8 Best Carving Knife for Meat in 2022 (Buying Guide)
Versatility is the most important thing to consider when you want to buy your average everyday kitchen knife. There are many kinds of knives out there, and not all will serve you equally well. Therefore, a great choice for knives would be a carving knife.
A carving knife is slightly thinner than a chef’s knife and has a pointed tip. Its long and narrow blade enables you to cut precise slices by reducing the amount of resistance. And the pointy tip helps you to cut meat along a board.
If you ask, many people will tell you to get a chef’s knife since it is the most versatile of all. But when you need to have precise cuts on your thanksgiving turkey or that delicious steak, nothing beats using the best carving knife for meat.
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What is Carving Knife Used for?
Try cutting a large piece of meat with a paring knife. Now, try to cut that same meat with a carving knife. Do you notice the difference? A tomato won’t be chopped well with a carving knife, while a paring knife will do wonders with it.
You see, each type of knife was created for a specific purpose in mind. Taking on a huge chunk of meat or a whole chicken requires the right tool. Sure, you can use just any other sharp knife, but for an easier and more fun slicing, nothing comes closer than a carving knife for meat.
Carving knives are specially designed for cutting meat in precise slices. Most people use these knives for carving ham, poultry, or the leg of a lamb. You can even carve very thin and uniform slices of cooked turkey or brisket with them.
Besides, you can use it for many other works as well, like filleting large fish, preparing fruits and vegetables for salad, etc.
A carving knife has a pointed tip that helps you get into and around joints and bones. But the best way to envision its use is to think of carving your Thanksgiving turkey, slicing that Sunday roast, or cutting an appetizing piece of chicken or beef.
8 Best Carving Knife for Meat Reviews
Below we’ve gathered eight of the top contenders people rely on! Check them out!
1. Dalstrong Gladiator 12″ Slicing Carving Knife
As a fairly new company, Dalstrong’s love for ancient crafts has pushed them into making knives with the help of modern technology and techniques. As a result, they have come up with stunningly beautiful knives such as this Gladiator 12-inch.
On the first look, you’ll notice a magnetically sealed box that holds the knife with a beautifully styled sheath. To be honest, the sheath brings elegance to the product, and it is also really handy for such a long knife as this. The attention to detail of this knife is also extraordinary, to say the least.
Made of a single piece of rust-resistant alloy steel, the blade has a very sharp edge. That’s because it has been precision forged and hand sharpened to about 14° to 16° on both sides. Besides, the knife is also very easy to clean after use, so the maintenance bar is pretty low.
This 12-inches long knife weighs around 8.3 ounces. It has a protective tapered bolster between the handle and blade to protect your fingers while slicing.
And speaking of the handle, it has been made with premium quality laminated Pakkawood, which is imported from Spain. So you see, the handle is strong and durable in addition to being beautiful. Besides, the handle has also been ergonomically designed to give you a comfortable grip.
All in all, this is the best carving knife for brisket, which also cuts through almost anything with a single stroke. It is perfect for someone who loves to spend a lot of time in the kitchen.
Pros
- Durable Spanish pakkawood handle
- Comfortable and stylish ergonomic handle
- Finger protective bolster
- Comes in a magnetically sealed box and sheath
Cons
- The knife is a bit heavy
2. MAIRICO Premium Stainless Steel Carving Knife
If you want to avoid troubles cutting those large and heavy meats in the kitchen, get this carving knife from MAIRICO. This best carving knife for turkey features a long and extremely sharp blade to help you cut through anything like butter.
Made with superior quality stainless steel, the knife has a long 11-inches blade. Its professional design makes the knife extremely comfortable to handle. It doesn’t feel too light or too heavy on hands and has a balanced design. Any seasoned chef will tell you that these features make maneuvering a knife a whole lot easier.
And the handle sports an ergonomic design that fits inside the hand easily and offers you a firm grip. Additionally, the contoured black pakkawood handle makes the knife highly durable too.
The blade has a polished bolster that protects your hand from accidents. Besides, it also helps in weight distribution. This stainless steel blade is very easy to clean and doesn’t rust easily, even without much maintenance.
Moreover, the small vertical indentations on the blade create air pockets while slicing the meat. This limits the friction between the blade and the food, resulting in cleaner cuts.
Pros
- Clean slices with vertical indentations
- Perfect weight distribution
- Easy to clean stainless steel surface
- The wooden handle is ergonomic
Cons
- Blade dulls quickly, so it needs sharpening often
3. DALSTRONG 12″ Shogun Meat & Ham Slicer
If you’re a hobbyist cook, you already know that not all knife does an excellent job at slicing meat. You need a tool that has the necessary agility for working with a variety of meats, along with the ability to remain sharp for many years. This slicing knife from the Dalstrong Shogun series is an option that ticks these criteria.
Furthermore, this knife is not just meant for meat, it is also the carving knife for vegetables and fruits too. Made with incredibly durable Japanese steel, its blade is set with an 8-degree to 12-degree angle on each side, making it much sharper than our previous Dalstrong option.
As a blend of resilience and artistic excellence, the blade of DALSTRONG Shogun Meat & Ham Slicer ensures the finest of cuts that most ordinary knives fail to manage. Since it is made of Japanese steel of 62+ Rockwell hardness, it will never lose the agility of the cutting edge.
In addition to its moderate weight, this knife is also very easy to clean. Moreover, its hollow divots on both sides prevent food and meat from sticking to it. As a result, you get perfectly uniform slices and smooth cuts.
Pros
- Japanese steel gives lifelong durability
- Extremely sharp cutting edge
- Offers a moderate weight and perfect balance
- Hollow divots on both sides prevent sticking
Cons
- A little bit expensive
4. Kessaku Samurai Slicing Carving Knife
Japanese knives don’t have to be too expensive, as proven by Kessaku. Their slicing and carving knife possesses the versatility to handle many tasks. The high carbon steel construction makes this item a durable and hardy knife.
Forged from superior-quality pure high carbon 7CR17MOV stainless steel, it has a hardness level of 58 on the Rockwell scale. Its 12-inches blade is sharpened to 16 degrees, which, although not the sharpest in our list but possesses exceptional edge retention.
Additionally, the blade also has a shiny finish with divots running through the length. This keeps your food from sticking to the blade, thus keeping it relatively clean. There are also beautiful patterns etched on the blade, making it look aesthetic.
The good look of the knife is reinforced with the gorgeous and brown Pakkawood handle. This handle has a full tang for a comfortable grip.
Capable of withstanding all the highs and lows of the kitchen temperatures by resisting heat, cold, and moisture, the Kessaku Samurai Carving Knife can last for ages.
Pros
- High-carbon stainless steel
- Aesthetic patters etched on the blade
- Divots on the blade keep food from sticking
- Resistant to heat, cold, and moisture
Cons
- Not very sharp like previous models
5. Saken Slicing Carving Knife
Here, we have the Saken carving knife that is designed to suit the cutting techniques of professional chefs, bringing culinary mastery to any kitchen. This knife is the ultimate utility slicer for anything in your kitchen.
Made of high-quality German steel, the Saken knife holds up to even the toughest cut of meat. Besides, you can also say goodbye to any worries about rusting too. Built for lifetime use, this 12-inch slicer knife also has divots in the edges that helps in clean slicing of the meat.
With extra flexibility for cutting large pieces of meat like brisket, this is probably one of the best slicing knives out there. Also, its handle has been made of premium-class materials with stain-resistant finishing that prevents any discoloration, warping, or cracking.
Even with minimum maintenance, the Saken carving knife will provide exceptional cuts for years to come for any serving of bread, vegetables, or any other dishes.
Pros
- Excellent quality German steel blade
- Fatigue reducing and comfortable handle
- Offers extra flexibility and maneuverability
- Both the handle and blade are rust or discoloration resistant
Cons
- Relatively heavy for a slicer knife
6. TUO Fiery Phoenix Granton Carving Knife
Sometimes it becomes quite tough to cut large briskets with slicers. In that situation, you need a good carving knife to make your dinner perfect. TUO’s “Fiery†carving knife is a reliable and versatile tool when you want a good and long carving knife to slice your way through large briskets.
Although mainly a carving knife, this TUO Cutlery product also doubles as a slicer with some extra flair. Made from high-carbon German steel, its 12-inches blade can cut through all lengths of meat with real ease.
Its tapered point is also perfect for a more precision cut and spearing the meat from platter to plate. However, it may become hard to do so if the meat has been cooked for too long.
You’ll also notice divots running through the length of the blade. These indentations help prevent food from sticking to the blade. The knife also has wickedly sharp edges of 15 degrees, but you have to maintain it from time to time.
The handle of the TUO Fiery Knife has been made very nice and comfortable with an eye-catching and wave-patterned pakkawood handle.
Pros
- Very high-quality German steel made
- Features wave-patterned pakkawood handle
- The tapered tip provides precision cuts
- Many divots on the blades to prevent sticking
Cons
- Needs to be maintained regularly
7. WALLOP 10 inch Chef Knife
As one of the most professional kitchen knife manufacturers in the world, Wallop knives are mostly used in professional environments. This 10-inches chef knife is also no different from those. The company has spent many years refining their products, and one of those fine results is this chef knife.
Following a simple knife style, this German-made Wallop chef knife has used high-quality carbon steel with a natural wooden handle. This premium steel blade is up to 56±2 HRC that provides enough strength as well as flexibility in your chopping, cutting, and slicing.
The most important feature of this awesome chef knife is the incredible sharpness of the edges. Hand sharpened with the 3-step Honbazuke method, the steel blade has a double-bevel of 8-12°, which is the maximum in our list.
Since the knife has been forged, it is a bit heavier than other options, but this means it will also retain a razor-sharp edge without much maintenance.
The handle of the knife has been made with a non-slip pakkawood. This elegant brown handle provides you a comfortable grip. There are also rivets in the handle to enhance resilience. So, no matter how long you chop and cut, your hands won’t get tired.
Pros
- Hand-forged HC stainless steel
- The extremely sharp edge of 8-12°
- Non-slip pakkawood handle adds comfort
- Minimum maintenance blade and handle
Cons
- A bit heavier than other options on the list
8. VonShef Electric Knife
Finally, we’ve come to the odyssey of searching through the top meat cutting knives with the VonShef. The specialty of this item is that it is an electric knife as opposed to normal traditional ones till now.
When it comes to cutting meat, vegetables, fruits, and bread, nothing comes closer to ease than an electric knife. And this VonShef knife can turn all your cutting needs as easy as pie.
Featuring two 10 inches serrated carving knives, this machine has been engineered to produce minimum noise while working. Besides, the handle is also positioned in order to minimize the vibration in your hands. It has a comfortable grip too.
The two interchangeable stainless steel blades serve slightly different purposes. One is lighter and ideal for cutting bread, fruits, and vegetables, while the other is a heavy-duty blade suitable to tackle cooked, raw or frozen meat.
This electric knife also has a dual safety switch to prevent it from being triggered unintentionally, causing any damage. Besides, the knives are also dishwasher safe and can be easily detached when you need to replace them.
With two different blades with this VonShef knife, you can now serve up meals more confidently than ever before.
Pros
- Generates low noise and vibration
- Dual safety switch for protection
- Two different knives for varying purposes
- Dishwasher safe and easy blade detachment
Cons
- Blades sometimes produce rough cuts
Buying Guide: How Do I Choose a Carving Knife?
A carving knife is not just any other knife that you can buy without giving it any thought. It is one of the most versatile tools in the kitchen, provided you buy the perfect one. So, before you buy one for yourself, consider the following factors.
Size
This is one of the most important factors for any knife you buy, especially for a carving knife. It is better to buy the longest carving knife since it will mostly be used to cut bigger chunks of meat; and the less sawing you do, the better is the slice. This will cause less damage to the meat.
A standard option is to buy the knife, which would be at least a little bit longer than the item you usually need to slice.
Handle
Let’s face it. Knives are dangerous tools, and one needs to handle them very carefully. Since with a carving knife, you need to cut big pieces of meat and bones, you’ll need the handle to fit perfectly in your hand. Otherwise, one slip, and you might regret what comes afterward.
So, look for the most ergonomic handle that would counterbalance the blade perfectly. The most common handle materials are stainless steel, wood, laminate, and synthetics. However, out of all, stainless steel is the easiest to maintain and is the most durable. Besides, it is also the most sanitary option too.
Blade Length
What good is a knife without the perfect blade? A blade is what makes the knife usable. For our carving knife, let’s first talk about the blade length.
The length of blades varies for different knives, but for a carving knife, its length should be long enough to encompass large roasts or turkeys. Usually ranging from 8 to 14 inches, the length of the blade lets you cut the meat without much back and forth, ruining the slice.
Blade Material
As for the material, blades are usually made from stainless steel, carbon steel, and high carbon stainless steel. Stainless steels are usually stain-resistant and require almost no maintenance. Carbon steels, on the other hand, can hold their edge much better, are easy to sharpen, and cheaper too.
However, high carbon stainless steel blades come with the best of both worlds as they have increased strength, edge retention, require much less maintenance, and are resistant to stains. But they are much more expensive.
Just a pro tip, try looking for a blade that has a solid core, which is extended to the end of the handle. This will make the knife super strong.
Carving Knife vs. Slicing Knife
In most cases, there is actually not much difference between the two. And that’s why the carving knife of one brand could be named as the slicing knife of another. That’s why some people might tell you there is no use trying to understand their differences since this naming convention can become confusing.
However, a chef or a knife enthusiast will tell you there are actually some major differences between the two, although they can be used interchangeably. First, let’s have a look at their major similarities.
Both have long and flexible blades with thin cross-sections. The purpose of this design is to cut large pieces of meat. Both the carving and slicing knives have a longer blade length with shallow height to cut foods cleanly with a single horizontal stroke.
As for the differences, they are for addressing bone-in versus boneless cuts of meat. And when you compare, you’ll easily notice the difference between their tips. The carving knife has a pointy one, while the slicing knife has a rounded tip.
The carver or the carving knife’s pointed tip helps in bone-in cuts like ham or turkey. These points pierce the joints and can be maneuvered close to the bones. Sometimes it also requires a blade with little flex to bend around and carve precisely.
On the other hand, the slicing knife or the slicer’s rounded tip comes in handy for boneless cuts and is much safer than its pointy counterpart. Because of its round structure at the end, it prevents any piercings of the meat resulting in the release of precious juices.
Besides, this rounded tip also prevents any unforeseen accidents. That’s why you see them being used in restaurants in front of the guests.
The blades of slicing knives are usually 2 inches longer in length than carving knives and are usually semi-flexible, like bread knives or fillet blades. On the other hand, carving knives are semi-stiff, which is necessary for carving the bones.
To have a better understanding of their differences, let’s have a look at the table below:
| Differences | Carving Knives | Slicing Knives |
|---|---|---|
| Noticeable difference | Pointed tip | Rounded or blunt tip |
| Blade length | 8 to 14 inches | Usually 2 inches longer than carving knives |
| Flexibility | Ridged blade for more control | More flexible blade for cutting thinner slices |
| Blade style | Thicker, ridged blade | Long and very narrow with a straight edge |
| Uses | Carving roasts and poultry with bones | Slicing large boneless pieces of meat, fruits, and vegetables |
Carving Knife FAQ
u003cstrongu003eWhat is the difference between a carving and slicing knife?u003c/strongu003e
Although we have described their differences in detail, the major difference between them is that the tip of a carving knife is pointy while that of the slicing knife is round.
Should a carving knife be serrated?
We suggest you avoid serrated knives for carving meat as they tend to tear the meat and are usually difficult to carve both raw and cooked meat thinly and evenly.
u003cstrongu003eWhere can I buy an electric carving knife?u003c/strongu003e
You can easily get an electric carving knife in your local knife store or kitchen store.
u003cstrongu003eCan you sharpen the carving knife?u003c/strongu003e
Any knife performs best when they are sharp. So, you should keep your carving knife sharp too. You can use any of the traditional methods like the whetstone, tabletop sharpener, or grinding wheel to keep your knife in tip-top shape. But donu0026acirc;u0026#8364;u0026#8482;t forget to hone the blade before sharpening.
Final Words
Now that you properly know all about the best carving knife for meat in the market, choose wisely among the ones reviewed in the article. You can also take help from our user’s guide to pick the one that perfectly works for you to cut beautifully sliced and carved meat.
