The 9 Best Brisket Slicing Knife Models for Your Next BBQ

August 9, 2023
Written by Kristy J. Norton

The best knife for cutting through brisket is the MAIRICO Ultra Sharp Knife. It has a sharp blade made from high quality materials, it is easy to use, and it has a comfortable grip.

As a budding pitmaster, I put a lot of effort into smoking my brisket. So, it only makes sense to ensure that I pay just as much attention to ensuring that the brisket is sliced to perfection. This is why I went shopping for the best possible slicing knife.

In this post, I will introduce you to the best brisket slicing knife and show you the other top options available to you. I have also included a buyers guide!

best brisket slicing knife

Comparison of the Best Brisket Knives

Preview
Best Overall
MAIRICO Brisket Slicing Knife - Ultra Sharp...
Runner Up
Cutluxe Slicing Carving Knife – 12" Brisket...
Best Professional Brisket Knife
WÜSTHOF Gourmet 14" Hollow Edge Brisket...
Best Budget Brisket Knife
Mercer Culinary M23011 Millennia Black...
Best Electric Knife
Mueller Ultra-Carver Electric Knife for...
Blade Length (Inches)
11
12
14
12
7
Blade Type
Granton
Granton
Granton
Granton
Reciprocating Serrated
Blade Material
Stainless Steel
German Steel
High Carbon Stainless Steel
Japanese Steel
Stainless Steel
Handle Material
Polypropylene
Pakkawood
Synthetic
Santoprene
Plastic
Weight (Oz.)
14.4
9.6
8
6.7
23.7
Best Overall
Preview
MAIRICO Brisket Slicing Knife - Ultra Sharp...
Blade Length (Inches)
11
Blade Type
Granton
Blade Material
Stainless Steel
Handle Material
Polypropylene
Weight (Oz.)
14.4
Runner Up
Preview
Cutluxe Slicing Carving Knife – 12" Brisket...
Blade Length (Inches)
12
Blade Type
Granton
Blade Material
German Steel
Handle Material
Pakkawood
Weight (Oz.)
9.6
Best Professional Brisket Knife
Preview
WÜSTHOF Gourmet 14" Hollow Edge Brisket...
Blade Length (Inches)
14
Blade Type
Granton
Blade Material
High Carbon Stainless Steel
Handle Material
Synthetic
Weight (Oz.)
8
Best Budget Brisket Knife
Preview
Mercer Culinary M23011 Millennia Black...
Blade Length (Inches)
12
Blade Type
Granton
Blade Material
Japanese Steel
Handle Material
Santoprene
Weight (Oz.)
6.7
Best Electric Knife
Preview
Mueller Ultra-Carver Electric Knife for...
Blade Length (Inches)
7
Blade Type
Reciprocating Serrated
Blade Material
Stainless Steel
Handle Material
Plastic
Weight (Oz.)
23.7
Preview
Dalstrong Carving Knife
Dalstrong Slicing Knife - 12 inch - Granton...
Dexter Russell Scalloped Slicer
Dexter-Russell 12" Scalloped Slicer,...
Victorinox Fibrinox Knife
Victorinox 12 Inch Fibrox Pro Slicing Knife...
SpitJack Brisket Trimming and Slicing Set
SPITJACK Smoked BBQ 6 Inch Curved Beef...
Blade Length (Inches)
12
12
12
11 and 6
Blade Type
Granton
Scalloped
Granton
Plain and Grainton
Blade Material
Japanese Steel
High Carbon Steel
Stainless Steel
Stainless Steel
Handle Material
Fiberglass
Polypropylene
Thermoplastic Rubber
Plastic
Weight (Oz.)
9.9
6.72
6.4
9.9
Dalstrong Carving Knife
Preview
Dalstrong Slicing Knife - 12 inch - Granton...
Blade Length (Inches)
12
Blade Type
Granton
Blade Material
Japanese Steel
Handle Material
Fiberglass
Weight (Oz.)
9.9
Dexter Russell Scalloped Slicer
Preview
Dexter-Russell 12" Scalloped Slicer,...
Blade Length (Inches)
12
Blade Type
Scalloped
Blade Material
High Carbon Steel
Handle Material
Polypropylene
Weight (Oz.)
6.72
Victorinox Fibrinox Knife
Preview
Victorinox 12 Inch Fibrox Pro Slicing Knife...
Blade Length (Inches)
12
Blade Type
Granton
Blade Material
Stainless Steel
Handle Material
Thermoplastic Rubber
Weight (Oz.)
6.4
SpitJack Brisket Trimming and Slicing Set
Preview
SPITJACK Smoked BBQ 6 Inch Curved Beef...
Blade Length (Inches)
11 and 6
Blade Type
Plain and Grainton
Blade Material
Stainless Steel
Handle Material
Plastic
Weight (Oz.)
9.9

The Best Brisket Knives

Here are the top slicing knives for you to choose from:

1. MAIRICO Ultra Sharp Knife

Best Overall

Specs

  • Blade Length: 11 inches 
  • Blade Type: Granton Blade
  • Blade Material: Stainless Steel
  • Handle Material: Polypropylene
  • Weight: 14.4oz.

Sharp Blade

The main thing that I really like about this carving knife is that it cut through the brisket like butter. This isn’t too surprising considering how sharp this knife is. Even with the lightest of pressure, you will have no trouble cutting through meat.

The only downside is that this brisket knife does come out of the box a bit dull. So, you do have to sharpen it before you can maximize its capabilities.

Easy to Maneuver

Another thing that I noticed about this knife is that it is easy to maneuver. Yes, it does have some flex to it but not too much. Due to this, you are able to work it through the meat without any issue at all. And, best of all, you will have no trouble cutting slices that is precisely the thickness that you want.

Mairico Ultra Sharp Stainless Steel Carving Knife With Pakkawood Handle

Good Grip

I really like the handle of this knife for slicing brisket. Not only is it comfortable, but it also allows you to get a good grip on it. In turn, this makes the knife a lot easier to use. And, if you need to slice through a larger brisket, it will cut down on the effort for you.

Good Quality

Of course, the best brisket knife has to be one that is going to last. And, this is precisely what you can expect from this knife. It is made from high quality stainless steel which isn’t prone to rusting. The knife also doesn’t dull to easily so you will be able to use it for longer without issue.

Pros

  • Sharp knife
  • Easy to maneuver
  • Good grip
  • Good quality

Cons

  • Needs to be sharpened out of the box

2. Cutluxe Slicing Knife

Runner Up

Specs

  • Blade Length: 12 inches 
  • Blade Type: Granton blade
  • Blade Material: German Steel
  • Handle Material: Pakkawood
  • Weight: 9.6oz.

Good Blade Length

I really like this blade length for a slicing knife for brisket. This length is great for cutting through medium sized cuts of meat with minimal effort. It isn’t just the length of the blade that really pulls things together with this knife, though.

The handle and the blade are quite well balanced. As a result, you don’t need to use as much force or power when cutting through brisket.

Sharp Blade

I have to give this brisket slicer props for quality. It boasts a high carbon steel blade and this really does make all the difference when carving brisket. It means that the slicing knife just cuts through the meat without any issue at all. This allows you to get those really thin, precise slices if you want.

Good Maneuverability

The sharpness of the blade really helps with the maneuverability of the brisket. I found that I was able to move it through longer cuts of meat with minimal effort. I also didn’t have to worry about the knife snagging either and this made for smoother cuts.

Comfortable Grip

From the moment that I picked up this brisket knife, I noticed how comfortable the handle was. I was able to get a good grip on the knife and it felt very natural in my hand.

Now, I do have to say that the handle can be a bit short for some. Although I didn’t have any problems with it, one of my friends with bigger hands did struggle a little when using it.

Pros

  • Long blade
  • Sharp knife
  • Good maneuverability
  • Comfortable grip

Cons

  • Handle is a little small

3. WÜSTHOF Gourmet Knife

Best Professional Brisket Knife

Specs

  • Blade Length: 14 inches 
  • Blade Type: Granton Blade
  • Blade Material: High Carbon Stainless Steel
  • Handle Material: Synthetic
  • Weight: 8oz. 

Long Blade

This is the brisket knife that I would recommend if you are dealing with a full packer brisket or you have a larger cut on your hand. As the blade of this slicing knife is longer than most, you will be able to slice through it with ease.

Best of all, you will be able to make even cuts as you will be able to hold the blade steady through the entire cut.

Excellent Quality

You will be hard pressed to beat this knife for slicing brisket when it comes to quality. The blade and the handle are made with the highest quality materials and reach the highest standards as well. So, if you are looking to invest in a knife for slicing brisket, this is the one that is going to last you for a long time.

Of course, quality costs money and this carving knife is the most expensive option on the list. While it is well worth the cost, this blade may not make sense for someone who only cooks occasionally.

Good Maneuverability

The quality of the blade combined with the length means that maneuvering the knife through tougher cuts like brisket is a breeze. Not only is there very little resistance but you can get even and thin slices each and every time.

Slicing Smokey Grilled Brisket

Ergonomic Handle

The designers have put in a lot of effort in designing the handle of this carving knife as well. Due to this, it offers an excellent fit for a wide variety of hands. You will also be able to get a comfortable grip on the knife, making it easier to use.

Pros

  • Long blade
  • Excellent quality
  • Good maneuverability
  • Ergonomic handle

Cons

  • Expensive

4. Mercer Culinary Millennia

Best Budget Brisket Knife

Specs

  • Blade Length: 12 inches 
  • Blade Type: Granton Blades
  • Blade Material: Japanese Steel
  • Handle Material: Santoprene
  • Weight: 6.7oz. 

Precision Slicing Capabilities

I was pleasantly surprised by how easy it was slicing brisket with this knife. Not only is this carving knife fairly sharp but it also has a good length to it. As a result, I was able to cut through the meat efficiently. What’s more, when slicing brisket, I was also able to get nice and even cuts.

The only downside is that the blade of this slicing knife does get dull rather quickly. As a result, you have to keep sharpening it, especially if you use it quite often.

Comfortable Handle

Another thing that I was surprised to discover was how comfortable the handle is on this brisket knife. I was able to get a good grip on it and even when using for long periods of time, it didn’t feel uncomfortable in my grasp.

Good Value

All in all, this knife offers great value when slicing brisket. I would recommend this to anyone who only has to cut through brisket occasionally or doesn’t want to splurge on a high end knife.

Pros

  • Precise cutting
  • Comfortable handle
  • Good value

Cons

  • Becomes dull easily

5. Mueller Ultra Carver

Best Electric Knife

Specs

  • Blade Length: 7 inches 
  • Blade Type: Reciprocating Serrated Blade
  • Blade Material: Stainless Steel 
  • Handle Material: Plastic
  • Weight: 23.7oz. 

Powerful Motor and Blades

It can be tricky to cut through brisket, even when the meat is cooked to perfection. The sheer size and width of brisket can make it difficult for a lot of people, especially for those with limited upper body strength. Well, this is where this electric knife comes in.

Not only is the motor powerful, the blades are sharp and can easily get through the brisket with absolutely no effort on your part. What’s more, even if you need to slice an entire brisket, you will be able to get it done very quickly.

The only complaint that I have with this electric knife is that the blade is a bit short. The function would be even better with a longer blade.

Easy to Use

Electric knives can be overly complicated to use but this isn’t the case with this model. It has a one touch switch – flick this and the motor begins to run. Flick it again and the motor and the blades stop. It really is as easy as that.

Person Cutting Brisket Using Sharp Knife

Easy to Clean

I also like how easy it is to clean the blade. Simply remove and rinse them off and you are good to go. This is impressive since this carving knife does come with serrated blades. However, I would this knife quite easy to maintain.

Pros

  • Powerful motor and blades
  • Easy to use
  • Easy to clean

Cons

  • Shorter blade

6. Dalstrong Carving Knife

Specs

  • Blade Length: 12 inches 
  • Blade Type: Granton Blade
  • Blade Material: Japanese Steel
  • Handle Material: Fiberglass
  • Weight: 9.9oz. 

Good Blade Length

I really like the length of this blade, it is perfect for cutting through brisket. You will have no trouble getting this knife through a regular sized brisket and even larger cuts. Due to the length of the blade, you will find it easier to cut straighter slices too.

High Quality Design

One of the things that I am blown away with this brisket slicing knife is the commitment to quality. Not only has the company used high quality materials, but the knife has been crafted and honed so well. This is a knife that is going to last you a long time and offer up an excellent performance each and every time too.

The only issue with this level of quality is that you have to pay a steeper price too. This may not be something that you are willing to do if you aren’t looking for a super professional knife.

Great Precision

Now, this is an excellent brisket slicing knife. That being said, it does come out of the box a little dull. So, before you can experience what this knife can really do, you have to first sharpen it.

Once you do this, though, you will discover that this is one of the top carving knives out there. It cuts through the meat without any tearing or snagging at all. So, you can getting really precise cuts.

Comfortable Use

One of the things that I noticed was that the handle was as well designed as the rest of the knife. The grip was great and it was also quite comfortable. This knife was tested out by both left handed and right handed people and they all reported it being easy to use.

Pros

  • Good blade length
  • Great quality
  • Good precision
  • Comfortable to use

Cons

  • Not very sharp
  • Expensive

7. Dexter Russell Scalloped Slicer

Specs

  • Blade Length: 12 inches 
  • Blade Type: Scalloped Blade
  • Blade Material: High Carbon Steel
  • Handle Material: Polypropylene
  • Weight: 6.72oz. 

Sharp Performance

So, of all the brisket slicing knives on this list, this is the only one with a celebrity endorsement. Aaron Franklin has mentioned that he uses this knife to cut through his famous brisket. And, I have to say that the sharp edge really does get the job done. You are able to cut through brisket without any resistance at all.

Good Length

The length of this knife works really well to cut through most briskets. It is just the right length to ensure that your cuts are straight for each slice. And, so it is good for those who are new to cutting brisket and want to get it right.

Easy to Maneuver

I like that this knife has just enough flex that it allows you to maneuver the blade in the meat more easily. At the same time, the blade is firm enough that you don’t have to worry about it wobbling as you are slicing the brisket. So, more precise cuts are easier.

The only complaint I have with this knife is that it is a bit slippery. So, you should only use it with gloves or clean hands.

Slices of Brisket on the Wooden Board

Good Value

Considering that this knife is endorsed by a professional pitmaster, I have to say that the cost is rather impressive. Not only does this knife perform well but it is also a good quality design. Due to this, you should be able to use it for a long time without issue.

Pros

  • Sharp
  • Good length
  • Easy to maneuver
  • Good value

Cons

  • Slippery handle

8. Victorinox Fibrinox Knife

Specs

  • Blade Length: 12 inches 
  • Blade Type: Granton Blade
  • Blade Material: Stainless Steel
  • Handle Material: Thermoplastic Rubber
  • Weight: 6.4oz. 

Sharp Blade

What I was immediately impressed by this slicing knife was how sharp it was. It sliced through the brisket, breaking through any resistance without any effort at all. This knife is incredibly easy to use because of this and can work for anyone at all.

Great Maneuverability

The other thing that I really like about this slicing knife is that it is easy to maneuver through larger cuts like brisket. The knife cuts through beautifully and thanks to the Granton blade, the meat doesn’t stick to the knife at all.

That being said, there is a bit more flex to this blade than with other knives. So, this can take a little bit of getting used to.

Good Quality Knife

This knife is actually built and designed incredibly well. And, though, it falls on the middle of the spectrum in terms of price, the materials for this knife are top-notch. Due to this, you can enjoy using your knife for a lot longer.

Pros

  • Sharp blade
  • Great maneuverability
  • Good quality knife

Cons

  • A little bit of flex in the blade

9. SpitJack Brisket Trimming and Slicing Set

Specs

  • Blade Length: 11 and 6 inches 
  • Blade Type: Plain and Granton Blade
  • Blade Material: Stainless Steel
  • Handle Material: Plastic
  • Weight: 9.9oz. 

Good Set

If you are someone who likes to take care of your brisket from start to finish, then you are really going to like this set. Not only does it come with a slicing knife, but you also have a boning knife. This way, you can trim the fat from the brisket before you cook it.

Good Slicing Performance

These knives don’t come sharpened so they can feel rather dull at first. However, once they are sharpened, they are great to use. They slice through the meat quickly and easily and make your job a lot easier.

Cutting Brisket with a Brisket Trimming Knife

Comfortable to Use

If you are new to trimming or slicing brisket, then I would definitely suggest this set to you. This is because the grip on it is incredibly comfortable and each blade has been designed to be easy to use As a result, there is no learning curve and you can get used to the knives right away.

Pros

  • Good set
  • Good slicing performance
  • Comfortable to use

Cons

  • Needs to be sharpened

How to Choose the Best Brisket Knife for You?

Here are the top tips to follow when choosing a knife for slicing brisket:

Electric Knife vs. Manual Knife

So, one of the first decisions that you will need to make is whether you want to use an electric knife or a manual one.

Now, there is no denying that an electric knife is a lot more effortless to use. This is because the motor and the blade does all the work for you. You simply have to place the blade to the meat and it cuts through the meat.

That being said, you can’t beat the precision that you get when it comes to manual brisket knives. This is because you have completely control over how you place the blade, where you place it, and how much pressure to apply when you slice through.

Also, when using manual brisket knives or slicing knives, you have the option of course correcting even when you are mid-cut. This helps you to get far more even slices.

What Type of Blade Should You Get?

The next decision that you will need to make is regarding the blade type. The most common options is the serrated blade, the scalloped blade, and the granton blade.

A serrated blade has saw-like teeth. The teeth help to get a good grip in the meat, reducing the chance of slippage. That being said, this isn’t really my favorite blade for slicing brisket.

This is because serrated knives have the tendency to rip through the meat and you get more jagged sections.

Then you have the scalloped blades. These do offer a softer cut as they more rounded tips on their edges. However, you do still have to make a bit of an effort to get through the brisket.

I would have to say that the granton blades are my favorite. This is because the indentations are on the side of the blade rather than at the edge. So, while you do get the benefit of slicing through more readily, the meat doesn’t catch onto the granton edge.

This makes it easier to get more precise cuts with your slicing knives.

The Length of the Blade

The next thing to consider is the length of the blade. Now, if you are to ask most professionals, they would tell you to go for a 12 inch blade. This works well for cutting through most briskets.

If you are going for a full packer brisket or a larger cut, then I would suggest kicking things up to 14 inches. This will allow you to make more precision cuts.

That being said, you will notice that some of the knives that I have recommended on this list are 11 inches long.

The reason for this is because the shorter knives are a bit easier for people to manage, especially those who don’t have much cooking or slicing experience. Also, these knives are a little easier to store as well since they don’t take up as much space.

Butcher Cutting Meat At Counter

The Handle

It is easy to overlook the handle in favor of the blade, but the handle is an important part of the knife. The first thing that you should consider is the length of the handle.

While the handle will undoubtedly be shorter than the blade, the handle should be proportionate to the blade. This helps to create a proper balance and make the knife easier for you to use.

The other thing to keep in mind here is to consider the size of your fist and see how it will fit around the handle. If you have a smaller hand then look for a smaller circumference. On the flip side, if you have a larger hand, then you will require a handle with a larger circumference.

Last but not least, look at the grip. The handle should be made from a grippy material. After all, the last thing that you need is for your hand to slip when you are using a sharp blade.

Look for contoured portions on the bottom of the handle so that you can keep your fingers in place as you use the knife.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Do You Use a Serrated Knife to Cut Brisket?

Yes, you do use a serrated knife to slice brisket. This is because the teeth of the knife grab the meat better, allowing you to slice through the cut with greater ease.

2. What Size Knife is Best for Cutting Brisket?

For most briskets, a 12 inch knife works best. However, if you are slicing a large briskets, then you can go up to 14 inches.

3. What Knife Does Aaron Franklin Use to Slice Brisket?

Aaron Franklin recommends using a 12 inch scalloped blade like the Dexter Russell knife he uses.

The Final Verdict

The MAIRICO brisket knife is the best option for slicing brisket. It is sharp, made from high quality materials, has a comfortable grip, and is easy to use.

I do recommend checking out all the products on this list, though. They each have their own features and advantages and you can never tell which one might be the perfect fit for you and your brisket!

By Kristy J. Norton
I'm Kristy – a chef and connoisseur of all things BBQ! You can find me either in my kitchen (or someone else's) or at a big outdoor barbecue surrounded by friends and family. In both my professional and personal life I’ve picked up more than a few tips and tricks for turning out delicious food. I consider it a privilege to share it with others!
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