The Best Serrated Knives For Slicing A Tomato

If your chef's knife or paring knife squishes your tomato into a soggy mess, you need one of these.

One of August’s greatest gifts is a simple tomato sandwich, made with white bread, salted and peppered rounds of juicy tomatoes and a slathering of mayo. Or maybe you’re a fan of the Caprese salad, which also stars perfectly sliced tomatoes along with mozzarella and basil. But if your knife destroys your tomatoes, you’ll be enjoying none of it.

If you’re the rare home cook who religiously sharpens and hones your knife, you may have a certain amount of luck slicing through a soft, ripe tomato. But the key to slicing through a tomato without putting in all that work is simply using a good serrated knife.

The flat blade of a chef’s or paring knife will press down on the tender skin of a tomato if it’s even the least bit dull, squishing it down instead of slicing through it. When that pressure is applied to the tomato’s plump innards, which are full of seeds and liquid, that tomato will instantly explode, leaving you with a soggy, misshapen mess.

A serrated knife, on the other hand, has sharp teeth that saw through the tomato in a back-and-forth motion without the need to apply any weight on it, leaving the inside of the flesh intact. If your serrated knife is good enough, it can feel almost like the knife is sawing through the tomato without any help from you at all.

If your tomatoes are a reasonable size, you can choose a serrated knife on the shorter side (about 4 inches should do). But if you have a harvest of tomatoes the size of softballs, you can opt for a serrated bread knife, which can be 8+ inches long, allowing you to saw through the entire girth of the tomato in one swift motion.

Either way, you’ll never mangle your tomatoes again once you invest in a good serrated knife. And the best part? All of the knives below cost less than $20 apiece.

1. Best knife for beginners

amazon.com, amazon.com

If you aren't comfortable wielding a long knife, the 4-inch Victorinox Swiss classic paring knife with serrated edge is a widely popular option that you'll feel safe handling. The serrated teeth are quite fine and the knife is lightweight, coming in four different color options that you'll reach for over and over again

Promising review: "I bought this when it was recommended to me by a friend. I was surprised what a good chopping job this small mighty kitchen knife does. I loved it so much that I have already purchased it for my sister and mom too." —Pri Sci

Get it from Amazon for $5.59+ (available in three colors and styles).

2. Best knife for big tomatoes

Amazon

Hacking through a giant tomato with a tiny paring knife just doesn't work, so when you've got large tomatoes, this Henckels 8-inch bread knife will do the trick.

Promising review: "It's a great knife and a great value as well. I've used it on bread, and it cut a tomato like nothing. The blade is VERY sharp; be careful. The blade felt easy in my hand. I think I'll be using it for more than just bread and tomatoes!" —Judy D.

Get it from Amazon for $19.95.

3. For perfectionists, a knife specifically designed for tomatoes

amazon.com, amazon.com

This Rada tomato-slicing knife has nearly 3,500 5-star reviews from Amazon customers. Made in the United States, this knife is 8 7/8 inches long, meaning it'll slice through big 'maters with ease.

Promising review: "Every morning I make Israeli salad for my husband. This knife is perfect! Slices through tomatoes like they're butter. The knife keeps its edge for a long time. It's light yet very well designed for a good grip. Very easy to clean as well. No hidden spots for food to get caught in. I have one at home, one on our boat and gave one to my chef friend who fell in love with it." —NJ-Savta

Get it from Amazon for $15.60.

4. A set of affordable ceramic-coated knives that includes a good bread knife

amazon.com, amazon.com

I bought this very inexpensive six-piece kit of Cuisinart slicers to keep at my mom's house, because I got sick of cooking with her old, dull knives. The serrated bread knife in this set actually slices tomatoes like magic. (The other tools are all great, too.) The blades are made of stainless steel with a ceramic coating, so the only downside is that you can't really sharpen them.

Promising review: "WOW, these knives are so sharp, and so easy to handle. I am so amazed. You can cut a tomato paper thin, because of the sharpness, they just glide through without have to put a lot of pressure on them. Buy them, you will love them, but beware, they are REALLY sharp and stay that way. I am writing this after using these knives some more. They are far greater than I ever thought possible. I could not be more pleased." —Jack L. Lewis

Get it from Amazon for $25.37.

Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.