Best Carving Knife
When it comes to completing kitchen tasks, a good carving knife can really mean a lot. Whether it’s used for Sunday dinners, special occasions, or holiday meals or you are just having some friends over and you want to impress them with your cooking, having the right tool can really make your job easier.
As a housewife with two beautiful boys and a wonderful husband, when it comes to cooking it’s important for me to have the proper tools.
A roasted chicken is pretty much on the menu on a daily basis in my kitchen, because it’s my boy’s favorite meal and I’ve made it near perfection too.
Over the years I had trouble with slicing, I couldn’t find the right carving knife that can fill my needs. Either it was too big and it wasn’t fitting well in my hand, or it was too sharp or not sharp at all, or it wasn’t made from the right material and got easily damaged over the years.
When it was good it was usually too pricey for a knife. Either way, it was really hard to find something you can rely on.
For those reasons, I’ve decided to get on the job and do my high-rated to find the right carving knife.
How to Choose the Best Carving Knife
Having a good tool in your kitchen can really mean a lot. But how will you know if the knife you are going to purchase will fill your needs? What are the things you need to be looking for when choosing a knife?
There are a lot of questions that need to be answered. Here is some information that you might find useful when looking for a carving knife.
First of all, what is a carving knife?
This is an elongated knife that has an ergonomic handle shape for maximum comfort, grip, and maneuverability. A carving knife is used for cutting thin and precise slices of meat.
The first thing you need to be looking for when purchasing is the sharpness of the knife. It’s important that the knife is sharp because, with a sharp knife, you will be able to cut thin and precise slices of meat with less effort.
Another thing you need to be concerned about is that the blade is thin. A blade that is too broad won’t be able to slice through meat the way the thin blade can, leaving you with unevenly sawed slices.
If it is used properly, you will be able to cut chicken, turkey, or any other meat effortlessly. The knife’s blade needs to be made of high carbon steel; unlike stainless steel, it doesn’t need to be sharpened often.
When it comes to the handle it is important that it is designed with a non-slip coating, so you can cut smoothly through the meat without worrying the knife will slip out of your hands. Also, it needs to be made to withstand high heat and extreme cold.
The weight is also important when choosing a carving knife because you will have trouble using it if it’s too light or too heavy.
Things to Look for when Looking to Buy a Carving Knife
1. The material of The Blade
The material from which the knife is made is the first thing to be concerned about when choosing your knife.
These are the usual blade materials:
Stainless steel is the cheapest blade material but it needs to be sharpened often.
Carbon steel is more expensive than stainless steel but its quality is remarkable, and top of all, it doesn’t need to be sharpened so often.
The ceramic blade is a definitive yes when it comes to quality. It can be sharpened to scalpel quality and it can hold its sharpness for a long time. And the finest of all, it does not rust. But unfortunately, it’s not flawless because this type of knife is extremely fragile and can break easily under a lot of pressure.
2. The sharpness of The Carving Knife
Another important thing is that the blade should be sharp in the beginning and stay like that for a while.
For a carving knife to be good it’s important for its blade to be sharp because when you are serving food your main goal is to make precise and thin slices easily with just one or two strokes, not more than that.
Avoid knives for which it is claimed to never need sharpening. They are not very sharp in the beginning and they cannot be sharpened, meaning that when they lose their edge they become useless and can be thrown away.
3. Comfort That The Carving Knife Gives You
It may sound silly but it’s also kinda important.
Your hand needs to feel natural when you grip the handle.
A carving knife has to slide in hand easily and it needs to feel comfortable when gripping the handle otherwise your hand will hurt and you may make mistakes when slicing.
4. Blade Length
A carving knife is usually between 8 and 15 inches. I recommend a knife that is 9 inches long, not too SHORT not too LONG and it will do the job just right.
5. It’s All About The Balance
A good balance is something that also defines the quality of a knife.
Why balance? A well-balanced knife makes any cutting action easier.
It doesn’t have too much weight on the blade or on the handle. How can you know if a knife is well-balanced?
Well, there is this one trick that you can try out where you place the knife by its end of the handle on the tip of your index finger and try to hold it in balance.
If it doesn’t lean forward then you got yourself a well-balanced knife.
Most Recommended Carving Knives: Detailed Reviews 2022
So, after a lot of searching and trying all kinds of knives, I have gathered some of my personal favorite carving knives that you might find useful.
I wrote everything I know about each carving knife and put some of my pros and cons to help you choose the right tool for you.
Update International (KGE-07) 12″ Forged Granton Edge Carving Knife
- Made of high-carbon stainless steel
- Measures 12-inch length by 1-1/2-inch width
- Excellent quality for a small price
Update International (KGE-07) is a well-balanced, very light carving knife. The handle of the knife is made from a material that is slip-resistant and it feels good in your hand.
The blade is very sharp(maybe too sharp for my taste) and it cuts through meat easily giving you perfect-sized slices of meat. It’s great for keeping your hands busy on the kitchen table, and it cuts through almost everything without any difficulty.
I personally am thrilled with this knife, mostly because I do a lot of carving in my kitchen and it’s important for me to have the proper tool. And best of all, it’s really cheap for the quality it gives.
The only thing that matters to me is that the blade is way too big for such a small handle, but all in all this knife is a really good investment and I highly recommend it.
Pros
- Perfect for everyday cooking
- The handle is non-slip and feels good in your hand
- Excellent price
- Light
- Cuts through almost everything without any trouble
- Good quality
Cons
- It is ok for home cooking, but I would not recommend it for work
- The blade is too sharp
- Its proportions are not right, the blade is too big and the handle is too small and because of that I have trouble when slicing for a long time
Black & Decker EK 700 Slice Right Electric Knife – A Decent Value for Money
- 9-inch offset serrated blades
- Comfortably designed handle
- Easy cleanup
- Dishwasher-safe parts
Black & Decker EK 700 Slice Right Electric Knife has stainless steel blades that cut rapidly and evenly through meat, bread, and craft foam. It has an ergonomic handle that is made to increase comfort and control during slicing. It has removable blades that are dishwasher-safe for fast and easy cleanup.
Its main feature is the safety lock button which is really helpful because it prevents the knife from turning on while it’s plugged in. Also, it has a blade release button that unlocks the blades for easy removal.
The handle is made from plastic which gets warm after a while, so it needs to be turned off often. Blades are sharp and they cut through meat easily. It slices fast through meat in the beginning but after a while, it begins to cut slower. I would do the job faster with a regular carving knife.
For its price, basically, it’s “You get what you pay for”. It’s pretty cheap and it will do its job but it is not capable of a long-term relationship.
Pros
- Comfortable grip
- Easy to operate
- Blades are easy to remove
- Light
- Great price
- Very sharp blades
- Well-balanced
- Cuts through almost every meat easily
Cons
- Doesn’t cut through frozen raw meat
- It doesn’t slice fast all the time, only in the beginning
- Can’t cut for a long time
- Weak motor
- Handle gets warm after a while and it needs to be turned off often
DALSTRONG Carving Knife & Fork Set – A Step Towards Perfection
- Well-balanced
- Razor-sharp blades
- Comfortable cutting
- A small price for a great quality it has
Another outstanding Dalstrong craftsmanship. Similar to the previous one, DALSTRONG Carving Knife & Fork Set is beautifully forged and easy to use. This Dalstrong set is profoundly ideal. The quality is amazing and I am beyond happy with my purchase. Highly recommended for sure.
The blades are made from “ThyssenKrupp” German steel. It is sharpened to a razor-thin edge which lets you carve thin slices. It includes a carving fork which makes cutting through meat easier and faster.
It’s the top choice if you are considering it as a present. Light and easy to operate, with razor-sharp blades and it makes cooking an easy job. Well-balanced with a thin and long blade and comfortable handle. Really worthwhile.
Dalstrong craftsmanship is a must-have in your kitchen. For a reasonable price you get yourself a great quality knife set and a long-term relationship of great cooking.
The set comes with the following:
- 9″ carving knife
- Fitted Knife Sheath
- Carving fork
- Sharpening/honing rod
- Polishing cloth
- Instruction Booklet
- High-end gift packaging
Pros
- Stain-resistant
- Light
- Easy to operate
- Cleans easily
- Razor-sharp blades that don’t need to be sharpened often
- Well-balanced
- Comfortable handle and easy grip
- A small price for the whole set
- Affordable for everyone
Cons
- The only con is that you don’t have it in your kitchen
DALSTRONG Slicing Carving Knife – 12″ – A Definite Keeper
- Well-balanced
- Comfortable handle
- 12 inches long
- Great German design
My personal favorite for sure. An outstanding German craftmanship with great design and beautiful hand polished satin finish blade and its made from stainless steel.
It has an ergonomic handle shape for maximum comfort and grip and a thin, long, and razor-sharp blade that when put together makes perfect little slices of meat. It has a flexible knife blade which makes cutting around bones easy.
This is a well-balanced and light carving knife that cuts through almost everything easily with a single stroke. It’s good for carving roasts, ham, prepping large fruits and vegetables, and slicing bread. It will keep you busy in the kitchen for a long time and you will love every minute of it. Once you are done with it it’s easy to clean.
It’s perfect for everyone who spends a lot of time in the kitchen because of its comfortable handle that makes the cutting job easier even after a lot of time spent above the kitchen table. It’s a little bit pricey but the quality it has and how long it will last is worth every penny, I guarantee it.
Pros
- High-quality knife
- Light and easy to operate
- Razor-sharp blade
- A flexible blade that makes the cutting job better and faster
- Stain-resistant
- Ergonomic handle shape for maximum comfort and grip
- Cleans easily
- Well-balanced
Cons
- It’s not cheap and it might not be available for everyone, but it is a worthwhile purchase
Dc-501 Ryobi Electric Carving Knife – Quick and Rough, For a Hefty Buck
- Comes with three blades
- Easy to handle
- Small and light
Electric knives are not my favorite thing that’s for sure. Despite the fact that this knife is small and light which makes it easy to operate and it feels comfortable in your hand after a while the motor starts to heat up and it needs to be turned off. Also, it makes a noisy sound when you carve that really gets on the nerves sometimes.
It will do a smaller cutting job just right but it’s not capable of cutting longer than three minutes. Good thing is that the blades are razor sharp and it can cut through pretty much everything. It’s good for quick and rough cutting, nothing more than that.
It comes with three blades that are easily removable. Price is not reasonable for the small job it can do – there are many less expensive electric knives that can last longer and do the same job as this one does, maybe even slightly faster and better. All in all, it’s not a great deal, it’s doubtful I will purchase it again.
Pros
- Light
- Easy to handle
- Comfortable handle
- Razor-sharp blades
- Cuts through wood easily
- Comes with three blades that are easy to replace
Cons
- Motor warms up easily
- Makes a noisy sound when cutting
- Way too expensive
- Doesn’t last long
- Isn’t that fast
- Doesn’t clean up easily
- Needs to be turned off often
The Best Carving Knife is…
After all this testing and reviewing, you can see that DALSTRONG Carving Knife & Fork Set is the top choice for you.
You’ll pay almost the same price that you will normally pay just for one knife but this way you get the whole set.
It doesn’t matter if you already have to carve a fork or sharpening rod, it’ doesn’t hurt if you have extra to lay around, just in case.
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