Twelve Inches and Up: The Best Brisket Slicing Knife

In Houston, brisket is a serious subject. After twelve or more hours of smoke, the last step is the one you do at the table, and a short chef’s knife can spoil it by sawing through the bark and tearing the flat. A long, narrow slicer lets you make one clean stroke from one side of the meat to the other.

That is the idea behind this guide. We look at length first, since the blade has to clear the whole slab, then the edge, steel and care. For carving a holiday roast with a shorter knife, our carving knife brands guide is the better read, and no knife here repeats a listing from that page.

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Quick verdict: the best brisket slicing knife to buy

Five brisket knives compared

One pick for each kind of pitmaster, with blade and edge as stated by each maker or listing.

Product images from Amazon. Blades and edges are as stated by each maker or listing; check the listing before you buy.

Our picks for the best brisket slicing knife

Eight knives from 11 to 14 inches. Cutluxe and Dalstrong are the two Amazon-first brands here, and Dexter’s 12-inch slicers were scarce or unavailable when we checked, so they are not on this list.

How to choose a knife for brisket

Length first. You want to draw one long stroke across the meat. Smoked BBQ Source considers 12 inches ideal for most briskets, and suggests 14 inches for people who often slice very large ones. Measure your drawer too: a long knife needs somewhere safe to live.

Edge second. Granton or hollow-ground grooves are meant to reduce sticking and tearing, and Smoked BBQ Source likes them for fatty cuts. A plain edge works if it is sharp. Avoid serrated blades if you want clean slices through the bark.

Steel and care. Softer German steels, such as those rated 56+ Rockwell, tend to need more frequent touch-ups, though they are forgiving. Harder Japanese steels hold a fine edge but need more care. A good honing steel and knife sharpener help any of them.

Handle. Brisket is greasy work. Textured synthetic handles such as Fibrox or Santoprene grip well. Wood looks better, and G10 is tough, but keep any handle dry and clean as you go.

Protection. A long blade needs a sheath or guard for storage and travel to the smoker. Cutluxe, Dalstrong and the Shun Kanso come with one. For the others, buy a guard separately.

How we chose these eight slicing knives

We looked at the task the way a pit crew would: a blade long enough to clear the meat, with an edge that does not tear the bark. We read Smoked BBQ Source’s brisket knife guide directly. We could not open AmazingRibs’ review, so we did not use it. We searched for side-by-side tests including Shun and found none we could rely on. Other details come from each Amazon listing, which we checked for stock and offer condition, and from CPSC recall records by brand, which showed nothing on these knives. We avoided every listing from our carving guide. We have not used these knives ourselves.

Brisket knife questions, answered

Why not use a chef’s knife for brisket?

A standard chef’s knife is often 8 to 10 inches, so it cannot clear a whole slab in one stroke. Sawing back and forth is what tears the meat and strips the bark.

What is a long slicing knife for BBQ?

It is a narrow slicer, usually 11 to 14 inches, with a thin blade and often a Granton or hollow-ground edge. It is made to cut long, thin slices of cooked meat, not to break down raw cuts.

Do I need a Granton edge?

Not strictly, but many barbecue cooks prefer one. Smoked BBQ Source says the grooves help with thin, even cuts in fatty meats. A plain edge that is very sharp also works.

How long should the blade be?

Twelve inches is the usual answer. Go to 14 if you often slice whole packer briskets, and 11 is fine for flats and roasts.

Can these knives trim a raw brisket?

They are not the best tool for that job. A shorter, stiffer blade is easier to control around fat. Our guide to the best boning knife covers it. Serve on a good cutting board with a juice groove.

Our final pick for the slicing board

The Victorinox is the sensible buy for nearly everyone, and it leaves room in the budget for good smoke wood. For shorter knives and full carving sets, go back to the carving knife brands guide. And if your brisket plans fall through, the menu at Julia’s can feed you. Call to order.