How you choose to slice your brisket can make a big different to how it looks (and even tastes). You’ve put a lot of work into cooking the perfect brisket, so you definitely don’t want to be butchering it at the final hurdle with a blunt knife. Here are our top picks for the best knives for slicing brisket, for any budget. Enjoy!
At A Glance: Best Brisket Knives
If you’re looking for the short version, here’s our top choice for a cheap brisket knife, a mid-range one, and a premium quality brisket knife.
Best Knife For Slicing Brisket
Here’s our full list of top picks. They’re roughly in price order — we’ll start with the budget end, move into the mid-range, and end with some premium choices. Ready? Let’s get into it!
If you have a budget of under $50 to spend, the following knives are some of the best options available.
1. Mercer Culinary Millennia Granton Edge Slicer, 14-Inch
For those on a budget, this is possibly the best knife for slicing brisket. With a blade measuring 14-inches, this knife is the perfect size for carving brisket or any other meat. It is engineered from stainless steel and is a straight-edged knife with a Granton design.
It has an ergonomic design that gives the knife good balance and the shaped handle means this knife is easy to grip and use. It can create the perfect slices of meat as the air pockets on the blade separates the slice you are cutting from the joint of meat.
Key Features:
- Long blade
- Granton design straight-edge
- Durable and rust-resistant
2. Ergo Chef Prodigy Series Granton Edge Meat Slicing and Carving Knife
The 12-inch blade of this stylish looking knife has hollowed ovals that create air pockets. This prevents the food from sticking to the blade, creates a smoother carving motion, and increases efficiency. The blade is made from a high carbon stainless steel that is tempered to create a razor-sharp edge.
Its cutting performance is further improved thanks to the long thin design of the blade. This is designed for professionals who need quality knives to complete their daily tasks, including slicing brisket. However, it is just as suitable for home cooks. The non-slip handle is NSF tested and gives good comfort and balance when carving.
Key Features:
- Non-slip handle
- Hollowed blade
- High carbon stainless steel
3. Columbia Cutlery 14-Inch Granton Edge Roast Beef Slicer
For those who regularly cook large joints of meat, this is one of the best knives for slicing brisket. The 14-inch blade is one of the longest on the market for carving joints of meat and it is made from stainless steel that is durable and stain, rust, and corrosion-resistant. This straight-edged knife is super sharp and has a Granton design that reduces friction and prevents tearing.
The rounded tip of the blade increases safety when carrying or using the knife. The five-inch handles are shaped and textured for comfortable use and a non-slip grip. The black Fibrox handle also has a safety guard to protect your fingers when using the knife.
Key Features:
- Fibrox handle
- Safety guard
- Extra-long blade
- Durable stainless steel
Now, moving up a little in budget, we’re getting to products that are classed as mid-range, costing between $50 and $100.
4. DALSTRONG Slicing Carving Knife
My personal knife of choice for slicing brisket. Made from German high carbon stainless steel, the 12-inch blades of these knives are strong, durable, and rust-resistant. They are an example of outstanding craftsmanship and the use of cutting-edge technology as these knives are finished to a high-quality standard and have excellent performance.
The blades are straight-edged with hollows with a rounded tip and a hand-polished satin finish. Black pakka wood is used for the handles, which are triple-riveted for greater strength and balance. The handles are laminated and polished to ensure they are sanitary for food preparation. This knife comes with a protective sheath for storage that increases safety as it does not leave the blade exposed.
Key Features:
- Protective sheath included
- High-quality materials
- Triple-riveted and laminated handles
- Granton blades with rounded tip
5. Zelite Infinity Slicing Carving Knife
The 12-inch blade of this knife is razor-sharp and can slice easily through any joint of meat. The clean cut it gives is thanks to the hollowed-out ovals that create air pockets to prevent sticking and tearing when slicing brisket. They are made from a high-quality, high carbon German stainless steel, which is tough, strong, durable, and rust-resistant.
Each blade is hand-finished using the traditional three-step Honbazuke method to create a 15-degree angle for maximum sharpness. The full tang ergonomic handles are designed for comfort when using the knives and the tapered bolster improves control and increases the robustness of the knives.
Key Features:
- Ergonomic handles
- Hand-finished blades
- Good quality materials
- 15-degree edge angle
6. Victorinox 12-Inch Fibrox Pro Slicing Knife with Granton Blade
The quality of this knife is far superior to what you would expect from the price you pay. Its narrow 12-inch blade has a super sharp edge for excellent cutting performance. The Granton style blade creates pockets of air in the hollowed ovals that reduce friction and prevent tearing or shredding while cutting.
This means that the knives have a smoother motion and are more efficient. They are crafted in Switzerland using high-quality stainless steel and have a rounded tip for safety. The shaped and textured handle gives a non-slip grip that increases safety when using and gives you more control of the cutting motion and direction.
Key Features:
- Quality materials
- Efficient cutting
- Non-slip handles
- Rounded tip
If you are willing to pay more to make sure you get the best knife for slicing brisket, then the following are some of the best products on the market now.
7. Wusthof 14-Inch Brisket Slicer Hollow Edge
This is the perfect knife for those that cool larger briskets for family dinners or on their barbecues. The 14-inch blade is made from a single piece of chrom-molybdenum-vanadium high carbon stainless steel that is cut precisely using laser technology. The offset blade is super-sharp and stain-resistant with hollowed ovals that create air pockets so there is less friction and the knife cuts neatly and efficiently.
The plastic handle is triple-riveted with a full tang. These features of the handle mean that it is well-balanced and easy to control while slicing your brisket. This lightweight knife weighs just 7.2-ounces and the overall length of the knife including its handle is 18-inches.
Key Features:
- High carbon stainless steel
- Full tang
- Long blade
- Lightweight
8. Shun SWT0778 Kanso Brisket Knife
Although this is one of the most expensive knives for slicing brisket, it is also one of the best knives for slicing brisket. The style of the knife is based on the design principle Kanso, which is based on the simplicity of Zen philosophy. Its 12-inch blade is made from high carbon Japanese steel with hollowed areas for friction reduction and clean cutting.
Its razor-sharp blade edge has a 16-degree cutting angle, but the tip of the knife is rounded for increased safety. This stylish-looking knife has a Tagayasan wood handle that is both aesthetically pleasing and practical. The handle is angled for a better grip and precision cutting.
It comes with a sheath that acts as both protection for the knife and also as a safety measure to prevent injury when the knife is not in use.
Key Features:
- Quality materials
- Stunning handle
- Precision cutting
- 16-degree angled blade
- Protective sheath
Things to Consider When Buying A Knife For Slicing Brisket
With so many different types of knives available for slicing brisket, it is important to compare the options. Here are some of the factors that you should consider to ensure you find the best knife for slicing brisket for you.
Size
While a pocket knife is a compact, lightweight and versatile knife, it is not the tool for carving brisket. For this task, you need a knife with a blade that is long enough to slice cleanly through a large piece of meat. Therefore, you will need a knife with a blade measuring at least ten inches.
Blade Type
The blade of the knife is possibly the most important element of choosing the best knife for slicing brisket. While it is obvious that you need a sharp blade to slice beef cleanly, there are several different blade types that fit these criteria and there are pros and cons to each.
- Straight- A blade with a straight edge is a better option for creating clean and neat slices as most straight-edged knives do not tear. The downside is that it is sometimes difficult to start a cut on the well-done exterior of a brisket.
- Serrated- A knife with a serrated blade is better at starting a cut through the harder or tougher exterior of a brisket. However, they do not cut as neatly through the meat and will often tear the tender parts of the brisket.
- Scalloped- In some ways, a scalloped blade is a good middle-ground between a straight blade and a serrated blade. It gives a clean cut like a straight blade and can start a cut better like a serrated blade. However, if the meat is very tender, they can still tear a little.
- Granton- Strictly speaking, Granton ® is a trademark name of a type of knife designed by the Granton Knife Company. However, the style of their knives is now copied by many other brands and this style is simply referred to as a Granton blade by other companies. It is a straight-edged blade that has indentations along the side. This creates air pockets that reduce the drag when slicing brisket or other meats. It also prevents sticking, grabbing, and tearing.
Handle Design
The handle is another important element of a brisket cutting knife. In relation to the handle, think about the following:
- Construction- The construction of the knife is important to its durability. While some are full tang or partial tang, there are other methods of attaching the blade to the handle.
- Material- There are many different types of materials used for brisket knife These include wood, rubber, and various types of plastic, and metals.
- Shape- The shape of handle you prefer is down to preference as you may feeling more comfortable carving brisket with some handle styles than others. It is important to note that a shaped handle will give you better grip and control of the knife.
- Non-slip- Handles that are non-slip are an advantage as this increases safety when using the knife.
Materials
The materials can influence the price and durability of a knife, so it is important to find a knife that is within your budget and is durable. Most knife blades are made from stainless steel or steel. While stainless steel is rust resistant, steel is easier to sharpen. Both are strong and durable materials.
Price
For most people, the price is an important consideration when buying any product. The prices for brisket slicing knives can vary significantly. Therefore, you should consider:
- The materials, brand, size, and style of the knife will influence the price of the knife.
- There are some cheap knives that work just as well for slicing a brisket as an expensive knife.
- You can save money on buying a brisket knife by shopping online.
Read Also >>> Best Japanese Cleavers
Final Verdict
Brisket is a popular meal around the world and to cut the delicious slices of this meat perfectly, you need to choose the best knife for slicing brisket. The best option for those with a limited budget is the MARICO Ultra Sharp Premium Carving Knife. This long, Granton-style knife is made from quality materials and is a bargain at under $50.
If you want a brisket knife in the mid-price range, then the best choice is the DALSTRONG Slicing Carving Knife. This is made from good quality materials, it has a superior blade, and has triple-riveted handles. It also comes with a protective sheath.
For those who are willing to spend a little more to get the best quality, then the Shun SWT0778 Kanso Brisket Knife is your top option in my opinion. This is a top-quality knife from a reputable brand. It is a stunning knife that is capable of precision cutting and it comes with a protective sheath.