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The 4 best carving knives for perfect slicing this Thanksgiving
It's turkey time! Get ready for the big meal with these top-rated knife picks and shopping tips from the pros.
Thanksgiving is here! Today is the day to make sure you've got all the kitchen tools and utensils you need. You probably have a solid chef's knife, but do you own a carving knife? If not, there's no time like the present to pick one up. The best carving knives tend to be longer and thinner than a chef's knife, which will help you work around bones and joints; they also let you slice through meat without tearing it or having to do a lot of sawing. They come in handy whether you're serving a turkey, a rib roast or something as simple as a chicken for Sunday-night dinner.
To come up with our list of the best carving knives for 2024, we looked for top-rated 8- to 10-inch carving knives that feature a narrow, razor-sharp blade (some with dimples; some without) and are made by trusted brands. We reached out to experts for input and got some excellent advice: "The only attribute a knife needs to be a good carving knife is it needs to be sharp," says Paul Kelly, a turkey farmer and managing director of Kelly Turkeys, which sells sustainably bred birds. "People talk about weight and balance, but unless you are using a knife for eight hours a day, those factors are not important."
I'm a busy mom and while I truly enjoy cooking — I'm a graduate of the French Culinary Institute and Yahoo's resident culinary products expert — the reality of it can feel a bit daunting when you're faced with a 15-pound turkey or a standing rib roast that everyone is eager to get on their plates. A good carving knife can make serving much easier, as long as you wield it the right way. "'Slice' means to use the length of the knife in one direction. Do not saw back and forth," warns John Mooney, chef and owner of Bell, Book and Candle in New York City.
Now that you know what to do, scroll on for the best carving knives of 2024.
Table of contents
Best carving knife overall
Blade material: High-carbon stainless steel | Handle material: Polypropylene | Blade length: 9" | Wash instructions: Hand wash
Our best carving knife overall hails from the beloved German brand Wüsthof, which is also Ina Garten's favorite knife maker — and for good reason. This stellar utensil will keep you carving for decades thanks to a full tang (meaning it's made from one piece of stainless steel from end to end) and a triple-riveted handle. It feels comfortable in hand, it's exceptionally sharp, and at 9 inches long, it will help you maneuver around any bone-in roast you cook. The dimples in the blade create space between the blade and the food so that the steel doesn't get sticky during slicing.
- Durable handle
- Designed to resist corrosion and dulling
- Pricey
Best budget carving knife
Blade material: High-carbon steel | Handle material: Santoprene | Blade length: 10" | Wash instructions: Hand wash
When I conducted our best chef's knives test, I was truly impressed with Mercer Culinary's 8-inch Chef's Knife, so I'm fairly confident that the brand's carving knife will perform well for years. Plus, it comes at a very reasonable price.
Like the Mercer chef's knife, the handle on this knife is ergonomic and offers a no-slip grip, which is certainly a plus when you're trying to separate meat from bone. The blade on this knife is quite sharp and should cut easily through a turkey or other roast.
- Affordable
- Ergonomic handle
- Does not come with a case or storage sleeve
Best carving knife set
Blade material: Stainless steel | Handle material: Pakkawood | Blade length: 8" | Wash instructions: Hand wash
This stunning set, which includes a carving knife and bolstered fork, would make an excellent addition to your cutlery collection just in time for the holiday cooking frenzy. The knife boasts an 8-inch blade made from German stainless steel that holds up to any roast. The handles on both utensils are made from pakkawood (wood that's been infused with resin to make it more durable and waterproof). The 7-inch fork is an excellent helper when it comes to transferring sliced meats to a plate or serving platter.
Need more convincing? Oprah included the Messermeister Avanta knife block set in her Favorite Things list for 2024 saying, "This women-owned business originally developed this line for a culinary school. Now chefs and cooking newbies can appreciate the balance and heft of each blade and how great the block looks on their counter."
- Durable pakkawood handles
- Affordable
- Brand is endorsed by Oprah!
- Some shoppers note the spot where the handle meets the blade is not smooth
Best electric carving knife
Blade material: Stainless steel | Handle material: Plastic | Blade length: 8" | Wash instructions: Hand wash
For anyone looking for an old-school electric carving knife, this Hamilton Beach set is the one you want. It's easy to assemble, works well, has a sharp serrated blade and comes complete with a carving fork and carrying case. Even if you only break it out twice a year, at 25 bucks you can't go wrong.
You can also use this knife to cut through tough, crusty loaves of bread with ease or even foam and other crafting materials. And with an ample 5-foot-long cord, you won't have any issues finding the right place to do your carving.
- Comes with a carving fork and case
- Great value for the price
- Long cord
- Some shoppers note the knife is loud
Carving knives FAQs
Do I need a carving knife?
If you cook or serve large-format meats often (think turkey, rib roast, bone-in steaks) you should have a carving knife on hand. It will help you navigate around bones, cartilage and joints more easily than the broader blade of a chef's knife.
Are there different types of carving knives?
There are two types of carving knives. The first is a knife with a long, thin blade and a pointed tip, like what's in this article. The second is sometimes referred to as a slicing knife: It has a rounded tip and may have a longer blade that's meant for slicing boneless meats (like a filet roast) or even cakes.
How do you sharpen a carving knife?
Maintaining a sharp blade on your carving knife is as important as hand-washing and hand-drying it (even if the brand says the knife is dishwasher safe, you should wash it by hand to prolong its life). Keep a honing steel on hand for quick fixes and a mechanical sharpener or whetstone for more precise sharpening. Here's our guide to the best knife sharpeners.
Meet the experts
Paul Kelly, turkey farmer and managing director of Kelly Turkeys
John Mooney, chef and owner of Bell, Book and Candle in New York City
