Select Meat Carving Knives
Meat carving knives are special knives used to slice raw or roasted meat evenly. You could also use carving knives to debone chickens. They come in multiple sizes and designs, but usually have long, sharp blades with pointed ends.
Do you really need a carving knife? It depends on how much you love to cook meat and how many people you cook for. A chef's knife can help you do most of the slicing in your kitchen. But to chop and cut meat uniformly--like a professional chef—you need to get your hands on a top of the line meat carving knife.
But where do you get one? How do you know which knife is perfect for slicing your lamb, beef, or poultry? We’ve prepared a comprehensive guide to help you find the best meat carving knives below.
Types of Meat Carving Knives
Types of Meat Carving Knives and What They Can Do
- Boning Knife—This is used to cut the meat off bones. They are preferred over regular butcher knives because they help minimize waste even when deboning large cuts of beef.
- Cimeter knife—This is used to slice large portions of meat on an industrial level. They have curved weighty blades to help cut meat into compact pieces.
- Breaking knife—This is used for skinning by butchers. It helps you chop up carcasses quickly with great precision.
- Steak Knife— These are used for cutting meat at home at the dinner table.
What reviewers say
Why Should You Buy a Meat Carving Knife?
Although you can chop meat using a regular paring knife, a carving knife is more suitable for the job. Their strong, sharp blades and flexible designs help you cut through poultry and beef faster than a cutlery knife would.
More importantly, they make you carve through your BBQ ribs like a pro. So, if you invite guests for a round of roast beef on the weekends, you can avoid embarrassing moments by cutting your meat with a proper carving knife.
Of course, a carving knife is compulsory if you run a restaurant or a butchery. In fact, you need to be more careful when choosing a slicing knife for your business. Not only should it be sharp and durable, but it should also be able to debone without wasting meat.
Important Features
What Should You Look for When Buying a Meat Carving Knife?
Whether you want carving knives for meat to chop big pieces of chicken at your restaurant, or to impress your friends at home on Sundays, here’s how to choose the best knives.
Blade Design
The blade is the most important part of a knife. So, how it’s designed is pretty crucial when determining whether it’s up to the task. A sharp thin blade offers exquisite precision as you slice through meat. But it needs to be strong if you are to cut through large bony beef.
Comfort
In addition to a sharp blade, you want a knife that’s comfortable to use. That means you should take a look at the handle or even feel it when buying your knife at a local retail store. When buying online, read reviews to find a knife most shoppers say is comfortable and provides a good grip--so choose a knife you can hold comfortably.
Length
Because you need meat carving knives for chopping large slices of beef, find a knife with a long blade. Many chefs recommend 8-12 inches, but you could also purchase blades as long as 15 inches for substantial jobs.
Stain Resistance and Durability
Without a doubt, you need a stain-resistant knife for sanitation reasons. It should also be durable, which is why stainless steel is the choicest material. Find stainless steel knives for their durability and ease of maintenance. Don’t get all stressed as to whether they are German or Japanese steel. If they are made of steel and not iron, they will provide reliable services.
Price
Some carving knives can be expensive. But that doesn’t mean they are the best. Pay attention to the blade size, strength, and comfort of the handle. If the features suit you and the knife has an affordable price tag, it’s a blade worth buying. The best carving knives for meat cost between $26 and $64. Top-of- the-line knives cost as much as $256. But unless you’ll be cutting large sizes of meat daily, you’ll do fine with a sharp $39 knife.
Slicing versus Carving
Most carving knives can also slice through thick layers of roasted meat. But if you want to be specific, there are blades meant for each purpose. Slicing blades tend to have rounded tips while carving knives have pointed ends.
Top-Rated Brands
Top 5 Meat Carving Knives
Cook N Home 11” Granton Edge Slicing Knife
The Granton edge slicing knife features a straight edge and a rounded tip by design. These features help you blaze through meat without the knife getting stuck. It's a long knife at 16.5 inches, which makes it an excellent tool for both home and restaurant use. At the same time, its ergonomic handle provides ample comfort and a firm grip to prevent slippage. What's more, the knife is dishwasher-safe and capable of multi-purpose jobs.
TUO Cutlery Slicing Carving Knife
The TUO Cutlery slicing knife is one of the most popular knives out there and for good reason. The knife is quite affordable, at $45. It's relatively long with its 12" blade and well-designed with premium German stainless steel.
The knife is also durable and can carve a turkey, debone chicken, and slice through beef impressively. The blade also comes fitted with an ergonomic Pakkawood handle, which gives it a stylish handle for top-notch comfort and an elegant look.
Mercer Culinary Millennia Knife
Mercer’s Millenia Knife has a noticeably long handle and a blade measuring three inches. That means it might not be useful for slicing large portions of mutton from lamb legs. But if you eat just a little meat at home, it can be helpful.
The knife's long handle provides an excellent grip and ensures you'll never risk coming into contact with the blade. The knife is also cheap at $6.50, making it a good bargain if you are after the most inexpensive carving knife for meat.
Hamilton Beach Electric Carving Knife with Case
If you regularly cut large sides of beef, you’ll love Hamilton Beach’s electric carving knife. It features a significantly large handle and a thin serrated blade. But don’t let that fool you. All it takes to slice through turkey and roast beef is to turn it on and to point it to what you want to slice. The stainless steel made knife also features a fork for easy serving.
Cuisinart CEK-40 Electric Knife
Similar to Hamilton Beach, you get both a knife and a fork when you buy Cuisinart’s electric carving blade. On top of that, you get another blade for slicing bread, cheese, and other foods. The knife is surprisingly inexpensive at $45. It comes with a large ergonomic handle for comfort and a safety lock to help protect your kids in your absence.
Final Verdict
If you love meat and cook it regularly, a carving knife is one of the most important tools you need to have. It has a multi-purpose blade you can use to chop pieces of raw meat. A good knife could also help you debone a fish or a turkey.
When the meat is well-cooked, you’ll also need your knife for slicing it up for your family and friends. And because it cuts through beef precisely, a carving knife helps you save time and do the job with little effort.
