A good set of kitchen knives will transform how you cook. Each has a different use: small paring knives are handy for fruit and veg, while a sturdy chef's knife will be an all-rounder. A one-stop knife set will cover all bases, while a knife sharpener will make sure your investment lasts.

Advertisement

If you buy unsliced loaves or rolls or make your own bread, you’re going to need a bread knife. Trying to hack through a loaf with a paring or carving knife will end in tears and a ruined loaf. Bread knives are designed to cut easily through the crust of a loaf and the soft crumb inside without tearing or squashing it, so a good-quality bread knife is a crucial piece of kit in any kitchen.

Best bread knives at a glance

  • Best budget knife: Kuhn Rikon Colori bread and baguette knife, £20.15
  • Best blowout bread knife: Kai Shun bread knife, classic range, £190.99
  • Best lightweight bread knife: Swibo Victorinox serrated slicer 10in, £43.75
  • Best top range: Zwilling Pro 23cm bread knife, £94.95
  • Best-value bread knife: Lakeland select-grip bread knife, £29.99
  • Best traditional bread knife: Sabatier & Judge, £6.50
  • Best bread knife for details: JosephJoseph Elevate 8in bread knife, £20
  • Most stylish bread knife: Opinel Intempora No 216 bread knife, £47.95
  • Best mid-range bread knife: Stellar Taiku, £30

How to choose the best bread knife

Bread knives vary widely in price, so that will be a key consideration when choosing one. They differ in size, too: shorter blades might give you extra control, but longer ones can deal more easily with bigger loaves. If you’re a roll fan rather than a loaf lover, a short blade might be easier, too. And, think about the weight: do you prefer a lighter knife or one that feels more solid in your hand?

The ‘tang’ is the part of the metal blade that becomes the handle of a knife. The strongest knives are full tang, which means the blade and handle are forged from the same bit of metal from tip to end, with the handle bolted on. Full tang is a sign of quality in general knife-making, but not a deal-breaker when it comes to choosing a bread knife.

Some bread knives come as part of a range, so that might be important to you aesthetically if you prefer ones that are all the same. If you have a knife block, you will ideally choose a knife that fits neatly into a slot.

More like this

Read on to discover our top buys. For over 200 buyer’s guides, visit our product review section and find guides to everything from the best chopping boards and best toasters to the best food processors.

Best bread knives to buy in 2023

Kuhn Rikon Colori bread and baguette knife

Best budget bread knife

colori-breadknife-c31bbdc

Shaped and coloured to look like a baguette, this knife stands out thanks to its tongue-in-cheek design, but it also has other useful features. Though the plastic handle is a little light in weight, the blade cuts efficiently, and at 26cm, it can tackle the largest loaves. The blade has a non-stick coating and friction-reducing slits that help it glide through the bread, producing even slices. The knife comes with a blade cover too, making it a good option for taking on picnics.

Available from:
Kuhn Rikon (£19.95)

Kai Shun bread knife, classic range

Best blowout bread knife

kai-shun-e717b27

Made from 32 layers, the beautiful Damascus steel blade is very hard-wearing. The knife is full tang with a smooth pakkawood (wood/resin composite) handle in a classic Japanese D-shaped design. The serrated teeth point in different directions – at the front half, they face forward, while at the other end, they face backwards. This means equal cutting performance in each direction for noticeably efficient slicing. The wide serrations are very sharp, requiring little pressure for a smooth cut.

Swibo Victorinox Swiss classic bread knife

Best lightweight bread knife

Swibo Victorinox

This bread knife is perfect for anyone who prefers a lighter knife but doesn’t want to have to sacrifice any cutting ability. The knife is long (10in) but fairly thin and the bright orange handle is easy to grip, even with wet hands. There’s a curved end for added comfort. We like the coloured handle for something different to the array of black in our sample. Its bright colour will cheer you up when you’re cutting bread for toast in the morning.

The Swiss-made blade is gently serrated with an unusual rounded top, which makes it look less fierce than some on test, but don’t be fooled: it cuts smoothly and effortlessly. This comes with a flexible sleeve that’s transparent on one side to keep it safe in the cutlery drawer.

Zwilling Pro 23cm bread knife

Best top range bread knife

Zwilling bread knife

This German-made full tang knife has a traditional appearance and oozes quality. It’s long, fairly heavy and very solid, with small, wavy serrations interspersed regularly with sharper teeth. The knife, which has an ice-hardened stainless steel blade for durability and corrosion resistance, has a slight 'wedge' shape, tapering at the top.

One big advantage of this over other knives in our sample is that it can go in the dishwasher, though hand-washing is advised. Cutting performance is good, sliding easily through our crusty white loaf. We find the shaped handle with its three rivets very comfortable to hold and easy to grip. The lifetime guarantee is an added bonus.

Available from:
Zwilling, £94.95

Lakeland select-grip bread knife

Best-value bread knife

Lakeland bread knife

While many of the bread knives on test are long (around 10in), this is designed for those who prefer a shorter bread knife that feels easier to control. At 20cm (8in), the shorter length makes it easier to store in the cutlery drawer, too. There’s also a protective safety sheath for when it isn’t in use to avoid accidental injury.

The knife has regular serrations and the blade is made from ice-hardened Japanese stainless steel – the ice hardening process is designed to keep it sharper for longer. The soft-grip handle is ergonomic and non-slip.

The instructions on the box say this is also ideal for pastries and shredding lettuce or cabbage, and we can vouch for this. It also slices well through cheddar – very handy when making a cheese sandwich as one knife does both jobs.

Sabatier & Judge bread knife

Best traditional bread knife

Judge bread knife

The 20cm knife has a very traditional design, with a black handle with three silver rivets on it. It’s dishwasher-proof – you’re advised to remove it at the end of the cycle and dry it with a soft cloth – and guaranteed for 25 years. The knife is made with hardened stainless steel with good-sized regular serrations and the handle is shaped at the bottom for good grip.

This is a little weightier than some of the others on test, so will appeal to anyone who likes their knives to feel solid. We think it's the Goldilocks of our knife sample: not too heavy, not too light, but just right.

Joseph Joseph Elevate 8in bread knife

Best for details

Joseph Joseph bread knife

For a such a well-priced knife, this one has some very thoughtful features. The handle has an integrated knife rest which means the blade won’t sit directly on the work surface when you put it down. This improves hygiene and can cut down on mess, too. There’s also a protective sheath to slide the knife into when it’s not being used. This helps maintain sharpness and keeps fingers safe if you're grabbing it from the drawer or to taking it on a picnic.

The knife is one of the shorter ones on test (20cm) and very light, too. The design is cheerful – the handle is black and grey with a smidgeon of orange at the top and bottom – but it's a serious player. The Japanese steel blade cuts well and easily.

Opinel Intempora No 216 bread knife 21cm

Most stylish bread knife

Opinel intempora bread knife

We like the unusual shape of this one – the handle is shaped to make it easy to hold and the blade is slightly curved, ending in a point. It’s got a modern, sleek look and the ergonomic navy blue handle also makes it stand out from the sea of black. You can even get it engraved if you wish.

It’s full tang with a very small piece of the stainless steel blade extending out of the bottom. This knife, which needs to be washed by hand, is part of a set of 10 knives that are available to buy individually – there’s everything from a santoku knife to a fillet knife in the collection.

The knife itself is light, easy to use and effective. This has a lifetime guarantee and also a free sharpening service available (though you’ll have to dispatch it to France).

Available from:
Whitby & Co (£49.95)

Stellar Taiku

Best mid-range bread knife

Stellar Taiku 20cm bread knife

An 8in knife with well-spaced teeth, this is well-balanced and solid feeling. Unlike many knives, it’s dishwasher-safe. It also comes with a lifetime guarantee.

The design is straightforward with a glossy black handle. Unlike many, the handle is straight, which the maker says is designed for both left- and right-handed people. A left-handed second tester confirms for us that it is easy to use. The blade, which has well-spaced, clearly defined serrations, is very sharp and slices effectively.

Available from:
Harts of Stur (£9)

How we test bread knives

We test bread knives from a number of brands. We put them through their paces on a very crusty homemade white loaf as well as hard rolls and home-baked baguettes.

The most important thing is the effectiveness of the knife – we're looking for one that slices easily through the crust as well as the softer inside.

Comfort is ranked highly too – we look for handles that are easy hold and grip.

We look for value for money – whatever the price point – and any extra features. And, because knives are often on display, we comment on the aesthetics of each one.

knives-in-loaf-5bf5d48

More on knives

Which knife should I buy?
Best knives for under £40
Best paring knives
Best cook’s knives
Video: How to sharpen a knife
Infographic: How to chop
Guide to the anatomy of a knife
How to sharpen knives

Best chopping boards
Best food processors
Best saucepans
Best toasters
Best whisks
Visit our review section

Advertisement

This review was last updated June 2021. If you have any questions, suggestions for future reviews or spot anything that has changed in price or availability please get in touch at goodfoodwebsite@immediate.co.uk.

Comments, questions and tips

Choose the type of message you'd like to post

Choose the type of message you'd like to post
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement