Willy Smoke is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
An essential tool for any kind of barbecuing is a quality BBQ knife.
So when purchasing such a knife, it is important to consider all features and options that will best suit your BBQ style.
In this article, we will help your search by evaluating the top BBQ knives on the market and highlighting the key qualities that will guide you toward the best possible purchase.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks for Best BBQ Knives
- OUR TOP PICK: Victorinox 12 Inch Fibrox Knife
- RUNNER-UP: Wusthof Classic 6-Inch Chef's Knife
- BEST LONG HANDLED BBQ KNIFE: Route83 XL 13" Classic Brisket Knife
Comparison of the Best BBQ Knives
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | |
|---|---|---|
Our Top Pick  |
| View Latest Price → |
 |
| View Latest Price → |
 |
| View Latest Price → |
 |
| View Latest Price → |
 |
| View Latest Price → |
 |
| View Latest Price → |
What Makes a Great BBQ Knife?
As it is hard to come by a BBQ knife or knife set at a less than significant price point, it’s crucial that you look for highest overall quality to ensure a good investment in such a tool.
Ease of Use
The first component of what makes a great BBQ knife is naturally the ease of cutting.
The details of this will depend on the specific uses and foods you’re most concerned with, but if the knife doesn’t cut, slice, or chop efficiently, it won’t be worthy of purchase.
Construction
Secondly, the construction of a BBQ knife will be key in determining its quality and reliability.
This includes making sure that all parts of the knife are soundly put together and the materials are of a high enough grade that they will maintain their composition and cutting ability through years of wear and tear.
Typically better knives will feel sturdy have some good weight to them without being too heavy to easily maneuver, and the weight should be pretty evenly distributed between the handle and the blade.
As it is hard to come by a BBQ knife or knife set at a less than significant price point, it’s crucial that you look for highest overall quality to ensure a good investment in such a tool.
Tang
Another thing to consider here is what’s called the tang of the knife, which is the end of the metal blade that attaches to or forms the handle. The longest lasting knives often are the ones with a full tang that goes all the way through to the end of the handle.
Types of BBQ Knives
No two pit-masters are the same, and there is a vast array of BBQ knife categories to fit everyone’s unique cooking style. Below are some of the most common varieties of BBQ knives.
Chef
The chef knife will be the most versatile tool on this list, as it can do the job of cutting, slicing, chopping, and trimming. It will typically have a wide triangular blade, and will be somewhere around 8 inches in length.
This all-arounder does not excel in one specific area of cooking, but for those of you barbecuers looking for just a single, general-utility knife, a chef knife should have you covered.
Types of Kitchen Knives (Source)
Boning
Not hard to tell from the name, a boning knife is used for removing the bones of meat and fish. Built for precision, these knives will be quite narrow and sharply pointed with an upward curve. This type of knife is certainly geared toward those looking to take their grilling to a more serious level by dealing with bone-in cuts.
Slicing
The long and serrated slicing knives are essential for those who want a precise slice out of any kind of meat, but are especially handy for a brisket.
At typically 10+ inches in length, these knives are narrow with a rounded, bull-nose tip. The serrations on the blade help make a smoother cut by causing less damage to the meat.
Carving
These are quite long and thin knives, ranging from 8 to 15 inches long, meant for thin slices of large cooked meat cuts.
A bit less narrow than a slicing knife, the carving knife serves about the same purpose, usually having similar serrations on the blade.
Willy's Top Picks - Best BBQ Knives
Review of the Best BBQ Knives
Now, let's dive right into our list of best BBQ knives.
Best Overall:
Victorinox 12 Inch Fibrox Pro Slicing Knife with Granton Blade
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
Undoubtedly, this knife is the trusted choice of many users out there. Users love it for its capability to do any slicing task with superior performance. They report that this model is quite efficient in handling all cutting and slicing tasks in any professional kitchen. Moreover, its durability has won the confidence of many users.
Why it Stands Out to Us
In case you are looking for an exceptional knife to assist you in the kitchen, then you must get your hands on this sharp model. It comes with a round-tip stainless steel blade having air pockets in order to avoid friction and improve meat separation. The handle is also comfortable and provides excellent balance during slicing.
The 12-inch slicing knife by Victorinox tops our list for the best overall BBQ knife. What really sets this apart is its serrated Granton edge blade which allows for the cleanest possible cut as it creates small pockets of air so that no meat gets caught on the blade.
This makes for extremely easy and efficient slicing, and because its composed of super lightweight European steel with an ergonomic, nonslip handle, your hand and wrist will not get tired after heavy usage.
While it is designed for the most effective slicing of BBQ meats, this knife is also great for roasts, fish, and even cakes or sandwiches. Victorinox offers a high-quality blade at more than a reasonable price for its popularity and reputable name.
Who Will Use This Most
A firm knife with a sharp blade, this model is quite suitable for cutting and slicing. The long straight blade is perfect for cutting soft or firm meat without any hassle. Moreover, it ensures less friction, which avoids any food sticking, which is helpful in professional kitchens in order to get the task done in less time.
Bottom Line
An extraordinary model with a sharp blade, this Victorinox knife is no less than other models from the company. Not only is it known for its optimal durability, but it will also never do you wrong in the kitchen whenever it comes to cutting and slicing meat. All in all, it is one of the best ones you will find on the market.
In short, Victorinox’s 12-inch Slicer is popular for a reason. It’s an inexpensive, but high-grade option for barbecuer’s looking to step up their specialized cutting. Built for ultimate ease of use, this knife will be ideal for meatier grilling and with proper care, can really last.
Runner-up:
Wusthof Classic 6-Inch Chef's Knife
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
This knife is extremely popular among the users for its ability to perfectly cut, slice, and chop the vegetables and meat. Most of the users love it for its easy handling and perfect balance. Moreover, there is no tension of discoloration over a period of time, which is quite impressive for many customers out there.
Why it Stands Out to Us
The Wusthof knife mainly stands out to us for its attractive design and exceptional performance. It is equipped with a 6-inch long stainless steel blade that features top-notch sharpness. The blade is perfectly complemented by a firm handle that is meant to last long for its durable synthetic construction.
A more traditional approach to a BBQ knife, the Wusthof Classic 6-inch Chef’s Knife comes as a close second to the Victorinox.
This all-purpose knife can do the job of 4 knives in one and with its sturdier weight, is a great option for grilling veggies and thicker meats. This is a full tang knife, so it is truly built to last and has a limited lifetime warranty to back it up.
The contoured handle and finger guard allow for optimal comfort as well as safety. This brand’s Precision Edge Technology is designed to keep a 20% sharper blade and the high-carbon stainless steel will extend the life on this knife by resisting stains and corrosion.
This knife falls into the same price range as our top pick, but due to its incredible versatility, could be labeled as the value option out of the two.
Who Will Use This Most
This cook’s knife has proven to be quite suitable for carrying out multiple slicing and chopping tasks in your kitchen. It can be used in homes as well as by professional chefs to slice meat, vegetables, and fruits. Additionally, it can be employed to make perfect pieces of meat for your BBQ party.
Bottom Line
One of the finest knives you will find on the market, this exquisite-looking model is built to last long. The stainless steel construction of the blade ensures faster and smoother cutting. Moreover, its ergonomic design ensures easy handling while working in the kitchen. Moreover, you don’t have to worry about the color fading as well.
Overall, our runner-up is a budget-friendly and highly versatile way to go. As it is not specially made for slicing BBQ meats, the 6” Wusthof Classic Chef’s Knife will be best for the more casual or beginning pit-masters who enjoy working with a wide range of foods in the kitchen and on the grill. If you are looking for one go-to tool, we recommend you give this knife a try.
Best Long Handled BBQ Knife:
Route83 Classic Brisket XL 13" Carving Knife
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
According to most buyers, this knife is a great addition to your kitchen, whether you’re a professional cook or a home chef. It provides you with precision and lets you cut and slice with ease. If you’re carving briskets, this knife will make your experience a breeze from start to finish. It features quality construction and will last a long time if properly cared for.
Why it Stands Out to Us
The Route83 Classic Carving knife is crafted using German steel and features a durable blade and large handle. It is designed to offer you accuracy and precision while you cut large pieces of meat, including brisket.
A unique thing about this knife is that each piece produced is unique; no two knives feature the same piece of wood in the handle. Moreover, the handles are multi-dimensional, which helps provide a natural grip, making it easier for you to control while in use. It is also very durable and features an amazing storage case.
Who Will Use This Most
If you’re someone who loves to cook and barbeque, then this knife is for you. It allows you to carve and slice larger cuts of meat, poultry, and fish with ease. It provides control over your slicing to easily tackle any type of meat, something not a lot of kitchen knives can do. Therefore, this carving knife is definitely an addition that you want in your kitchen.
Bottom Line
Overall, this Route83 carving knife is a must to add to your kitchen, especially if you struggle with cutting meat. It is crafted using high-quality stain-resistant steel, and the wood handles are made using natural materials. This knife will offer you durability, accuracy, and precision for preparing your meat. Moreover, it offers great control, making it both easy and safe to use.
Best BBQ Knife Set:
Victorinox Swiss Army 7-Piece Set
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
This set of knives has gained many positive remarks from users due to the sturdy construction and reliable performance. They report that the blades are sharp enough to make perfect slices of meat and vegetables. Plus, the handles feature a non-slip grip in order to avoid any accident while working with them in a kitchen.
Why it Stands Out to Us
Packed with exceptional features, this Victorinox BBQ set is the go-to choice of many professionals and BBQ enthusiasts. This set includes a spear point paring knife, semi-stiff boning knife, chef’s knife, breaking knife, Granton knife, wide roast beef Granton slicer as well as a regular cut round steel. All of these are equipped with stainless steel blades with firm handles for the best cutting experience.
For those who really want to splash out and equip themselves with the ultimate tool kit of BBQ knives, we’ve picked out this 8-Piece Swiss Army Competition BBQ Set from Victorinox as the best BBQ knife set.
This set comes with a 3-¼” paring knife, a 6” boning knife, 8” chef’s knife, 8” breaking knife, 10” Granton cimeter, 12” Granton slicer, 12” round sharpening steel, and a knife roll to pack it all together. Literally everything a barbecuer could possibly need.
Each knife is made from high-carbon stainless steel and has an ergonomic, nonslip Fibrox Pro handle that will keep a good grip even when wet.
Again, Victorinox provides a limited lifetime warranty on manufacturer defects, so while the price range is surely a splurge, you’re pretty much guaranteed a worthwhile investment with this knife set.
Who Will Use This Most
A set of top-notch knives, this product is proven to be an ideal choice for professional chefs and amateur BBQ lovers. Since all the knives are specialized for a certain task, having this set on-board can be really helpful if you intend to throw a BBQ party for your friends or family.
Bottom Line
A perfect set for BBQs, these Victorinox knives are built with high-quality stainless steel and feature razor-sharp blades to complete a particular task flawlessly. Moreover, the firm handles ensure a tight grip and excellent balance for a comfortable experience in the kitchen. Without a doubt, you won’t find a better deal.
If you’re on the hunt for an all-encompassing set of great quality BBQ knives, this Victorinox Swiss Army set is the one to go for. It’s definitely a higher priced purchase, but with 8 pieces and a warranty you’ll get more for your money and hopefully a lifetime of all types of grilling.
Best BBQ Carving Knife:
Ergo Chef Prodigy Series with Granton Edge
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
One of the best BBQ carving knives, this model is highly-admired by users for delivering excellent service. Users report that it is ideal for cutting large meat pieces without any difficulty in almost no time. Moreover, the air pockets ensure faster and easier motion during slicing and cutting meat and vegetables.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This knife from Ergo Chef stands out from its rivals for a number of reasons. First of all, the design is user-friendly plus allows easy handling and the perfect balance. Moreover, the stainless steel razor-sharp blades ensure perfect cutting of large meat pieces with higher efficiency. The blade features air pockets to avoid any friction.
This 12-inch knife from Ergo Chef’s Prodigy series is our choice for the best BBQ carving knife. A low budget option, it still comes with all of the features of an above average quality utensil.
Instead of a serrated blade, it sports hollow ground ovals which, similarly to a Granton edge, create pockets of air that allow for a cleaner and easier cut. With a full tang and restaurant grade quality, this number is truly built to last.
It comes with a non-slip TPR grip handle for optimal control and comfort, and the high-carbon stainless steel goes all the way through the length of the knife for a perfect balance.
You couldn’t get a better deal, as the Ergo Chef Prodigy Carver comes with a limited lifetime warranty and touts a tempered blade that will maintain a longer sharpness.
Who Will Use This Most
The flawless long knife is ideally designed for slicing large meat pieces without any hassle. Whether you want to cut a prime rib or turkey, it would deliver efficient service whatever you throw at it. Since the edges are round, it can be used for any type of slicing with maximum ease.
Bottom Line
If you want a high-quality knife to cut large meat pieces, then you should definitely consider this Chef’s knife. It is manufactured from heavy-duty stainless steel and ensures perfect slicing of everything from meat to cakes and sandwiches. Plus, the ergonomic design delivers maximum comfort to the user.
For the cook who needs a long-lasting knife that will cut nearly everything in the kitchen with ease, this 12-inch Ergo Slicing and Carving knife is the best value option. It may not have many frills, but for the price, it’s hard to find a better carving knife of such durable quality and sharpness.
Best Electric Knife for BBQ:
Cuisinart CEK-40 Electric Knife
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
This electric knife has satisfied many users with its excellent performance and reliable construction. The most appreciated thing is its ergonomic design that allows you to fulfill your cutting tasks without a problem. Moreover, it is backed by a 3-year warranty, which is quite attractive for many people out there.
Why it Stands Out to Us
Cuisinart is well-known for its quality products on the market. This electric knife has also fulfilled the expectations with its remarkable features. The set includes two stainless steel blades that are razor sharp. Moreover, you will get a butcher block holding tray that can efficiently store the blades and motor.
If you want to add a little extra power to any carving job, consider this Electric Knife from Cuisinart.
At a very reasonable price, you’d get a motor, stainless steel bread blade, stainless steel carving blade, and an attractive wood block storage tray.
The carving blade is designed for slicing BBQ meats, as well as being great for fruits, veg, and hard cheeses.
Cuisinart may not be the most luxury brand, but their quality standards are high and this electric knife comes with a 3-year warranty.
Who Will Use This Most
Since this set includes two types of blades, it can be used to fulfill multiple cutting tasks seamlessly. One of the blades delivers topnotch performance in carving meat, while the other is proven to be great for cutting bread. You can easily make meat slices whenever you have guests over for a BBQ party.
Bottom Line
Thanks to its dual-blades, this electric knife set is helpful in slicing meat, fish, and poultry with great ease. The beautiful and ergonomic design is highly appreciable. Moreover, it comes with a reliable 3-year warranty to enhance the confidence of customers. To put in a nutshell, this electric knife set will never disappoint you.
For those who take pride in a well-carved holiday meal, the Cuisinart Electric Knife may be the ticket. At a very wallet-friendly price, you essentially get two knives in one with the double blade capacity, but be weary of the common defects with heavy usage.
Conclusion
No matter what level of grilling you’re at, a solid knife is one of the most essential utensils to have on hand.
For the best quality slicing, we’d go with the 12-inch Victorinox Granton Edge Blade, but if versatility is a priority, consider the 6-inch Wusthof Classic Chef’s Knife.
All of the above options would be great picks and surely make any pit-master’s life a little easier when it comes to dicing up a fine cut.
People Also Ask
Since there are multiple types of knives out there, users have certain questions that can help them understand their perfect pick. Some of these knives are suitable for cutting vegetables and fruits, while others are good for slicing roasted meat and poultry. Therefore, the following questions can provide clarification regarding the type of knife you should choose.
What is a Granton Edge?
A Granton blade usually features an array of scallops on both sides; therefore, it is also known as the scalloped edge. Similar to a standard knife, the Granton blade has a straight edge, and the blade is scalloped along the edges only in order to provide the perfect appearance and sharpness.
What is a Slicing Knife?
The slicing knife is typically used for cutting small slices of meat, chicken, pork, as well as fish. It is a bit flexible and therefore considered ideal for slicing vegetables, meat, and poultry. It is usually equipped with an 8-12" long blade that is thin in appearance. The tip of its blade can be either pointed or round to fulfill the respective purposes.
What Kind of Knife is Best For Cutting Meat?
Victorinox knives are considered the best for cutting meat, but they can be really expensive. Therefore, in case you want a knife with an affordable price tag, you should get a Granton slicing knife that gives superior performance in making long and straight cuts. Moreover, the air pockets assist in faster and smoother slicing.
What is the Difference Between a Paring Knife and a Utility Knife?
A paring knife is shorter than the Chef’s knife and comes with a small blade of 2-4 inches, which is quite useful for peeling and cutting fruits and vegetables. On the other hand, a utility knife is a bit larger with 4-7 inch long blades and used for cutting larger vegetables and meat pieces that can’t be done with a paring knife.
Are Santoku Knives Good For Cutting Meat?
Yes, Santoku knives are good for cutting meat as the edges are completely straight. You can easily cut a bunch of vegetables and boneless meat with the help of this knife. However, in order to cut large meat pieces, it is usually recommended to go for a chef’s knife.
