A good bread knife is one of the utensils that must be present in every kitchen. However, these specialty knives are not only suitable for cutting crispy bread into uniform slices and halving rolls. With this kitchen tool, larger vegetables and fruits such as melons or pumpkins can also be easily divided.
You can find the optimal bread knife for your kitchen in the online shop of Meister Messer. In addition to individual knives, our range also includes numerous knife sets that include a corresponding kitchen helper. The following guide illustrates what variables you should pay attention to when buying a bread knife.
What is a bread knife?
A bread knife is a knife specially designed for cutting bread and rolls. With its sharp serrated teeth, it effortlessly slices through the firm crust and soft crumb without fraying the interior, requiring minimal effort.
For ordinary kitchen knives, however, this combination poses a challenge. On the one hand, the smooth blades often slip off the hard crust. On the other hand, cutting baked goods here is more like a laborious squeezing.
Since bread knives have a certain similarity to saws from a functional perspective, the terms bread saw and saw knife are also common.
What are the special features that distinguish a bread knife?
The essential feature that almost every bread knife has is the so-called serrated edge - a serrated blade. The special blade shape allows for effortlessly cutting hard bread crusts. The serrated edge was patented by the grinding master Franz Güde from Solingen (Germany), making bread knives originally a German invention.
The sharpness of the teeth and the depth of the waves vary from model to model, as does the number of teeth and waves. In most cases, bread knives have a single-sided edge with a relatively coarse serration. Models with a double-wave edge have additional smaller waves within the waves. However, there are also knives with a wave edge where the teeth are not arranged at the same height.
As typical for bread knives is their long blade. However, there are model-specific differences. Usually, the blade length ranges between 20 and 30 centimeters. You can also find knives with blades of 35 centimeters and more, as well as slightly more compact bun knives.
What else can a bread knife be used for besides bread?
With a bread knife, you can cut far more than just bread, rolls, and other baked goods. This specialty knife is also perfect for foods with a crust like a roast. Bread knives also handle hard skins of fruits and vegetables with ease. In other words, where kitchen knives with smooth blades reach their limits, bread knives can often shine.
Bread knife or bread slicing machine - which is better?
Most of the time, a bread knife is the better choice. While a bread slicing machine is mainly suitable for bread, cheese, and cold cuts, you can also cut many other foods with a knife. In addition, a corresponding device requires significantly more space and considerably greater cleaning effort. Therefore, a slicing machine is only recommended if your apartment is equipped with a spacious kitchen or if you live in a large household.
Buying a bread knife: What you should pay attention to
Serrated knives are offered in a wide variety of designs. Which model ends up in your shopping cart or basket as your personal bread knife test winner ultimately also depends on personal taste. Nevertheless, it is advisable to consider some criteria when making a purchase decision - which also applies to other kitchen knives. In a bread knife test, the length of the blade, the blade material, and the knife handle are usually particularly important.
Blade length
Tendenziell gilt folgende Regel: Je länger die Klinge ausfällt, desto präziser und einfacher lassen sich Brot, Brötchen, Baguettes sowie Croissants schneiden. Dies begründet sich damit, dass weniger Bewegungen notwendig sind, was zudem den Kraftaufwand senkt. Daher empfehlen sich vor allem Modelle mit einer 25 bis 30 Zentimeter langen Klinge.
The optimal blade length depends on your eating habits. While a longer blade is recommended for round millstone breads, slightly more compact models are suitable for cutting loaf breads. For halving rolls, a shorter knife is more appropriate. The blade of roll knives also features a serrated edge, but with significantly smaller serrations.
Blade material
Due to the serrated blade, sharpening a bread knife is significantly more complex, making the blade material crucial. In most cases, the blade is made of stainless steel. Blades made of Damascus and carbon steel are also very popular.
The stainless steel used for the knife blade often contains a certain chromium content, which gives the material high corrosion resistance. To ensure that the blade does not rust, corresponding models are usually alloyed. Knives made of carbon or Damascus steel, on the other hand, impress with particularly hard and sharp blades that are extremely durable.
Blade hardness is also important. As a general rule: The harder the steel, the better the knife's edge retention. The hardness of knife blades is measured in Rockwell (abbreviation HRC). For knives designed for cutting bread, the hardness level should ideally be at least 55 HRC. However, high-quality bread knives often have a hardness of around 60 HRC.
Knife handle
When it comes to the handle, the material and ergonomics are crucial. The knife handle should fit well in the hand and ideally be non-slip. In addition, the handle should not wobble or slide back and forth.
Most bread knives have a handle made of wood or plastic. However, models with a metal handle are also available on the market. The choice of handle material is primarily a matter of your individual preferences. Bread knives with a wooden handle – for example, made of walnut or olive wood – are particularly valued for their high-quality appearance. Handles made of plastic or metal, on the other hand, are easier to clean. According to the manufacturer's instructions, some models are even suitable for the dishwasher.
Further buying criteria: Weight and production process are also important
Depending on the model, a bread knife weighs around 100 to 400 grams. The weight of the knife depends, among other things, on the type of steel used for the blade. The rule of thumb is: the harder the type of steel, the higher the material density and the heavier the bread knife. Of course, the shape, length, and blade thickness are also of great importance for the overall weight. In general, heavier knives are easier to use as they simplify the cutting process.
There are also differences in the production process, as the blank for the knife blade is either punched out and then cut to size at the edge or hand-forged. The main advantage of a hand-forged blade is that the material becomes denser through the process. As a result, such models are not only significantly sharper. It also takes longer for the bread knife to need resharpening.
Sharpening bread knives: Complicated, but rarely necessary
While smooth blades can be sharpened relatively easily with a sharpening or honing stone, sharpening bread knives is a bit more challenging due to the serrated edge. The easiest way to sharpen them is with a ceramic sharpening rod, which must be thin enough to fit into the gaps of the serration. Additionally, there are also special knife sharpeners that you can use.
To sharpen your bread knife, pull the sharpening rod through the individual waves of the cutting tool several times - if possible at a 20 degree angle. However, note that bread knives are usually only sharpened on one side, so you are only allowed to sharpen one side as well. Usually, it is easy to see on which side of the blade you need to start.
Order bread knife easily and conveniently online
Are you looking to buy a bread knife to expand your kitchen equipment? Then Meister Messer is the right contact. In our online shop, not only high-quality bread knives are offered, but also knife sets that include a serrated knife.
In addition to this and other specialty knives, our portfolio also includes numerous utility knives and a variety of pocket knives. Regardless of the type of knife you are looking for: At Meister Messer, you will find the optimal model - So choose and order the appropriate knife in the online shop now!
FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions about "Bread Knife"
What blade length is optimal for bread knives?
Bread knives usually have a blade length of 20 to 30 centimeters. However, there are also models available with even longer blades. In principle, the blade of the knife should be at least twice as long as the width of the loaf of bread. Therefore, models with a blade length of 25 to 30 centimeters are particularly recommended.
How much does a bread knife cost?
Good bread knives are available in stores starting at 20 to 40 CHF. However, for high-quality knives, you should plan to spend around 50 to 150 Swiss Francs. The price of a serrated knife depends mainly on the material used for the blade and the manufacturing effort. Bread knives made of Damascus steel can therefore be classified in the upper price segment.
Which bread knife is the best?
To label one model as the bread knife test winner across the board is, in our opinion, not possible. Which knife is most suitable for you depends on both your personal taste and the intended purpose, as well as how much you are willing to spend on the cutting tool. If you are looking to buy a bread knife, you should pay particular attention to ensuring that the blade is made of high-quality steel.
Can left-handed bread knives also be found in stores?
Due to their usually one-sided grind, most bread knives are designed for right-handers. However, there are also occasional models for left-handers. The alternative is a double-sided ground bread knife.
How should a bread knife be stored?
When you place the knife in a cutlery tray, it comes into contact with other cutlery pieces, which can lead to the blade being damaged. Therefore, it is advisable to store bread knives in a knife block or holder, or to hang the kitchen utensil on a magnetic strip. By the way, this applies not only to bread knives, but also to kitchen knives in general.
How much does a bread knife weigh?
Depending on the model, the weight of bread knives ranges from 100 to 400 grams. The weight of the knife mainly depends on the size and the type of steel used. Whether a lighter or heavier model is more suitable is up to your personal preference. However, a higher weight makes the cutting process easier.
Which base should be used for cutting bread?
Use a cutting board made of wood, bamboo, or high-quality plastic whenever possible. Corresponding materials are gentle on the blade and therefore help to keep your bread knife sharp for a long time. Glass, ceramic, and marble, on the other hand, are not suitable as cutting surfaces. Such surfaces will eventually dull the knife.
Can bread knives go in the dishwasher?
There are both dishwasher-safe bread knives and those that are not dishwasher-safe. Whether a knife can be cleaned in the dishwasher is indicated by the manufacturers in the product description. However, since any mechanical impact can have a negative effect on the blade, we recommend that you always clean your bread knife by hand in the sink – preferably with a damp cloth and a gentle detergent. In addition, you should dry the knife immediately after cleaning.
