What is the purpose of a serrated knife?

Author: Prof. Ayana Mueller  |  Last update: Saturday, November 8, 2025

Serrated knives are mostly used to cut products with a hard outside and a softer inside. A baguette is probably the first thing you think of right now. But also other types of bread, cakes and pies can best be cut with a serrated knife.

When should you use a serrated knife?

Top 4 Uses for Serrated Knives
  1. Slicing Bread. Perhaps the most obvious use for a serrated knife in the kitchen is for cutting through crusty loaves of bread. ...
  2. Cutting Baked Goods. ...
  3. Stabilizing Slippery Ingredients. ...
  4. Chopping Through Fruits.

What is the main job of a serrated knife?

Serrated knives feature saw-like teeth along the blade edge that effortlessly bite into and cut through tough skins, rinds smoother cuts, and crusts. This unique blade design requires less downward pressure compared to straight-edge blades when tackling the same cutting tasks.

Is it better to have serrated or straight blade?

Serrations make a blade much harder to sharpen with little to no advantage in cutting performance compared to a straight edge, outside of a few niche applications. A dull serrated blade is more effective than a dull straight blade, but a sharp straight blade is at least as effective as a sharp serrated blade.

Why are military knives serrated?

A serrated knife edge often looks more menacing and threatening than a plain edge. If you're looking to intimidate on the battlefield or in the wilderness, a serrated knife could serve this purpose.

My Secret Serrated Knife Sharpening Method #tormek #knifesharpening

What are the disadvantages of serrated blades?

Cons: Serrated blades, while better at cutting hard materials, are less precise then plain edges and can tear the object being sliced. Serrations are also significantly more difficult to sharpen.

Do you sharpen a serrated blade?

Yes, you can (and should!) sharpen your serrated knife if you notice a decline in its cutting precision. Since serrated blades have points and valleys, the key to sharpening them is reaching the valleys, since they make up the majority of the blade's edge.

What is a paring knife for?

A paring knife is named for the action it does best, to pare or strip away an outer material such as peel. Paring knives are usually 3-4”, and are essentially a short blade with a sharp tip that has a razor-sharp edge for doing small precise kitchen tasks.

What is the most effective blade shape?

The drop point blade is used on many hunting and EDC knives, and performs well in most situations. It's the "Goldilocks" blade shape that's just right for most tasks. The strong tip and wide belly excel in meat processing, slicing tasks, and opening boxes from your latest knife purchase.

Why should you slice off a small bit of potato on the side before you begin your actual knife cuts?

Why should you slice off a small bit of potato on the side before you begin your actual knife cuts? REMEMBER, you need to square it off (Make a flat surface on one side by cutting a small piece off) this allows the potato to lay flat on the cutting board.

What is the purpose of a cleaver?

cleaver, heavy, axlike knife used for about the past one million years to cut through animal bone and meat; in modern times the cleaver, generally made of iron or carbon steel, remains a requisite tool of the butcher and a common kitchen implement.

What is the santoku knife used for?

The Santoku knife is an all purpose Japanese knife, adept at slicing, dicing, and mincing. The name santoku means 'three virtues' for the knife's ability to cut fish, meat and vegetables equally well.

What is a French knife?

A chef's knife (also called a French knife) has a broad, tapered shape and a fine sharp edge. Its blade ranges in length from 6 to 12 inches and measures at least 1-1/2 inches at the widest point. It is designed so it rocks on a cutting board as it cuts food.

Should you cut raw meat with a serrated knife?

The other main answer to, “What is a serrated knife used for?” is cutting meats, particularly meats like roasts, steaks, pork chops, raw chicken breast and more. A serrated knife is ideal for meat because it allows you to cut against the grain of the dense tissue and create manageable bite-sized portions with ease.

How to clean a serrated knife?

Grip: Hold the knife's handle with one hand in a pinch grip using your index finger and thumb. 2. Scrub: With your other hand, carefully scrub away any food particles and grime on the knife blade using a sponge with dish soap and warm water. Clean from the blade's spine to the edge to avoid cutting yourself.

What knives should every kitchen have?

There are three primary knives that every home cook should have in their kitchen: a chef's knife, a serrated knife (also called a bread knife), and a paring knife.

What is a tourne knife used for?

A tourné knife is a paring knife with a short, curved blade. They're also referred to as "bird's beak" knives, but a more appropriate name might be Azazel, Inciter of Anguish. You see, the primary function of this demonic blade is to "turn" a vegetable into a two-inch-long, seven-sided football.

What food is a serrated knife used for?

A serrated utility knife will also be your go-to for slicing salami and thick-skinned citrus like oranges and grapefruit. Bakers love it for slicing tender cakes and quick breads, like banana bread, and leveling cake layers.

When not to use a serrated knife?

It depends on your kitchen needs. A serrated knife is better than a straight blade for slicing bread loaves and citrus fruits with a hard surface. A straight blade is better than a serrated knife for peeling and cutting soft fruits and vegetables.

Can you use a regular knife sharpener for serrated knives?

A whetstone isn't the answer for sharpening a serrated knife, nor are electric or manual sharpeners unless the manufacturer states that as one of the settings available. For this task, you'll need a ceramic or steel sharpening rod, which is passed through each of your knife's serrations.

Which is better serrated or straight blade?

The plain edge will work better for applications like shaving, skinning an apple, skinning a deer. All those applications involve either mostly push cuts, or the need for extreme control. Serrations work really well on things like tough rope or wood, where the serrations bite through quickly.

Why would you want a serrated knife?

Serrated knives are mostly used to cut products with a hard outside and a softer inside. A baguette is probably the first thing you think of right now. But also other types of bread, cakes and pies can best be cut with a serrated knife.

Are serrated knives illegal?

Some few ordinances specifically outlaw serrated edges. In other cases, that serves as a means by which an officer may determine that your knife is a weapon, not a tool, even when not in the law. It doesn't matter that this is irrational or not specifically illegal; that's just our real-world experience.

What is a bone knife?

Boning knives are used for deboning, trimming, and slicing all kinds of animal (or fish) proteins. Their narrow blades can range from rigid (for cutting through thick cartilage) to flexible (for bending between bones and the surrounding meat).

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