Corded or Cordless? The Best Bread Knife Electric Models Compared

An electric knife earns its drawer space a few times a year. At Navidad it carves a roast pernil into neat slices without shredding the crackling, at Thanksgiving it takes a turkey breast apart at the table, and for a torta party it can split a stack of bolillos or a tall sourdough loaf without squashing the crumb. Two serrated blades sliding back and forth do the sawing for you, which is why people with tired or arthritic hands often prefer one.

Our main best bread knife guide covers manual serrated knives, which are still the better everyday tool for a loaf or two. This page is for the cook who wants the motor: corded and cordless electric knives that handle both crusty bread and a holiday roast, with what each maker states and what independent reviewers found.

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Quick verdict: which electric knife to buy

The rest of this page explains why, and which of the other five suits a different kitchen.

Five electric knives compared

Our five standout picks side by side, one for each kind of cook, with the power source, blades and safety features each listing states. All eight knives are reviewed in full below.

Product images from Amazon. Features and warranties are listed as each maker or listing states them; check the listing before you buy.

Our picks for the best bread knife electric models

These eight knives cover corded and cordless designs, single-blade and two-blade sets, and kits with a case, fork or wooden stand. All come from brands that name a model number and a warranty on their listing, and all were in stock when we checked. Each review says what the knife suits, what its maker states, and one honest reason to skip it.

Electric knife or manual bread knife?

For one loaf a day, a good manual bread knife is quicker to grab, quieter and easier to clean. Our best bread knife guide covers those. An electric knife makes sense when you slice a lot at once, a stack of bolillos for tortas, several loaves for a party, or a holiday roast, or when gripping and sawing is hard on your hands.

For sourdough specifically, look for a long blade (9 inches is comfortable across a boule) and a dedicated bread blade if the set has one. Let the blades do the work: rest the knife on the crust and guide it down with light pressure rather than pushing.

How to choose an electric knife

1. Corded or cordless

Corded knives are lighter, cheaper and always ready. Cordless knives such as the BUBBA and WORKPRO let you carve at a buffet or outdoor table, but you need to charge them ahead of time and some need rest breaks.

2. Blades

One pair of all-purpose blades handles most jobs. A separate bread blade (BUBBA, WORKPRO, OVENTE) is better for crusty loaves, and a 9-inch blade reaches across a large boule or a whole ham.

3. Safety lock

A lock that stops the knife starting by accident is worth having, especially with children around. The Black+Decker, NutriChef, WORKPRO and OVENTE list one; the Hamilton Beach and Proctor Silex do not. Whatever you buy, unplug a corded knife before changing blades.

4. Noise and comfort

Electric knives are noisy. America’s Test Kitchen measured its winning Black+Decker as the quietest of the knives it tried. A grip that fits either hand and a trigger you can hold comfortably matter more than motor wattage for a few minutes of carving.

5. Cleaning and storage

Dishwasher-safe blades (Black+Decker, Cuisinart, WORKPRO) save time after a big meal. A case keeps sharp blades together and away from fingers in a drawer.

Safety and recall check

We searched the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s recall notices for each brand and for electric knives in general before publishing. We found no recall for any knife on this page. The one electric-knife recall that came up was for the American Angler electric fillet knife (model 32300), whose trigger could stick in the on position; it is not included here. Recalls can be announced at any time, so check the CPSC site if you already own an electric knife.

How we chose these eight electric knives

We started from the jobs an electric knife does in a Mexican home kitchen at holiday time: carving a pernil, ham or turkey, slicing bolillos and teleras for tortas, and cutting tall loaves cleanly. We then looked for electric knives from brands that publish a model number and warranty, sold on Amazon in the United States and in stock when we checked. Specifications come from each brand’s Amazon listing, and each review says what is stated and what is not. We read America’s Test Kitchen’s electric knife review for how the Black+Decker, Hamilton Beach, Proctor Silex and an earlier Cuisinart perform, and quote it where we use it. We left out marketplace brands without a clear maker or warranty, Black+Decker’s white 9-inch listing (scarce when we checked), Cuisinart’s CEK-41 board set (back-ordered when we last checked) and fishing fillet knives. We have not used these knives ourselves; where we describe performance, we say whose findings they are.

Electric knife questions, answered

What is the best electric bread knife for sourdough?

One with a long or dedicated bread blade. The BUBBA’s 9-inch bread blade reaches across a large boule, and the OVENTE and WORKPRO sets include a separate bread blade. If you want the reviewers’ top all-round electric knife, the Black+Decker ComfortGrip handles crusty bread as well as roasts.

Is an electric knife good for slicing bread?

Yes, especially soft or tall loaves that a manual knife can squash, and when you have a lot to slice. For one loaf a day, a manual bread knife is simpler.

Are electric knives safe?

Used as directed, yes, but they are sharp, powered tools. Choose one with a safety lock, unplug or lock it before changing blades, keep fingers behind the blade and store the blades in a case. We found no CPSC recall for any knife on this page.

Do electric knife blades need sharpening?

Black+Decker says its serrated blades never need sharpening. In general, serrated electric knife blades are replaced rather than sharpened when they wear.

Can you cut meat and bread with the same electric knife?

Yes. All eight knives here are listed for both. Sets with separate bread and meat blades give a cleaner cut on crusty bread.

Our pick for holiday carving and bread

Buy the Black+Decker ComfortGrip for the reviewers’ top electric knife with a safety lock and dishwasher-safe blades, the Hamilton Beach set if you want a case and fork included, or the BUBBA if you want to carve with no cord. For the roast itself, see our guides to the best roasting pan with rack and the best meat thermometer, and to keep a loaf fresh between slicings, the best bread box.

For what goes on the Christmas table, see our guide to Mexican Christmas food. And if you would rather someone else did the cooking tonight, see the menu or call to order.