Best Electric Knives
Ever thought about buying an electric carving knife? You might wonder why some people choose an electric knife over a regular carving knife. Mostly it comes down to time and ease. Electric knives usually have two blades that are serrated, and they run in opposite directions. This makes carving any turkey or other meat much faster than you could with your hands. Also, an electric knife works well cutting through delicate items like bread, requiring very little pressure. They’re great with slicing crusty bread such as baguettes, or even the most fragile angel food cake. You can also use it to effortlessly clean a fish.
This is an important tool because you’ll most often be using it at special family dinners, so be aware of what you’re purchasing. Some can be noisy, and others are messy, throwing bits of what you’ve carved all over the place.
In this article, we’re going to profile some of the most popular brands of electric knives available on the market today:
Best overall electric knife: Black & Decker 9-Inch Electric Carving Knife
The Black & Decker 9-Inch Electric Carving Knife stands out above the rest for a number of reasons. It carves chicken to perfection, adding the final touch to a dish you’d be proud to present to your most loved family members and friends. Even though this knife is lightweight, it can power through a large roast. It also slices bread perfectly – both the crusty baguette variety and softer varieties. Most electric knives have difficulty slicing cheese, but not this one. Not a problem at all.
But all its slicing perfection is not what sets this model apart from the others. This electric knife is quiet, which is a lot more than can be said about many other models on the market today. In fact, some electric knives are downright noisy, which is not very conducive to having a nice relaxing dinner with family and friends. The Black & Decker knife’s minimal sound makes it a joy to use.
The knife is simple to operate. You simply press a trigger to start the blades moving. The knife creates almost no vibration so your finger can stay locked into the trigger easily, without slipping off. It also works quickly, and doesn’t make your hands ache after using.
The stainless steel serrated blades are nine inches long and removable, and it is dishwasher safe. Some users feel its blade design allows you to have more control when cutting. The blades come equipped with finger grips and the base has extra surface area, both of which combine to make the blades easy to remove and insert into the device.
In addition, this knife has the most ergonomic handle in comparison to other brands. It is comfortable and easy to grip, even if you have grease on your hands.
Last but not least, the knife has a safety lock which prevents it from inadvertently turning on when it is plugged in but not in use. This helps prevent accidents. However, there is one drawback to this model: some users feel the trigger is located too close to the safety button.
Pros
- Lightweight but can power through a roast, and slices bread and cheese well
- Quiet
- Nine inch blades are removable and dishwasher safe
- Ergonomic handle
- Safety lock
Cons
- Some users feel the trigger is too close to safety button and it is awkward to use
Runner Up: Cuisinart CEK-40
The Cuisinart CEK-40 is another fantastic electric knife and it only came in second because it is not as quiet as the Black & Decker knife. That said, it is still more quiet than other brands.
This brand carves a chicken quickly, and it has no problems slicing crusty or soft bread, or even cheese. It comes with two stainless steel blades. Its wide, heavy duty blade has a wide base that supports the blade, and is great for cutting crusty bread. The thinner blade is flexible and works well for other types of carving, such as for meat.
For a few dollars cheaper, you can buy this knife with just one heavy duty blade. That version comes with an additional carving fork instead.
Whichever version you buy, the knife uses a trigger to start cutting, which is easy to use. Also, unlike some other brands, the trigger is located far from the two blade release buttons, which means there is no easy way get confused and accidentally press the trigger when you meant to release the blades.
The Cuisinart CEK-40 comes with an ergonomic grip and a special safety button.
Pros
- Carves quickly
- No problems slicing crusty or soft bread or cheese
- Two stainless steel blades: one heavy duty and one thinner blade
- Trigger is located away from blade release buttons to avoid confusion
- Ergonomic grip
Cons
- Not as quiet as Black & Decker brand (but still more quiet than many other brands)
Best-seller: Hamilton Beach 74275
The Hamilton Beach is Amazon’s most popular electric knife, and part of the reason is its unique carrying case and cordless design, which makes it easy to transport to friends’ houses. The case keeps the knife and its associated parts neatly organized and stored away, and it protects the blade.
There are a number of other reasons why it is a fan favorite. It is solid and inexpensive, and easy to use. It has a durable and non-corrosive blade made of stainless steel. The knife comes in a set including a carving fork, which comes in handy if you don’t already have one.
The Hamilton Beach is most useful with turkeys and large roasts. It can also handle vegetables. However, it struggles with slicing bread, especially crusty baguettes. It has trouble piercing the hard exterior of the baguette. It also tends to get warm if you are using it for a while.
Some users feel this model has an ergonomic design with a comfortable handle that is easy to grip, and that you can use it with either hand, which helps you control the knife better while carving. Others think its handle is too large, which makes it hard to hold with greasy hands.
Pros:
- Cordless, with unique carrying case for easy portability
- Solid and inexpensive
- Easy to use
- Includes carving fork
- Some users like its ergonomic design with a handle that can be used with either hand
Cons:
- Difficulty with slicing bread
- Some users feel the handle is too large
- Gets warm if used for too long
Best value: Proctor Silex Easy Slice Electric Knife
The Proctor Silex electric knife is inexpensive, lightweight and comfortable to hold. It has a trigger that is easy to use. Like some of the other models, it uses two removable stainless steel blades that work together while cutting. It is also easy to clean.
There are a few negatives, however. It has no safety lock and its blades are not as sharp as the other brands, meaning you have to use more force in order to slice through things. If your hands are greasy, the plastic handle can become slippery. It is also loud and gets warm after being in use for a few minutes.
Still, if you’re looking for a model you can buy on a tight budget, this one might be right for you.
Pros
- Inexpensive
- Comfortable to hold
- Trigger is easy to use
- Removable stainless steel blades
- Easy to clean
Cons
- No safety lock
- Blades not as sharp as other brands
- Plastic handle can get slippery if using with greasy hands
- Gets warm after a few minutes
- Noisy
Best cordless electric knife: Waring WEK200 Rechargeable/Cordless Electric Knife
If you have room in your budget, this unique, powerful, cordless electric knife is the crème de la crème of the models on this list. It uses a lithium battery so you don’t have any annoying cords to get in your way when you’re carving that turkey. The battery lasts a long time and is quickly recharged. It comes with two blades – one for bread and the other for meat – and another attachment that helps make the slices more even. Everything fits into a case for storage.
This commercial-grade knife is not particularly stylish looking but it will make all your slicing requirements simple and easy. You can use it to slice large batches of bread or large quantities of meat.
Pros
- Cordless
- Commercial-grade and powerful
- Rechargeable battery that lasts a long time
- Two blades – for meat and bread
- Able to slice large quantities of bread or meat
Cons
- Expensive
- Not particularly stylish looking, considering the price
FAQs: What to consider when buying an electric knife
What should I consider when buying an electric knife?
Here are a few considerations you should make when deciding which model to buy for yourself.
Price and durability: Compare the different prices but keep in mind the lower the price, the less effective it might be for carving. The more expensive electric knives will be durable and last a long time. Determine what your budget is and the best quality electric knife you can fit into that budget. Try to avoid low quality knives that may wear out quickly.
Weight: If you plan to use your knife a lot or travel with it, you should choose one of the lighter models. On other hand, if you will be carving large pieces of meat, a heavier duty model is better. Also make sure there is a balance of weight between the blade(s) and the handle, for ease of use.
Cord vs. no cord: Some people find having a cord to deal with quite cumbersome when they are slicing, especially if it’s a turkey dinner in front of family and friends, so they choose a cordless model. A cordless knife is portable and can be used anywhere. On the other hand, a corded electric knife is useful if you don’t want to have to recharge a battery every now and then or keep spare batteries. In that case, a corded model is best. Make sure the cord is long enough so it doesn’t limit where you can work. It needs to extend from the outlet to your workspace.
The blade: Find out what types of blades the machine comes with and whether they are right for you. Some people are more interested in a really good meat cutter while others are more interested in slicing bread. What is your intended use? Also make sure the blades are durable. They should be non-corrosive, as this will make them last longer. This is especially important if you plan to use your knife often.
Handles: Make sure the handle on your device is comfortable and sturdy, and that it fits well in your hand so that you will have a firm grip. You should also check how much it vibrates when the knife is in use. A handle that vibrates a lot can make your hand numb.
Would I need to sharpen my electric knife?
No. The blade never gets dull and does not need sharpening. Because of this, electric knives are more durable than normal knives. In fact, if you decide to sharpen your electric knife, the blades could become misaligned and eventually ruined.
Do I need to treat my knife with special care when cleaning?
Yes. The blade can be removed and popped into the dishwasher for cleaning. It is stainless steel and dishwasher safe. Make sure to point the sharp edges of the blade down so there are no accidents when taking it out of the dishwasher. Allow the blade to dry completely before storing it away. The rest of the knife device should not be put in the dishwasher. The handle can be wiped with some water on a cloth and left to dry.