Are you really frustrated trying to cut a straight slice of bread from the fresh and wonderful-smelling loaf you got from the bakery? You end up with wedge-shaped bread slices – if you are a leftie. And try as you might, straight slices with a normal bread knife aren’t happening.
We’re happy you are here because we can help. As a left-handed person, you actually need a bread knife that is made specifically for left-handed users. And with a good left handed bread knife, you’ll be able to cut straight slices of bread or roast just as well as any right-handed person (who uses a traditional serrated knife).
Not knowing where to even start with finding the best left handed bread knife? Don’t worry. We have the top left-handed serrated knives for you, as well as a detailed buyer’s guide so you’ll know exactly what to keep in mind.
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What is a Bread Knife and Why is it Serrated?
A bread knife is one kind of serrated knife; however, people often use the terms interchangeably as we do in this article. (Steak knives, for example, can also be serrated.)
Thus, the blade of a bread knife isn’t smooth or beveled like a chef knife or Japanese kitchen knives. While those are great for the jobs they’re built for, they don’t do well cutting bread. Instead, the blade of a bread knife is serrated, so the part of the knife you cut or slice with has a serrated edge and resembles the teeth of a saw. So there are pointed tips and hollows, which are the gullets between the teeth.
A jagged-edged blade is ideal for cutting through ingredients with a hard outer and a soft inner – like artisan loaves – or a slippery exterior – like tomatoes. This principle also works for vegetable peelers. It’s also great for slicing through meat that is fibrous. The teeth of the bread knife blade pierces the surface of the ingredient. Tearing is prevented because the gullets reduce any friction that’s created between the ingredient and the blade.
When cutting with a bread knife or other serrated knife, you generally make a sawing motion to slice through the ingredient.
What is a Left Handed Bread Knife?
Much like the difference between left and right handed knives with a single bevel, a left handed bread knife is a bread knife that is made specifically for lefties. So the blade of the knife will be serrated on the right so you can cut straight slices of bread or roast instead of a wedge shape where the top of the slice is thin and then gets steadily thicker toward the bottom.
A traditional bread knife that’s intended for right-handed people has a blade that’s serrated on the left. That’s why righties can cut perfectly straight slices easily – because the knife is made for them!
The left serration accommodates the clockwise-twisting motion of a right-handed person’s wrist as they saw through a loaf of bread. It follows that a right serration for a lefty ensures the same thing.
What Else Can You Use a Bread Knife For?
Besides slicing through bread, and the name of a bread knife gives away to its main function, the best serrated knives have a sharp point that enables it to be a multitasking workhorse.
Just like a chef’s knife is a versatile knife to have, you can use the bread knife to level cakes, cut pastries and biscotti, slice through sandwiches and a tomato, and even cut a winter squash.
You can also use a bread knife to shred cabbage and lettuce, carve up poultry and roast meats, slice soft fruit, and trim melons or pineapple.
Best Left Handed Bread Knives
Here are the best left-handed bread knives if you are a left-handed cook.
Just a quick note: There used to be many more serrated knives for left-handers; however, some have been discontinued. No official reason is available, but making products for a small minority of society is often not worthwhile for companies, even if these products for lefties are more expensive.
Mercer Culinary Millennia 10-Inch Left Handed Wavy Edge Wide Bread Knife
The Mercer Culinary Millennia Left Handed Wavy Edge Bread Knife is our pick for the best left handed bread knife. Why? Because it meets all the best buy considerations.
Let’s talk about the handle first. It is made from Santoprene and polypropylene, which ensure durability and comfort. The ergonomic handle has textured finger points so you can grip the bread knife comfortably. There is also a protective finger guard, so your fingers will be protected in case the knife slips. The black handle is also slip-resistant for safety.
The blade is made from a single piece of the highest quality high-carbon Japanese steel that’s also stain-resistant. Because the blade is made from quality steel, it makes it easier to sharpen the serrated blade. Plus, it helps you maintain the blade, too.
The blade has deep serrations that can cut and slice without shredding. It is 53-54 on the Rockwell Hardness Scale (RHC). This means the blade is soft and easy to sharpen and just the right hardness for kitchen use. The thin blade is sharpened at a 15-degree angle, so it’s sharp and ideal for light to medium work.
The 10-inch blade needs to be hand washed in warm water and a mild soap. Rinse the knife well and dry it with a soft towel to ensure the blade doesn’t scratch. This ensures the blade stays sharp so you don’t need to get it sharpened or learn how to correctly sharpen it often.
Pros
Sharp enough to easily slice through hard-loafed breads and softer ingredients like tomatoes.
Thin blade is easy to maneuver.
Ergonomic and durable handle that’s comfortable with finger grooves and a finger guard.
Value priced and has a limited lifetime warranty.
Cons
10-inch blade might be a bit too long for small ingredients.
Not easy to sharpen the serrated blade, but at least it stays sharp for a long time if used for regular kitchen work.
Out of the Woods of Oregon Left-Handed Bread and Bagel Slicer
So this isn’t your typical bread knife. It looks like a mini saw. The Out of the Woods of Oregon Left-Handed Bread Slicer’s blade is made from stainless steel, and it doesn’t need to be sharpened. The thin blade easily slices through all kinds of bread, even warm bread that you’ve taken out of the oven and left to cool for a few minutes.
The blade is double-grounded, which means it has double serrations to ensure you can cleanly, precisely, and smoothly cut a ripe tomato, roasted meats, and breads. A double-serrated knife also stays sharper for much longer and you can apply less pressure to make great cuts.
The length of the blade is 8.5 inches while the whole slicer is 15.877 inches.
The handle and top part of this bow knife for lefties is made from walnut, a durable hardwood, and it is walnut-colored too.
Pros
Ideal for left-handed cooks.
Slices through bread, tomatoes, and roasts effortlessly.
Thin 8.5-inch blade that’s double serrated.
Durable handle and slicer.
Well-balanced slicer.
Cons
Doesn’t function like a traditional left handed bread knife so may need some getting used to.
Because of the bow support, you can only use it to cut slices and can’t cut a full loaf or roast in half.
Anything Left-handed Bread Knife 9in Scalloped Blade
The Anything Left-handed Bread Knife Scalloped Blade is really pretty with its bright blue handle. In your utensil drawer, you’ll be able to easily find this bread knife among your other kitchen tools.
The 9-inch blade has scalloped serrations, so use it for cutting softer ingredients like sandwiches, cakes, pastries, and soft breads. The blade has been sharpened on the right, so it’s ideal for lefties. The bread knife’s blade is made from a high grade stainless steel to help the blade stay sharp.
The blue plastic handle is non-slip and features a finger guard. This ensures you can grip the bread knife safely and comfortably.
Pros
Dishwasher safe but dry the knife by hand at the end of the wash cycle.
Thin, scalloped, stainless steel blade stays sharper for longer.
Comfortable grip with a non-slip handle.
Comes with a lifetime guarantee.
Cons
Some people may not like the bright blue handle.
Not ideal for hard-exterior, soft-interior ingredients.
Things to Consider When Buying a Bread Knife
When looking to buy the best left handed bread knife, there are a few things to keep in consideration:
Side of the Serrations
If you are left handed, you want to make sure the bread knife you buy is made specifically for lefties. Check that the serrations are on the right side of the blade and not on the left as it is with traditional bread knives that are for right-handed cooks. This will ensure that you can easily cut straight slices without having to twist your wrist to compensate.
Serration Shape
The serration shape will be round and scalloped or sharp and pointy. Choose a bread knife that has sharp, pointed teeth if you cut crusty loaves that have a hard exterior and soft interior, and use a rounded serrated blade for cakes and softer breads.
Grip
Because a bread knife is so versatile, you may use it quite a lot in your meal prep. Thus, the grip of the handle should be comfortable and preferably ergonomic to reduce wrist and hand fatigue.
An ergonomic handle may have finger grooves and a protective finger guard for a better grip. The finger guard is the bit of the handle you see that’s located just before the handle meets the blade. If the knife slips, the finger guard will protect your fingers.
Also check that the grip is firm and non-slippery.
It isn’t easy to sharpen a serrated knife, so you’d want the best left-handed serrated knife to have a super sharp blade when it’s delivered to your door.
Length of the Blade
Consider the length of the bread knife’s blade. A longer blade is ideal if you cut large roasts and bread loaves, while a shorter blade is ideal for cutting bread rolls, portioning sandwiches, cutting tomatoes, etc. For home use, it’s recommended to look for a blade that’s between 8-10 inches in length.
Flexibility of the Blade
You want a thin blade for a bread knife. This makes the blade strong as you can more easily maneuver the knife and cut thinner slices.
FAQs
What type of knife is best for cutting bread?
The best kind of knife for cutting bread is a serrated bread knife. For large bread loaves, opt for a long bread knife with a blade of 9-11 inches, and for sandwiches, bread rolls, pastries, and so on, choose a bread knife with a shorter blade.
Are bread knives right-handed?
Most bread knives are right-handed. They are serrated on the left, so a right-handed person can slice straight cuts in a roast or loaf. If you are left-handed, look for a bread knife that is specifically made for lefties. The blade needs to be serrated on the right so you too can cut straight lines.
Do left handed knives make a difference?
Even a knife blade with an “ambidextrous” handle is usually beveled or serrated to suit the right-handed user’s eyes. A left-handed person has to compensate for this by a millimeter or two when they look down the path they are cutting. If the knife is beveled on both sides equally there is no problem, but some knives are only beveled to one side and so are all serrated knives. It can make a big difference to accuracy to change the grinding side to fit the other eye.
The uneven bevel and serrations also make a difference to cutting straight down and not getting an uneven thickness on each slice of food.
Are serrated knives left or right-handed?
A majority of serrated knives, whether for bread or steak knives, are right-handed and their serrations are ground to the left side of the blade. There are very few that are serrated to suit left-handers.
