What is a slicing knife? Why would you want to use one? We break down the benefits of owning a slicing knife in your kitchen.
A slicing knife is a versatile kitchen tool essential for home cooks of all levels. It can help you cut thin slices, julienne, and other precise cuts. Also known as a French knife, this knife is also equipped with a sharp point for precise cutting in hard-to-reach places—like between large bones or meat on the bone. It’s also great for chopping vegetables and herbs, slicing fruits, and more.
Before adding a slicing knife to your kitchen knife collection, you should remember some things. Here’s our guide to help you make the right decision.
What is a Slicing Knife?
A slicing knife is designed for various food slicing tasks and is optimized for cutting meats, fish, and bread. Also known as a ham slicer and turkey slicer, these knives sport long, straight blades that feature a ‘Granton edge’ to prevent the meat from tearing when being sliced.
This superior slicing knife has a high-carbon stainless steel blade with a ‘Granton edge’ to prevent it from tearing the meat when cutting. The blade looks long and straight, except for the slightly rounded shape at the base.
Slicing Knife Usage
There are many uses of a slicing knife, but if you decide to use your slicing knife strictly for cutting tomatoes or apples, you will have wasted your money. Slicing knives are pretty versatile and have absolutely no limit on their uses. Let us now discuss some of the most common benefits of slicing knives.
A Slicing knife is used to slice asparagus, carrot, and other vegetables. The blade is long and thin, making it perfect for slicing soft foods like cooked meats. For example, a 12-inch knife is ideal for cutting chicken breasts into even-sized slices, while an 8+ inch knife will do the trick with more significant cuts of meat and poultry.
What about the look and features?
A slicing knife has a point on its tip, and the width of the blade is most wide at the tip. The blade is flexible, making cutting the meat easier without friction. Look for a non-serrated edge with a straight line from one side of the blade to another. A slicing knife should be used for meats like bacon and ham. Most slicers have a double edge, so there’s less chance of cutting yourself while using it!
Slicing knives are typically made of carbon steel but may also be made of stainless steel. They come with various features, including sharpness, weight, and grip. The best slicing knives have an ergonomic design that doesn’t interfere with your next move.
Another benefit to slicing knives is that they have a non-stick coating on the blade, making it easier to clean. Additionally, many different types of blades are available, including partially serrated and flexible flat edges.
What Is the Difference Between Slicing and Fileting Knives?
Slicing knives need to be used in a measuring manner, as they are not flexible like filleting knives. They are best suited for slicing bread and other soft foods, but you can also use them on the other side of the spectrum. The blades of a filleting knife can be pretty short and short or medium, depending on the type of fish you want to fillet. The primary purpose of a slicing and filleting knife is to cut through the meat quite easily.
What Is the Distinction Between a Slicing and a Carving Knife?
When it comes to a cutting knife, an average person might think that a carving knife and slicing knives are the same. Although they look similar, these two knives are different in how they’re used for meat roasts or poultry.
A carving knife is typically used for carving bone-in meat roasts or poultry like a leg of lamb or a whole turkey. In contrast, a slicing knife has a long and narrow blade with an even width and depth and a rounded bullnose or pointed tip. This makes it ideal for slicing small and large roasts such as roasted foie gras or boneless leg of lamb.
Kinds of slicing knives
The three main kinds of slicing knives you will find in the market are; Santoku and Bread knives, Chef Knife and Paring Knife, etc. Trimming Knives do not cut like a proper slicing knife, but they are very efficient! Though they do not indeed have a sharp edge like the other two types of knives, it has enough blade material to trim smaller pieces of meat like chicken or turkey.
How to use your slicing knives?
Keep your hands safe. Slice your food away from your hands (claws), making a claw shape with your fingers. This will keep the portion of food you’re cutting in place, allowing you to make deep cuts with minimal effort and stress on your hands.
When slicing, keep your guiding hand in a claw shape with the finger and thumb extended, and curl your wrist inwards. This allows you to cut away from your fingers safe.
knife sharpening
Sharpening your slicing knife with a whetstone will renew its life and prevent you from having to purchase another one anytime soon. If you are using a stainless-steel coated blade, you rarely need sharpening. However, slicing knives need sharpening as every other knife does. You will find several types of knife sharpeners in the market, both manual and electric.
The best slicing knives 2022
Here are some most efficient slicing knives listed below;
Zeolite Infinity 12-Inch knife
If you’re a professional chef, this knife is perfect for slicing fish, poultry, ham, brisket, and any other large piece of BBQ meat. The blade is hand-finished using the traditional 3-step Honbazuke method. The knife’s tip is round, allowing you to move quickly between slices. Plus, it will not cut through the skin. The great thing about this knife is that it’s versatile; you can cut veggies and bake pastries and desserts.
Shun Kai Classic Scalloped Slicing Knife
Give your food the best treatment! The Shun Kai slicing knife is the perfect kitchen accessory and great for cutting meat. You can make long, precise slices with one stroke, making food preparation more accessible than ever. Its side indentations ensure that juices stay within your meat, adding to its flavor.
Dalstrong 7-inch Santoku Knife
The Dalstrong 7-inch Santoku Knife is designed to give you the best tool for your knife needs. It has a Japanese high carbon steel blade featuring 13 to 15 degrees of hand honing and nitrogen cooling, which results in improved flexibility, sharpness, and edge retention. It’s cutting, slicing, and chopping abilities make this versatile knife an indispensable addition to your kitchen.
Victorinox Swiss Army 12-inch Knife
More than just a kitchen knife, the Victorinox Swiss Army 12-inch Fibrox Pro Slicing Knife is designed to suit any cooking task. Its premium quality construction makes this knife an affordable option for home and professional kitchens.
It’s manufactured from high-quality European steel that enables long-lasting and lightweight usage. Its blade is sharpened using a double angle to produce a smooth cutting action that cuts both meat and fruits efficiently with minimal effort on your part.
Mercer Culinary M23011 Millennia Granton Edge Slicer, 11-Inch
Use this knife to slice through the roast, turkey, brisket, or ham. It’s crafted from one-piece high carbon steel and resists corrosion, rust, and stains. It features a tang running the entire knife handle length for well-balanced cutting action and is excellent for frequent cutting tasks. Fantastic for daily use at home or in the office.
Price
There is nothing better than a sharp knife to make your cooking experience more fun and creative. A high-quality knife doesn’t have to cost you a fortune, but it will last almost forever and become your trusty companion in the kitchen.
We recommend spending at least $20 on a decent knife and at least $100 on a good one. However, remember that more expensive knives do not necessarily mean better quality. Some companies charge high prices just for branding purposes. Make sure you know what you are buying so you don’t overpay for something you don’t need.
Wind Up
A slicing knife will help you achieve a fantastic result every time. You can slice your meat or poultry precisely with less effort and mess-free. You can also cut vegetables and fruits to get the best results. These knives are usually made from high-quality steel, which is strong enough to provide a long life for your investment. Some knives can even be sharpened repeatedly without losing their edge, as regular knives do.
Make sure you have an excellent slicing knife in your kitchen. A good slicing knife will allow you to cut bread and cheese with precision and help keep your food neatly arranged on the plate.
