The Best Electric Knife for Carving Turkey and More, According to Our Pros

Taste of Home

The holidays are coming up fast, which means we’re all searching for feast day essentials like gravy boats and tablecloths. Another holiday essential: An electric knife.

An electric knife makes carving up everything from turkey to ham to chicken to prime rib super easy and super quick. But if you choose the wrong model, you can end up with ragged slices and an uneasy feeling as you wield the knife. That’s why our Test Kitchen went on the search for the best electric knife.

The Best Electric Knives

• Best Overall: Cuisinart Electric Knife Set
• Best Runner-Up: Cuisinart Ergonomic Electric Knife

How We Tested Electric Knives

Nancy Snyder/Taste of Home

In our quest for the best, our team snagged seven of the most popular electric carving knives on the market. Our team used these knives to carve and slice up a variety of food types—from poultry and ciabatta bread to fresh tomatoes. All the while, the Test Kitchen team made notes on the following:

• Overall Performance: Blades should be sharp and result in quick and efficient cutting, carving and slicing. Cuts should be clean (not jagged or rough) and consistent.
• Grip: Is the knife easy and comfortable (ergonomic) to grip and hold when in operation? Does the safety switch need to be pushed in the entire time when in use?
• Pressure Required: Minimal effort and pressure should be required when cutting and slicing.
• Vibration: For safety and comfort—and efficient cutting—minimal vibration should occur when operating an electric knife.
• Noise: How noisy is the electric knife when operating?
• Safety: A good knife should be easy to grip and feel safe to handle. Some electric knives feature safety lock buttons for added precaution.
• Price: Does the knife’s performance—and additional accessories—justify the cost?

Our Test Kitchen-Preferred Electric Carving Knives

Seven different knives were used in this test to carve chicken, slice ciabatta and cut tomatoes. In the end, only two got our stamp of approval to be called Test Kitchen-Preferred.

Best Overall Electric Knife

Cuisinart Electric Knife Set with Cutting Board

via merchant

If you’re hosting the holidays this year, make sure you have all the accouterments needed for dinner and carving up that turkey—including a carving fork and cutting board. This Cuisinart Electric Knife Set includes all those extras you’ll need for Thanksgiving and beyond.

Our Test Kitchen pros enjoyed using this knife since it was super versatile; our cooks were able to slice through tender tomatoes and carve a chicken with ease. No matter the task, this knife cut with minimal pressure and with very little vibration. Low vibration is key with electric knives. When a knife shakes excessively, it can make the cutting process unsafe.

The slices of chicken, bread and tomatoes were all clean and precise—no ragged edges to be found. And when carving poultry, having extras like a carving knife is super handy. This all-in-one kit is ideal for entertaining.

Pros

• Highest performer of all models we tested
• Provided clean, consistent cuts with little effort or pressure required
• Ergonomic handle made cutting and carving easy and comfortable
• Includes electric handle, dishwasher-safe blades, carving fork, cutting board and storage rack
• Safety lock button instantly locks knife when trigger is released

Cons

• None on our end, but some online reviewers found the handle was too big

Available for $64.95

Best Runner-Up Electric Knife

Cuisinart Ergonomic Electric Knife

via merchant

Don’t need all the extras like the carving fork and cutting board? Then the Cuisinart Ergonomic Electric Knife is for you. This affordable knife is easy to grip thanks to a silicone-coated grip and ergonomic shape. Our pros found this knife to be comfortable to hold even after slicing up loaf after loaf of bread.

What our kitchen team really loves about this knife, though, is that it vibrates very little as you use it. The blades make short, efficient movements that let the knife cut easily and quickly without much pressure. And the sharp knives made quick work of slicing up a whole box of tomatoes. Our prep cooks were able to get super thin slices very easily with this model.

With a comfortable grip, low vibration and sharp blades, our Test Kitchen finds this knife to be safe and easy to use—plus it’s a great price.

Pros

• Most comfortable grip of all the models tested
• Provided clean and even, consistent cuts
• One-touch on/off operation
• Ergonomic knife grip and dishwasher-safe blades
• Budget-friendly price

Cons

• Does not come with storage case or carving fork

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What to Look for When Shopping for an Electric Knife

In addition to the testing criteria we used in our quest to discover the best electric knife, there are a few unique considerations to bear in mind when shopping for the best electric knife to suit your individual needs:

• Corded vs Cordless: Consider where you’ll need to use your electric knife, and whether you’ll have access to an outlet. While cordless knives are more expensive than their corded counterparts, they do provide an added level of convenience if you want to carve right at the table. Just be sure to choose a model with a long battery life.
• Handle: Whether you’re purchasing an electric knife just for special holidays or you plan to use it multiple times a week, you want to make sure you’re selecting a handle that’s easy to grip and hold. Not only is your comfort level important, but safety is also top of mind. Consider also whether the knife has an operation button that needs to be pressed once, or whether it needs to be pressed during the entirety of its use.
• Blades: Depending on your intended use for the knife, the blade length may be an important consideration. An electric knife blade typically runs 8 to 10 inches long, and will likely suffice for all your cutting needs, especially if you’re intended use is just for holiday feasts. However, some electric knives come with an additional blade for those who prefer to cut meat with one, and vegetables and bread with another. For added cleaning convenience, look for blades that are dishwasher-safe.
• Accessories: Consider whether you’ll need additional accessories, and if they are not included, be sure to factor that into the total price when comparing models. Some electric knives come packaged with cutting boards, carving forks and additional blades. Other electric knives are accompanied by a storage case for keeping your knife safe and secure when not in use.

FAQ

How do you carve a turkey with an electric knife?

While you can use an electric knife for lots of tasks—everything from dicing loaves of stale bread for stuffing to slicing tomatoes for the next BBQ—we know that 99% of the time, you’re breaking out the electric knife to carve turkey, ham or other holiday meats.

While the steps to breaking down these cuts are the same, there are a few tips to keep in mind as you use your knife.

Our Test Kitchen’s Prep Kitchen Manager Catherine Ward recommends getting a good feel for your knife by cutting a few sample slices from a less conspicuous part of the turkey. Once you get a handle on how the knife works, you can use it to carve easily and make great cuts on those prized parts of the bird, like the breast.

Catherine also suggests holding your elbow against your body to help stabilize yourself and the knife as you cut. This gives you a bit more control and more pristine cuts—especially on pricey proteins like prime rib. And in case you’re wondering, this is how much turkey you need per guest.

How do you safely use an electric knife?

Using a good electric carving knife should have you feeling comfortable and in control, and our Test Kitchen is confident our favorite models will have you feeling at ease. This being said, there are still some safety precautions to take when using an electric knife.

Senior Food Editor Peggy Woodward has some important reminders for anyone using an electric knife:

• Insert and remove the blades only when the knife is unplugged
• Insert the blades with the cutting edge pointing away from your hand
• Always use a meat fork (never fingers!) to hold meat steady while you slice

With these tips in mind, you’re ready to carve! And don’t forget to keep an eye out for a great deal on electric carving knives in our best Black Friday deals roundup.

Why to Trust Our Test Kitchen

At Taste of Home, we’re serious about good food. That’s why every single recipe that our readers submit gets reviewed, made and sampled by our team of culinary experts. We want to make sure that everything from our kitchens deserves the label Test Kitchen-Approved. 

The same goes for products. Our pros want to know what foods, gadgets and cleaning supplies are the best to fill your pantry and home. Whether you’re a professional chef or a home cook, success in the kitchen starts with a great knife. Our culinary team is experienced with kitchen cutlery and cutting techniques, allowing us to thoroughly scour top electric knife brands and rigorously slice our way to the top performers. We put every product through a thorough testing process. Then our Test Kitchen team chooses the winners. Those best-tasting and top-performing products get our stamp of approval: To be called Test Kitchen-Preferred.