Why Your Kitchen Needs an Electric Knife

We updated this story in July 2022 to include more information on how we test electric knives and to share more advice on what to consider when shopping. The product picks from the most recent test in the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Culinary Innovation Lab remain the same.

A trusty chef’s knife will get you far in the kitchen. But sometimes you need a little extra power. If you've taken care to follow all of the important turkey cooking tips, you don't want to undermine your efforts with a bad carving job. When used properly, electric knives require little effort and simplify carving and slicing of turkeys, holiday roasts, briskets, roasted spatchcock chicken and even tomatoes, some vegetables and cheese. An electric knife is also a great option if you have a beautiful crusty loaf and want an incredibly good grilled cheese — you can make consistent slices more quickly than with a large serrated knife. And an electric knife, which is often designed with a reciprocating blade (meaning two parallel, serrated blades that saw back and forth very quickly in opposition to each other), can also be an important tool for those with limited dexterity. In many cases, it will reduce the amount of force you'll need when slicing.

The pros in the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab test hundreds of kitchen products and gadgets, including Japanese knives and butcher knives. From our testing, we know a good electric knife should be able to create clean, razor-thin slices whether cutting delicate foods, large meats or firm crusts. It should fit comfortably in the hand and minimize the sense of vibration. The blades should be easy to insert and remove, and they should remain secure while cutting.

Our top picks:

For this test, we carved a roasted chicken and medium-rare beef tenderloin, and we sliced crusty sourdough, tender brioche babka and juicy heirloom tomatoes. Read on for more detail on how we tested as well as for advice on what to consider before shopping for an electric knife. We also answer how to care for an electric knife and whether you can sharpen it.