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\u201cWhen it comes to recommending specific gear for Thanksgiving<\/a>, for the most part I actually prefer not to,\u201d says Sharon Franke<\/a>, one of Kitchn\u2019s go-to gear pros. \u201cI hate telling people they need to buy something special, knowing they\u2019ll only use it once a year \u2014 twice, at best.\u201d And honestly, all the editors on Kitchn\u2019s staff totally agree with her. <\/p>\n But, of course, there\u2019s an exception to every rule. And we all agree that this exception happens to be a carving knife and fork.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you\u2019re hosting Thanksgiving and plan on serving turkey<\/a>, you kind of do need to make this purchase,\u201d Sharon says. \u201cYes, you could get away with using a chef\u2019s knife<\/a> and a giant serving fork, but a specialized set really will make the task at hand easier.\u201d<\/p>\n What\u2019s a carving knife? Who makes the best carving knife out there? And what the heck is a slicing knife?<\/em> With Thanksgiving dinner only a couple of weeks away, we thought we should take some time explaining these things. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n This is a great question because you may see companies use these terms interchangeably. But they are technically different. Let\u2019s take a look.<\/p>\n Carving knives<\/strong> have long, narrow blades that taper to a sharp point. They\u2019re thin and flexible so that they can get into all the turkey\u2019s nooks and crannies \u2014 around bones and cartilage \u2014 to cut out every last bit of meat. In addition to turkey, a carving knife can be used for chicken, a leg of lamb, ham, and more. <\/p>\n Slicing knives <\/strong>have a similar long and narrow blade but instead of that sharp point, they have rounded tip. It\u2019s great for, you guessed it, slicing! That long blade helps you make even slices of even the largest roasts. If you\u2019re going to get just one, we vote for the carving knife (and a fork, which usually comes with it) because it will be the most versatile for what you need.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n We can see why you\u2019d think that a carving knife should be serrated, but most aren\u2019t. And we prefer it that way. Because the serrations (little teeth or scallops) can actually tear the meat as you slice, and then you don\u2019t end up with pretty, smooth, pieces. A straight, sharp blade will slice through meat like butter and leave you with a perfectly clean cut every time.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Our very top pick is this 2-piece set from J.A. Henckels<\/a> because it includes a carving knife and<\/em> a fork, which is long and narrow to give you a good grip on the bird and help guide the knife. And because it\u2019s relatively inexpensive compared to other options out there. <\/p>\n From Sharon, who also picks this set<\/strong>: \u201cThe knife blade is constructed of one piece of stainless steel that extends into the handle, which is riveted on to keep it firmly in place. While these pieces look like serious cutting tools, they\u2019re also attractive enough if you like to do the Norman Rockwell thing and carve at the table. The blade is long and sturdy enough to make those beautiful, wide slices of white meat but is also nimble enough to work around the bones when you\u2019re cutting off the wings, drumsticks, and thighs. These utensils are easy enough to wash by hand but if you\u2019re the type who likes to put everything in the dishwasher, they\u2019ll take the heat.\u201d<\/p>\n While you may be tempted to go with something even cheaper, we don\u2019t suggest it. A $15 or $20 set might not be sturdy enough to give you good control or include a blade that glides smoothly. Plus, there\u2019s the chance that it will only last through one Thanksgiving. Want some other suggestions? Here are two others we love.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n This set<\/a> is pretty, budget-friendly, and does its job. We honestly didn\u2019t pick it as our first choice because we\u2019ve grown to trust and love the Henckels brand so much over the years, but we do support this one too.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n If you\u2019re looking to make an investment on a set that you can use for countless Thanksgivings to come, go with this W\u00fcsthof set<\/a>. It is ridiculously sharp (sharper than other knives out there!) and easy to maneuver for novices and pros, alike. It is NOT cheap, though, so this is more for someone who is serious about meat and plans to host holidays for many years to come.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Do you have a carving knife you swear by? We want to hear all about it! Tell us about your favorite finds in the comments below.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nWhat\u2019s the Difference Between a Carving and a Slicing Knife? <\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Should a Carving Knife Be Serrated? <\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
What Is the Best Knife for Carving Turkey? <\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n