9 Best Bread Knives For Sourdough Of 2023
Homemade artisan sourdough bread is too good to be ruined by a bad bread knife. But cutting perfect slices of sourdough bread is not that easy.
This bread is crispy and slightly hard on the outside and soft and airy inside. You need a good bread knife that will cut through both textures efficiently.
What are the best bread knives for sourdough? The best bread knife for sourdough is the one with pointed serrations on the blade. You should also consider the length and material of the blade, the design of the handle, and the price of the knife.
In this article, we tell you how to choose a bread knife for sourdough, and what the best bread knives are for sourdough we recommend you buy!
Why You Need A Special Knife For Sourdough
If you own a knife set, it most likely includes a bread knife. While some people don’t make proper use of their bread knives, these serrated knives are a must-have for any kitchen.
You need a bread knife to not only slice bread and other baked goods but also foods with tough skin and a soft interior.
And while a bread knife should technically be good for all types of bread, things can get a little challenging with sourdough bread.
This is because sourdough bread tends to be crispier and harder on the outside compared to many other bread varieties.
At times, its crust may even be excessively thick. But the inside of a properly baked sourdough bread is still soft and airy.
A well-designed bread knife will cut through the thick crust of sourdough bread with little to no effort.
At the same time, it won’t damage the crumb. In case you didn’t know, the crumb refers to the fluffiness and the pattern of holes inside the bread.
With a bad bread knife, a lot of pressure will be applied to the sourdough bread. As a result, the airy interior will be compressed and destroyed.
Buyer’s Guide
If you are looking for the best bread knife for sourdough, here is what you should consider.
Blade Type
The key feature to look for when choosing a knife for sourdough bread is the serrated blade. The serrations allow the blade to grip on the crust and saw through it without the need for excessive pressure that would destroy the bread.
With a serrated blade, you don’t have to apply a lot of downward pressure on the knife. This helps preserve the integrity of bread slices.
While all bread knives are serrated, the type of serrations may differ. There can be large or small teeth serrations on a bread knife and both will work well for sourdough so long as the teeth are sharp.
But serrations can also be rounded and pointed. If you are going to use your bread knife for sourdough bread, we recommend you opt for a knife with pointed serrations. They will cut through the tough sourdough crust more efficiently.
Deeper serrations are another characteristic to pay attention to when buying a bread knife for sourdough. Deep serrations reduce the friction between the blade and the bread which results in neater slices.
Blade Length
The blade length of most bread knives is usually between 8-11 inches. The longer the blade the better as the knife will require less back and forth actions when cutting wider loaves of bread.
If you are choosing a bread knife specifically for cutting sourdough bread, consider the size of the loaves you typically bake or buy.
Material
Common blade materials used for bread knives are stainless steel and high carbon steel.
Stainless steel blades are easy to take care of as they are not prone to rust and corrosion.
High carbon steel blades are more durable than stainless steel knives and they retain their sharp edge longer. However, unlike stainless steel, high carbon steel is susceptible to rusting.
Bread knife blades can also be made from special ceramic materials. High-quality ceramic knives will do a good job at cutting sourdough bread.
One of the benefits of ceramic blades is that they stay sharp longer than steel blades.
However, ceramic knives may not be a good fit for clumsy people as ceramic is a very brittle material. The blade of a ceramic bread knife may break if you drop it.
Sharpening ceramic knives is more difficult. Look into ceramic bread knives for sourdough if you are ready for the effort that the maintenance of these knives needs.
Despite the material, it is good to buy a bread knife with a blade that is thin yet durable. A thick blade may feel blunt and won’t do a neat job at slicing sourdough bread.
Handle Design
No matter what knife you are buying, it is highly important to consider the handle design of the knife.
Look for a knife with an ergonomic design. A well-designed handle will provide a comfortable grip on the knife. The material of the handle matters too. It is good for knife handles to be made of non-slip materials.
The handle should also be securely attached to the blade.
Price
Bread knives come at different prices. You may think that high-priced bread knives work better than their affordable counterparts.
This is not always the case. A knife can be moderately priced but still be well-made and efficient in cutting sourdough bread.
On the flip side, if a bread knife is suspiciously cheap, it is most likely made flimsy and won’t have a long life span.
Some bread knives are expensive due to the grade of steel used to make them. We recommend you invest in an expensive bread knife if you know you will be using it a lot and that you will be taking proper care of it.
The 9 Best Bread Knives For Sourdough
We have ranked and reviewed the 9 best bread knives for sourdough. These knives work great for sourdough thanks to their serration type.
We have also considered reviews of customers who have used these knives to cut sourdough bread.
While some of these knives are more expensive than others, all bread knives on this list will work well for sourdough.
Consider the features of all the nine bread knives and pick one that meets your preferences.
| Rank | Product | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Victorinox Swiss Army Bread Knife | A 10.25-inch serrated curved thin blade |
| 2. | HENCKELS Statement Bread Knife | An 8-inch stainless steel blade |
| 3. | Mercer Culinary M23210WBH Milennia Bread Knife | A 10-inch high carbon steel blade |
| 4. | ZWILLING TWIN Signature Bread Knife | An 8-inch stainless steel blade |
| 5. | Imarku Professional Grade Bread Slicing Knife | A 10-inch high carbon steel blade |
| 6. | Kyocera Advanced Ceramic Bread Knife | A 7-inch ultra-sharp ceramic blade |
| 7. | Shun Classic Bread Knife | A 9-inch innovative VG-MAX steel blade |
| 8. | Rada Cutlery Bread Knife | A 6-inch stainless steel blade |
| 9. | Mercer Culinary M23570 Renaissance Bread Knife | An 8-inch high carbon steel blade |
1. Victorinox Swiss Army Bread Knife
Victorinox Swiss Army bread knife stays on top of the competition thanks to its amazing features. The blade of this knife is 10.25 inches long.
It is long enough to cut through loaves of sourdough bread without having to do a lot of back and forth sawing action.
The stainless steel blade is thin and precise yet durable enough to cut through the crust of sourdough.
Thanks to the broad pointed serrations, the Victorinox bread knife keeps both the crust and crumb intact. The slight curve of the blade makes it suitable not only for bread but also for fruits and vegetables.
The handle has an ergonomic design and is made of thermoplastic rubber for a non-slip grip.
Due to the materials this knife is made from, the Victorinox Swiss Army bread knife is dishwasher-safe. However, the manufacturer still recommends you wash it by hand to preserve the sharpness of the serrated blade.
2. HENCKELS Statement Bread Knife
Henckels Statement bread knife is more affordable than the Victorinox one but it doesn’t fall behind in terms of quality.
Most importantly, it works well for slicing all types of bread, including sourdough.
The blade of the Henckels bread knife is 8-inches long. This is the best length to go for if you are not sure what blade length to get.
The blade material is stainless steel. Thanks to the quality of the steel and the pointed serrations, it will cut neat slices of bread for years provided proper care and maintenance.
The handle is securely riveted to the blade. It also has a stainless steel endcap for improved balance.
As the manufacturer notes, the knife is dishwasher-safe.
3. Mercer Culinary M23210WBH Milennia Bread Knife
Mercer Culinary bread knife is another affordable yet well-made knife. As many customers claim, it works amazing for sourdough bread.
The blade of the Mercer Culinary bread knife is made of high carbon steel material. The Japanese steel material the brand uses provides long-lasting sharpness.
While high-carbon steel is more susceptible to rust than stainless steel, it also stays sharp longer than stainless steel.
The handle is textured for a non-slip grip. The comfortable handle design and the wavy blade edge allow you to cut through bread, cakes, ad fruits with little pressure.
This preserved the integrity of the slices of whatever you are cutting, be it crusty sourdough bread or delicate cherry tomatoes.
If you decide to buy this high carbon steel knife, make sure to always handwash it soon after you have used it and dry it out thoroughly.
4. ZWILLING TWIN Signature Bread Knife
ZWILLING TWIN Signature bread knife may not be one of the most affordable bread knife options but it is certainly one of the best in terms of quality and performance.
The 8-inch blade of the ZWILLING bread knife is made of stainless steel.
The brand uses a special ice-hardening technique to make the serrated edge of the blade a lot sharper and harder.
The polymer handle has a thoughtful design and is bonded with the blade with the help of three rivets.
The rivets make sure that the entire knife construction is sturdy.
5. Imarku Professional Grade Bread Slicing Knife
Imarku bread slicing knife is another option for people who prefer high carbon steel blades over the stainless steel ones.
With a 10-inch length, this bread knife will help you slice wide loaves of sourdough bread with ease.
The serrations are wide and pointed which is another reason why so many people claim that this Imarku knife is perfect for sourdough.
The handle has a rounded ergonomic design. It is made of pakkawood and looks exceptionally elegant.
Pakkawood is also a very durable wood material. Compared to regular wood pakkawood is less sensitive to heat and moisture.
6. Kyocera Advanced Ceramic Bread Knife
As we have already told you in this article, bread knife blades are most commonly made of stainless steel or high carbon steel. However, bread knives can also come with ceramic blades.
The 7-inch blade of this Kyocera bread knife is manufactured from special zirconia material made in Japan. This high-quality ceramic material is very sharp.
The serrations on the Kyocera bread knife blade are a lot smaller and longer compared to regular bread knives. This makes it particularly good for crusty bread.
While you should be extra careful with this knife to not drop and break the ceramic blade, it has multiple benefits too. It is acid-resistant, rust-proof, and won’t make the fruits and vegetables brown quickly.
7. Shun Classic Bread Knife
If you are ready to pay a high price for a bread knife that will cut perfect slices, then this Shun classic bread knife is what we recommend you look into.
One of the reasons this Japanese hand-crafted knife has such a high price is the innovative VG-MAX steel used to make its blade.
This top-quality steel material provides strength and durability while also being corrosion resistant.
The wavy pattern on the Shun bread knife is the result of the bead-blasting done to reveal the layers of steel.
Every detail on this knife is well-thought-out. The blade has wide serrations and cuts even through homemade sourdough bread quite easily.
The handle has a convenient round shape and is made of highly durable pakkawood.
8. Rada Cutlery Bread Knife
This Rada Cutlery bread knife is another affordable yet highly functional option for a knife for sourdough.
It is especially good for people who don’t need their bread knife to have a very long blade.
The length of the Rada Cutlery bread knife is 6 inches. It is made of stainless steel and is very long-lasting and rust-resistant.
As the reviews state, this knife works well for slicing sourdough bread, as well as bagels and cakes. It is the small, single-sided serrations that make this Rada Cutlery knife so efficient in cutting baked goods.
The handle is made of brushed silver aluminum. It has a convenient rounded shape and a finger guard for added protection.
9. Mercer Culinary M23570 Renaissance Bread Knife
Mercer Culinary Renaissance bread knife is another good bread knife option from this brand.
While the price is higher on this one, it is still a great pick for people looking for a bread knife that works for sourdough.
The blade of this bread knife is 8-inches long which is considered to be the perfect user-friendly length that works for all types of foods.
Made of high carbon steel material, the serrated forged blade will remain sharp for a very long time.
The handle is attached to the blade with three rivets for maximum safety. It is also lightweight and has an ergonomic design.
If you’re interested in making your own sourdough bread at home, here’s a great video from chef Joshua Weissman!
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