hard the knife just slides over it without cutting. This can be quite frustrating because you shouldn't apply pressure when cutting bread. With this knife, you don't have to worry about that. 2cm of the tip of the blade are not serrated, so you can use it to poke a hole into the crust before cutting.

The knife also has a scalloped edge to make cutting even easier. These additional features make this knife ideal for carving meat. The handle of the knife features a reverse wedge shape, which guarantees a comfortable and firm grip.

 

ZWILLING J.A. Henckels Twin Fin II Bread Knife 20cm

With this knife, Japanese workmanship comes together with impeccable German design to make a high performing bread knife. The blade is made from corrosion-resistant Nitro60 stainless steel. It has a high carbon content which gives it extra hardness and long edge retention.

The handle is comfortable and balanced for easy use. The knife has good weight distribution between the blade and the handle to keep you from getting tired when cutting a lot of stuff.

Miyabi Birchwood 5000MCD Bread Knife 23cm

A hard blade retains its edge longer than a soft one. This knife has an SG2 super steel core protected by layered Damascus steel ice-hardened to 63 Rockwell. The handle of the knife is not only ergonomic but aesthetic, featuring a finely grained Masur Birchwood with a striking mosaic pattern.

Wusthof Classic Series Bread Knife 20cm

This knife is long and strong enough to cut not only hard-crusted bread but also fruit, vegetables, and roast meat. In addition to the typical serrations along the edge, this blade of this knife is curved inwards (concave), to give even finer cuts without exerting pressure. The handle fits seamlessly with the blade and is ergonomically designed for balance and comfort.

Final Words

The best bread knife can not only cut bread but it can also carve meat, cut and peel vegetables, and shape cakes. It's a must-have in any kitchen. Check out our wide variety of bread knife collection here  now!