When not to use a serrated knife?

Author: Ms. Stacy Skiles III  |  Last update: Sunday, December 14, 2025

A sharp serrated knife will also prevent you from squishing and damaging delicate foods. Serrated knives are excellent for making long, straight knife cuts through larger items, but they aren't ideal for slicing small foods, peeling fruits or mincing ingredients.

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.

When should you use 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.

What would you cut with a serrated knife?

In addition to slicing bread, serrated knives are also great for cutting through cakes and other baked goods. Again, the serrations in the blade allow for precise and even slicing of spongy baked goods without creating a lot of crumbs, crushing the pastry, or causing other imperfections.

What foods are serrated knives used for?

Serrated knives excel at cutting through foods with tough exteriors and soft interiors, making them ideal for bread, tomatoes, and other challenging ingredients. The unique saw-like edge of serrated knives allows for efficient cutting with minimal pressure, reducing the risk of crushing delicate foods.

Why You Need a Serrated Knife

Do professional chefs use serrated knives?

Serrated knives, with their unique teeth-like edges, have long been an essential tool in both professional kitchens and home cooking setups.

Can you cut vegetables with a serrated knife?

Serrated knives excel at cutting through tough-skinned fruits and vegetables, making them indispensable for tasks beyond bread slicing. Their saw-like edge effortlessly pierces the rubbery skin of tomatoes, allowing for clean, precise cuts without crushing the delicate flesh.

Why would you want a serrated blade?

Serrated edges are blades that have some kind of toothed or saw-like edge ground into the cutting surface. These are intended to be used much like a small saw with a back-and-forth motion. They're great for cutting through belts and ropes, fabric and various other textured materials.

Is a serrated knife for tomatoes?

But a serrated knife with all the little teeth? Those teeth grab onto a tomato's thin skin and cut straight through rather than slipping off the side or squishing the tomato with unnecessary pressure. Once you realize how much easier it is to cut tomatoes with a serrated knife, you'll never go back.

What is the main job of a serrated knife?

What Is A Serrated Knife Used For, And Why Do You Need A Serrated Knife? A serrated knife is ideal for sawing through foods. As the name suggests, its primary purpose is to cut bread loaves. Moreover, you can also use it to chop off some citrus fruits and slice layers of cake without making a mess.

Should I use a serrated knife for steak?

It's important to note that those who like a juicy steak and want to keep all the flavorful juices intact when using a knife should consider using non serrated steak knives. Non serrated knives do a much better job helping you make a nice juicy steak.

Are you supposed to sharpen serrated knives?

The design of a serrated knife means that most of the tool doesn't make contact with the cutting board, so you don't need to sharpen it as often as other kitchen knives. Only sharpen your serrated knife when you notice it's getting dull.

What is a small serrated knife for?

Your small serrated knife is the right tool for the job. And speaking of cake, a serrated paring knife is perfect for trimming cake edges (or slicing off a bit to nibble on). It's also my favorite tool for evenly slicing chilled dough for any kind of slice-and-bake cookies.

When would you use a serrated knife?

Serrated knives are excellent for making long, straight knife cuts through larger items, but they aren't ideal for slicing small foods, peeling fruits or mincing ingredients. For finer tasks like these, it's best to reach for a chef's knife or paring knife with a smooth, straight blade.

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.

Which is better serrated or plain edge knife?

Serrated knives became popular only recently, which is why today you can choose between the two. The main difference can be found when you look at the type of edge. A plain edge produces a so-called push cut, while a serrated blade leaves a pull cut.

What is the best knife to cut tomatoes and onions?

I've Used This $14 Tomato Knife for 10+ Years and It's Still as Sharp as the Day I Got It
  • OXO Good Grips 5-Inch Serrated Utility Knife.
  • Shop More Tomato Knives at Amazon.
  • Henckels Statement Razor-Sharp 5-inch Serrated Utility Knife.
  • Victorinox Swiss Classic Tomato and Table Knife.
  • Rada Cutlery Tomato Slicing Knife.

What is a 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 the safest knife?

Description: Concealed-blade safety knives include all types of safety knives and cutters whose blade edge is concealed and protected for the user. They are considered to be the safest cutting tools available. The method of cutting with such safety knives is most often pulling.

Do you really need a bread knife?

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. Not every bread knife is up to the task of slicing crusty bread or delicate produce without ripping apart the soft interior.

Should a paring knife be serrated?

For a regular paring knife you want straight edge. Serrated knives can actually be more dangerous for paring knife jobs because they generally need a sawing motion while a paring is a straight clean cut. But, I also have a knife called a “ trimmer” which is about 1 1/2 as long as my paring knife and serrated.

How do you wash a knife properly?

Wash your knife with dish soap and hot water after each use. Rinse with clear water. Air-dry or pat dry with clean paper towels. Handle kitchen knives carefully by their handles; don't pile them into the sink or dishpan, but wash them one by one and rack them with handles up.

Should you cut fruit with a serrated knife?

Serrated knives are excellent for fruits with tough exteriors and soft interiors. The saw-like teeth of these knives easily grip and cut through tough skins without crushing the delicate flesh inside. This makes them ideal for fruits like tomatoes, peaches, and citrus.

What is the toughest vegetable to cut?

Those Hard To Cut Veggies That That Are Calling for Your Cleaver
  • Asparagus. ...
  • Artichoke. ...
  • Brussels Sprouts. ...
  • Tomato. ...
  • Broccoli. ...
  • Bell Peppers. ...
  • Cauliflower. Start by quartering your cauliflower, meaning cut it into four equal parts. ...
  • Kale. To prepare your kale, start by removing the center stem along the length of the vegetable.

What is the best paring knife?

Our Top Paring Knife Picks
  • Best Overall. Misen 3.5-inch Paring Knife. Read Review $38.50 at Amazon.
  • Best Value. Victorinox 3.25-inch Paring Knife. Read Review $6.68 at Amazon.
  • Best Splurge. Shun Classic 3.5-inch Paring Knife. Read Review $99.95 at Williams Sonoma.
  • Best with Sheath. Kuhn Rikon Paring Knife Set.

Previous article
What is the correct ratio that a ladder be placed?
Next article
What is a classic knife cut used in the kitchen?