Using a knife has been the way we slice ingredients for ages. We have been used to the slicing motion and seem oblivious to how tiresome it is to do. This is all fine until you find a better way to slice. The best electric knife takes all the hard work from slicing and allows you to focus on your work, which is to cook delicious recipes. These knives have the option to be plugged into the outlet or operated with batteries if wires are not your thing. It usually comes with many blades that you can interchange when the need arises.
In this article, I will review some electric knives and give you a reason to try this amazing kitchen technology. I will also compare electric knives to traditional knives and present things to look for when buying the former.
Finally, I will give you my seven best electric knife picks. These are some of the brands I actually use, and I can vouch for their quality. I will also give you what I think is the best to have among the seven.
Top Picks: 5 Best Electric Knife
Best Electric Knife Consumer Reports – Buying Guide
If you want to have your own electric knife set, there are a few things that you need to consider. Here are some features to keep an eye on when shopping for your set.
Cord vs. Cordless
There are two main categories of electric knives, cord and cordless. The cord type is, of course, powered from the wall, and the cordless is battery-operated. The main issue between this two is power vs. portability. With a cord, you have unlimited power, but at the same time, you have a little bit of maneuverability problem. The wire is just in the way. You don’t have this problem with cordless, but when the battery begins to run low, the performance also suffers. Some designs get around this by switching between cord and cordless.
Cord Length vs. Battery Life
Closely related to the first issue is the cord length vs. battery life. If you want to opt for a totally cordless solution, make sure that it has some hefty battery life. On the other hand, if you’re fine with the dangling wire, make sure that you have enough length to move around freely. Otherwise, you will have to work too close to the wall.
Blade Material
Choosing the right blade material is essential because the blade is what makes a knife a knife. All the brunt of the work is done here, and if the material is not good, you can’t expect a quality result. While stainless steel is the all-time favorite, composite materials are becoming more and more popular, particularly among kids learning to cook. Even adults love a good composite or ceramic blade because it doesn’t tarnish, and it doesn’t look as intimidating as a metal blade.
Blades in the Kit
Most electric knives will come with blade kits, but knowing what comes with the kit will determine if it will serve you well or not. In most cases, it will have a blade for bread and a multipurpose blade. You also have to know the length of the blade because some lengths are good for filleting fish while others are good for turkeys.
Handle Design
An ergonomic handle design will come a long way when you’re in the thick of things. When your hand is soaked with oil and the knife vibrates vigorously, a contoured handle will greatly help prevent injuries. Look for a knife with a contoured handle with a switch that’s easily accessible from it for safe and easy usage.
Child Safety Mechanism
If you have kids in the house, it’s better to look for electric knives with a double locking mechanism or locking trigger. You know how those little ones can be adventurous sometimes.
Dishwasher Safe
When you have cut your shares of meat or fish, you would wish for an easy way to clean your knife. Some designs have dishwasher-safe blades and handle, and if you’re not apt to washing it manually, it’s good to have something that you can dunk into the dishwasher.
Warranty
When it comes to warranty, you are normally looking for longer. This generally means that the manufacturer is confident that their product would last longer.
Style
While style is not on top of my priority features list, some would want their kitchen appliance to suit their theme. Some would like to show off a kitchen knife at parties and other special occasions, and style might be a good consideration when choosing a knife.
Extra
It’s nice when the knife comes with extra handles, wood storage blocks, safety buttons, and long cords. You would also be looking for different speed settings, so you have multiple cutting powers for different tasks.
Top 7 Electric Knives Reviews
1. Rapala Heavy-Duty Electric Fillet Knife Reviews
As its name suggests, the Rapala Heavy-Duty Electric Fillet Knife cuts through meat and fish like cutting cheese with a hot knife. This is really a heavy-duty cutting implement, and it will cut through bones if you don’t know when to stop. The secret behind its power is that it has three times the usual speed of regular electric knives.
Even when the meat is a bit frozen, you can count on this knife to do its job. It sports a 7.5-inch blade and an 8-foot power cord. For most filleting needs, you can count on this knife to do the task. Its comfortable and relaxing grip ensures fatigue-free slicing even for longer periods.
- Made of top quality material
- Heavy-duty motor
- 7 1/2″ reciprocating blades
- Dishwasher safe
- Twice the speed of standard electric knives
- Three times the power of standard electric knives
- More expensive than most knives
2. Cuisinart Electric Knife Reviews
When it comes to having a kitchen knife that suits most kitchen needs, the Cuisinart CEK-40 Electric Knife is the best contender. It is a corded electric knife which means that you have unlimited power and a cord length of 4 feet long enough for most kitchen setups. It comes with two blades, one for bread sizing and one for carving.
The carving blade is also a multipurpose blade allowing you to use it for other cutting purposes. The handle has an ergonomic design and has an on/off trigger well within your reach.
- 2 high quality blades
- Wooden storage tray
- Ergonomic handle design
- The handle tends to break easily
3. Black & Decker Slice Right Electric Knife Reviews
If you’re looking at cutting beyond 7 inches, the Black & Decker EK 700 Slice Right Electric Knife has a 9” overall length that’s apt to the task. Cutting through meat and bread is easy with this fast sawing electric knife. When you think this knife is hard to control for its size, think again because its ergonomic handle is designed to increase comfort and provide control while slicing.
All the removable blades that come with this product are dishwasher safe, and it’s so easy to separate from the handle with its release button.
- Ergonomic handle for comfort and control
- Long enough for most cutting needs
- Ergonomic handle design
- Dishwasher safe
- Some products shipped are defective and have to be replaced
4. American Angler PRO Ergonomic Motorized Handset Electric Knife Reviews
Another powerful knife is the American Angler PRO Professional Grade Electric Fillet Knife. It has double the torque of the regular electric knife. It’s so smooth to operate, resulting in consistent fillets.
Another thing that impressed me with this knife is that it comes with 5 extra blades: 10″ Saltwater Blade, 5.5″ Curved Tip Blade Replacement, 8″ Curved Tip Blade Replacement, 10″ Heavy Duty Shark Blade Replacement, and 8″ Heavy Duty Shark Blade Replacement. All these allow for greater cutting options.
The length of this knife is also worth mentioning. With blades as long as 10”, you can cut whatever you want to cut with this knife.
- 5 replacement blade options
- Heavy-duty motor
- Ergonomic handle
- It’s really expensive
- Tends to overheat easily
5. Hamilton Beach Serving Fork Included Electric Knife Reviews
For consistently nice cuts, you can’t go wrong with Hamilton Beach Electric Carving Knife with Case. This is primarily due to the comfortable handle and powerful motor, and sharp blade. Its razor-sharp blades are made of stainless steel, giving you the confidence that it’s not going to corrode. It’s also dishwasher safe and sturdy enough to withstand bending. The blades are easy to remove, and it never needs resharpening.
- Space-saving storage case
- Stainless steel blade and fork
- Perfect for carving meat
- Slicing all types of bread
- The switch is awkwardly placed
6. Proctor Silex One Touch Button Control Electric Knife Reviews
Whether you are slicing turkey, roast beef, or pork loin, the Proctor Silex Stainless Steel Electric Knife won’t shy away from the job. The blades that come with this electric knife are so sharp; you can’t find any ragged edges that would reduce the attractiveness of the cut.
This electric knife is ambidextrous, and it features a contoured grip with a vinyl handle, making it easy to slice anything. All its removable blades are dishwasher safe, so you don’t have to worry about cleaning them.
- One-touch button control
- Tested for durability
- Ambidextrous operation
- The handle is a bit bulky on the side
7. Rapala Lithium Ion Cordless Fillet Electric Knife Reviews
The lone lithium-ion-powered electric knife, the Rapala Lithium-Ion Cordless Fillet Knife, boasts 80 minutes of contentious operation without loss of power. This entails greater portability. If wire bothers you, this is the electric knife that you’re looking for.
It also features a high-torque motor and an advanced airflow design resulting in a smooth but powerful operation. This machine will not shy away from cutting tough ingredients like meat and hard-crusted bread.
The only caveat I can think of this electric knife is that it takes two hours to charge fully. If you don’t mind waiting, you can go for this electric knife.
- Highly portable
- 80 minutes of battery life
- High-torque motor but smooth to operate
- Take too long to charge
Advantages of Electric Knife over Traditional Knife
I have to admit right from the start that not all slicing job requires an electric knife. Don’t throw away your traditional knife set yet; you will still need all of that. An electric knife is an overkill in some cases, but there are unique instances when this appliance does excel. Here are some advantages of an electric knife over a traditional one.
1. It Does All for You
With electric power, you can do away with all the slicing motion, focus more on your angles, and attain that perfect cut. This allows you to have that consistency with your cuts, doable only by experts welding traditional knives. Slicing hard-to-cut items like poultry and fish is a breeze because of its moving razor-sharp blades. This translates to less food preparation time, which is really a lot when you add up after weeks and months.
2. It’s Safer to Use
This might sound counterintuitive, but those who have experienced being nicked after trying to cut some hard objects would agree that a dull knife has more potential to injure you than the really sharp ones. Electric knives can cut through hard objects with ease with the combined power of electricity and razor-sharp edge. This means less slippage, which can result in injuries.
3. No Need to Sharpen
Unlike a traditional knife, there is no need to sharpen electric knives because it comes with many replacement sets. This means that you have sharp blades all the time. It also has blade kits containing special blades for different cutting needs. It has blades for bread, meat, and vegetables, and all you need to do is switchblades as the job requires.
4. It’s More Affordable Than Top of the Line Knives
This might surprise you, but most electric knives are actually cheaper than the top-of-the-line traditional knife sets. The best knife sets have a lot of heritage and prestige behind them, and it has attained a collector item’s status. Because of this, you have to pay a premium to get a set. While there’s room for collectibles in my kitchen, sometimes I settle for something that gets the job done to save a few bucks.
These being said, electric knives and traditional knives can co-exist in the same kitchen. While their functions overlap, there are instances that one is better than the other, and a wise chef will know which one to pick to serve his or her purpose well.
Final Thoughts
The clear winner in this review is the Rapala Heavy-Duty Electric Fillet Knife. The rugged simplicity and strength of this electric knife are just mind-blowing. The way it cuts through hard ingredients is really the deal-breaker for me. You can really feel the raw power in your hands while you’re slicing.
The American Angler PRO Professional Grade Electric Fillet Knife is a close competition of the Rapala except for the price and the fact that it sometimes overheats. But when it comes to sheer power, the two are my top choices.
For daily usage and consistent result, you can’t go wrong with the Cuisinart CEK-40 Electric Knife. This thing works and delivers consistent slices without the ragged edges. The secret really lies in the razor-sharp blades. If you have tried traditional knives from Cuisinart, you will find the same quality knives here except for the added electric motor.
If portability is your thing, the Rapala Lithium-Ion Cordless Fillet Knife is a perfect choice. This is really a good electric knife, except that I wouldn’t say I like to recharge often. Although cords bother me a bit, I would take it any day as long as I won’t be recharging.
Would you like to share your experience with electric knives? Please share your comments in the section below.
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