Thanksgiving is here! Today is the day to make sure you have all the kitchen appliances and utensils you need. You probably have a solid chef’s knife, but do you own a carving knife? If not, there’s no better time to get one. The best carving knives are usually longer and thinner than a chef’s knife, which helps you when working on bones and joints. It also allows you to cut through meat without tearing it or having to do a lot of sawing. They’re handy whether you’re serving a turkey, a rib roast, or something as simple as chicken for Sunday night dinner.

To create 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 asked experts for advice and got some great advice: “The only quality a knife has to have to be a good carving knife is that it has to be sharp,” says Paul Kelly, turkey farmer and managing director of sustainably farmed bird sales company Kelly Turkeys . “People talk about weight and balance, but unless you’re using a knife eight hours a day, those factors aren’t important.”

I’m a busy mom, and while I really enjoy cooking—I’m a graduate of the French Culinary Institute and Yahoo’s resident culinary expert—the reality of dealing with a 15-pound turkey can seem a little daunting or a stand-up rib roast that everyone would like to have on their plate. A good carving knife can make serving much easier if you wield it correctly. “’Cutting’ means using the length of the knife in one direction. “Don’t 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, keep scrolling to find the best carving knives of 2024.

Table of contents

Overall the best carving knife

Wusthof

Blade material: High carbon stainless steel | Handle material: Polypropylene | Blade length: 9″ | Washing instructions: Hand wash

Our overall best carving knife comes from the popular German brand Wüsthof, which is also Ina Garten’s favorite knife manufacturer – and for good reason. This outstanding utensil will keep you whittling for decades, thanks to its full-length tang (meaning it’s made from one piece of stainless steel from end to end) and a triple-riveted handle. It’s comfortable to hold, exceptionally sharp, and at 9 inches long, it’ll help you maneuver around any bone-in roast you’re cooking. The indentations in the blade create space between the blade and the food so the steel doesn’t get sticky when cutting.

Advantages

• Robust handle
• Designed to resist corrosion and tarnishing

$170 at Wayfair

Best budget carving knife

Mercer Culinary

Blade material: High carbon steel | Handle material: Santoprene | Blade length: 10″ | Washing instructions: Hand wash

When I did our best chef knives test, I was really impressed with the Mercer Culinary 8-inch chef’s knife, so I’m pretty confident that the brand’s carving knife will serve you well for years to come. Also, it is available at a very affordable price.

Like the Mercer chef’s knife, the handle of this knife is ergonomic and offers a non-slip grip, which is certainly a plus when you’re trying to separate meat from bones. The blade on this knife is quite sharp and should easily cut through a turkey or other roast.

Advantages

• Affordable
• Ergonomic handle

Disadvantages

• Comes without a case or storage cover

$40 on Amazon

Best carving knife set

Knife master

Blade material: Stainless steel | Handle material: Pakkawood | Blade length: 8″ | Washing instructions: Hand wash

This stunning set, consisting of a carving knife and a padded fork, would make an excellent addition to your cutlery collection, just in time for that holiday cooking frenzy. The knife features an 8-inch German stainless steel blade that can withstand any roast. The handles of both utensils are made of pakkawood (wood that has resin added to it to make it more durable and waterproof). The 7-inch fork is an excellent helper when it comes to transferring sliced ​​meat to a plate or serving platter.

Do you need even more convincing? Oprah included the Messermeister Avanta knife block set in her 2024 favorites list, saying, “This woman-owned company originally developed this line for a culinary school. Now chefs and novice cooks can appreciate the balance and weight of each blade and how great it is.” Block looks at her counter.

Advantages

• Robust handles made of Pakka wood
• Affordable
• Brand is endorsed by Oprah!

Disadvantages

• Some buyers note that the place where the handle meets the blade is not smooth

$50 on Amazon

Best electric carving knife

Hamilton Beach

Blade material: Stainless steel | Handle material: plastic | Blade length: 8″ | Washing instructions: Hand wash

For anyone looking for an old-school electric carving knife, look no further than this Hamilton Beach set. 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 buy it twice a year, you can’t go wrong with $25.

With this knife you can easily cut through tough, crusty bread or even foam and other craft materials. And with a generous 1.5 meter long cable, you’ll have no trouble finding the right place to carve.

Advantages

• Supplied with carving fork and case
• Great value for money
• Long cable

Disadvantages

• Some buyers note that the knife is noisy

$25 at Wayfair

Frequently asked questions about carving knives

Do I need a carving knife?

If you frequently prepare or serve large-sized meats (e.g. turkey, rib roast, bone-in steaks), you should have a carving knife on hand. It helps you traverse bones, cartilage and joints more easily than the wider 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 the one described in this article. The second is sometimes called a slicing knife: it has a rounded tip and possibly a longer blade, intended for cutting boneless meats (like tenderloins) or even cakes.

How do you sharpen a carving knife?

Maintaining a sharp blade on your carving knife is just as important as hand washing and hand drying (even if the brand states the knife is dishwasher safe, you should hand wash it to extend its life). Keep a sharpening steel on hand for quick repairs and a mechanical sharpener or whetstone for more precise sharpening. Here is our guide to the best knife sharpeners.

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