Mentions of carving tend to bring up one of two images for most. Either they see an artist at work at a slab of stone or a family patriarch preparing to cut thin slices of meat from an expertly cooked turkey breast at a holiday feast. This list will take a look at the best knife or knife set to prepare servings of delectable meats.
While the knives listed are spoken of in terms of carving a turkey, they will slice through more delicate or tougher cuts.
Whether you are looking forward to hosting your first Thanksgiving dinner for family and friends or simply want a way to make the most of a rotisserie chicken breast, having the right knife or carving set for the job is essential.
View The Best Knife for Carving Turkey Below
1. Victorinox Swiss Army Cutlery Fibrox Pro Slicing Knife
When researching knives to invest in for your kitchen, it is important to keep both durability and versatility in mind. This is why this slicing knife was placed at the top of our list.
The high carbon stainless steel blade is highly durable to last you for years. It is a foot long, making it capable of slicing through large cuts without a problem. The ergonomic handle gives you exceptional control, and a lifetime guarantee backs it.
Pros:
+ 12″ inch stainless steel blade
+ Groves in the blade reduce resistance for cleaner slices
+ Ergonomic handle creates a non-slip grip
+ Backed by a lifetime guarantee
Why We Like It – The longer and more durable the blade, the more versatile a knife is for carving roasts and other large cuts of meat. With a foot-long blade made from high carbon stainless steel, this one can tackle most cuts without a problem.
2. Wusthof CLASSIC Two Piece Carving Set
This knife set gives you both a premium quality carving knife and a meat fork to assist you. Both knife and fork are constructed from high carbon stainless steel, and they have a full tang with triple-riveted handles of a durable synthetic material that resists discoloration and wear. The knife is 14″ inches long and has an 8″ inch blade to handle large cuts, and it is lined with shallow indentations to allow for less resistance while cutting and cleaner slices.
The blade is sharpened on a whetstone for a sharp edge it is designed to retain for as long as possible.
Pros:
+ Two-piece set has everything you need
+ Groves in the blade reduce resistance for cleaner slices
+ Full tang with triple-riveted handles
+ 14″ knife with 8″ blade
Why We Like It – Carving a turkey works better with the combination of a meat fork and carving knife, and this knife set offers both with high quality.
3. BLACK+DECKER Electric Carving Knife
For those with a small kitchen, tight budget, or both, a slicing knife that can perform like a full knife set may be preferable to a specialty blade. If this describes you, the BLACK + Decker Comfort Grip 9″ Electric Knife is an option you want to check out. It provides an easy way to not only cut a variety of meats but cheeses, breads, and crafting materials in one simple device.
It comes with two dishwasher safe blades, and the mechanism to secure and release them is simple to operate. The soft-grip handle gives you comfortable control. Also, a safety lock prevents accidents, and the knife is backed by a two-year limited warranty.
Pros:
+ 9″ steel blades
+ Safety lock prevents accidents
+ Ergonomic handle for excellent control
+ Easy blade removal
+ Blades are dishwasher safe
+ 2 year limited warranty
Why We Like It – This is a model to look into for those who want a multi-purpose slicing knife with electric assistance and extra blades rather than a large set of knives.
4. DALSTRONG Slicing Carving Knife
This is a slicing knife to keep in mind if your family needs an extra-large roast or turkey for your holiday gatherings. The blade is tempered, high-carbon steel for outstanding durability while remaining thin and flexible enough to make deboning easy and efficient. Plus, it is a full 12″ inches long to slice through even the largest cuts of meat. It has a full tang and a handle of Pakkawood triple-riveted into place to hold up through years of use.
It comes with its protective sheath to keep the edge sharp, and a money-back guarantee backs it.
Pros:
+ 12″ tempered, high-carbon steel blade
+ Full tang with Pakkawood handle
+ Flexible blade for easy deboning
+ Includes protective sheath
+ Backed by a 100% satisfaction guarantee
Why We Like It – The DALSTRONG Slicing Carving Knife is sized and durable enough to tackle even the largest cuts and flexible enough for effective deboning despite lacking the traditional carving knife shape.
5. Zelite Infinity Slicing Carving Knife
This is a knife to give deeper consideration if you are a chef who prefers to use a knife with a bit of well-balanced heft to add to your control of the blade. The blade is constructed of high-carbon steel and measures in at 12″ inches long. It has a full tang embedded into the ergonomic handle for supreme comfort, maneuverability, and control.
The blade is finely honed to a sharp edge and treated to hold said edge as long as possible. Granton indentations reduce resistance to help you cut thin and neat slices every time. Also, gift-ready packaging and a lifetime warranty make it a perfect gift.
Pros:
+ 12″ high-carbon steel blade
+ Full tang with an ergonomic handle
+ Backed by a lifetime warranty
Why We Like It – This knife from Zelite Infinity is a finely balanced knife designed to handle well while cutting everything from turkey breast and pork to beef, brisket, and tender fish into thin, even slices.
6. TUO Cutlery Slicing Carving Knife
The presentation and carving of large, choice cuts of well-cooked meats have added a bit of spectacle to dinner parties and feasts for centuries. So why not use a one that is as visually striking as it is effective and keep the tradition alive? This knife from TUO has a 12″ inch long blade constructed of high-carbon steel to be flexible and durable. It is sharp and flexible enough to cut thin, even slices of beef and turkey breast or fish and fluffy cakes without smashing them.
Pros:
+ 12″ high-carbon steel blade
+ Full tang with an ergonomic handle
+ Non-stick, low friction blade
+ Backed by a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee
Why We Like It – Utility and durability delivered with style and flair is the biggest draw for this knife. The knife is sharp and flexible enough for cutting a variety of meats, and the natural grain Pakkawood handle will make it a striking addition to your table.
7. KastKing Slicing Carving Knife
Lower priced knives do not always mean poor quality knives, as this model from KastKing proves. They simply focus on the blade designs and lengths in the highest demand to balance quality and budget.
The blade is a full 12″ inches long and constructed of German stainless steel with evenly spaced indentations along the blade to reduce friction while cutting. The handle is designed to fit well in your hand with a slip-resistant polymer coating to give you maximum control when in use. Also, it comes with a full-length protective sheath to protect the knife’s edge.
Pros:
+ 12″ stainless steel blade
+ Comfortable, slip-resistant polymer handle
+ Low friction blade
+ Comes with a protective sheath to maintain the edge
Why We Like It – While this knife from KastKing is a touch more budget-friendly than the others on this list, it still provides a sharp blade that is durable, long, and flexible enough to carve thin slices of turkey breast or other meats with ease.
8. Mercer Genesis Collection Granton Carving Knife
This knife from Mercer Genesis may be slightly shorter than many knives on this list, but the 10″ inch blade is still long enough to tackle many larger cuts of meat. The pointed tip provides an easier way to debone dishes. It is made from high-carbon steel with a full tang covered by the Santoprene handle for durability, control, and ease of use.
The blades of carving knives from Mercer Genesis are taper ground and bear regular indentations to lower friction. Also, a limited lifetime warranty makes them a low-risk investment as well.
Pros:
+ 10″ high-carbon steel blade
+ Full tang with Santoprene handle
+ Taper ground edge
+ Low friction blade
+ Backed by a limited lifetime warranty
Why We Like It – For those who are not wary of sharp ended blades, this carver from Mercer Genesis has a good size, durable blade, and provides an easier way of cutting around bones to get the most from the roasts, turkey breasts, and more cooked in your kitchen.
9. Dalstrong TITAN FORGE Slicing & Carving Knife
Focusing on high-quality materials over bells, whistles, and frills means these knives from TITAN FORGE are excellent quality while also remaining budget-friendly. The 12″ inch blade is hand sharpened to a fine 14-15 degree edge for a sharp blade that lasts. It has a full tang wrapped in an ergonomic handle chef certified to provide control and ease of use even in hot kitchens and dealing with greasy meats.
It holds NSF certification, so you know it is a sanitary way to slice thin pieces of meat. Also, a lifetime warranty means there is no risk to you.
Pros:
+ 12″ high-carbon steel blade
+ Full tang with an ergonomic handle
+ National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) and chef certified
+ Backed by a lifetime warranty
Why We Like It – These budget-friendly knives from TITAN FORGE have the quality to be backed by certification from chefs and the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) in addition to their lifetime warranty.
10. PAUDIN Slicing Carving Knife
If you are a chef for whom 12″ inch blades are simply too much, these carving knives from PAUDIN are an option you should consider. They are 8″ inches long to provide an excellent way of cutting thin slices while fitting within a standard knife block. The blades are constructed from German stainless and taper ground to a sharp edge of around 15 degrees.
The grip is ergonomically designed for balance and control. The design reduces friction and drag for easier cutting. Also, it is backed by a 100% satisfaction guarantee, so there is little risk in giving it a try.
Pros:
+ 8″ German stainless knife
+ Ergonomic grip
+ Low friction design
+ Backed by a 100% satisfaction guarantee
Why We Like It – These knives from PAUDIN provide blades designed for carving through various meat cuts with ease, and their smaller size is well suited for those who stick to smaller cuts or for whom longer blades are intimidating.
Knife for Carving Turkey Buyer’s Guide
What is the best type of knife to carve a turkey?
The best knife to carve a turkey breast, or any other kind of meat, will be made from a high-quality metal capable of being sharpened and holding a sharp edge. It will have a handle you can grip easily with as little slip as possible for the best maneuverability as well. It should be long enough to make clean slices without needing to be drawn back and forth like a saw many times while cutting a single slice. Plus, a pointed tip will improve your ability to slice around bones and separate the wings and thighs from the rest of the turkey.
To increase the ease with which you can make the most of the turkey you have prepared, consider also looking for a meat fork to hold the slices in place as you finish cutting them. Some great sets are consisting of a high-quality knife and a matching meat fork that should be near the top of your list for consideration if you are planning to start hosting dinner parties or other events in the future.
What is the best knife for carving?
The best carving knives are designed specifically for making thin, uniform slices of meat. This means they will have several features designed specifically for this use. While many simply use their chef’s knife, this knife type is almost always much shorter and thicker than a knife designed to carve or slice roasts or whole birds.
A knife meant for cutting slices of cooked meat precisely needs to be both longer and thinner than a chef’s knife. This lowers the amount of sawing motion necessary to slice through the meat, while also reducing the amount of friction experienced during slicing. Both of these factors create a cleaner cut.
As with any knife, the blade should be made from durable metal with a honed edge to be as sharp as possible. They are available in a range of lengths from 8 inches to 14 inches long. Yet, it should be noted the blades of the best carving knives should be long enough to slice through the largest cut of meat you plan to cook. This again serves to reduce the amount of sawing motion required to create a clean cut.
Finally, a knife designed for slicing roasts, hams, and whole birds will ideally have a pointed tip as well as a secure handle with a good grip. This improves control and allows for easier maneuvering around bones like those found in chicken and turkey breast meat and a variety of other cuts.
Occasionally these knives are created with indentations along the blade, which go by a variety of terms. These ripples are yet another way of reducing the friction or drag of the blade while cutting. The lowered resistance afforded by them makes it possible to shave off even thinner slices than would otherwise be possible.
What is the difference between a carving and slicing knife?
There is some variance here, put simply, there is one main difference between a carving knife and a slicing knife. A slicing knife has a rounded tip instead of a pointed one. Because they are designed this way, slicing knives are best used to slice through boneless roasts with minimal marbling since they do not have the same maneuverability as those with a pointed tip.
This rounded tip is designed to make cutting slices of meat at the table safer. This is true whether the table in question is a dining table in a private residence or a busy restaurant’s dining floor. The lower risk of accidental cuts and pricks can mean greater peace of mind for many, and this can be especially true for those who use the longer knives measuring in at a foot or more in length, just for the cutting edge itself.
Either tend to work perfectly well overall for consistent meats such as turkey. This is true to a higher degree for cuts such as a turkey breast versus the whole bird since there is little gristle and no bones to contend with during the carving process. It is in maneuvering around the bones to get the most from the turkey itself, where a pointed tip provides better handling than a rounded one.
However, some brands compensate for this by creating blades that are thinner and more flexible than others while still retaining their sharp edge. These models can provide much of the same utility while still offering the higher safety of the rounded tip.
There are some knives referred to as slicing knives that have a serrated edge. While these blades are indeed used for slicing, they are meant for cutting things like bread without smashing it under the force that would be needed with a smoother blade. Therefore, even though they are named similarly, these “slicing” knives are not the same as those for slicing meat. A serrated edge would tear through the fibers instead of cutting cleanly through them, resulting in a rough slice.
Get Right to the Point
When making the most of your food budget, cooking meat on the bone or a whole bird is one of the most effective ways to save without going vegetarian. Yet, there is little point to cooking an entire chicken or turkey if you have no way to clear the flesh from the bone well. Therefore, a high-quality knife or set of knives is a must to prevent waste.
Look for models with blades thin enough to reduce friction and drag that also have a length long enough to cut through the widest part of the cuts you purchase most often. Balance budget and durability with one, you will be able to sharpen easily. Models that offer a protective sheath are more likely to hold their edge for longer, making them options you should consider in your search.
