Your Kitchen Is Missing This $15 Serrated Knife That Slices Through Fruit and Bread Like Butter

I’ll be honest: Sometimes, I don’t feel like dirtying two knives. While my nakiri knife, paring knife, and chef’s knife are trusted blades that carry me through weeknight meals and weekend cooking projects, my favorite (of over a decade) is a versatile 5-inch serrated knife from OXO that lets me slice tomatoes and a crusty loaf of bread in one go for my avocado toast. Plus, it’s only $15—a tiny investment for a knife that’s quite the multitasker (fruit and bread? Oh là là).

The Takeaways

It’s Great for Delicate Tasks

I reach for it over my other knives sometimes because I know its teeth will produce consistently smooth slices every single time, be it lemons, tomatoes, or peaches. It simply glides through without squishing the soft insides. It’s also my go-to knife for halving baked goods like croissants or brioche buns without crushing them.

It Holds Up Against Harder Foods, Too

I love my bread knife, but this serrated knife could give it a run for its money. While it’s not long enough to slice through a large sourdough batard, it’s great for French baguettes or crusty rolls. It’s also adept at cutting stringy ingredients like rhubarb and celery and can produce a picture-worthy cross-section of a bagel sandwich. It’s so sharp I’ve even used it to saw off a knob of frozen ginger, but don’t try that one at home.

It’s Durable and Comfortable to Hold

Even though I bought this knife over 10 years ago, it’s still as sharp as the day I got it. It cleans up with warm soapy water and is surprisingly forgiving if you forget about it by the sink. At least, mine has never shown signs of rusting if I don’t clean it right away. The knife also has a curved, textured handle that ensures a stable grip for every task. 

Do I Recommend It?

OXO Good Grips 5-Inch Serrated Utility Knife

Be it slicing nectarines, lemons, or bagels, this serrated knife is my go-to for countless kitchen tasks. It’s remained super sharp for over a decade and has never squished a tomato under my watch. Its strength is in its versatility as a blade that can glide through soft fruit just as easily as it can saw into crusty bread. At just $15, it’s worth grabbing to make kitchen workflows more efficient.

Why We’re the Experts

• An Uong is a writer for Serious Eats.
• An has been testing kitchen gear for Serious Eats for over two years.
• She’s a firm believer in having a minimal set of essential knives (and keeping them sharp).