Electric knives used to be really popular for carving the Thanksgiving turkey and many other meats. Then their use somewhat faded out. Now it’s using an electric knife is becoming more common again. And there are few reasons why:
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Benefits of using an electric knife
A knife is one of the most important tools in the kitchen. Often overlooked since their heyday in the 1960s, an electric knife can help chefs cut through meat, steaks, and even through softer items like apple pies and cakes.
Whether you are a professional cook serving up sandwiches with meat slices or a home-cook looking to serve delicious cuts and equal pieces of soft or hard food items without shredding them; an electric knife is a must-have tool in your kitchen arsenal. Here are the benefits of using an electric knife:
They are comfortable to grip
Common kitchen knives come in thick or thin handles which may not be suitable for all chefs. Electric knives have ergonomically designed handles that give you comfort no matter what you are cutting or slicing.
They are versatile and flexible
Electric knives can help perform various tasks from cutting meat to vegetables and fruits to softer, baked products. You can also use these knives to cut through foam for crafting activities or slicing delicate baked goods into small or large pieces without compromising on their textures.
Perfect slices and perfect portions each time
When you are on a calorie-restricted diet or are watching your portion sizes carefully, you know how important it is for your meat or bread to measure up to the requisite portions in ounces or grams.
With electric knives, you can make small or larger cuts as needed to measure them on a kitchen scale based on recommended daily portion-sizes. Also, these knives come in handy when you slice up cakes, breads, or crispy baguettes without crumbling or spoiling their texture.
Electric knives vs traditional knives
When you compare traditional knives with electric knives, the main difference is that an electric knife can perform many different functions. Where you’d need several types of traditional knives for various functions, a single electric knife can perform all of the tasks such as paring, slicing, and carving.
Here are all the different types of traditional knives that can be replaced with a single electric knife:
- Chef’s knife – for slicing, chopping, and mincing.
- Paring knife – for fruits and vegetables.
- Long serrated knife – for slicing breads, cakes, and think skinned fruits and vegetables
- Scalloped edge knife – for slicing very thin slices. These knives also come with a rounded tip so you won’t poke a hole in the roast. It is good for cutting hams and other cooked meats
- Heavy cleavers – for cutting poultry
A single electric knife can perform many of these tasks so you need not carry so many different traditional knives.
The handle of electric knife is ergonomically designed to ensure comfort to small or big hands.
Traditional knives tend to lose their sharpness over time and need to be sent for professional sharpening. Electric knives come with their own electric sharpeners and most do not need sharpening for months, even years to come.
How to buy an electric knife
Buying an electric knife can be a daunting task: after all; you need to choose between a variety of styles and brands, different materials, from different countries, and even having different functions. And then there is the cost.
It is important to remember one thing before you buy an electric knife: these guys are going to be your companions for a long time: if not for life, for several years. Buying a good electric knife is like choosing a friend. The following tips can help:
Ask questions
- What do you plan to cut with an electric knife?
- Will you have the time and commitment for their upkeep?
- Would you consider buying the electric knife sharpener as well?
- What about the storage system for the knife?
Once you answer these questions, you’d know how much to spend on your electric knife.
You’d also be less likely to stare at rows and rows of gorgeous knives in the store!
Read the reviews
Below I have listed the best electric knives based on Amazon reviews. If you have the time, visit a serious cookware shop or any other place that offers a wide selection of high-end electric knives along with knowledgeable staff. Good retailers will inform you about their products and also address your specific queries.
Don’t go by the brand alone
Many knife-makers are known for quality craftsmanship when it comes to knives. However, you should not go by the name alone. The important thing is to love how the knife feels in your hands. And you won’t know it until you start using it.
Consider key factors
Durability
The knife’s blade material will decide its durability. Always check reviews to understand how durable the blade’s material is. How resistant is the blade to corrosion? Is the blade tough or on the brittle side? How easily does the knife take an edge?
Weight
The weight of an electric knife can make you hate it or love it. Some chefs prefer heavier knives as the ‘heft’ helps them cut better. Others prefer lighter knives. Think about the knives you are currently using and what you like about them.
Balance
A knife’s balance is decided by the weight of the handle and the weight of the blade. A well-balanced knife should neither feel handle-heavy or blade-heavy.
Types of electric knives
There are a few types of electric knives:
All purpose knife
These are smaller, more frequently used knives with narrow pointed blades. They can be used to perform various tasks like peeling and chopping fruits and vegetables, slicing cakes, and even for making fillets of fish.
Boning knife
This is a knife with short blade and sharply pointed end. They are mainly used by butchers and professional chefs.
Carving knife
This has a long, wide blade with a sharp point. It is mainly used for meat.
Chopping knife
This is a multi-purpose knife with heavy, thick, and strong blade. It can be used for breaking up and crushing bones and also chopping meat and vegetables.
Filleting knife
Electric knife for fish fillets has a long, flexible blade with sharp point.
Best electric knives
Cuisinart CEK-40 Electric Knife
Ease of use
- CEK 40 is one of the best selling electric knives on top retail stores.
- It is easy to use, clean, and store
- CEK-40 is a must have knife in your kitchen if you bake bread often. Get evenly sliced bread each time. You will never go back to slicing bread with traditional knife again after using the Cuisineart CEK 40.
- Also great for slicing turkey
- Comes with a safety button (make sure it’s off before using otherwise you’ll think the knife is not working).
Features
- The CEK 40 comes with an extra pair of blades
- You can get paper-thin slices without compromising on texture.
- The butcher block holding tray enhances storage of the knife and motor when not in use.
- Ergonomic design
- Comes with one-touch, pressure activated on/off trigger switch and safety lock.
Pros
- Easy to use, clean, and store
- Has great reviews
Cons
- The case design/case material cracked and split after a few uses for some people.
Hamilton Beach 74250 Carve 'n Set Electric Knife
Ease of use
- Easy to assemble
- Easy to clean
- Durable
- Manoeuvrable
- Ergonomic
- Easy to hold
- Crafts and slices foam with ease
Features
- Effortlessly cuts meat
- Perfectly slices bread and baked goods
- Storage provided keeps all the parts together
- Ergonomically designed handle offers comfort to your hands irrespective of what you are slicing/cutting
Pros
- Affordable electric knife that lasts long and is attractive and comfortable to work with
Cons
- Unit overheats sometimes
- People with small hands tend to find the handle difficult and uncomfortable
- Blade becomes dull after 5-6 uses.
Mister Twister 120V Electric Knife
Ease of use
- Easily fillets fish, deer, and other meat
- Ideal for cutting homemade bread
- Easily shaves off meat for sandwiches.
- Works for years without having to replace blades
Features
- Ideal for gifting to people fond of cooking, especially for fish fillets
- Manoeuvrability is praiseworthy
- Total value for money
- Powerful, sharp, well built, this knife even cuts foam and upholstery pieces
- Well-designed trigger is easy to push
- Attractive yellow-green colour
Pros
- Use it for more than filleting fish and bread
- Runs on 120 V AC
- Comes with a safety lock
Cons
- May not cut through fish bone
- Unit tends to overheat and break down.
Black + Decker Electric Carving Knife
Ease of use
- Comes with a safety lock button
- Black and Decker electric knife is dishwasher safe with removable parts
- Handle is comfortable and ergonomic
- Blade release button removes blades easily.
- Makes turkey carving a lot simpler and more enjoyable.
Features
- Easy to use, assemble, and clean
- Ergonomically designed
- Manoeuvrable
- Durable
Pros
- Affordable economical knife that does a lot more than carving turkey
- Cuts upholstery foam like butter
- Safety lock is a great feature
- Unit cools down quickly after switching off
Cons
- The safety button is on the trigger. So you cannot operate the knife with one hand. This can be annoying to some users
- There may be a side-to-side wobble in the blades.
Proctor Silex Easy Slice Electric Knife
Ease of use
- Ergonomically designed handle that fits in either hand
- The knife is safe and easy to use on breads, tomatoes, ham, turkey, and even your foam projects
- The easy touch button allows safe operation
- Lightweight knife makes it easy to hold for larger carving projects
- Slices through foam with ease
Features
- Comfortable to clean, use, assemble, and hold
- Ergonomically designed
- Durable
- Great for gifting
Pros
- Effortlessly slices through salamis, hams, turkey, medium cooked steak, and even angel food cake
- Affordable knife with diverse uses
Cons
- Gets overheated producing acrid burnt-plastic smell
- Shorter blades compared to other electric knives in similar price range
- Thick handle which may be uncomfortable to some people.
American Angler Pro Electric Fillet Knife
Ease of use
- Never let big fish bones slow you down! The American Angler Pro EFK boasts two times the torque of other fillet knives.
- So easy to use that it is recommended by commercial fishermen and guide services.
Features
- 4 times the lifespan of other electric fillet knives
- Advanced airflow and ergonomic design keeps the handle cool as you fillet for hours
- 2 times more torque compared to other fillet knives
- You can choose between stainless steel and titanium handles
Pros
- Easy to use
- Durable
- Value for money
- Backed by 2-year limited warranty
Cons
- Switch tends to stick
- Blades are not too sharp
- Handle tends to get a little warm
- Motor is slow.
Nutrichef PKELKN16 Portable Electrical Food Cutter Knife Set
Ease of use
- Avoid injury during your cooking and crafting projects with the Nutrichef PKELN 16 which comes with a safety switch
- Use it to easily cut or slice through cheese, ham, meatloaf, turkey, roasts, and cakes
- The portable, electric food knife can be used for handling vegetables like eggplant, squashes, and even harder fruits like pineapples.
- Easy storage with the premium hand-crafted storage block.
Features
- Easy to clean
- Sturdy
- Durable
- Easy to hold
- Comes with safety features
Pros
- Powerful motorized knife for fast, effortless cutting
- Beautiful and elegant storage tray
- Safety lock for enhanced safety
- Comes with two blades for meat and bread
- Comfortable handling due to ergonomically designed block
Cons
- Sometimes it overheats
- For some users, the blades and motor quit working after a few uses.
Conclusion
Do you carve or slice meat such as turkey, ham, and fish regularly? If yes, then you know how these meats tend to shred when sliced with traditional knives.
You might also have experienced the mangling of freshly baked bread when sliced using regular kitchen knives. The good news is that you can avoid these issues with an electric knife.
An electric knife easily slices through meat, bones, and even softer foods like cakes and breads without spoiling their texture. You can also use it for your crafting projects like cutting through foam or upholstery without difficulty and without over-exerting your hand. So invest in an electric knife today and see the difference it makes in your cooking and crafting projects!
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