In today’s world, is it wise to own a knife that finds it difficult to slice through a thin piece of meat? We don’t think so, especially with the advent of high-quality, razor-sharp knives that are designed to smoothly glide through even the thickest of meats.
As a lover of barbecue (BBQ), you’re probably searching for the best knife that can help you in your preparation. Trust us, there is no shortage of such knives but you have to look for them in the right places. To make things much easier for you, we went looking for the best BBQ knives. After testing many products, we found the best among them to be those designed with high-quality steel for exceptional sharpness and durability. Using other important features, we’ve picked the best seven BBQ knives on the market.
More features: satin finished blade, fully forged construction, ergonomic handle, dishwasher safe
Every chef loves a high-quality knife that helps them get the job done in split seconds. Little wonder that the J.A. Henckels International Classic Chef Knife is the first among the best knives for BBQ on our list. The knife is fully forged from high-quality German stainless steel. Also worthy of note is the handle material which is made from plastic. Plus, the handle is ergonomically designed and triple-riveted, thus providing balance and comfort.
Besides, the J.A. Henckels chef knife’s blade is finely honed, making the knife a great option for someone who wants long-lasting sharpness. Measuring 8 inches in blade length and 4.72 inches in handle length, this kitchen tool offers easy handling for chefs who love long knives. Furthermore, this knife is perfect for you if you want a tool that chops, minces, slices, and dices.
More features: pocket roll included, santoprene handle
What if you don’t want a single knife for your BBQ? We have just the perfect alternative for you in the Mercer Culinary M21820 8-piece knife set. The set contains a chef knife, paring knife, Santoku knife, slicing knife, bread knife, boning knife, honing steel, and a pocket bag. The knives’ blades are made from high-carbon Japanese steel. The handles are also made from a combination of polypropylene and Santoprene.
Moreover, the Mercer Culinary M21820 knives’ Japanese steel construction makes their blades easy to maintain and sharpen for a razor-sharp edge. If you’re also on the lookout for a knife that is very easy to handle, you don’t need to look further because the knives’ textured finger points deliver grip, resistance, and safety. Another impressive feature of the knife set is the knife roll; a convenient heavy-duty case for the knives.
More features: pakkawood handle, 14-16 degrees sharpened edge
Third on our list is the equally impressive Cutluxe Slicing Carving Knife. The knife’s blade is made from high-carbon German steel. The handle, on the other hand, is made from luxurious pakkawood. We must also mention that the blade’s edge is hand sharpened at 14 – 16 degrees per side, creating a plain and razor-sharp edge.
If you want to cut through meat effortlessly, you can bet on the Cutluxe knife to deliver thanks to its razor-sharp edge that delivers effortless slicing and carving. You don’t need to worry about the balance of the 12-inch knife if you love long knives, the handle’s full tang, triple-rivet, and ergonomic design provides you great grip and exceptional stability that ensures easy maneuverability and comfort.
More features: 2.3 mm blade thickness, 13.1 oz weight, pakkawood handle, 17-degree cutting edge, no-slip handle
In your preparation for your favorite barbecue, there’s a huge possibility of you needing to chop meat. What better way to chop your BBQ meat than using the Imarku meat cleaver? The cleaver is made from high-carbon German stainless steel (7cr17mov) for long-lasting sharpness, easy edge retention, and maintenance. It measures 7 inches in length, making it just the right size with the right balance to butcher thick meat. Also, the knife’s handle is made from pakkawood.
Besides, the Imarku knife’s blade is hand sharpened at 18 degrees on both sides, creating a very thin and ultra-sharp thickness of 2.3mm. Don’t get us talking about the ergonomic wooden handle that provides great corrosion resistance and durability. Apart from that, it gives you a comfortable grip with high maneuverability.
More features: carving fork included, bamboo cutting board included, safety lock
How much do you love the idea of a sharp knife that cuts through meat seamlessly without you needing to exert force on it? We are sure you do. The Cuisinart AC Electric Knife is the best electric knife for BBQ out there. It uses a stainless steel micro-serrated blade that easily cuts through not only meat but also bread. There’s also the ergonomic handle that is designed with user comfort in mind.
Moreover, the Cuisinart electric knife features a blade release button that allows quick, dishwasher clean-up and a safety lock button that instantly locks the knife after the trigger is released. Plus the ergonomic handle is designed for comfortable left- or right-handed use. Apart from that, the electric knife set comes with a carving fork that makes serving your BBQ easy.
More features: fibrox pro handle, non-slip grip, flexible
What do you say about a knife that offers more despite costing less? We say, amazing! The blade of the Victorinox 47602 boning knife is made from stainless steel. It is flexible and curved, making it just perfect for smooth and clean cuts around the bone. Also worthy of mention is the knife’s pointed tip that easily pierces meat. Plus, the roll features an ergonomic Fibrox Pro handle that provides a non-slip grip.
Measuring 6 inches in length, the Victorinox 47602 boning knife is perfectly weighted and balanced for comfort and easy handling thanks to its ergonomic handle. If you love the feel of a balanced knife, this tool may be ideal for you. The curved and flexible blade provides a great working angle when cutting thin cuts of meat that are easily pierced.
More features: scalloped edges
After cooking your BBQ to satisfaction, you need the best knife you can find to get the best slices out of it. Trust us, we know just the ideal knife for BBQ slicing. The Cuisinart CGK-725 BBQ Slicing Knife is specially designed to slice through thick cuts of meat. It features a 9-inch ultra-sharp blade with scalloped edges.
With the blade’s edges, you can maximize your cutting surface and prevent meat from sticking to the kitchen tool. Also, the blade provides thin, uniform slices with minimal effort. Furthermore, the knife boasts a full-tang riveted handle that can be used to hang the tool or open a bottle. The handle is made from resin that won’t absorb moisture or stain.
There are several BBQ knives on the market and we understand how tricky choosing the best option can be. Thus, we’ve developed a comprehensive buying guide to help you in your quest to buy the best BBQ knife.
By now, you probably know that there’s no specific type of BBQ knives, instead, there are a few of them. When it comes to barbecuing, we identified the four types of knives you need to get the job done smoothly. We will explain each of them below:
As we mentioned before, choosing the best BBQ knives can be tricky but it doesn’t have to be if you know the things to look for. Luckily for you, we’ve put together detailed information on the most important features to consider when picking the best barbecue knife.
When it comes to BBQ knives, there are two main materials used to design them: carbon steel and stainless steel. For them you can look up Rockwell hardness scale to determine the quality.
Carbon steel: The carbon steel, as seen in the Mercer Culinary M21820 and the Cutluxe Slicing Carving knife, stays sharp for a long time but is prone to rust. Essentially it requires more care and maintenance than its stainless-steel counterpart.
Stainless steel: Stainless steel is perhaps the most popular material for making BBQ knives as most of the products on our list suggest. It is easy to sharpen and doesn’t rust easily like carbon steel. However, stainless steel doesn’t stay sharp for a long time because it’s a softer metal.
NBC News quoted Frank Proto, the director of culinary operations at the Institute of Culinary Education, says:
Carbon steel holds a sharp edge but is hard to maintain while stainless steel does not hold an edge as well but is easier to maintain
Blade length is a very important consideration when searching for the best BBQ knives. Some may like the 6-inch Victorinox 47602 boning knife while others may prefer the 12-inch Cutluxe Slicing Carving Knife. Try to choose the length that best serves you.
An ideal BBQ knife should have a weight that’s balanced equally between the blade and the handle. Anything short of that, you have an unbalanced knife which can make cutting a difficult endeavor. The J.A. Henckels International Classic Chef Knife and the Victorinox 47602 boning knife are good examples of knives with balanced handles and blades.
The handles of BBQ knives are often made from two different materials: plastic and wood.
Plastic handle: This type of handle is typically smooth and doesn’t have grooves capable of trapping dirt. It is also slightly textured for a more secure grip. This is a feature in the J.A. Henckels International Classic Chef Knife.
Wooden handle: This type of handle is made from wood. Pakkawood is the most popular type of wood used for these handles as seen in the Cutluxe Slicing Carving Knife and the Imarku cleaver.
Regardless of the quality of a barbecue knife, a time will always come when it needs to be resharpened. Buying a knife that is easy to sharpen is a smart choice. Knives such as the Cuisinart CGK-725 BBQ Slicing Knife and the Cuisinart AC Electric Knife that are made from stainless steel are easier to sharpen than carbon steel variants such as the Cutluxe Slicing Carving Knife and the Mercer Culinary M21820.
WeightFor a kitchen tool that you’ll be holding regularly, weight is a vital consideration. You don’t want a knife that makes you suffer wrist fatigue and you also want one that has some weight behind it to cut down thick foods.
A product without a warranty hardly gives a buyer confidence. Thankfully, nearly all the products on our list, including the J.A. Henckels International Classic Chef Knife, come with a lifetime warranty. Even the Cuisinart CEK-41 electric knife promises many years of service with its 3-year warranty.
Trust us, a lot of effort goes into making BBQ knives. You have to be quite committed to making one. For those of you who were wondering about the process of making such knife at home, watch this video for a comprehensive guide:
There’s no barbecuing without having the right knife/knives at your reach. As evidenced by the knives on our list, many features determine the best BBQ knife. The number one knife on our list – J.A. Henckels International Classic Chef Knife – is made from high-quality German stainless steel and features an ergonomic handle that provides the right balance. This knife is also dishwasher safe amongst other exciting features and it’s not surprising that it’s our editor’s choice.
Breathing down the neck of our editor’s choice is the Mercer Culinary M21820 8-piece knife set that includes different, helpful knives made from high-carbon German Japanese steel. Besides, the knife’s handle boasts textured finger points that provide grip, resistance, and safety. There’s also the Victorinox 47602 boning knife – our best value knife – which is made from stainless steel and features an ergonomic handle that gives you balanced handling. No doubt, you can get the perfect knife from our list of best BBQ knives.
