Bread Knives

Bread knives are easily distinguishable thanks to their long blades with serrations. They are common in the kitchen because most knife sets include a bread knife. Their length ranges from six to fourteen inches, and an 8-inch blade should fit and serve most of your home needs. The serrations on their blade allow them to be the best at slicing bread and other crusty food with soft insides.

The teeth ensure a firm grip on the food surface and then rip it, allowing for smooth knife entry without squashing the interior. The spaces between the teeth, on the other hand, help reduce friction between the blade and the and food surface, preventing the knife from getting stuck. Reduced friction also makes the slicing work easier on your hand.

Surprisingly a bread knife is one of the most underutilized knives in the kitchen. The reason for this is because most people limit its use to slicing bread only. Yet, the bread knife can be used on several food items, including;

• Processed meats that are hard, like salami
• Vegetables that have tough skin but a soft interior like tomatoes
• Citrus fruits
• Cakes
• Pineapples
• Melons
• Biscotti
• Cheeses

How to pick the best bread knives

The one thing you want from your bread knife is for it to be excellent at slicing without feeling cumbersome or tiresome. It also helps if it has a long shelf life. So, when picking the right bread knife, consider the following;

• The length and shape of the blade: blades range from 8-14 inches. You want to choose a blade that is longer than the width of a typical bread. However, it should not be too long to interfere with your control. A curved blade is also preferable, and it gives better clearance protecting your knuckles.
• Design of the serrations: you want a blade that has fewer serrations meaning they are broader and they should also be deeper. These qualities make it easier for the blade to over, and it slices smoothly.
• Ergonomic design: The knife should be comfortable in your hands and offer excellent grip. The handle should be the right fit and the right material. Also, the positioning of the blade above or below the handle should match your preference.
• Maintenance: while it is possible to sharpen the bread knives, it takes time and can be a challenge for most people. As such, it helps to get a knife with a blade that can hold its edge for longer, ideally high carbon steel.
• Blade material: besides determining how long a blade can hold its edge, the blade material impacts durability too. The best compromise is high carbon stainless steel which is more durable while holding the edge longer.
• Blade width: the thickness of the blade affects your control. Thicker blades are more likely to squash your food like tall sandwiches. Narrow blades offer more agility and control, leading to crisp and clean slices.
• Flexibility: you want a flexible knife that can serve different types of foods, from bread to cakes and other soft foods.

Where to find the best bread knives

On top of knowing what to look for in a bread knife, you should know where to find one. Fortunately, at House of Knives, we have the largest collection of excellent bread knives from the leading brands globally. Some of our best knives include;

The Miyabi Birchwood 5000MCD Bread Knife measures 23cm and is made from high carbon Damascus steel. It matches the quality and aesthetic needs of the kitchen, and the comfortable and durable birchwood handle completes the sophisticated look.

There is also the Wusthof Classic Ikon Black which measures 20cm and is perfect for fruits and vegetables with hard skins and even roasts. You will love its sharpness which, thanks to the special alloy stainless steel, you will maintain easily. The handle is ergonomic with a double bolster for perfect balance.

The Shun Kai Classic Bread Knife is another with all the hallmarks of Japanese knife-making traditions. Its wide serrations with razor-sharp teeth ensure it can cut through crusty loaves and soft pastries with the same clean and efficient consistency. Its blade material is made of proprietary VG-MAX cloaked with 322 layers of Damascus steel. The D-shaped PakkaWood handle adds to the comfort and aesthetics.

Should you prefer a different take to handles and blade design, then you can go for the Furi Pro Serrated Bread Knife. It is 20cm long, and it comes with perfect rounded serrations. The knife is perfectly weighted, and the reverse wedge handle makes for a comfortable grip.