Best Electric Knives

Review & Comparison, Last Update December 29, 2023
Cutting, slicing, and carving can mean quite a lot of work if you don't have a suitable cutting device at hand. With an electric ...Read more
PROS

The knife is fitted with proprietary American Angler high-performance blades that are flexible and hollow ground. They provide reciprocating 2-blade action for better precision.

CONS

It may feel a bit uncomfortable in smaller hands. 

OUR VERDICT

This fish knife may become an ideal purchase for both home and commercial use. It boasts 4x the lifespan and 2x more torque than any other "heavy-duty" knife, so big bones won't be a problem for it. And the handle will stay cool even with prolonged use. 

detailed parameters
POWER SOURCE

Corded (8-ft power cord)

USE

Outdoor / Indoor use

BLADES

8" freshwater blade

USABILITY

Advanced Air Flow Design, Blade release buttons, compatible with all variations of American Angler replacement blades

SAFETY

Safety lock, Pressure activated on/off trigger

WARRANTY

2 years

PROS

The advanced Air Flow design ensures effective cooling of the motor and prevents it from overheating even if you use the knife for an extended period of time.

CONS

The blade is a bit tricky to attach/detach.

OUR VERDICT

If you need a heavy-duty knife for cutting meat and filleting fish, this one is a perfect fit. It can help you fillet even large-boned fish like catfish. The knife makes clean and smooth cuts with no jagged edges. Excellent for fishermen.

detailed parameters
POWER SOURCE

Corded (8-ft power cord)

USE

Indoor use

BLADES

7.5" utility blade

USABILITY

Advanced Air Flow design, Blade release buttons

SAFETY

Safety lock, Pressure activated on/off trigger

WARRANTY

1 year

PROS

The set includes a storage case and a carving fork as a bonus. The stainless steel fork can help you go straight from carving to serving. Also, it is dishwasher-safe.

CONS

The trigger is situated a bit awkwardly.

OUR VERDICT

Hamilton Beach offers a nice set that comes in a hard case for storage. The knife is fitted with a durable stainless steel blade that cleanly cuts through any type of meat or bread. It's a decent basic knife for beginners.

detailed parameters
POWER SOURCE

Corded (5-ft power cord)

USE

Indoor use

BLADES

7.5" utility blade

USABILITY

Blade release buttons, Serving fork included

SAFETY

Safety lock, Pressure activated on/off trigger

WARRANTY

1 year

PROS

If the blade is installed incorrectly, the knife won't start cutting, which minimizes the risk of injury. By the way, the blade is dishwasher safe.

CONS

It's quite noisy. 

OUR VERDICT

Made with an extra-long 8.5" utility blade, the Cuisinart CEK-30 will let you slice even the thickest cuts of meat. Moreover, you can purchase an additional blade for cutting bread and crusty baguettes.

detailed parameters
POWER SOURCE

Corded (5-ft power cord)

USE

Indoor use

BLADES

~8.5" utility blade

USABILITY

Blade release button

SAFETY

Safety lock, Pressure activated on/off trigger

WARRANTY

1.5 years

PROS
A patented Comfort Grip handle is easy to hold and the rubber inserts help keep it firmly in your hand for a precise cutting.
CONS
A light-colored body is easily soiled and will require some extra care.
OUR VERDICT
Efficient and reliable - these are the most appropriate words to describe this best-ever electric knife. It will never fail even if you run it for hours on end. Black & Decker knife was designed to simplify your kitchen tasks.
detailed parameters
POWER SOURCE
Corded (5-ft power cord)
USE
Indoor use
BLADES

7.5" utility blade

USABILITY
Blade release buttons, Built-in stand, Comfort Grip™ Handle, Dishwasher safe blades
SAFETY
Safety lock, Pressure activated on/off trigger
WARRANTY
1 year

By a Trustworthy Manufacturer for Avid Fishermen

Are you an avid fisherman? If yes, you'll be hard-pressed to find a better knife for your trophies. Produced by the American Angler, a brand with over 30 years of experience that specializes solely in high-quality fillet knives and accessories, this model may suit the needs of both enthusiastic fishermen and professional guide services.

The main perk of the American Angler PRO Electric Fillet Knife is that it's equipped with 2x more torque motor compared to any other "heavy-duty" knife. Also, it comes with very powerful gear, leaving no chances for big bones to slow you down. With that, the filleting results will be consistent and smooth, without even the need to push hard.

Another benefit of this knife is its longevity. Featured with advanced airflow design. The handset of this knife promises to stay cool for hours of continuous filleting, making this model a good choice for commercial use.

Yet, please, note that the knife may feel uncomfortable if you have smaller hands. Also, it's quite heavy at 3 pounds. However, the ergonomic handset is claimed to provide more comfort and reduce strain on your wrist while filleting.

For Any Fish

Speaking about the versatility, the American Angler PRO Electric Fillet Knife excels as well. Usually, it's quite hard to find a knife with replaceable blades, and things get even worse when it comes to electric models. No longer.

This knife is compatible with all types of American Angler replacement blades to match any fish you'd like to fillet (from 1 lb to 25 lb). What's more, any of the blades offer fantastic precision and maneuverability. This time, the company has done its best to make the blades sharper and more versatile, so you'll be able to fillet almost any type of fish in just a few seconds.

We’d have to say that if you'd like to take most of the hassle of fish cleaning, the American Angler PRO Electric Fillet Knife is worth its weight in gold. When it comes to cleaning your catch at the end of the day, you most likely want a knife you can trust, and this knife is ideal not only for filleting the fish but also for removing the skin afterward. It performs great and has plenty of power without overheating. Plus, it's sharp and ready to roll!

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price $0.00
Stock In stock
ASIN B00CWX4JTG

Little Monster Fillet Knife

The Rapala company is a big name in the fishing industry and this also holds true for their electric knives, designed in compliance with the highest quality standards. The knife we've got on hands is a great example of that, offering you twice the speed and three times the power you normally get with most any standard electric knife. Perhaps, it won't be an understatement to say that this model is one of the best knives offered by Rapala as of today. The cutting capabilities of this knife are nothing short of amazing. The knife easily cuts through thickest fish flesh and rib bones, making clean and smooth cuts with no jagged edges, and it can perfectly cope with most other meats beside fish.

Such superior performance is achieved mostly thanks to the heavy-duty motor the knife is fitted with. It is extremely powerful, fast, and - most importantly - doesn't overheat even after continuous use. Due to the advanced Air Flow design, the knife stays cool, making it easy to disengage the blade when you've finished cutting. This helps keep the knife in a great serviceable condition for a long time.

Super Sharp

Performance aside, let's just say that this electric knife is super sharp. It's fitted with 7.5-inch flexible reciprocating blades that make it easy to peel the fillet right down on the skin of the fish. And, as we've mentioned above, it will easily manage tough meat and even cut through backbones. So, in spite of its relatively small size, this little monster is capable of filleting even something as huge and boned as catfish. The best thing is, the blades are removable and dishwasher-safe, and it's possible to engage additional size blades.

In the end, let's say a few words about the convenience of use. It has a large and ergonomic handle that is very easy to hold. The handle features a comfortable grip and doesn't feel slippery in the hand. Like we said, the knife doesn't get hot and is easy to clean after use. The only gripe is that the knife operates only if you keep holding its power button and the moment you disengage it, the operation stops. On the bright side, the knife's fitted with a safety button to prevent accidental cuts and has a long 8-feet power cord giving you freedom of movement when processing fish or other food. So, if you need an ergonomic, powerful, and quick knife for heavy-duty tasks, this one from Rapala will fit the bill.

Additional Info

User Manual     Manufacturer

Last updated price $55.24
Stock In stock
ASIN B00F5EK3CG

Decent Basic Knife

Hamilton Beach is another renowned manufacturer that produces high-quality kitchen appliances for very competitive prices, and this electric knife is one of them. For less than $20, you can get a fantastic knife for general use that will serve you for long years to come if maintained properly.

The blades of the knife are 9" when mounted, while the knife body is about 10" long and 7.5"- 8" round at the place where you hold it. The knife comes disassembled but the twin blades mount and eject easily.

Overall, the knife feels nice on hands - it's neither heavy nor cumbersome. Also, the handle is comfortable to grip so that you can make precise slices with little effort. And the trigger on the underside of the handle is simple to activate and use. Once activated, the oscillating stainless steel blade cuts smoothly through any type of meat. You can safely use it on roast beef, ham, turkey, chicken, and pork with no problems. It works effortlessly even on thick/dense meat, delivering you thick or thin slices.

Besides meat, it perfectly slices bread from crispy baguettes to homemade loaves: the knife won't compromise their texture. And no experience is required to get professional-looking slices. Just pull the trigger, draw the blade in a straight line, and enjoy the results.

Handy Additions

As a nice bonus and for greater comfort of use, the set includes a stainless steel carving fork - it can help you go straight from carving to serving. Take note that the fork is dishwasher-safe and can be easily thrown into the machine for hassle-free cleaning. However, the blades should be hand washed only. It's better to use hot, soapy water and a soft sponge for cleaning. After washing, let them air dry.

Importantly, you should always clean the blades between processing different food items. This way, you'll avoid cross-contamination of foods and prolong the service life of the knife. Also, you mustn't try sharpening the blades by yourself. They never need sharpening and may be easily replaced when dull.

Lastly, we would like to point out that the knife is supplied with a gray plastic storage case that can hold the knife along with the fork and blades in separate compartments.

All in all, Hamilton Beach offers a nice set that comes in a hard case for storage. The knife is fitted with a durable stainless steel blade that cleanly cuts through any type of meat or bread. It's a good basic knife for beginners.

Additional Info

User Manual     Manufacturer

Last updated price $17.41
Stock In stock
ASIN B00004X12T

Well-balanced Model

Cuisinart is a reputable manufacturer of kitchen tools and appliances that help make the cooking process much easier. It offers a good range of electric carving knives, and the CEK-40 model sits right in the middle of the Cuisinart lineup. It strikes a perfect balance between build quality, ergonomic design, price, and performance.

To begin with, this Cuisinart electric knife is fitted with a powerful motor that is able to manage any slicing task. Along with the extra-large stainless steel blade, it can help you easily slice not only medium-hard cheeses and meats (turkey, chicken, salami, ham, roasts, etc) but also cut fruits like melons and pineapples, as well as such vegetables as squash, eggplant, and zucchini. It also smoothly glides through loaves of bread, bagels, and sandwich rolls.

The knife comes with a 5-ft cord and requires an electrical outlet nearby to operate. There is a one-touch on/off control on the handle to let you easily drive the device. The handle is non-slip and quite comfortable for both right and left-handed users to maneuver it with ease. Compared to most other kitchen appliances within its price bracket, the CEK-40 handle has a good finish, feels nice in one's hands, and is really well-built.

Easy Maintenance

As far as electric knives are concerned, the cleanup of the Cuisinart CEK-30 is pretty reasonable. First, you should remove the blade and unplug the knife. To squeeze the blade, you just need to press the release button and then grasp the blade with the cutting edge away from you. Once you detach the blade from the knife, you can give it a good rinse in hot, soapy water or the dishwasher. Yet, you mustn't immerse the handle in water or place it under the tap.

All things considered, the Cuisinart CEK-30 is one of the best values on the market. The manufacturer has focused on performance and convenience of use but omitted unnecessary features. That's why this electric carving knife is very reasonably-priced yet does a great job of slicing through most ingredients.

Additional Info

User Manual     Manufacturer

Last updated price $29.99
Stock May be out of stock
ASIN B01M0M38JH

Efficient and Durable

This immaculate electric knife from Black & Decker features top-rated efficiency and durability. The cutting blade length in this model is 7.5”, but the design is contoured in such a way that the blade is located at a distance of 1.5” from the housing. Thus, in terms of efficiency and performance, this blade is as good as 9” blades. Convenient release buttons allow for a quick blade release while a dishwasher safe blade makes cleaning a breeze. Additionally, the manufacturer provided vent holes to cool the high-torque motor and ensure intensive knife operation within several hours. Hence, if you decide to gather the whole crew for a special occasion and would need to cut a lot of ingredients for a festive meal, Black & Decker will never fail and become your best friend maintaining its edge cut after cut. A unique patented Comfort Grip™ Handle is ergonomically shaped and has non-slip rubber inserts for convenient holding. And one more thing: when you distract from cooking a special built-in square stand will allow you to put the knife avoiding contact with a cutting board or countertop. It is a really nice feature not only in terms of convenience but also in terms of hygiene. Whether you carve a turkey on a Thanksgiving day, lamb, duck or pork on Christmas or simply cut roast, ham and chicken during parties, this performing knife will slice it through without a hitch. It offers so many benefits that you cannot but try it!

How to Carve a Turkey

Carving a big bird might seem a challenging task, especially in front of hungry guests, when you have to stand all those watering mouths, critical eyes, and rumbling stomachs. But thanks to the electric knife from Black & Decker, you will easily carve a turkey in a matter of minutes and join your guests for a pleasant meal. Just follow our helpful tips.

Preparation: Take out a turkey from the oven, cover it with foil and let it stand for another 15-30 minutes for the juices to set and the meat to firm up. Then a turkey fillet will be moister and the slices will hold together better. Place the turkey on a cutting board the breast side up and the legs facing you. Now take a knife and a fork to start carving.

Carving: Start with the breast – cut even slices and put them on a serving plate. Cut the skin between the thigh and the breast to remove the leg easily. Pull out the leg and cut the joint, then, separate a thigh and a leg again by cutting through the joint. Take the leg and slice the meat by cutting along the bone. To remove the meat from the thigh, simply cut thick slices to the bone. The wing is usually served as it is.

Well, as you can see, a durable sharp knife is a key factor for quick and efficient turkey carving. Black & Decker electric knife is the best solution to make this task a pleasurable experience.

Additional Info

User Manual     Manufacturer

Last updated price $39.94
Stock In stock
ASIN B0000DAR49

VIDEO

What Is an Electric Knife?

A knife is a commonly used kitchen tool for completing a variety of culinary tasks. But if you need to cut a lot of foods, carve carcass meat, fillet fish or slice a freshly baked crusty bread the process might get tiresome and time-taking. Hence, such an important and extremely useful tool as an electric knife was designed to facilitate your kitchen tasks and make cutting tough meats and soft foods easier. This rather simple but highly functional unit has a built-in motor to actuate the blade and so it can cut all kinds of foods about 10 times faster as compared to an ordinary chef’s knife. You will be impressed with the fine cutting results!

Your electric knife will become even more efficient if you cut your foods on premium-quality cutting boards while steak knives will give you an opportunity to fully enjoy the taste and flavor of juicy steaks of any doneness degree.

What Features to Compare

Power

The most important criterion for choosing an electric knife is a power source. You can find corded and cordless models on the market. The first type will run as long as you need if there is an electric socket in the proximity. A power cord length is of great importance for corded models. Corded electric knives are optimal for domestic use as well as for the use in cafes, restaurants, and even on fishing boats. Professional fishermen might clean and fillet fish all day long. Meanwhile, cordless knives will give you freedom of cutting foods whenever you need provided that the battery is fully charged. Here you should pay attention to the knife maximum continuous run time and the time needed for a full battery recharge.

Blade and Performance

Some models come with a single multifunctional blade while the other can have several detachable blades that differ not only in length and width but also sharpening type and serration size. Performance combined with usability features can greatly facilitate the use of a knife allowing you to really enjoy the process. Сheck out a blade release button to ensure a hassle-free blade change, and make sure a carving fork is included, offering the convenience to fix the food on a plate or board while you cut it. Such an accessory as a storage block is a great plus, allowing you to keep all of your knives securely in one place. If you don't mind paying a bit more, consider knives with dishwasher-safe blades so that you can simply wash all your kitchen utensils in a dishwasher. Some knives, especially portable, come including special cases where you can store them when not in use, a convenient solution if you plan to transport a knife with you.

Safety

Mind you electric knives are usually extremely sharp, so it's crucial to consider what safety features are included. As a rule, electric knives have a pressure activated on/off trigger which activates the blade only when it's being pressed. A safety lock is another remarkable feature, designed to prevent accidental activation of the knife. This feature is important, especially with families who have children. Not all but many models come packed with mesh gloves to protect your non-filleting hand from cuts. All these features make a knife safer and more pleasant to use.

Did you know?

The history of electric knives

Nobody knows for sure who created the first electric knife. The invention is usually attributed to Jerome L. Murray. This American scientist held 75 patents on different things that simplified the life of people worldwide. It was he who created such devices as a television antenna rotator, airplane boarding ramp, peristaltic pump, audible pressure cooker, and, of course, an electric knife. However, there are some other claimants and Clem E. Kosterman is one of them. He patented the idea of the electric carving knife in 1939.

Such famous companies like Black + Decker and KitchenAid started to produce electric knives in 1964. Pretty soon, an electric knife has become an American cultural icon. It was widely used at homes, in restaurants, and in the meat industry.

Other uses

Besides slicing a variety of foods including meat, fish, poultry, bread, fruit, and vegetables, electric knives can be used for other purposes sometimes. For example, you can sculpt foam rubber, cut wood, metal as well as other solid or semi-solid materials.

Maintenance

One more benefit is that the blades of electric knives don’t require any sharpening throughout the whole lifetime. You just need to change them after some time. And to prolong the service life of your electric knife and get the most out of its performance, you should wash the blades by hand in warm, soapy water and then dry them thoroughly after each use. It’s better to store the item in a protective cover, which is usually supplied with the knife.

Although some manufacturers produce knives with dishwasher-safe blades, we still recommend you to wash them by hand.

To clean the power unit, you’ll need to wipe it with a damp cloth and let it air dry. Never immerse the motor in water.

Troubleshooting

  • If your electric knife doesn’t work, make sure that it gets power from an outlet. Check the power cord. If you find loose wires, try to reconnect them. Also, test the switch - if you have an electrical contact cleaner, spray it. If the knife still doesn’t work, lubricate the motor bearings with a few drops of machine oil.
  • If your knife begins to slice poorly, you should check the blade alignment.

  • In case one of the blades is bent, gently press it against a flat surface. If this doesn’t help, replace both blades.

  • If your electric carving knife becomes too noisy, you might need to replace the drive gears.

Sources:

1. How to Carve a Turkey, RealSimple.

2. How to Fillet a Fish, wikiHow.

3. Ronnie Dauber The History of the Electric Knife, eHow.

4. 57 Things You Can Do to Be a Better Cook Right Now, Epicurious. January 2, 2015.

5. How to Cook a Turkey, Betty Crocker.

6. Electric knife, Wikipedia. February 7, 2016.

7. Alton Brown 10 Knife-Buying Tips, Alton Brown. April 24, 2015.

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