3 best electric knives for 2026, tested and reviewed
Cut through poultry and roasts with a top-tested slicer that makes carving feel easier than it looks.
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Carving a turkey, roast chicken or hefty prime rib can feel intimidating even for seasoned cooks — especially when you have a table of hungry guests keeping watch. While a traditional carving knife certainly gets the job done, the best electric carving knives can make the process faster, cleaner and far less stressful.
In this story
Despite graduating from the French Culinary Institute and writing about food for a living, my own experience with electric knives was previously limited to watching my mom pull hers out for big family meals. So I decided to put them to the test. After getting my hands on six highly rated electric carving knives from brands like Hamilton Beach and Black+Decker, I was pleasantly surprised by how well these old-school gadgets still perform in a modern kitchen. Ahead, you'll find my picks for the best electric knives, plus practical tips for keeping this tool in good working order.
Best electric carving knives for 2026
Blade material:Stainless steel | Blade length:7.25" | Dishwasher-safe:No | Includes:Knife, carving fork, plastic storage case
Why it's great:For prepping large meals or slicing roasts, poultry or bread, you'll be glad to have this zippy electric knife from a dependable brand like Hamilton Beach on hand. When I used it to cut up a whole chicken, I had no trouble getting through joints and maneuvering around bones; the breast meat sliced easily.
It's also quick to assemble — just slide the blades together and insert them into the handle, then plug in the power cord. The trigger button is easy to press, and the handle is comfortable to hold, even during longer carving sessions. I found the knife to feel balanced and not too heavy. The included carving fork helps you stabilize whatever you're slicing and fits nicely into the plastic storage case, so you never have to hunt it down in your utensil drawer.
Minor criticisms:The only drawback is that the knife blades are not dishwasher-safe, but washing them with a soapy sponge takes less than a minute — just be careful as they're very sharp. If dishwasher-safe blades are important to you, my next two picks check this box.
- Slices quickly and evenly
- Includes carving fork and storage case
- Affordable
- Blades are hand-wash only
Blade material:Stainless steel | Blade length:7" | Dishwasher-safe:Yes | Includes:Knife, blade cover
Why it's great:If you've ever carved a large roast or whole bird, you know it can be tiring and a bit stressful. Not the case with this classic electric knife from Black+Decker. It was by far the most comfortable knife I used, with a grippy rubber rectangle on the top of the handle.
I could activate the trigger with one or two fingers — either way, it was easy to maintain enough pressure to elegantly slice through a large piece of chicken without resting. I appreciate that the trigger has a safety lock, a helpful feature especially if you leave the knife plugged in and have kids hanging out in the kitchen.
You can use this knife to cut through hard blocks of cheese and large loaves of bread; some shoppers even report using it to sculpt foam for crafts. After all these tasks, simply press the blade release button and pop the blades into the dishwasher.
Minor criticisms:Despite its budget-friendly price and impressive versatility, the blades on this knife are not as long as other models I tested. While this doesn't have to be a dealbreaker, it is something to consider if you primarily carve very large cuts of meat.
- Ergonomic handle
- Safety lock button
- Dishwasher-safe blades
- Lowest price of all the knives we tried
- Blades are a bit shorter than on other models
Blade material:Stainless steel | Blade length:7" | Dishwasher-safe:Yes | Includes:Knife, carving fork, blade cover, storage tray, small bamboo cutting board
Why it's great:When you want a top-of-the-line tool that comes with all the bells and whistles, this Cuisinart set fits the bill. It'll ensure you're well equipped for carving tasks, with its sturdy electric knife, plus a coordinating carving fork, a small bamboo cutting board and a tray that organizes it all.
I like that when I turned it on, the vibrations weren't overwhelming, and I was able to slice through chicken parts with ease. At first, I found it tricky to both grasp the trigger button and push the safety lock to the "off" position, which must be done to operate the knife. I suspect that if my hands were bigger, this would be less of an issue. It feels like a substantial piece of machinery and is an excellent choice if you're likely to use an electric carving knife more than once a year.
Minor criticisms:The knife has a bulkier handle and a wider blade than others we tested, but it still performed well in testing and can handle all types of roasts. Still, it's double (if not more) the price of my best overall and budget electric knives, and might not be the best choice for someone with smaller hands.
- Powerful motor
- Includes lots of bonus accessories
- Safety lock button
- Dishwasher-safe blades
- More expensive than others we tested
- Bulky handle
Factors to consider when choosing the best electric knife
My time spent testing electric carving knives yielded these considerations to keep in mind when shopping for the right model.
✓ Handle:When choosing an electric knife, comfort is king. Some handles are more slender than others, and some have rubberized grips to keep you from feeling like the knife may slip out of your hand while it's in use. If a model is too heavy or too large for you to grip comfortably, this poses a safety issue.
✓ Blade length:Most of the models we tested have a blade that measures around 7 inches, and that should be long enough to slice through most birds and roasts.
The electric knives we tested produced clean cuts with less effort than using a traditional chef's knife.
(Lisa Schweitzer/Yahoo)✓ Safety features:Speaking of safety, if you think you'll have young kids nearby when using an electric knife, it's best to choose one with a safety lock. My personal preference is a safety lock that's independent of the trigger button, as holding down both buttons while carving may become difficult and bothersome.
✓ Corded vs. cordless:If you don't plan to take an electric knife with you on the road or camping trips, a corded model should suffice. That said, the best cordless electric knives can come in handy if you plan to do your carving in a dining room or your kitchen has inconveniently placed outlets. Just make sure to remember to charge it after use.
✓ Maintenance:Dishwasher-safe blades are a cinch to clean, but we always recommend carefully hand-washing knives to prolong their lifespan.
How we test the best electric knives
After opening each box, I inspected the electric knives for any scratches or dings and noted how to care for them. I washed each set of blades with warm, soapy water and dried them thoroughly before assembling them. I noted if a knife came with a storage case, carving fork or a second set of blades. I used each knife to carve a rotisserie chicken, separating it into pieces and slicing the breast. To rank on our our list, the electric knives had to be easy to use, feel secure and comfortable in my hand and excel at cutting through joints and meat.
Other electric knives we tested
Proctor Silex Easy Slice Electric Knife :This value-priced knife works pretty well to slice through meat and chicken joints, but it didn't feel as sturdy as the Black+Decker model, which was our pick for the best budget electric knife. The blades released easily from the handle and are dishwasher-safe. Note: This knife does not include any extras like a fork or a case.
NutriChef Electric Kitchen Knife Set :We were impressed that this set includes a stand/storage system and a carving fork, but the stand didn't work as well as we hoped when propped up. The knife felt comfortable to grip, and the trigger button was easy to press. Unfortunately, this knife vibrated more than others while cutting.
The Mighty Carver Electric Knife :You may have seen this doozy of a gadget on Shark Tank . While the body (I'd say handle, but it's much bigger than that) looks like a full-on chainsaw, the blades that come with it are almost identical to most others we tested. The knife cuts through meat well, though it's not particularly nimble due to its size and shape. The large plastic part that goes on top of the blades seems more for show than anything else. If you're looking for a gift for someone who really likes using a chainsaw and is a cooking enthusiast, add the Mighty Carver to your list.
How does an electric knife work?
An electric knife is made up of a motor and two oscillating serrated blades that fit together. When you press the trigger button, the blades are powered to move in opposite directions, which creates a sawing action that allows you to slice through food without much effort.
Electric knife FAQs
What are electric knives best used for?
Not surprisingly, electric knives are best used for carving turkey, chicken, prime rib, roast beef, hard blocks of cheese and loaves of bread. Some electric knives, like the NutriChef model we tested, even come with a second set of blades made specifically for slicing bread. While you could use an electric knife to slice a piece of raw meat, I recommend sticking with a regular chef's knife for this task.
Can you sharpen electric knife blades?
You can sharpen electric knife blades either manually with a sharpening rod or an electric knife sharpener that works with serrated knives.
How do you clean electric knives?
All of the electric knives we tested had a blade release button. Once you carefully remove the blades, you can use warm soapy water and a sponge to clean the blades and dry them with a kitchen towel. If more elbow grease is required, consult the brand's instructions for deeper cleaning. Some blades are dishwasher-safe, but we recommend hand-washing knives to prolong their life.
Best electric knives specs comparison chart
| Hamilton Beach Electric Knife Set |
Black+Decker |
Cuisinart CEK-41 Electric Knife Set |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Blade material |
Stainless steel |
Stainless steel |
Stainless steel |
| Blade length |
7.25" |
7" |
7" |
| Dishwasher-safe |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
| Includes |
Knife, carving fork,plastic storage case |
Knife, blade cover |
Knife, carving fork, |
Update, August 6, 2026: We checked current prices and availability for all products. Our No. 1 electric knife pick remains unchanged. We refreshed copy to call out what we love and don't love about each product, and add a comparison chart of our top picks.
We received complimentary samples of some products and purchased others ourselves, but we reviewed all products using the same objective criteria.
