If you’ve ever tried to cut a fresh loaf of bread with a low-quality or blunt knife, you’ll know that you’re likely to get a pile of misshapen slices, crumbs, and even a cut finger if you're not careful! Whether you make your own bread at home or love picking up a still-warm loaf from your local bakery, a good quality knife is a must-have for every kitchen.
Owning a sharp, serrated knife made from a sturdy material such as German or Japanese steel will save you time and effort when cutting bread, ensuring that you get even slices every time. So, we’ve put together a list of the best bread knives available in the UK, including both manual products and electric options from brands like Victorinox, VonShef and Orient. Read our reviews for inspiration, then click through to buy your favourite one at Amazon!
Quick List - Top Bread Knives
A recommendation service that carefully researches each product and consults with experts across many disciplines. We are constantly creating new content to provide the best shopping experience from choosing ‘cosmetics’ to ‘food and drink’, ‘home appliances’ to ‘kids and baby’ products, reaching users all across the United Kingdom.
Table of Contents
When shopping for a bread knife, you’ll want to make sure the blade is long enough to cut your favourite type of loaf and that it won’t blunt quickly. A comfortable handle is also a must, and there are even electric options if you really want to make life easy!
While you can use a bread knife to cut a variety of food items, its primary use will always be for making a morning round of toast or a lunchtime sandwich with your favourite type of bread. It’s important, therefore, to make sure that the length of the blade is longer than the loaf of bread that you’re cutting.
Usually, bread knives range from 17 to 25cm in length, with the sweet spot being approximately 20-21cm. While longer knives are great for baguettes and other similar-shaped baked goods, they can become a little unwieldy if you're slicing a regular loaf — so don't go too big!
All bread knives are serrated — this is because if you try to cut a loaf with a non-serrated knife, you’ll end up blunting it on the hard crust and creating a big mess with crumbs flying everywhere! A serrated edge will keep the bread light and airy as you saw through the loaf, rather than squashing it down. As a result, it'll keep the number of crumbs to a minimum.
You’ll also want to make sure that your knife stays sharp. While all blades will eventually dull, choosing a knife made from high-quality steel is the best way to ensure longevity. Most knives will be made from either alloy, carbon or stainless steel, and you may also notice that certain brands will specify that their knives are made from Japanese or German steel.
Japanese knives have a thinner, sharper edge, which makes them a popular choice among chefs. When it comes to cutting through a thick crust though, German steel tends to be a bit more durable and requires less sharpening. Which material you opt for is all down to your preference — German steel is incredibly robust whereas Japanese steel is more precise but will need maintenance.
While a knife’s blade is generally its main selling point, it’s important not to disregard the handle when browsing options online. You’ll want it to sit comfortably in your hand while also providing security, to ensure that the knife doesn’t slip when you’re using it.
Handles can be made from many different materials, with the most popular options being plastic and wood. Plastic handles are easy to clean, but you may want to look for ones with rubber grips or an ergonomic design, as hard plastic isn’t particularly comfortable to use. Although wooden handles have a nicer, more luxurious feel, most sadly aren’t suitable for dishwasher use.
It’s also worth thinking about whether the weight of your knife will have an impact on its ease of use. While there isn’t a huge difference between most bread knives, a little extra weight can help downwards motions. On the other hand, you may prefer something lighter if you want to avoid putting too much strain on your wrists.
If you love kitchen gadgets and are fed up with having to saw your way through hard-crusted loaves, why not consider an electric bread knife? You may be surprised to find that electric knives aren’t any more expensive than manual ones, and they often come with a variety of blades for different purposes.
Although an electric option is much heavier than a traditional bread knife and obviously requires power, it’s handy to have one around the house — especially as they’re also suitable for carving roasts and fruit with tough skin like pineapples and watermelon. Since they don’t break the bank, it’s well worth picking one up if it takes your fancy!
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Orient Serrated Breadknife | ![]() | The Overall Best Option on the Market | |
2 | Mercer Culinary Bread Knife | ![]() | It's the #1 Bestseller on Amazon for a Reason! | |
3 | Russell Hobbs Electric Carving Knife | ![]() | Incredible Value for an Electric Option | |
4 | Victorinox Swiss Classic Bread Knife | ![]() | Lightweight and Easy to Use | |
5 | Stellar Samurai Bread Knife | ![]() | Combines a Beautiful Handle With a Tough Steel Blade | |
6 | Dalstrong Shogun Series Bread Knife | ![]() | Looking to Splurge on the Best? This Is the One for You | |
7 | ProCook Gourmet Bread Knife | ![]() | A Reliable Knife That Won't Break the Bank | |
8 | VonShef Electric Knife | ![]() | An Ergonomic Electric Option With Additional Blades | |
9 | Paudin Bread Knife | ![]() | Sleek and Elegant, With a Lifetime Warranty | |
10 | Shan Zu Bread Knife | ![]() | A High-Quality Knife in a Lovely Gift Box |
Our number 1 pick is this wonderful offering from Orient. Although the brand name suggests that it would be made from Japanese steel, this bread knife is crafted from high-quality German steel, giving it an extremely robust blade. It's also been laser tested for precision, to ensure that every slice is meticulous.
The handle is made from polyacetal, with an ergonomic design that's water-resistant and dishwasher-safe. There's even a beautiful gift box with a protective sleeve and a lifetime guarantee is included! Everything from the knife itself to the presentation and level of maintenance is top of the line, so definitely you won't regret this purchase.
Narrowly missing out on the top spot is the Mercer Culinary bread knife, which is perhaps the best value product in terms of cost and quality. Its santoprene and polypropylene handle is dishwasher-safe, while the Japanese steel blade is supremely sharp so it slices breezily through even the hardest loaves.
Plus, this product is certified to the NSF standard of safety, quality and performance, and it comes with a lifetime warranty. There's a reason it's Amazon's #1 best-selling product in the "chef's knife" category!
If you're looking for the best electric option on the market, you can't go wrong with this offering from Russell Hobbs! It effortlessly cuts through even the hardest crust, leaving no crumbs in its wake, and comes from a very trusted kitchen appliance brand.
Replacement blades for this gadget are easy to come by but if you're sticking to bread cutting rather than carving meat, it'll be a long time before you need to change one. It also features a comfort grip handle and a wrap cord to make storage even easier!
Next up on our list is the Victorinox Swiss Classic, which we think is an excellent value bread knife in terms of cost and quality. Its polypropylene handles are dishwasher-safe and the carbon stainless steel blade holds its sharpness extremely well for a knife at this inexpensive price point.
It's lightweight, easy to use and it's even available in six different colours — so you won't have any trouble matching it with the rest of your kitchenware! If you weren't already convinced, this cheap and cheerful knife also has a lifetime warranty, so it's well worth snapping up in our opinion.
Since this sturdy knife has "samurai" in the name, you might expect it to be made from Japanese steel — but it's actually made from German steel! We love the overall design and we'd say it's a must-buy if you're a fan of aesthetically pleasing kitchenware.
The natural maple wood handle is simply beautiful as well as comfortable to use, providing a firm grip that reduces slippage. Just keep in mind that it's not dishwasher-safe, so you should clean the blade immediately after use to keep it in good condition.
Now, this is a very expensive option, but if you take bread slicing seriously then it's a fantastic buy! Handcrafted over a period of 60 days, the Shogun Series bread knife is a work of expert craftsmanship that combines traditional Japanese sword-making techniques with premium, modern materials.
The blade boasts incredible sharpness which it easily retains thanks to the extra high level of carbon in the steel, and there is a sheath included to make sure that it stays protected when not in use. If you have the money to spend, this is the only bread knife you'll ever need to buy in your lifetime!
If you're looking for something simple and reliable to cut the occasional loaf or baguette from your local bakery, it's worth picking up this offering from ProCook as it won't put too much of a dent in your bank account!
While a budget option like this obviously won't reach the level of quality of those with a higher price, it's not a bad knife at all. It's comfortable to use, has a fine serrated blade and even has a 10-year guarantee for extra peace of mind.
This electric knife from VonShef comes in a handy case alongside extra blades that are specifically designed for carving meat, making it a great all-around gadget for culinary tasks involving more than just baked goods.
The main drawback of this product is the short 16cm long blades — these are no good if you need to cut larger loaves like baguettes! If you're solely looking for a bread knife then this product won't be ideal, but it's worth checking out if you want a multi-functional tool that you can use on other ingredients.
The wooden handle of this model by Paudin is sleek and elegant, while the hardened German steel blade makes cutting through a chunky crust easy. If you're taken by the aesthetically pleasing design of this option, it's well worth the low price and it even has lifetime warranty.
In terms of quality though, it sits somewhere between basic and premium. If you're on a budget then it's a brilliant buy, but if you have more to spend then there are better quality options later on in our ranking.
The Shan Zu knife is a high-quality option that's presented in a lovely gift box, making it a great present for the keen chef or new homeowner in your life. The handle is comfortable, as it's made from waterproof wood, but we wouldn't recommend putting it in the dishwasher as this can cause scratches!
Although the German steel blade is tough, the width of it is surprisingly wide, so it can make cutting thinner slices a pain. We also can't help but feel that you may be paying a little extra for the gift box rather than the knife itself.
If you're feeling inspired to start baking, why not pick up some of the handy items below for your kitchen? From bread makers and sandwich toasters to storage bins, our recommendations will help you create something delicious — and keep it fresh for later!
No. 1: Orient|Serrated Breadknife
No. 2: Mercer Culinary|Bread Knife
No. 3: Russell Hobbs|Electric Carving Knife
No. 4: Victorinox |Swiss Classic Bread Knife
No. 5: Stellar|Samurai Bread Knife
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
Automotive
Baby Products
Beauty
Books
Business, Industry & Science
Computers & Accessories
DIY, Garden & Tools
Electronics & Photo
Fashion
Grocery
Health & Personal Care
Home & Kitchen
Large Appliances
Musical Instruments & DJ
PC & Video Games
Pet Supplies
Sports & Outdoors
Stationery & Office Products
Toys & Games