A brisket knife is one of the most important, yet underused, tools in a griller’s toolkit.
We put a lot of time and energy into marinating and seasoning our brisket, then waiting 12 hours for the perfect char. So why squander all that hard work by hacking into our prize-winning brisket with the wrong knife?
Brisket slicing knives have long blades with inlaid divots. This design allows you to make long, even slices with minimal friction and sticking. Because of this, the outer “bark” stays intact, slices are even, paper-thin, and just plain look and taste better.
Brisket knives are made from a variety of materials and are available at almost any price point. To help you narrow your search (and make the best-looking brisket yet!), read on!
Table of Contents
The Best Brisket Knives for 2024
Below is a list of the top 5 best brisket knife options currently available in the U.S., Canada, Australia, and the U.K. Click on the name to read reviews and check prices or skip ahead to read the entire list by clicking here.
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Best Brisket Knife Reviews
Here are the complete reviews of the 10 best brisket slicing knives in 2024. Keep reading after the reviews for a guide on what to look for when choosing a brisket knife.
1. Mercer Culinary Millennia 14-inch Granton-Edge Slicer Knife – Best Overall Choice #1
The Mercer Culinary Millennia 14-Inch Granton-Edge Slicer Knife is a long, well-balanced slicing knife that is comfortable in hand, ultra-sharp, and surprisingly affordable.
Key features include a 14-inch blade made from a single piece of Japanese steel. So it is sturdy and designed to hold its edge.
What’s more, the long blade comes with a series of eyelet-shaped indentations that flow from tip to handle. These prevent the meat from sticking so you can work quickly, without stopping to clean your blade.
The Mercer Culinary Millennia 14-Inch Granton-Edge Slicer Knife also comes with a comfortable ergonomic handle with a textured grip.
If you’re looking for a great all-around brisket knife, this may be a good choice for you.
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2. DALSTRONG Gladiator’s Series Slicer Knife – Best Overall Choice #2
The DALSTRONG Gladiator’s Series Slicer Knife is another fantastic slicing knife, and it’s surprisingly affordable when you consider the quality.
To start, this brisket slicing knife comes with a German-made, high-carbon steel blade. The blade edges are rounded hand-polished at 16 and 18 degrees, perfect for making safe, bold cuts.
Because the blade has just the right amount of bounce and flexibility, this unit works just as well as a boning knife. I’ve also used this slicing knife for trimming brisket, filleting, skinning, and butterflying.
The DALSTRONG Gladiator’s Series Slicer Knife also features a rugged Garolite handle securely riveted to the blade. Not only does it feel comfortable in hand, but it also looks great. Also worth mentioning, Dalstrong backs this carving knife with a 100 percent money-back guarantee.
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3. Victorinox 12-Inch Granton Edge Slicing Knife with Fibrox Handle
The Victorinox 12-Inch Granton Edge Slicing Knife with Fibrox Handle is a mid-priced Swiss carving knife that stands out for a few reasons.
A generous lifetime warranty backs this carving knife, but I’d be surprised if you’d ever have to cash in on it.
To start, this Fibrox pro slicing knife comes with a high carbon steel blade. The blade tip is rounded for safety, and both sides of the knife have a Granton finish to reduce sticking and friction.
The Fibrox pro slicing knife handle is tough, well balanced, and doesn’t slip, even when wet.
If you’re looking for a well-made, affordably priced knife for slicing brisket, check out the Victorinox 12-Inch Granton Edge Slicing Knife with Fibrox Handle.
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4. MAIRICO Ultra Sharp 11-inch Stainless Steel Carving Knife
The MAIRICO Ultra Sharp 11-inch Stainless Steel Carving Knife is another standout manual knife.
This unit comes with an 11-inch Granton blade, which reduces drag and sticking, allowing you to make swift clean cuts. Because the blade is slightly shorter than other brisket slicing knives, you’ll find it useful for slicing pork loins, turkey, ham, even salmon, roasts, and vegetables.
The handle is inlaid with rivets, so it’s sturdy, well-balanced, and comfortable in hand.
If you’re looking for a fantastic grilling gift, check out the MAIRICO Ultra Sharp 11-inch Stainless Steel Carving Knife. This slicer knife comes with its own sleek, cushion-lined box, which looks so nice, I wouldn’t even bother wrapping the box.
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5. Shun Kanso 12-Inch Hollow-Ground Brisket Knife
The Shun Kanso 12-Inch Hollow-Ground Brisket Knife is one of the more expensive slicing and carving knives on the market, but it is also one of the best.
You can feel the quality of this knife from tip to handle. To start, the Granton blade is hand sharpened to make paper-thin cuts without sticking or sawing.
The tip of the blade is also rounded for safety. And did I mention that the blade is made from Japanese steel?
The handle is made from Tagayasan wood, riveted to the blade, and treated with a Heritage finish to hide scratches. In fact, the more you use the Shun Kanso 12-Inch Hollow-Ground Brisket Knife, the better it looks.
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6. KastKing Fillet Stainless-Steel Brisket Knife
The KastKing Fillet Stainless-Steel Brisket Knife is a 9” knife designed for filleting fish and deboning meat. That said, it is a versatile knife, and it works well in almost any grilling situation.
The blade is thin, flexible, and has a sharp tip that allows you to pierce meat safely – and without tearing. Because of that, it is useful not only for slicing brisket but cutting chicken and fillets with precision.
The non-slip Polymer handle rests comfortably in hand, is well-balanced, and doesn’t slip. Extras include a durable yet lightweight, protective sheath and a nice-looking gift box.
If you’re looking for a versatile slicer knife that is affordably priced, check out KastKing Fillet Stainless-Steel Brisket Knife.
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7. TUO 12-inch Brisket Slicing Knife
The TUO 12-inch Brisket Slicing Knife stands out for its good looks, consumer-friendly price tag, and efficient engineering.
This slicing knife comes with a handsome Pakkawood handle. Pakkawood is a synthetic material that looks and feels a lot like conventional wood. However, unlike natural wood, it won’t warp, crack, or soak up bacteria.
Other standout features include a 12-inch stainless steel Granton blade treated with high-tech vacuum heat. This process increases strength and keeps edges sharp.
This slicing knife also comes with a 100 percent satisfaction guarantee.
If you’re looking for a well-made slicing knife that looks as nice as it cuts, check out the TUO 12-inch Brisket Slicing Knife.
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8. SpitJack BBQ Smoked Brisket Knife for Meat Carving
The SpitJack BBQ Smoked Brisket Knife for Meat Carving is a reasonably-priced slicing knife, but it’s certainly not cheap.
This versatile brisket knife comes with an 11” scalloped blade with a rounded tip. This design ensures smooth cutting and keeps the meat from clinging to the high carbon steel Granton blade.
The handle is made from a single piece of plastic, which is practical and nicely balanced. It’s also dishwasher and sani safe.
There’s nothing particularly flashy about this slicing carving knife. The SpitJack BBQ Smoked Brisket Knife for Meat Carving is a budget-friendly tool. It’s meant to make long, smooth cuts – and it does exactly that.
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9. Hammer Stahl 14-Inch Brisket Carving Knife
The Hammer Stahl 14-Inch Brisket Carving Knife is truly a “cut above the rest.”
This is a premium slicing knife, and it’s surprisingly affordable, especially when you consider how it’s made and what it’s made from.
The Pakkawood handle, which is split into two riveted pieces, is the first thing that catches the eye. Steel runs down the center of the inlaid Pakkawood pieces. This looks sleek and feels amazing in hand.
The 14” brisket knife blade is engineered with German high carbon stainless steel. I especially like the attention to detail here. Scallops fall from the top of the curved blade to the bottom, allowing you to make smooth cuts without food sticking to the Granton edge slicer.
If you’re shopping for a grilling enthusiast, take a look at the Hammer Stahl 14-Inch Brisket Carving Knife. It already comes with a sturdy gift box. All you need to do is put a ribbon around it!
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10. Saken 12-inch German Steel Carving Knife
The Saken 12-inch German Steel Carving Knife is another fantastic knife for slicing brisket. It looks and cuts like a top-shelf carving knife but costs about half as much.
The 12” blade is the perfect length for slicing brisket and large birds, but it works just as well for filleting and butterflying. And the rounded knife tip ensures that you do this safely.
This brisket knife is comfortable in hand, well balanced, and sleek. I like the look and feel of the riveted satin-finished handle. The Granton edge slicer blade allows you to make smooth, swift cuts without food sticking to the long blade.
Extras include a sleek and sturdy gift box and a limited lifetime warranty.
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What to look for in a good brisket cutting knife?
Because there are so many slicing knives on the market, shopping can feel overwhelming. To help you narrow down your choices, consider these key features.
Blade type
Slicing carving knives are made with three unique blade styles: straight, serrated, scalloped, and Granton. Each of these four styles has a unique purpose. However, some are more versatile than others.
Straight Blade
A straight knife has, as the name implies, a straight blade. Because the straight blade is smooth and without any texture or indentation, it is a multipurpose tool. Straight knives can be used to slice brisket and other meats as well as vegetables and fruits.
Regardless of whether you are looking specifically for a brisket trimming knife, every grilling enthusiast should have a straight blade knife in the toolkit.
Serrated Blade
A knife with a serrated blade is another useful tool for slicing brisket. A serrated blade has small, saw-like teeth that are especially useful when working with delicate cuts of meat with a soft interior.
Brisket is as much about presentation as it is taste. When you use a serrated blade for slicing and carving, cuts are smooth. No more ragged and torn brisket.
Scalloped Blade
A trimming knife with a scalloped blade is made with a series of single-sided vertical indentations that usually flow from the tip of the knife down to the handle. These indentations create little air pockets between the stainless steel blade and the piece of meat.
A scalloped blade allows you to make smooth, friction-free cuts without sticking. As a result, you’re able to work quickly without having to remove stubborn meat from the knife blade.
Granton-Style Blade
The Granton design originated with a British knife manufacturer called (you guessed it!) Granton. Like a scalloped blade, Granton knives come with a series of inlaid eyelets that run from blade tip to handle.
The difference is that Granton blades have dimples on both sides of the blade. This design choice makes slicing brisket smoother by reducing drag, friction and stickage.
Blade material
Brisket knives are typically made from stainless steel for obvious reasons. Stainless steel is tough, easy-to-maintain material that resists rust and corrosion.
That said, some of the most popular knives on the market are made from low- and high-carbon steel, or a blend of both. As you’ll see, each manufacturing material has benefits.
VG-10 Blades
VG-10 is a stainless steel blend typically used to manufacture high-quality Japanese cutlery. This material blends carbon, chromium, manganese, phosphorus, and a few other chemical elements.
As a result, you get a harder, wear- and corrosion-resistant slicing knife that holds its edge longer. The downside: VG-10 knives also come with a heftier price tag!
San Mai Blades
The harder steel is, the better it holds an edge. The problem, though, is that the harder steel is, the more brittle it becomes. San-Mai (which translates to “three layers”) solves this problem by forge-welding softer steel onto harder steel.
As a result, the knife blade has increased structural integrity and reduced brittleness. For this reason, San Mai knife blades hold their edge and resist chipping.
German Blades
German-style steel is typically made with 56-58 stainless steel, which means that it contains chromium, a material that resists corrosion, rust, and general wear.
German-style blades are typically softer than Japanese-style blades, which means they resist cracking and are easier to sharpen. The downside is that German-style steel loses its edge more quickly than VG-10 and San Mai blades.
Sharpness
Even the most budget-friendly knives for slicing brisket start off razor-sharp. What’s important is how well a brisket knife maintains its edge over time.
VG-10 and San Mai brisket knives are made from hard steel, so they maintain their edge longer. The downside is that Japanese steel knives are more expensive, so they may be out of reach for some grilling enthusiasts.
German-style steel is softer than Japanese-style steel, costs less, and is rust and corrosion-resistant. If you’re looking for a budget-friendly brisket knife that will wear well with time, consider a German-style slicer knife.
Handle material
When you’re slicing brisket and other meats, handle grip is incredibly important. The best knife for slicing should feel comfortable, well-balanced, and have some kind of non-slip texture.
Slicing knives typically come with rubberized plastic, wood, steel, or Pakkawood handles, and each has benefits and limitations.
Plastic & Rubberized Handles
Slicing knives with rubber and plastic handles are popular because they are, above all, affordable. Rubber and plastic handles are also easy to maintain and disinfect, are usually dishwasher safe, and provide a nice non-slip texture.
Wood
Natural wood-handled slicing knives look fantastic. In fact, the more you use natural wood, the better it looks. The downside is that even stained and sealed natural wood eventually wears down, warps, and cracks – especially if the brisket knife spends time in the water.
Steel Handles
Steel-handled brisket knives are often made from a single piece of steel. In other words, the blade and handle are formed from the same piece of metal. This means a more durable brisket knife.
Steel is also more durable than plastic and wood because it won’t rust or crack. That said, steel-handled brisket knives are typically untextured. Because of that, they’re easy to clean. However, they may not provide optimal grip when slicing brisket.
Pakkawood Handles
If you like the look and feel of a wood-handled knife but want increased durability, try a slicing knife with a Pakkawood handle. Pakkawood is a synthetic material that looks and feels like natural wood.
Manufacturers have even found a way to recreate natural wood grain and other “imperfections” to make Pakkawood nearly indistinguishable from real natural wood. Because Pakkawood is synthetic, it is waterproof, difficult to crack, and easy to maintain.
Length
The best brisket knives for slicing are typically 12” to 14” long. That’s quite a bit longer than the average kitchen knife, and there’s a commonsense reason for it: brisket slabs are typically long!
If you typically cook for smaller groups, a 12” brisket slicer may be sufficient. However, if you like to entertain large groups and have to process a bigger piece of meat, you’ll benefit from a longer, 16” slicing knife.
Weight
Weight is another important feature to consider when shopping for the best knife for slicing. At first glance, a featherlight knife may seem like the ideal choice. Not so fast!
I’m speaking from personal experience here, but I get overconfident and careless when I use an underweight knife for slicing brisket. A well-balanced brisket knife forces me to slow down and focus on making thin slices and even cuts. More weight means more oomph and less slippage.
For these reasons, choose a well-balanced knife for slicing brisket. Not too light, not too heavy.
Why should I use a special brisket slicing knife?
The way you slice brisket and the tools you use to do it greatly impact your food’s presentation, texture, and taste. Preparing brisket typically takes more than 12 hours. So why squander all that time and energy by hacking into your meat with any old kitchen knife?
Brisket knives are designed specifically for, well, trimming brisket. They are long, well-balanced, and usually have scalloped blades to prevent the meat from sticking to the blade. So when you use the best brisket knife, you’ll be able to make long, smooth, and even cuts.
The end result: better-looking, better-tasting brisket with half the effort.
Can you use an electric knife for cutting brisket?
An electric knife offers a few advantages over a traditional handheld knife. To start, an electric knife has two blades that act like a saw. This is advantageous when working with tough, overcooked brisket or stubborn pieces of meat that won’t easily fall apart.
Another advantage is that an electric knife for slicing brisket helps you maintain the appearance of the brisket “bark.” When you use a traditional brisket knife, you use two hands: one for slicing, the other for holding your brisket in place.
Because of this, the outer layer of the brisket may smear or detach. Electric knives eliminate this risk.
The downside is that an electric brisket slicer leaves jagged edges on the face of meat slices. Another downside is that electric knives depend on batteries or electricity.
What’s the difference between cutting, carving, and trimming?
Cutting, carving, and trimming are often used interchangeably, but they are all unique tasks that are best done with the appropriate knife.
Cutting Knives
You’ll find cutting knives (or chef’s knives) in nearly every home and commercial kitchen. These versatile tools come with a wide blade that tapers into a point. This design enables you to cut, chop, mince, and slice.
Carving Knives
Carving knives have long blades with a gradual, half-moon taper. These knives are thinner than chef knives. Because of this, they are the best knife for slicing cooked meats like ham, chicken, and turkey.
Trimming Knives
Trimming knives are typically 2” to 3” long and have a curved blade similar to a boning knife. These handy knives are ideal for peeling or slicing produce or creating decorative food items like radish roses.
What’s the best brisket slicing knife for you?
What is the best knife to cut brisket? There’s a lot of fantastic cutlery on the market, but if I had to choose the best brisket knife on the market, it’d be the Mercer Culinary Millennia 14-Inch Granton-Edge Slicer Knife.
The Millennia Granton edge slicer is 14” long, well-balanced, razor-sharp, and surprisingly affordable, especially when you consider that this Mercer blade is made from Japanese steel.
Bonus features include a knife blade with a series of eyelet-shaped indentations that flow from tip to handle. These prevent the meat from sticking so you can work quickly, without stopping to clean your blade.
The Mercer Culinary Millennia also comes with a comfortable ergonomic handle with a textured grip.
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