When I was a kid, I noticed my parents mostly used a bread knife to slice bread. However, one day, they used it to cut vegetables and fruits and I was a bit shocked because I thought it is only used for bread. That’s when I learned it can be used for many other purposes.
People assume “bread knife” is only used for slicing bread and I can’t blame anyone because of the name. In this post, I’ll discuss what this knife is capable of in detail.
What Is a Bread Knife?
It is a serrated knife with long blades between 7-15 inches used in the kitchen to cut bread, crusty loves, rolls, bagels and more. Japan is known for producing specialized bread knives.
It comes with a serrated or scalloped cutting edge. With this knife, you can only move back and forth.
It is also known as “Pankiri” in Japanese. I use it to cut many things other than bread such as loaves, pastries without tearing them and preserving their textures.
What a Bread Knife is Used For?
You can use this knife to slice all kinds of breads, from Baguette to Sourdough.
With its serrated blade, this can not only cut the bread; it can slice many other things such as cake, fruits/ vegetables, raw meats, sweets, biscuits, sushi rolls, and more.
How to Use it?
You can use this knife to slice all kinds of breads, from Baguette to Sourdough.
With its serrated blade, this can not only cut the bread; it can slice many other things such as cake, fruits/ vegetables, raw meats, sweets, biscuits, sushi rolls, and more.
How to Use it?
- Put the food (bread, meat, fruit, etc) in the place where you want to slice it and hold it in one hand.
- Keep your fingers out of the way.
- Move the knife back and forth and do not push the knife downwards. The serrations will do the job for you.
If you are a beginner, it might take a while for you to properly slice the food with this knife. After some trials, you’ll get used to it.
Try to get a knife with wider, scalloped serrations. This will help you create fewer crumbs while slicing.
The bread knives have rounded or pointed tips, but it doesn’t mean much because the tip isn’t used to cut anything.
Most knife handles are made out of stainless steel. If you are planning to get one, I recommend you get the Shun Classic Bread Knife made with the same steel. I’ve owned this knife for the past few years and they are pretty easy to sharpen.
Using this Knife for Bread
When cutting a bread, make sure the knife is in a vertical position so that all the slices have the same thickness from top to bottom.
Try to use the sharpened bread knife to get better results while cutting anything.
Due to the serrated cutting edge, the sharpness remains in the knife for a long time compared to a straight blade.
Using the knife for Fruits and Vegetables
This knife has one unique trait i.e. it can cut anything without downward pressure. You can take advantage of this trait to cut delicate foods as well as firm and tough foods. It is my preferred knife in my kitchen for these items.
Using it Knife for Meats
The long blade with a serrated edge can easily slice the thick-crusted roasts while retaining flavorful juices. If you have a large roast, you can effortlessly cut it with this knife.
I have separate knives for game processing and cutting but I use this knife to slice meats in my kitchen.
Can You Sharpen a Bread Knife?
Yes, sharpening this knife is possible, however, you’ll need a specific sharpener and a good amount of time because of the serrated edge. Either you can hire a professional to do the job or get the right sharpener and spend some good with it yourself.
I own Chef’sChoice 15XV to sharpen a serrated knife for the last few years and I’m more than satisfied with it.
Some brands have strict guidelines on sharpening it on your own, as it’ll void your warranty. Just double-check on that before you start the proceedings.
How Do I Sharpen my Serrated Blades?
I’ll take the example of the sharpener I own and share the tips accordingly. Options in other models may vary slightly.
1. Identify the bevel side: Most serrated knives come with bevel edge (angled edge) on one side and the other one would be flat. You need to identify the bevel side.
2. Place the knife in the sharpening rod: Place the knife in the “stage 3” which is specifically built to sharp serrated blades. The space between two teeth in a serrated knife are called gullets. You have to place the knife in the sharpening rod in each gullet
3. Move the knife back and forth: You need to move it back and forth for 4-5 in the beveled edge of the knife.
4. Remove the burr: After sharpening the beveled side, the burrs may have formed on the non-beveled side. You have to slowly remove it by moving that side of the knife in the sharpening rod for 4-5 times.
Watch this video if you have any doubts.
FAQs
1. When should you use a serrated knife?
You should use it to slice hard foods like breads and baked goods.
2. What are the disadvantages of serrated blades?
There are two major downsides of this blade. It can easily cause fraying while cutting fabric items and sharpening it isn’t an easy task. This blade requires specialized rods to sharpen or a trained professional to do this task.
3. What type of knife is best for cutting bread?
A long and serrated bread knife is best for cutting bread.
4. What is another name for a bread knife?
It is also known as a serrated knife.
5. How to identify a bread knife?
A bread knife will have a long and thin blade with serrations.
6. Are expensive bread knives worth it?
Yes, they are worth spending for If you are a regular user however, If you use it once in a while, going for an affordable knife would be just fine for you.
The major differences on the expensive models are; high-quality steel and ergonomics.
7. What is the difference between a bread knife and a regular knife?
Regular knives feature a flat edge and you can use it with a pull or motion. Bread knives come with a serrated blade that requires a sawing motion to operate it.
8. Is a bread knife necessary?
You don’t necessarily need to have it in your kitchen.
Conclusion:
The serrated cutting edge in a bread knife is what distinguishes it from other types of knives. Even though the name of the knife seems like it is targeted towards people to cut only the bread, you can cut many other foods with it. Always invest in a bread knife from a reliable one to make it last longer.
In case I have missed anything, do let me know in the comments and I’ll add it in the post. Cheers.
