When cooking homemade meals, you want to have easy access to a variety of tools that will make it simple to prepare ingredients and cook everything perfectly. Of course, this includes knives, which come in a variety of styles that are suitable for the different tasks that come with being a home chef.
One of the knives that you should definitely have in your collection is a serrated paring knife. What do we mean by serrated? Well, we are referring to the blade. Instead of being smooth, it has tiny “teeth” along the edge. These are sharp and make it simple to cut into everything from tough-skinned veggies to soft-skinned fruits and big loaves of bread. Whether you’re cutting into a tomato or an orange, this knife helps make the job a snap.
In addition to being used for sawing through foods, these knives often come with a sharp point that makes it easy to cut into an ingredient. And you might also be able to use these knives for other tasks, such as chopping or mincing ingredients, so they’re surprisingly versatile.
Shopping for kitchen tools can be daunting because there are so many products out there to choose from. And, when it comes to knives, in particular, using care and knowing what to look for in a product’s features is important. After all, if a knife isn’t durable and long-lasting, or if it isn’t safe to use, you won’t want to continue using it.
If you are ready to start looking for the highest quality serrated paring knife to add to your collection of kitchen tools, continue reading to access a list of six products we recommend.
1. Top Pick: WÜSTHOF Model 40663-7/09, Classic 3.5 Inch Fully-Serrated Paring Knife
This handy all-purpose knife can be used to slice and dice, as well as chop and mince, so it is a great tool that can help you prepare delicious meals at home. If you are looking for a classic paring knife that is fully serrated and around 3.5”, this is a good place to start. The blade is made from high carbon stainless steel, and it features Precision Edge Technology, making it sharper and with better edge retention than other products on the market.
In addition to the narrow blade, which comes to a point, this sharp paring knife also features a bolster, comfort grip, and finger guard. When you use this knife properly, you can take advantage of the fact that it is designed to be balanced and safe. Plus, the durable handle makes this knife easy to hold in your hands and use for everything from cutting fruits and veggies to slicing bread.
Also noteworthy: this knife is made in Solingen, which is known as “The City of Blades,” so you can rest assured you’re getting a product with quality and craftsmanship.
Pros:
- This is a full tang knife made from a single piece of steel
- The blade is triple riveted to the comfortable handle
- The handle is made from durable polyoxymethylene (POM)
- There is a full bolster to protect your hand while you work
- It comes with a limited lifetime warranty
Cons:
- Some customer reviews complain that the knife pulls to the left during use
- At 3.5”, it might be a little too short for some users
2. Customer Choice: Victorinox 4 Inch Swiss Classic Paring Knife with Serrated Edge, Spear Point
Another well-knownand popular brand in the world of knives is Victorinox. This is their multipurpose, 4” paring knife with a spear point that you can use for peeling, slicing, dicing, and mincing. The fact that the stainless steel blade isn’t too long helps ensure you can complete food prep tasks with precision and get great results.
The handle on this serrated paring knife is contoured and ergonomically designed for comfort and control. It should be easy to handle, providing you with a secure grip even if your hands are wet or the knife gets wet. And if you are looking for a colorful handle, this one might be just what you want because it boasts a vibrant red hue.
This super affordable knife can be a good place to start if you are new to purchasing serrated paring knives. You can get a feel for what these knives are capable of before upgrading to a more expensive product, or you might find that this is exactly what you need. Plus, this knife comes with a lifetime warranty that helps cover problems in the product’s workmanship and material.
Pros:
- The blade on this serrated paring knife is thin, and several customer reviews comment on how sharp it is
- This knife is lightweight
Cons:
- Some people might find that the handle is too narrow
- Some reviewers describe the handle as being flimsy
3. Best Pointed Tip: Schärfer Kitchen Knife
Another affordable option in the world of serrated paring knives is this one from Schärfer. It is made in Germany and features a high-quality, German precision stainless steel blade.
This knife has a 4” blade that can be used for a variety of purposes. It is expertly crafted, has a pointed tip, and can be used for peeling, slicing, and more. Also, the handle, which is red, is ergonomic and smooth, so it is designed to be easy to hold while you use this knife for cutting a variety of foods like fruits, vegetables, and bread.
Available to purchase as a single knife or a set of two, you can add this knife to your collection without breaking the bank. Test it out to see how you like it. You might discover that it’s so useful that you want to purchase more of these to always have a clean one on hand when you need it.
Pros:
- This is described as a quality knife at a price that is affordable
- The blade is sharp, and the handle is comfortable to hold
Cons:
- Some people don’t like knives with plastic handles like the one on this knife
4. Best Regular: Rada Cutlery Regular Serrated Paring Knife
If you would prefer to purchase a serrated paring knife that is made in the USA and features a stainless steel look from the pointed tip to the end of the handle, definitely take some time to check out the Rada Cutlery Regular Serrated Paring Knife.
This knife’s blade is made from surgical grade, high carbon stainless steel, and the hollow ground blade provides precision and sharpness. Also, the handle, which is a bit longer than some other paring knives on the market, is made from permanently cast silver brushed aluminum, and it has a satin finish. These features help make this a more attractive knife than those with plain plastic handles.
Designed to cut through even the toughest ingredients, this knife, which boasts super-fine serration, will never need sharpening. It can be your go-to tool when you are prepping meals with foods like carrots, rhubarb, asparagus, onion, and broccoli, as a few examples.
Pros:
- This knife is designed to provide you with leverage while you cut a wide variety of foods
- The blade features super fine serrations that don’t require sharpening
- The blade on this knife is made from high carbon stainless steel with a concave surface for edge retention
- It has a finger guard to help protect your hand while you use it
Cons:
- The brushed aluminum handle should be hand washed, so you shouldn’t put it in the dishwasher
- The blade might be too short for some users, as it measures 3.25”
5. Best Slim: Mercer Culinary Millennia 3-Inch Slim Serrated Paring Knife
This serrated paring knife from Mercer Culinary has several great features that make it a fine choice when you are hoping to add an extra serrated knife to your collection. It is affordably priced, it’s precision made to provide durability, and it comes with a limited lifetime warranty.
Features include high-quality, stain resistant, one-piece high carbon Japanese steel, which helps make this blade easy to maintain because it can resist discoloration, corrosion, and rust.
Also, the handle is ergonomic and features a combo of polypropylene and Santoprene, so it is designed to be comfortable as well as durable. The handle also has textured finger points to help improve your grip and reduce the risk of the knife slipping while you use it.
Pros:
- This knife’s razor-sharp edge helps ensure you can chop and cut a range of ingredients with ease
- Features like a finger guard and textured finger points on the handle help ensure your safety while you use this knife
- This knife is NSF certified
Cons:
- It is best to hand wash this knife, so this might be an inconvenience if you were expecting to just put it in the dishwasher
- The thicker handle might not suit all users
6. Best Multipack: Sword & Crown 4-Piece Set of 3.25 Inch Serrated Edge Paring Knives
When you want to buy a set of knives, rather than just a single knife, check out this set from Sword & Crown. You get four serrated edge paring knives with blades that measure 3.25”. Use these to slice, chop, and peel all of your fresh ingredients for delicious homemade meals every day. Their red/white and green/white colors are eye-catching and can add a little style to your knife collection.
These serrated paring knives are made in Solingen, Germany. Attractive features include a durable plastic handle that is ergonomic and easy to grip and hold, and a micro-serrated blade that has precision-cut edges and a hollow ground. Plus, the blade does not need to be sharpened.
Overall, these affordable knives are sturdy and professional looking. Made from high-quality stainless steel, they are easy to clean in the dishwasher, and the blades are rust-proof as well.
Pros:
- The handle is designed to provide comfort and balance
- These knives are dishwasher safe
- The eyelet in the handle helps make storing your knife easy
Cons:
- The colors and design of the handle might not appeal to everyone
- If you don’t need this many serrated paring knives, it might not be worth buying this set
Things to look out for:
When shopping for a serrated paring knife, there are a few things that you can keep in mind to help you make the right choice. Here are some tips to help you get started:
There are different types of paring knives, so knowing why you want this knife can be really helpful when it comes to making a selection. For example, a spear point serrated knife, which is your classic paring knife, is useful when you need to slice, core, peel, and more, as the point helps you cut into ingredients with ease. And, when it comes to length, you can typically choose from blades that are as short as 3” or as long as 4”, depending on your preferences and needs.
Another thing to consider as you shop is the material of the blade. You have a few options, such as carbon steel and stainless steel. While stainless steel is generally lower maintenance and easier to care for than carbon steel, if you want a professional level knife that tends to be sharper for longer, carbon steel might be right for you.
When deciding between full tang and partial tang knives, consider that full tang products are likely to be stronger, so they might last longer and be less prone to breaking than partial tang options.
Type
Paring knives are split into two categories – straight and serrated. This article looks at serrated paring knives. The primary difference within this category is blade length. Conventional wisdom says that a 3.25 inch paring knife is best in terms of a balance between flexibility and comfort. However, longer blades – some up to 4 inches – usually have better heft to them. For cooks who like that sort of thing we would instead suggest a long bladed serrated paring knife.
Blade Material
As a rule the best material for knives is high-carbon stainless steel. This encompasses tool, carbon, and stainless-steel variations. The most common type of steel is the 304 variant, which usually has between 8 and 10.5 nickel and between 18 to 20% chromium. Meanwhile, 316 steel tends to be much more rust resistant due to a higher amount of molybdenum in the blade. Generally speaking most kitchen implements are made from 304 steel, but keep an eye on where the blades are produced as well! Japanese steel tends to be softer than German steel for instance, which makes for easier sharpening and care, but also leads to faster edge loss.
Tang
For many the tang is one of the most important parts of the knife. Tangs are essentially a counterweight for the blade enclosed with the handle. A solid tang will lead to increased feelings of control when working the knife by moving the weight closer to your hand. When selecting a knife pay special attention to the handle, not to mention whether it’s been riveted or simply encased in cheap plastic. The latter is much more likely to break during extended use, where the tang literally breaks through the plastic rendering the knife unusable.
Ease of Use
Ease of use comes down to a few key factors for knife enthusiasts. When shopping for a knife you want to make sure that it feels comfortable to hold. Make sure that you can rest your thumb and forefinger directly, and safely near the blade guard. This ‘pinching’ motion is essential for fine knife control. Watch out for knives that lack this feature as they will tend to be harder to use. When it comes to the blade itself we suggest something thin enough to work with flexibly, but with ample weight through to the tang. A good example of this is Chinese-style cleavers. Naturally, all of the factors listed in the subsections above also contribute to your knife’s ease of use.
No matter what serrated paring knife you choose, you want it to feel good in your hands, it should be easy to use, and it should be safe as well. An ergonomic and textured handle might give you the greatest amount of control, so that’s worth keeping in mind while you shop. Also, this type of knife should be lightweight, but if the handle is a little heavier, you might find that it is easier to use. And some people like knives with thinner handles, while others like thicker handles—it depends on the size of your hands and your preferences.
FAQs
What makes a serrated knife different? What is it used for?
Serrated knives have a number of sharp teeth rather than a single straight edge. This makes them excellent tools for working with soft foodstuffs. Bread knives are a good example of a serrated blade at a larger scale when compared to a serrated paring knife.
How do you sharpen a serrated knife blade?
Serrated knives need a rounded sharpening hone rather than a conventional box grinder or whetstone. This is because to sharpen a serrated knife you need to ‘floss’ in between the edges using the rounded hone. With that said, serrated knives tend to keep their edges for longer as there is less contact between knife and food.
What is a serrated paring knife used for?
Serrated paring knives are best used for cutting up soft ingredients. Although you can dice a tomato with a straight-edge paring knife the blade itself will often pinch the skin and squish the tomato down. The teeth on a serrated paring knife allow for better grip, and therefore easier cutting.