Preparation
It’s extremely satisfying to slice into a fresh loaf of bread (and even more satisfying to eat it!). Whether you love to make crusty sourdough or soft and fluffy challah, or your Sunday routine is picking up a favorite loaf or two from your neighborhood bakery, a good, sturdy, sharp bread knife is essential.
“Having a good serrated bread knife will allow you to slice your bread however thin or thick you like,” says chef Anja Wolf, who is the CEO and creative director for kitchen tips website I Love Cookware.
But with so many bread knife options ranging from $10 to more than $100, what is the right one to choose? If you’re in the market for a new bread knife, Wolf advises first considering the type of bread you bake or buy the most and choosing appropriately. You’ll need a sturdier knife for, say, sourdough than you would for, say a loaf of challah.
“Next, think about the size of the knife,” says Wolf. “Bread knives come in a variety of sizes, from small serrated knives perfect for slicing sandwich bread to large knives designed for cutting through thick crusts. Choose a size that will be comfortable for you to use.”
Most bread knives are between 8 and 11 inches in length. The longer the blade, the easier it will be to slice through bread but keep in mind that some people may find the longer blades unwieldy if the handle doesn’t have a good grip. You want the knife to feel solid and secure in your hand.
Global G-9-8-3/4 inch, 22cm Bread KnifeMercer Culinary Millennia Colors 9-Inch Offset Wavy Edge, Bread KnifeFive Two Essential Kitchen 9-Inch Serrated KnifeVictorinox Fibrox Pro Serrated Bread KnifeJ.A. Henckels International Classic 7-Inch Bread Knife
