Manual tools once ruled the roost in the world of DIY, until power tools came in to usurp them and stake their claim. After all, they’re more powerful and often more precise than regular tools, so why wouldn’t you use one? The same can be said, more and more, for kitchen equipment, in particular knives. Say you’ve got a joint of meat to cut, and you want to do it very precisely and finely. You could do it with a regular knife, or you could make your life easier and use an electric knife, which takes all the hard work out of it for you.

We’ve collated the best electric knives on the market today, so that you know what’s out there and can pick the right one to make your life that little bit easier.

1. Russell Hobbs Electric Carving Knife

This electric kitchen knife by reputed kitchen and homewares brand Russell Hobbs lives up to the quality standards you’d expect. The 203mm blade, which is removable for ease of cleaning, is made of a sturdy, durable stainless steel and is long enough to get through even the toughest food items, thanks also to the powerful 120W motor. Meat, bread, fruits, cheese; it aims to make any food a breeze to get through.

It’s designed to be easy to use, with a comfort grip to give you maximum control when cutting and a thumb-tip control button to switch it on and off. The blade release is also located in easy reach to ensure you can do so safely. The mains power cable can also be neatly wrapped around the base of the unit for simple storage.

2. VonShef Electric Knife

The Electric Knife from up and coming homewares brand VonShef has a host of useful features to make it a superb addition to any kitchen. Relying on a powerful 150W motor and two interchangeable blades, it’s bound to cut through anything whether meat, fruit, veg, bread, you name it. Said blades are removable and dishwasher safe for guaranteed cleaning and can be released via a safe, hygienic quick release button.

Running on battery power and held via a comfort-designed grip, VonShef’s knife runs quietly and efficiently. Also a very lightweight unit, it makes even lengthy cutting or carving tasks effortless, and requiring two buttons to press on the handle to operate means is a great safety feature, especially if there are children around.

3. Tower T19003 Electric Knife

This electric knife by Tower pairs a powerful motor with great quality blades to make for a great addition to any kitchen. Relying on a 180W motor, it moves the blades quickly and efficiently, promising to cut through any food item in its way – even frozen food, often the doom of cheaper quality knives. It comes with an intuitive twin-blade design, both of which are removable via a safety release thumb switch on the top of the unit. The blades are also dishwasher safe for the most effective cleaning.

Tower offer an extended 2-year warranty on top of the 1-year guarantee that ships with the knife for added peace of mind. Powered via a mains cable, it runs quickly and quietly, and represents good overall value.

4. Geepas Electric Knife

Geepas’ electric knife is a great multi-purpose knife designed to get through just about any foodstuff, be it meat, bread, fruit and veg and even frozen items. Thanks to a solid 150W motor, the serrated blade will make quick work of most foods with little fuss. The blade is also made from stainless steel, which is durable and will reliably last.

The main body of the knife has been designed to be compact and ergonomic, so that you can keep a comfortable hold of the knife while you’re using it. The blade can also be removed via a safety button located on the main body for safe and hygienic cleaning, as well as a single on/off switch operated via a simple thumb movement. Geepas also provide a 2-year warranty with the knife for a hassle-free service.

5. Wahl James Martin Electric Knife

This knife, as part of a collaborative effort between Wahl and celebrity chef James Martin, comes with the chef’s stamp of approval. A powerful 150W motor pairs with stainless steel blades to offer great cutting performance. Two different serrated blades are supplied; one with finer teeth for generalized use, cutting meat, bread and fruit and veg, while a coarser-toothed blade makes short work of tough items including frozen food.

A soft touch rubberised grip aids easy use, while a simple on/off thumb switch makes for easy use. A safety button for blade ejection sits just in front of the main switch, and the blades are dishwasher safe for guaranteed cleaning after use. A two-year warranty should also offer a little extra peace of mind.

6. Judge JEA76 Electric Knife

Judge’s JEA76 electric knife makes use of an intuitive twin-blade design and a 150W motor to make cutting through all kinds of food a piece of cake, so to speak. The sharpened serrated blades are removable via a safety button on the top of the unit to allow you to easily clean them, whether by hand or in the dishwasher, and promise to be sharp enough to handle whatever you can throw at it.

An ergonomically designed handle ensures you’ll be able to hold it comfortably, with two buttons on the top easily accessible with thumbs. One is for on/off functions, while the other is the blade release button. The unit also wipes clean to make sure you can preserve the white finish.

7. Princess 492952 Silver Electric Knife

Don’t get caught up in old-fashioned notions of what princesses can do – this electric knife is a sure-fire way to make short work of even the trickiest food products. Looking smart in a mixture of black plastic handle and brushed stainless-steel body, the unit is also designed with safety in mind. Whether you’re right- or left-handed, the handle can be rotated to protect your fingers, allowing you to comfortably use the knife at a range of different angles.

It also comes with its own neat storage solution, allowing you to mount the unit and blades and keep them tidy. Two serrated steel blades are provided; one with finer teeth for day to day cutting, and a much coarser blade for getting through the tough stuff, and both can be run through the dishwasher for easy cleaning. A 2-year warranty is also offered in case of problems.

8. Quest 35059 Electric Serrated Carving Knife

Quest’s 120W electric knife comes with 2 durable, sharp stainless-steel blades and a decent build quality to make for a top-quality kitchen knife. The twin blades, obviously both removable, are dishwasher safe for peace of mind when cleaning. Working in tandem, the blades are sure to be able to cut through just about anything. They are released via a single button on the top of the unit, where you’ll also find the thumb-operated on/off switch.

The knife runs quietly and comes with a generous 1.15m cord for a little extra added versatility. It’s also easy to store, with an overall compact size paired with the removable blades, which incidentally come with their own plastic storage pouch.

9. Moulinex Electric Secal Knife

Moulinex is a longstanding household name for home and kitchenwares, with a reputation for high quality kitchen appliances. Their electric kitchen knife, finished in a resplendent bright yellow finish with the iconic red logo, is a great example of a great corded knife. Coming with two different blade options, one finer for regular cutting and a much coarser blade for more heavy-duty cuts, this should be able to tackle both the rigours of meat, bread and other assorted everyday cutting as well as tougher joints of meat, even as far as frozen produce.

Moulinex also claim an integrated sharpening function to prolong the life of the blades, and both are of course removable for ease of cleaning, ejected via a simple switch on the handle. A simple one touch on/off switch also operates the knife.

Which Electric Kitchen Knife to Go for?

Best quality & features – Simple in its design, the Russell Hobbs Electric Carving Knife has the best balance of quality and versatility for it to be our best on test. It pairs an excellent quality twin-blades system with a 120W motor which, although not the most powerful, is more than enough for all but the toughest cuts. With design features aimed at making it it comfortable to use and easy to store, this wins out for best quality and features.

On a budget – Tower’s Electric Knife is an ideal choice for those on a budget, whether just starting out in the world of electric knives or simply not able to splash out. Its dual blade design ensures great cutting quality, and a very powerful motor for the price should make short work of most foodstuffs.

The best for small kitchens – The Princess 492952 has an excellent storage solution if you’re a little pushed for space in the kitchen. Coming with a small rack that allows you to hang up the blades separately from the main unit, with a separate hook for the cable, it allows you to make use of space other than valuable room in cupboards or drawers.

Best for the safety-conscious – VonShef’s Electric Knife is the sure thing to go for if safety is on your mind, especially if you have inquisitive children that like exploring the kitchen utensils. Requiring two buttons pressed down to operate, this neat added feature adds an extra modicum of safety. An honourable mention is also reserved for Princess’ 492952, which has a nifty, intuitive rotating handle feature that is sure to be of use if you feel that you can never be too careful and want to protect your fingers and knuckles.

Electric Kitchen Knife Buying Guide

Electric kitchen knives can really make cooking and food preparation a lot easier. They can make cutting and carving a much more consistent thing and take the effort out of the whole process, giving you the freedom to concentrate on technique. There are nonetheless a few different considerations you’ll need to make before buying one, all dependent on how you plan to use your electric knife as well as how you intend to look after it, not to mention who’s going to be using it. Read on and let our buying guide remove the confusion around what to look for.

Blade material

By and large, you can’t beat stainless steel nowadays for cutting quality and overall strength, as well as usually looking great. However, on cheaper knives, different materials and/or composite materials will likely be used to help bring that cost down. It might be great if you’re on a budget but be aware that they simply won’t last as long or cut as well in the long term. As such, it may be worth the investment for a blade that won’t rust, dull or become tarnished with use.

Power source

This depends a lot on when and where you end up using an electric knife. If it’s going to live more or less permanently in the kitchen, be that at home or in a professional kitchen, some electric knives are corded meaning that while they need mains power, they’re never going to run out of battery. On the other hand, battery power can be more convenient and ultimately portable, so that you can still cut when, say, you take a camping trip.

Different blades for different foods

Not all knives are made equal. Different sizes and shapes of knives are always suited for different foods, whether it’s a serrated knife to slice bread or a razor-sharp thin option for fine vegetable chopping and meat carving. The higher end electric knives may come with a variety of blades to accommodate these different uses, so bear this in mind if you plan to use the knife for a few different food types.

Dishwasher safety

Of course, cleaning knives is a very important thing. For one, cutting meats always leaves room for contamination so keeping blades clean is imperative. Regular cleaning is also important to prolong the life of knives, to prevent dulling and make sharpening them easier. As such, some electric knives allow you to remove the blades and make them dishwasher safe, for a guaranteed hygienic clean. In some cases you might even get away with putting the handle in the dishwasher as well, but at the very least most should be made from wipe-clean materials.

Safety considerations

It goes without saying that knives are inherently a potential hazard. Electric knives are by no means exempt from this, and so avoid those that don’t have simple safety features to prevent accidental injury, especially from small fingers that may turn things on my accident.

That’s the world of electric kitchen knives well and truly covered. Now, you have the tools to know what to look for, as well as the best options you can buy today. So don’t hesitate, and go and get the tool that will take your chef abilities up another level, comfortable in the knowledge that you’ve got exactly what you need. Order up!