Electric knives slice through breads and meats, like oven-roasted turkey, with ease. (Hamilton Beach/)
An electric knife should be part of any well-equipped kitchen. Though not a tool for every single cutting task, they make certain jobs, such as carving a turkey or slicing a loaf of home-baked sourdough, a lot easier and more precise. Here are a few things to look for in a modern electric knife.
Cordless
Rechargeable knives are easy to use, and you don’t have a cord getting in your way. (Cuisinart/)
Electric kitchen knives of old were fairly bulky, with a dedicated cord that could sometimes get in the way. But advances in lithium ion batteries for everything from cordless drills to chainsaws makes going cordless on an electric knife easier than ever. A single charge should get you 20 minutes or so of continuous run time.
Multiple Blades
Try to find a cordless knife with a selection of blades for different purposes. (Black + Decker/)
The great thing about an electric knife is that one knife can serve multiple purposes. Interchangeable cutting edges commonly include a blade for carving meat, a bread knife, and even a perforated blade for slicing sticky items like cheese, vegetables, and fruit.
Storage Case
A case makes it easy to keep the blades, charger, and handle together and not lost amongst other silverware. (Hamilton Beach/)
Because electric knives often have multiple blades or accessories, a model with a carrying case makes it easy to keep all components together and packed out of the way when not in use. Since an electric knife is not an everyday item, it will spend more time in storage than in your hand. But when you need the power of an electric knife, you'll know exactly where everything is and be glad to have it.