Knives are necessary for every kitchen, whether you’re a world-renowned chef or a clueless cook. Although many people favor the famous chef’s blade, it’s not always the ideal tool for the job.
For example, if you’re a fan of bread and other flour-based products, you might be unsatisfied with the results of a straight blade.
Since bread is a staple food in most homes, it’s essential to have the right tool to cut through it.
After all, the squashed dough tends to lose its appetizing appeal. Thankfully, there’s another culinary option that does a better job.
Which brings us to the question, why is a serrated knife better for cutting bread than a straight blade knife? What makes pointed edges perfect for slicing through the crust? Let’s find out!
What Is a Serrated Knife?
A serrated knife has saw-like edges, also known as teeth, on its cutting side. It is popularly referred to as a bread knife because it is ideal for slicing through loaves. As such, it’s a must-have tool if you like sandwiches and basic cutlery for every kitchen.
They’re preferable to straight-edge knives for certain foods because they can cut through evenly and produce finer chunks. Then, you can proceed to the meal’s decoration.
Why Is a Serrated Knife Better for Cutting Bread than a Straight Blade Knife?
1. They Can Slice Through Easily
Although a straight blade is a versatile tool, it’s not the best for slicing bread. Despite getting the job done, going through the outer brown layer can still be quite a hassle. Fans of garlic bread and baguettes especially should be able to relate.
On the other hand, the many edges of a serrated knife make your food prep much more effortless. Besides cutting through the dough, serrated knives are also excellent for slicing foods with tougher crusts.
In other words, the functionality of a serrated knife isn’t limited to cutting bread. You can also use it for eggplants, meatloaves, and fruits. Then, their wavy edges will allow you to easily direct the blade and precisely follow a line.
Related Read: What’s the Best Knife for Cutting Charcuterie?
2. They Don’t Compress the Bread
When the bread is fresh out of the oven, it tends to be softer and more malleable. The challenge with cutting fresh bread is that the texture tends to be uneven. You have a thicker brown crust on the outside, but the white crumb is much softer.
Thus, you tend to exert more effort on the outer portion but switch to using lesser force very soon afterward.
When using a straight blade, the problem with that approach is that the motion progresses to the inner part. As a result, you end up with a compressed slice.
However, serrated knives make a more transverse movement that grips the crust without squishing the interior.
See More: Who Makes the Most Durable Cooking Knives?
3. They Create a Cleaner Cut
Finally, a serrated knife is better for cutting bread because it leaves a cleaner cut. As we’ve highlighted earlier, its unique edges let it slice through easily without compressing your food.
It gives you more power to control the pressure you apply, allowing you to make finer cuts. Besides the added precision, its design also leaves fewer crumbs behind. That makes it easier to tidy the kitchen after you finish.
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How to Care for Your Serrated Knife
Serrated knives are low-maintenance tools like most types of kitchen cutlery. However, you should always use them cautiously as sharp edges can be dangerous. Although these tools do not require special cleaning, they can be tricky to sharpen.
Yet, since they still work quite well, even when dull, you can slack to a degree. Nevertheless, if you want to restore their precision, you can use a ceramic honing rod to re-sharpen the teeth.
Conclusion
At the beginning of this article, we asked, why is a serrated knife better for cutting bread than a straight blade knife?
As we’ve seen, a more rugged blade can easily grip tough food, allowing it to pass through all sorts of crusts.
It also gives you more control in terms of pressure, preventing you from squishing your freshly baked goodies. Finally, it creates perfect slices and leaves fewer crumbs on the chopping board.
