7 Best Knife to Trim Brisket Smooth Like a Butter

You might think any knife can cut brisket. You’re wrong! Using the wrong knife can mess up your hard work in smoking the brisket. You don’t want a torn brisket on your plate, right? That’s why you need the best knife to trim brisket because trimming brisket is an art.

I’ve tested different good brisket trimming knife to find the one which is sharp, reliable, and can easily cut through thick slices of brisket. And guess what? I’m here to help you find a great knife! Now, here are my top brisket knife picks.

List of the 7 Best Knife to Trim Brisket 

1. Victorinox Fibrox Pro 12-Inch Slicing Knife 
2. Mercer Culinary 14-inch 
3. Wusthof 10-inch
4. Dexter-Russell 12-inch 
5. Dexter Russell Boning Knife
6. Dalstrong Fillet Knife 6.5-inch
7. Cuisinart CEK-40 Electric Knife

1. Victorinox Fibrox Pro 12-Inch Slicing Knife

Let’s start with my first recommendation for the best knife to trim brisket. Yes! Victorinox Granton Edge Slicing Knife – it’s one of the best for brisket. It’s my top choice because of some reasons.

First, It has a 12-inch super-sharp blade that’s meaning it’s better than regular kitchen knives. Secondly, The length is perfect for slicing large briskets in one go. Plus, the knife is sharp enough for thin or thick slices, depending on what you need for sandwiches or a plate.

And here’s something interesting, not only me like this, but Greg Peters also loves this knife. He’s the head chef at Georgia James Steakhouse in Houston. Yes, Victorinox – it’s his go-to for most of his butcher knives. Now you can easily consider it as the best knife to cut brisket. But if you’re not convinced yet, you can check more options for brisket trimming knife. There are more choices out there!

2. Mercer Culinary 14-Inch

Mercer is a brand known for making good kitchen stuff. Professional Chefs all over the world love their 14-inch Granton slicer knife. It’s the best knife to trim brisket and beats other knives in its category. The build quality is top-notch. Yes! This knife comes with high-quality Japanese steel, so it stays sharp even after a long time. Plus, It’s also easy to take care of.

The Mercer knife has a long 14-inch blade, perfect for slicing big pieces of meat. It’s not just for briskets – you can use it for cutting your Thanksgiving turkey or Christmas ham too. I like the Mercer Culinary Millennia knife because it’s affordable and has a sharp blade with pockets. It might seem too long at 14 inches, but it’s balanced well.

The handle is easy to hold. Because it’s made of Santoprene plastic. So, you feel confident using it, and it won’t make your arm tired when cutting a big piece of brisket.

3. Wusthof 10-inch

You know, many people at home don’t like using long knives that are 12 or 14 inches. They say it can a bit hard to handle for them. The Wusthof 10-inch Classic Super Slicer solves this by having a unique 10-inch size. It’s easy to hold and use, especially for those with small hands.

The Wusthof triple-riveted blade had received widespread acclaim, and I was curious to discover what set it apart. Not easily swayed by a 5-star rating alone, I decided to give it a try. Its triple-riveted handle provides a secure grip. And I was genuinely impressed by the sharpness of the blade.

I liked the scalloped edge and rounded tip. They made slicing brisket easy without tearing. With an overall length of about 16 inches, I found it to be a good size for slicing brisket. So, if you’re looking for a shorter blade, this brisket trimming knife is perfect for you to pick.

4. Dexter-Russell 12-inch

I was a bit unsure about recommending a knife called “Dexter” right from the start (you know, like the serial killer show?). But, with a name like that, you’d expect it to be good for slicing brisket. It has a 12-inch sharp steel blade and a plastic handle, making it almost a 19-inch mini-sword. The handle is for both high and low temperatures. So it’s good for grilling in the winter.“Dexter”

One cool thing about this knife is that it’s easy to keep clean. The handle won’t let any bacteria or gunk get in, so you won’t pass anything gross from one slice to another. The wavy blade works well for cutting, better than straight or serrated edges, and it should cut through the brisket easily.

It’s also interesting that the handle is white instead of the usual black or wood look. Maybe it’s to make it look more clean. And importantly, it’s made in the U.S.A., if that matters to you. Now, I can easily say it best knife to trim brisket, or you can consider it as the best knife for trimming meat and multiple uses.

5. Dexter Russell Boning Knife

Until now, I’ve been focusing on knives for slicing brisket. But when you’re getting your brisket ready, you might need to do some trimming. For trimming, you need a boning knife with a narrow and curved blade. You need a sharp but thin knife to remove the silver skin and fat. It should also be curved, so it can smoothly go under the skin without harming the precious meat.

I think a knife between 4″ to 8″ inches is perfect for trimming brisket. Boning knives for brisket are great because they’re versatile.

So I thought I should add this best knife to trim brisket to this list. Yes! I’m talking about Dexter Russell Boning’s Knife for brisket. Dexter Russell stands out as a distinguished brand, and their 6-inch boning knife for brisket trimming is amazing.

The length and shape of the blade make it perfect for getting under the silver skin of a brisket without taking off any meat. After using mine for a couple of weeks, I’ve found it keeps its sharpness well – I sharpen it with my other knives. A friend of mine had some rusting issues with his knife, but I haven’t faced that problem.

So, if you want a budget-friendly knife that’s still good quality, I’d suggest the Dexter Russell.

6. Dalstrong Fillet Knife 6.5-Inch

If you’re the kind of person who likes to know everything before buying, I’ve got another great brisket-trimming knife to tell you about!

Now, come to my 6th pick, Dalstrong Fillet Knife – it’s basically a Japanese brisket knife. The company says it’s “ruthlessly sharp.” I’m not exactly sure what that means, but it sounds pretty awesome. Its blade is made from Japanese high-carbon stainless steel, and it’s a bit bendy but super tough. With its double-edged design and an 8-12° angle, it’s supposed to cut like a sharp knife.

However, the handle can take a beating from heat, cold, and impacts, so it should last a long time. It’s securely attached to the blade with three rivets, so it won’t wobble around. And the stainless steel end cap makes it easy to handle. So, I’d recommend it to you as a solid choice.

7. Cuisinart CEK-40 Electric Knife

Many professional chefs and home cooks opt for electric knives over manual ones, especially when dealing with big jobs like cutting a large brisket. But be careful with cheap electric knives—they might not be the best choice. Yes! The best electric knife must be expensive.

Now, if you’re considering an electric knife, the Cuisinart CEK-40 is a good option. The knife has a strong motor and sharp blades. This helps you to cut all kinds of meats, even the fatty parts of a big brisket. What I really like is that it comes with a 4 ft. power cord, allowing you to move around the table while cutting the brisket.

Moreover, if you want to use it for various tasks, you can get a separate blade for slicing bread or veggies and attach it to the handle. Easy and versatile! But, like most electric knives, it has some downsides, like the power cord getting in the way sometimes. This is my final suggestion to recommend it to professionals, but keep in mind it not be the best option for beginners.

What to Consider When Buying the Best Knife to Trim Brisket?

Before you go out to get one, it’s important to know what makes a good knife. Here are the crucial factors you should keep in mind:

1. Manual vs. Electric

If it’s hard for you to hold a knife for a long time, especially due to issues like carpal tunnel, an electric brisket knife can be useful. Electric knives can be faster, but they might not be as precise as cutting the brisket manually.

2. Blade Type

The kind of blade you choose is mostly about what you like. Experts suggest Victorinox and Wüsthof knives with a Granton blade. These blades have small hollows that create tiny air pockets between the blade and the meat. This helps prevent the meat from sticking and tearing.

Yet, serrated blades, with their wavy edges, grip the meat well and make quick cuts. But whether it’s serrated or not, the key is to have a sharp blade.

3. Blade Length

Get a knife with a blade around 6 inches. That way, you can easily slice through brisket and still handle it easily.

4. Blade Shape

The cool part comes in here. A curved blade is great for brisket trimming. It helps you move smoothly along the meat’s shape, getting into tight spots without a hassle.

5. Handle Comfort

A comfy handle is key to enjoying brisket trimming. Always tend to choose a knife with a handle that fits your hand well and doesn’t slip. You cut in bulk and steel doesn’t get tired.

6. Balance

Brisket knives are usually light because of their slim and flexible blades. But, just like with any good chef’s knife, it’s important that the knife feels balanced in your hand. This helps the knife work well and keeps your hands and fingers safe.

7. Flexibility

Depending on what you like, a bit of blade flexibility can be helpful. A slightly flexible blade is great for navigating through the meat.

8. Maintenance

Think about how much time you want to spend taking care of your knife. Some knives need more care than others. Keep in mind, that sharper knives might need more sharpening.

9. Price

Good quality often costs more, and brisket trimming knives are no different. While there are cheaper options available on the market. First, determine your budget and then go for the best options available out there.

FAQs

What knife do you use to cut brisket?

Chefs and BBQ experts agree that a 10-12-inch slicing knife works best. It should be sharp, and the length, width, thickness, and temper of the blade matter too.

What is the best knife for trimming meat?

Dexter-Russell 12-inch is perfect for cutting lots of meat because it can easily break through tough skin.

Is a serrated knife better for brisket?

Yes! The serrations grip the bark and prevent tearing, perfect for that crispy crust.

What is special about a brisket knife?

The PRO Brisket Knife’s long, narrow blade makes it easy to cut slices in one go, keeping more juice inside the meat.

What knives do professional butchers use?

Butchers use different knives like butcher knives, cleavers, carving knives, and breaking knives. They also use boning knives depending upon the usage.

Final Verdict

All in all, the best knife to trim brisket is not always expensive. Just pick one from my suggestions. I’ve reviewed the best knives that last a long time. Most importantly, these knives have lifetime warranties. Just remember two things in mind: choose a 12-inch size and make sure it has a Granton edge. That makes cutting smooth and easy.