What knife must you use for cutting bread?

Author: Dr. Susie Haag  |  Last update: Monday, December 22, 2025

Mostly, a bread knife has what's called a serrated blade. The edge you cut with has a series of sharpened teeth separated by sharp, scalloped recesses. The teeth are designed to split into the bread's crust, while the scalloped areas between the teeth slice softer areas like the crumb.

What kind of knife to cut bread?

There's no better tool than a razor-sharp serrated knife for slicing bread, sandwiches, or tomatoes. If you don't agree, just try cutting a fresh baguette without one.

Is serrated knife ideal for cutting bread?

Serrated knives work for bread so well because their sawtooth edges cut through crusts with ease all while leaving the interior intact. Trying to cut through bread with a standard chef's knife or anything else with a single, flat blade will only result in a mangled, squished slice.

What is also known as a bread knife?

The bread saw knife, also known as a bread knife or bread cutter, is very useful for cutting this food into thin or thick slices. It is primarily characterized by its strong and long blade size with a wavy saw edge that allows you to cut without much effort or breaking the bread.

What knife is best for scoring bread?

While some people score their bread with a serrated knife or even abstract snips from kitchen shears, a bread lame will give you the most control during scoring, allowing for more attractive, neater-looking bread. We believe it is a valuable tool for baking sourdough breads, country loaves, and more.

Check Out These Other Uses for an F.N Sharp Bread Knife

What is the difference between a bread knife and a regular knife?

A bread knife has a longer blade than a standard chef's knife, usually between 6 to 10 inches (15 to 25 centimeters) in length. Some bread knives have a unique design with a straight-edged blade, while others have a slightly curved blade for a rocking motion during slicing.

Is a utility knife good for cutting bread?

When to Use a Serrated Utility Knife. Every home cook will utilize a utility knife. The blade is generally 5 to 6 inches, which is shorter than the average bread knife, but the serrated utility knife is still a great choice for small loaves.

Which is the best bread knife?

The knife became an instant favorite.
  • Wusthof Classic Double Serrated 9-Inch Bread Knife. ...
  • Dexter Russell 8-Inch Scalloped Bread Knife. ...
  • Shun Cutlery Premier 9-Inch Bread Knife. ...
  • Victorinox Swiss Army 10.25-Inch Bread Knife. ...
  • Mercer Culinary Millennia Colors 9-Inch Offset Wavy Edge Bread Knife.

Why do we use a different knife to cut bread?

The key differentiator between standard chef knives and bread knives is the teeth that can be found on a bread knife. All bread knives use serrated blades. These sharp teeth run along the edge of the knife's blade, and allow it to gain traction and pierce the surface of the bread you're trying to cut.

How do you identify a bread knife?

Bread knives are just that—knives used for cutting bread. Their blades are long and serrated, which helps them slice cleanly through crusts without pressing down on a bread's delicate interior.

Can you cut bread with a regular knife?

If you use a non-serrated blade to cut your bread, you'll have difficulty slicing through the crust and will likely smash the loaf as you put too much downward force on it. You'll find that the blade slips on the crust rather than sawing into it as a serrated knife will.

Should a bread knife be sharp?

Instead of a straight edge, its edge is covered with so-called teeth, which are pointy and very sharp. The spaces between the teeth are very sharp as well. The teeth do a great job breaking a hard bread crust, while the spaces between them follow through and slice the bread.

What is the difference between a bread knife and a serrated utility knife?

Serrated utility knife

It may look like a bread knife, but it's shorter and sharper. It cuts cleanly through delicate fruits and vegetables without tearing them and works well for small slicing jobs such as bagels or cutting sandwich fixings. This knife can also be referred to as a “tomato knife” or “sandwich knife”.

What knives do bakers use?

serrated bread/cake knife

To be perfect for pastry it should be 10” or longer with smaller, more compact teeth that are great for cutting cake and soft bread. A bread knife with larger teeth that are more spread out is better for hard crust breads and might tear up a delicate cake.

Can you cut bread with a santoku knife?

The meaning of the word 'Santoku's clearly explains what it is best used for: the 'three virtues' or 'three uses' of chopping, dicing, and mincing. It handles all of these jobs in exemplary fashion but avoid chopping large meat bones, slicing bread and precision tasks (such as peeling).

How to cut homemade bread?

Cut from the side rather than the top, on an angle, and saw with a sharp serrated bread knife. Some breads just can't be cut efficiently (such as a big soft puffy loaf of challah or sweet Portuguese bread), so we just go caveman, and rip off pieces with our hands.

What type of knife is used to cut bread?

A bread knife is a thin, long serrated blade that is designed for slicing bread. Bread has a tendency to tear rather than be cut, which is why the serrations are essential. The teeth grip what you're cutting, causing the knife to slice through it rather than just tear parts of the bread off.

How to sharpen serrated knives?

Don't move it along the edge, like you would a straight edged blade. Use the sharpener one serration at a time, sharpen it 5 or 6 strokes, then move to the next serration. Feel the back side when you're finished and if there is a burr, take a few strokes there, holding the knife at an angle so the side won't rub.

Why is my sourdough bread so hard to cut?

​Sourdough is known for having a hard crust and soft interior. This can make it a bit tricky to cut. If it is extra difficult and you notice your bread sticking to your knife, you likely cut into it a little too soon. Make sure it cools completely before slicing.

What size should a bread knife be?

However, the standard length of any bread knife is approximately 7 inches to 10 inches. Generally speaking, the longer the knife, the more efficient it is to work with, which is something to consider when working in a busy kitchen.

What makes a knife a bread knife?

Bread knives are used for cutting bread and are one of many kitchen knives used by cooks. The serrated blades of bread knives are able to cut soft bread without crushing it.

Why are serrated knives better for cutting bread?

Tiny, pointy teeth within the larger serrations provide a lot of extra places that the blade can cut into food, so the knife is less likely to catch on bread crusts or watermelon rinds.

What is the best bread knife?

Our Top Picks
  • Best Overall: Zwilling Pro 9-inch Bread Knife Z15 Serration at Amazon $163. Jump to Review.
  • Best Value: Misen 8 Inch Serrated Knife at Amazon $84. Jump to Review.
  • Best Splurge: Global Sai Bread Knife at Amazon $190. ...
  • Best Design: SALE. ...
  • Best Offset: SALE. ...
  • Best Extra-Long: Tojiro Bread Slicer at Amazon $100.

What's the difference between a utility knife and a chef's knife?

Today, we'll be discussing the difference between two common knives: the utility knife and the chef knife. In short, the chef knife is larger, broader, and built with a slight curve that allows its user to perform a “rocking” motion and make quick work of many medium- to large-sized ingredients.

How to buy a bread knife?

What to look for when buying a bread knife
  1. Consider the blade length and serration type. ...
  2. Look for sharp, deep serrations to handle crusty breads and soft loaves alike.
  3. The handle should feel comfortable and secure, offering a good grip even when wet.
  4. Stainless steel resists rust and is easy to maintain.

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