The holidays are coming up fast, which means we’re all searching for feast day essentials like gravy boats and tablecloths. Another holiday essential: an electric knife.
An electric knife makes carving up everything from turkey to ham to chicken to prime rib super easy and super quick. But if you choose the wrong model, you can end up with ragged slices and an uneasy feeling as you wield the knife. That’s why our Test Kitchen went on the search for the best electric knife.
How We Found the Best Electric Knife
In our quest for the best, our team snagged seven of the most popular electric carving knives on the market. Our team used these knives to carve up poultry, slice bread and even cut a bunch of tomatoes. All the while, the Test Kitchen team made notes on the following:
- Cutting: Cutting with an electric knife should be efficient. The blades should be sharp and slicing should go quickly.
- Safety: An electric knife can feel pretty intimidating at first. A good knife should be easy to grip and feel safe to handle. Anything that feels clumsy in your hand will not be safe to slice with.
- Price: Does the knife’s performance justify the cost?
Our Test Kitchen-Preferred Electric Carving Knives
Seven different knives were used in this test to carve chicken, slice ciabatta and cut tomatoes. In the end, only two got our stamp of approval to be called Test Kitchen-Preferred.
Best Electric Knife with All the Accessories: Cuisinart Electric Knife Set
If you’re hosting the holidays this year, make sure you have all the accouterments needed for dinner and carving up that turkey—including a carving fork and cutting board. This Cuisinart Electric Knife Set includes all those extras you’ll need for Thanksgiving and beyond.
Our Test Kitchen pros enjoyed using this knife since it was super versatile; our cooks were able to slice through tender tomatoes and carve a chicken with ease. No matter the task, this knife cut with minimal pressure and with very little vibration. Low vibration is key with electric knives. When a knife shakes excessively, it can make the cutting process unsafe.
Slices of chicken, bread, tomatoes and more were all clean and precise—no ragged edges to be found. And when carving poultry, having extras like a carving knife are super handy. This all-in-one kit is ideal for entertaining.
- What’s in the box: Electric handle, dishwasher-safe blades, carving fork, cutting board and storage rack
- Price: $50
Best Basic Electric Knife: Cuisinart 10.5″ Electric Knife
Don’t need all the extras like the carving fork and cutting board? Then the Cuisinart 10.5″ Electric Knife is for you.
This affordable knife is easy to grip thanks to a silicone-coated grip and ergonomic shape. Our pros found this knife to be comfortable to hold even after slicing up loaf after loaf of bread.
What our kitchen team really loves about this knife, though, is that it vibrates very little as you use it. The blades make short, efficient movements that let the knife cut easily and quickly without much pressure. And the sharp knives made quick work of slicing up a whole box of tomatoes. Our prep cooks were able to get super thin slices very easily with this model.
With a comfortable grip, low vibration and sharp blades, our Test Kitchen finds this knife to be safe and easy to use—plus it’s a great price.
- What’s in the box: Ergonomic knife grip and dishwasher-safe blades
- Price: $30
How to Carve a Turkey and More with an Electric Knife
While you can use an electric knife for lots of tasks—everything from dicing loaves of stale bread for stuffing to slicing tomatoes for the next BBQ—we know that 99% of the time, you’re breaking out the electric knife to carve turkey, ham or other holiday meats.
While the steps to breaking down these cuts are the same, there are a few tips to keep in mind as you use your knife.
Our Test Kitchen’s Prep Kitchen Manager Catherine Ward recommends getting a good feel for your knife by cutting a few sample slices from a less conspicuous part of the turkey. Once you get a handle on how the knife works, you can use it to carve easily and make great cuts on those prized parts of the bird, like the breast.
Catherine also suggests holding your elbow against your body to help stabilize yourself and the knife as you cut. This gives you a bit more control and more pristine cuts—especially on pricey proteins like prime rib.
Electric Carving Knife Safety Tips
Using a good electric carving knife should have you feeling comfortable and in control, and our Test Kitchen is confident our favorite models will have you feeling at ease. This being said, there are still some safety precautions to take when using an electric knife.
Senior Food Editor Peggy Woodward has some important reminders for anyone using an electric knife:
- Insert and remove the blades only when the knife is unplugged
- Insert the blades with the cutting edge pointing away from your hand
- Always use a meat fork (never fingers!) to hold meat steady while you slice
With these tips in mind, you’re ready to carve!
See More Test Kitchen-Preferred Products
The post The Best Electric Knife for Carving Turkey and More, According to Our Pros appeared first on Taste of Home.
Lisa Kaminski