The Best Brisket Knives for Carving Perfect Slices of Meat

Smoked brisket is without a doubt one of my favorite BBQ foods on the planet.  When made just right, the flavors and tenderness are out of this world.

On the front end, you need to trim your brisket to get it to the perfect size and consistency before it goes on the smoker. Then, slicing is the last step in preparing delicious brisket – and it’s a super important one.  Many people overlook this part, but it’s a crucial last step.  Improperly sliced brisket can be unnecessarily tough and chewy.

To do both of these steps right, you’ll need the best brisket knife.  In this post, we’ll go over our top picks for the best brisket knife and why it’s important to have for your grilling accessories.

What is a Brisket Knife?

A brisket knife is a specialty knife designed for carving cooked brisket. It has a long, narrow, flexible blade that makes it easier to slice through brisket grain and separate the flat from the point.

The long, tapered shape of a brisket knife allows it to slide neatly along the contours of the brisket when carving. The blade is typically around 12 inches long.

Brisket knives are also quite thin, usually under half an inch wide. This allows for making precise slices and cutting against the grain of the meat.

The blade flexes a bit rather than being totally rigid. This aids in producing neat, clean slices of brisket versus tearing the meat.

In addition, brisket knives have a rounded tip to safely maneuver around bones and cartilage when carving. The handles are textured for an easy, secure grip, even when hands are greasy.

Brisket knives differ from other slicing knives in their ability to cleanly portion brisket of varying thickness and cut against the changing meat grain. Their specialized design makes carving brisket much simpler.

 

It’s also important to note here that a brisket slicing knife and a brisket trimming knife are two completely different pieces of equipment.  We’ll look at both types of knives in this resource.

For slicing, you want a long blade that’s sharp and minimizes the amount of back and forth motion required to finish a slice.  This is how you achieve those picture worthy, mouth watering long and thin slices of brisket with bark and insides fully intact.

For trimming, you want a somewhat stiff, curved knife that can work under the fat and silver skin.  The goal is to remove it without taking any valuable meat off of the brisket.  A brisket trimming knife will be thin and sharp to help accomplish this.

 

Quick Look At Our Top Picks

Best Brisket Slicing Knives

1. Dalstrong Slicing Knife, 12-inch – Top Choice for Slicing Brisket!
2. Victorinox Fibrox Pro Slicing Knife, 12-inch – Close Runner Up
3. Mercer Millennia Granton Edge Slicer, 14-inch – Long Blade
4. Dexter-Russell Scalloped Slicer, 12-inch
5. Wüsthof Classic Super Slicer, 10-inch – Shorter Blade

Best Brisket Trimming Knives

1. Dexter-Russell Boning Knife
2. Victorinox Curved Boning Blade

Best Knife for Slicing Brisket – Reviews

Dalstrong Shogun Series 12″ Slicing & Carving Knife

When it comes to cooking equipment, especially knives, precision is the word you most like to see associated with what you buy.  The Dalstrong 12″ Granton Edge Slicing Knife completely embodies precision and is the quintessential brisket carving knife.

Aesthetically, the knife is also beautiful and almost looks like a piece of art.  A premium G-10 handle is impervious to heat, cold, and moisture, and has a unique shape that’s optimized for control and comfort.

The blade itself is comprised of vacuum treated Japanese super steel that does a spectacular job of retaining sharpness on the edge, even with heavy use.  The edge is hand finished within an 8-12° angle per side – that’s unbelievably sharp.

As far as blades go, it’s one of the most durable, strong, and resilient blades I’ve ever come across.  It’s also backed by a lifetime warranty.

All around, from performance to visuals this knife is impressive.  It also comes with a sheath for storage when it’s not in use.

Things We Like:

• 12″ blade length is ideal for brisket slicing and other carving needs
• The blade is of the highest quality – incredibly sharp and durable
• Completely balanced
• The grip is heat/cold/moisture resistant and is optimized for comfort and control
• Lifetime warranty

Things We Don’t:

• The Dalstrong is on the expensive end of the spectrum.  The value is there for sure, but if you’re on a budget it might be a little bit out of range

Victorinox Fibrox Pro Slicing Knife, Granton Blade, 12-Inch

When it comes to knives, the Swiss Army brand is probably the most recognizable in the world.  Even people who never use knives are familiar with the Swiss Army.

The Victorinox Swiss Army Fibrox Pro Slicing Knife is most definitely worthy of the Swiss Army name and reputation.  The Fibrox Pro isn’t priced in the bargain bucket, but anybody who spends time in the kitchen knows that a great knife is always worth it.  All around and value wise, it’s definitely one of the best brisket knife options on the market.

It’s 12 inches long with a narrow shape and rounded end.  The design is lightweight and well balanced.  You won’t have to worry about shredding fibers with the sharp, precise Granton blade.  Smaller, thinner, and more uniform brisket slices are made very easily with this knife.

Ergonomics wise, the Swiss Army kitted it out with an easy to grip handle that’s also non-slip, even when it’s wet. The blade is made of high-carbon stainless steel, which can sharpened easily when the time comes.

The old saying you get what you pay for couldn’t be truer here.  Even then, it’s a reasonable price point for an outstanding knife.  The best part is, that Victorinox backs this knife with a lifetime warranty.

Things We Like:

• Victorinox is a trusted brand with a long history of quality
• Ergonomic and comfortable handle design
• Lightweight and balanced
• Granton blade is precise for thin slicing and won’t shred your meat
• Backed by a limited lifetime warranty

Things We Don’t:

• Honestly, nothing to complain about here.  The only thing I could think of is there’s no blade sheath included.  Personally, I store in a knife block so it doesn’t make a difference to me!

Dexter-Russell Sani-Safe Scalloped Roast Slicer, 12″

Any time Aaron Franklin starts talking BBQ, I listen.  His BBQ is some of the most critically acclaimed and obsessed about BBQ in the world. Needless to say, the man knows his brisket.

He recommends the Dexter-Russell Sani-Safe Scalloped Roast Slicer as a great knife for slicing brisket on both his YouTube channel and in his Meat Smoking Manifesto.  Needless to say, you should give this knife a look as well!

The best part is, it’s offered at a very reasonable price and usually is a little bit cheaper than most of the other knives on this list.

Just because it comes at a better price, doesn’t mean in this case that it lacks in performance.

It has a 12-inch blade that’s forged of high carbon steel and the scalloped blade design makes slicing through brisket incredibly easy.

The simplicity and materials used in the design of both the blade and the handle also make this one of the easiest to clean brisket knives on the market.

Things We Like:

• 12″ blade with scalloped design slices through brisket super easily
• High carbon steel blade and handle can withstand hot and cold temperatures
• Super easy to clean

Things We Don’t:

• The handle’s color and texture is pretty unique and likely wont match your other cutlery
• The handle is also made of a relatively slick material – lots of grip texture helps you to get a nice grip but personally I prefer more of a non-slip material

Mercer Culinary Millennia Granton Edge Slicer, 14-Inch

Right off the bat, we’ll tell you that the Mercer Culinary Millennia Granton Edge Slicer is one long knife.  The blade is 14 inches, but the overall length including the handle is 22(!!) inches.

The extra length can for sure come in useful if you’re planning to carve huge briskets or other large pieces of meat.  Despite the length, it’s pretty lightweight and very well balanced.

The handle is quite comfortable and constructed of a combination of santoprene for comfort and polypropylene for durability.  It also has design features to maximize safety – slip resistant texture and a finger guard to name a couple.

High quality Japanese steel was used to forge the blade which can easily be sharpened and is covered by a lifetime warranty.  The Granton blade design helps to slice thin, consistent pieces of brisket or any other food without much effort.

On top of all of that, it’s offered at a super reasonable price point – landing it firmly near the top of our best brisket knife choices.

Things We Like:

• Lifetime warranty
• 14″ blade length is really long – perfect for extra large briskets
• Nicely balanced and lightweight
• Ergonomic and safe non-slip handle design
• Backed by a lifetime warranty

Things We Don’t:

• The length might be a little too much or overwhelming for some, especially if this is your first brisket knife

WÜSTHOF Classic 10 Super Slicer Roast Knife

If you’re not comfortable with an extremely long blade and prefer a slightly less knife, the Wüsthof Classic 10″ Super Slicer Roast Knife is undoubtedly one of the best brisket knives for slicing on the market.

Wüsthof is a German brand that’s been crafting knives for over 200 years.  They’re an iconic and trustworthy name in the kitchenware community.  In addition to the quality product they offer, their kitchen knives are backed by a lifetime warranty.

Wüsthof Classic Series Knives are made from a single block of high carbon stainless steel and have out of this world edge retention.

The 10″ blade is slim with a rounded tip and scalloped edge which lets you easily carve ideal thin brisket slices without shredding fibers.

As far as the handle goes, it’s made of synthetic polypropylene which resists fading, discoloration, and heat impact.

Even counting the handle, the overall length of this knife is about 16 inches, so it’s much more manageable for smaller hands or if you simply prefer something with more control.

Things We Like:

• 10″ blade is great for smaller hands or for those who prefer more control
• Wüsthof is a trusted brand with 200 years of history making quality blades
• A scalloped edge is ideal for slicing brisket or roasts
• The ergonomic handle design is comfortable, and durable, and offers maximum control
• Lifetime warranty

Things We Don’t:

• On the expensive end of the spectrum for sure.  This is the kind of slicing knife you only have to buy once though.  With proper care, it can literally last a lifetime

Best Knives for Trimming Brisket – Our Reviews

Now for the other side of your brisket knife equation!  Here are our picks for the best knife for trimming brisket.  Remember, for trimming you want a knife that is thinner and can slide under silver skin and fat to make the trimming process as easy as possible.

Dexter-Russell Boning Knife

The Dexter-Russell 6″ Boning Knife is a perfect example of a great brisket trimming knife.

A 6″ flexible blade is perfect for getting underneath fat and silver skin portions of your brisket that need to be trimmed off.

You want a blade that’s short enough to make it easy to maneuver, and flexible enough to work around difficult parts of the brisket.  This one can make extremely precise cuts without taking away any valuable portions of meat.

The grip design of a knife is always important, but when it comes to the best knife for trimming brisket it’s of the utmost importance.  Due to the nature of the cuts required to trim a brisket, your blade’s handle HAS to be great.

In this case, Dexter-Russell designed a fantastic handle.  It’s ergonomically designed, lightweight, and has tons of grip.  The design of the handle is also sealed around the blade to make the knife super easy to keep clean.

Victorinox Swiss Army Curved Boning Knife

Victorinox also makes a fantastic line of trimming knives, and their Swiss Army Cutlery Rosewood Curved Boning Knife is our favorite.

The first thing I notice with this knife is the elegance of the design.  It’s just very aesthetically pleasing to me and it’s a beautiful piece to add to your kitchen.

It’s not all style without substance though.  The blade itself is 6 inches long and features a semi flexible stainless steel that’s perfect for trimming brisket.

The rosewood handle not only looks good but feels good on the grip as well.  It’s weighted and balanced with triple handle rivets to last a lifetime.

Speaking of a lifetime, Victorinox also backs this blade with a lifetime warranty.

Best Brisket Knife – FAQ

There are a surprising amount of questions that arise from the best brisket knife conversation!  Here are the answers to a few of them.

Slicing vs. Carving Knife – What’s the Difference?

A lot of people use the term slicing and carving interchangeably.  Some of the products we recommended even did it!  They have both “slicing” and “carving” in their literature even though they are technically slicing knives.

Slicing and carving knives are technically different.

A slicing knife will generally be thinner and a little more flexible compared to a carving knife.  It will also be rounded at the end.  The thinness and flexibility are ideal for slicing brisket into those trademark thin slices

A carving knife is generally a little thicker and less flexible compared to a carving knife.  They also have a pointed edge.  You can certainly cut a brisket with a carving knife, but you’ll just get better, more consistent, thinner cuts from a slicing knife.

Can I Use an Electric Slicing Knife for Brisket?

You sure can!  All of the knives we reviewed are manual knives, but if electric is your preference then that’s perfectly okay.  Here are some benefits and drawbacks of electric vs. manual slicing knives:

Manual Slicing Knife Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Very easy to control – cleaner and dare I say perfect slices are more achievable
• You don’t have to worry about electrical components breaking down
• You don’t need a ton of practice to do a great job
• Quality manual knives are covered by lifetime warranties
• In the long run, less expensive
• You will never have to replace a quality manual slicer
• Doesn’t require an electrical outlet

Cons:

• The process of slicing brisket is slower
• Requires a little bit of physical exertion
• Storing a nice 10″-14″ blade can be tough depending on your setup

Electric Slicing Knife Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Requires less effort
• The slicing process goes faster
• Can power through tough spots
• Most sets come with multiple interchangeable blades suited for different jobs

Cons:

• Needs a power outlet
• Takes quite a bit of practice to get it down
• More expensive in the long run
• Torn slices are a common result (steady hands required)

All of that being said, it boils down to personal preference.  Some professionals rely on electric slicers, some manual.  At the end of the day, you should choose the best brisket knife for you.

What’s the Difference Between Straight, Serrated, Scalloped, and Granton Blades for Slicing?

There are all sorts of different types of kitchen knives out there.  Namely in this article, you’ve already seen Scalloped and Granton blades mentioned multiple times.

The answer to this question is pretty important – each blade type serves a different purpose and you won’t have the best outcome if you’re using the wrong knife for the job.

A straight blade can be a good slicer and can lead to really nice results.  The catch is that a straight blade needs to be extremely sharp for it to work properly.  Otherwise, it can get quite difficult to start cuts and also to get through a brisket with ease.  If a straight blade is dull, you might make a mess out of your brisket slices!

Serrated blades are designed to tear.  Really they’re made for tougher foods, and should never be used for slicing.  Slicing with a serrated blade will almost certainly lead to torn fibers and extremely uneven brisket slices.

A scalloped blade, for purposes of slicing, combines the best attributes of a straight blade and a serrated blade.  Scalloped blades look like they have tiny teeth, which help with the start of the cut and getting through the slice.  It’s not so abrasive that you can’t get thin slices though – but you do need to be a little bit careful using a scalloped blade with tender brisket.

Granton blades are technically a trademarked type of straight edge blade that utilizes a blade edge design created by Granton Knives based out of the UK.  Many other manufacturers have created a “Granton Style” blade that performs on a similar level as the original.

When it comes to performance, Granton blades are the best style for brisket slicing knives.  A properly designed one will make the task of creating thin, perfect slices easier than you could imagine.

How Do I Take Care of My Brisket Slicing Knife?

A good brisket slicing knife isn’t just some old utensil that you throw in the dishwasher.  When it comes to care, you want to make sure you’re doing the right things so that you get maximum performance and shelf life out of your knife.

• Hand wash your knife with warm soapy water.  You don’t want to put a brisket slicing knife in the dishwasher.  You also shouldn’t use super hot water or abrasive chemicals or cleaners as they could cause deterioration.
• Dry right away after washing.  Store in a sheath or a knife block to ensure that your blade’s edges are preserved during storage.
• It’s worth it to invest in a knife sharpener to have handy for when your blade becomes dull after use.

Do I Need a Brisket Knife?

Yes, you may need a brisket knife if you are planning to cook up a brisket. Sure, you may be able to get by with a different knife, but because brisket calls for a long, sharp blade, you need to ensure whatever knife you use can manage.

With this in mind, it is certainly the best option to choose a brisket knife that has been designed purposely for cutting brisket. The blad will be long enough and sharp enough to handle this piece of meat and will make cutting it as easy as cutting through butter.

If you have ever tried to cut brisket without a brisket knife before, you will be well aware of the difficulties one can entail, especially if said knife has a small blade or has been dulled over time. Invest in a brisket knife to make your life easier.

Can a Bread Knife Cut Brisket?

It depends! Many people ask whether a bread knife can cut brisket. Certainly, a bread knife is usually long enough to cut brisket, and most of the time it is sharp enough.

However, it is worth bearing in mind that if the bread knife in question is very dull and has been used by you many times then it may not be quite up to the task.

That being said, frequent brisket makers will invest in a good quality bread knife to use specifically for briskets, ensuring it is kept in excellent condition. This may be something to consider if you are looking for a cheaper option that will be just as good.

You do not have to buy something fancy and expensive to cut your brisket. Sure, a brisket knife is ideal if your budget allows for it, but a good quality and well-looked-after bread knife will work just as well.

Wrap Up

Boy, that was a lot of info!  I bet you didn’t think so much went into choosing the best brisket knife for slicing.  A good slicing knife is very much worth the investment and is a tremendous value add to any grill master’s arsenal.  These can also come in handy for other cutting tri tip and other meats!

It’s the only way to truly do justice to the incredible brisket you spent all day smoking – and it can also help you chop up brisket slices for delicious leftover tacos.

Which brisket slicing knife did you end up with?  Let us know in the comments section below!

Looking for more cutlery suggestions?  Head on over to our article on the best Damascus chef knives next to get our top picks for chef knives.