With Thanksgiving and Christmas on the horizon, it’s time to start thinking about the delicious meals you will be enjoying with your friends and family. However, with such meals, there’s usually one big problem. How do you go about carving up such big pieces of meat? Whether it’s a delicious Thanksgiving turkey, ham or even a meatloaf, having the best electric knife ready to assist you is one less thing to think about on the day of your feast.

Achieving consistent and quick slices is an easy way to keep your guests happy and show off your carving skills at the same time. So, why would you rather put in all the effort and manpower required when using a standard kitchen knife, when you could take the hassle out of carving by simply investing in one of the best electric knives? 

There are so many pros to using the best electric knife over a standard one and so few cons:

• Less Energy Required – Let the knife do the work for you, just make sure you hold it in place of course. 
• Sharp – Serrated blades cut the skin of meat better than any regular kitchen knife, according to the experts at Bon Appetit. 
• Multi-Use – These technology-infused knives are useful for more than just special occasions. In addition to slicing meats, they work on bread, fish, cheese, vegetables and fruit. They can also be used for some DIY crafting.

Keep reading to learn about the best electric knives for the holiday season this year. These knives won’t just give your arms a break this Thanksgiving, they’ll also deliver fast and well-sliced meats which you and your Thanksgiving guests are sure to love.

We’ve put together a list of the top 20 electric knives available online, but before we tell you more about our favorites, let’s first explore how to carve a turkey using an electric knife.

How to Carve a Turkey With an Electric Knife

If you’re going to be in charge of carving the bird this Thanksgiving, it’s important you know how to carve a turkey. While it may seem like a pretty straightforward task, and one which can’t really result in an inedible meal, it’s more complicated than you think, especially when it comes down to aesthetics.

To get you on the path to turkey-cutting success, here’s an overview of the best way to carve this Thanksgiving.

1.) Once your turkey has finished cooking, allow it to rest for between 20 and 30 minutes before carving.
2.) Remove any trussing still on your turkey. Place it on a large cutting board with your accompanying serving platter nearby.
3.) Keeping the bird stable, which can be done by using a kitchen towel if necessary, remove the hind quarters. To do this, slice down through the skin between the leg and the breast. This act should expose the ball joint.
4.) When you are approaching the bone, pull the leg down with your hand and complete the cut through the joint to fully remove the whole leg. Repeat for the second leg and plate them.
5.) Follow this general procedure to remove the wings.
6.) Locate the breastbone. Choose a side and run your blade down the rib cage. As you approach the bottom, change the angle of the knife to remove the breast as a complete piece. Repeat the process for the other side.
7.) Dispose of the carcass. Note: To make the most of it, the carcass can be picked clean. You can also keep it and use it as a base for stock.
8.) Slice the breasts. Avoid a sawing motion and allow the knife’s automatic action to do the hard work for you. Plate it.
9.) Slice the thighs. First, separate the legs from the thighs. Depending on your serving preference, you can either serve the legs intact or remove the meat.
10.) Prepare the thighs for slicing by laying them skin-side down and removing the bone with your fingers or a paring knife.
11.) Once ready, flip them over, compress them with your fingers, slice and then plate. Repeat for both.
12.) To complete the task, arrange your meat in an aesthetically pleasing way. We suggest placing the breast around the outside, the thigh through the middle and the legs placed on top.
13.) Bon appetit!

No matter whether you’re cutting meat, bread, vegetables or your child’s cutting foam craft project, below you’ll find the best electric knife for your cutting needs.

1. Cuisinart CEK-40 Electric Knife

BEST OVERALL

The Cuisinart CEK-40 Electric Knife is a versatile answer to your kitchen cutting needs. The ergonomic design makes carving comfortable and easy. The set also includes two different blades: one for cutting meat and the other for cutting bread. They are interchangeable in a matter of seconds, making dinner time-slicing of all kinds an absolute cinch. The knife’s design features a locking mechanism to prevent any accidents. In addition, the knife also includes a handy storing block, which can house both the blades and the knife in an upright or flat orientation, depending on your storage preference.

2. Spectrum ComfortGrip Electric Knife

BEST BUDGET

At $15, the Spectrum ComfortGrip Electric Knife is a budget-friendly answer to carving everything from your favorite meats to your children’s cutting foam craft project. It sports a 7.5-inch blade with a 1.5-inch tang, providing plenty of under-control cutting length for your needs. You’ll also find a Comfort Grip handle that utilizes an ergonomic design to ensure you’re comfortable when using the knife, even for extended periods. Additionally, the safety lock and non-slip tabs further add to the safety and comfort you’ll feel during use.

3. Proctor Silex Easy Slice Electric Knife

ERGONOMIC PICK

The Proctor Silex Easy Slice Electric Knife puts comfort first and sports an ergonomic, lightweight design, which is great for cutting meats and bread. In addition, it can also be used for cutting through other kitchen items, like vegetables and fruits, as well as DIY crafting materials, like foam. The stainless steel blades are durable and strong, providing precision cutting under your control thanks to the easy-touch button on the handle.

4. Mueller Ultra-Carver Electric Knife

BEST GERMAN MADE

With its powerful 100-watt motor, non-slip grip and ultra-sharp blade, the Mueller Ultra-Carver Electric Knife is a competent answer to all your bread, meat and vegetable cutting needs. This German-made knife is also ergonomically designed and lightweight for greater comfort during use while the one-button release makes removing the blade simple. In addition, this comprehensive kit includes a carving fork so you’re ready to go right out of the box.

5. BLACK+DECKER 9-Inch Electric Carving Knife

BEST VALUE

With its nine-inch stainless steel blade and comfortable handle, the BLACK+DECKER 9-Inch Electric Carving Knife is an easy way to produce consistently cut slices of meats, cheeses, bread and even craft items. The design includes an intuitive trigger for maximum control, while the safety lock button prevents it from turning on while plugged in and not being used. Plus, the knife features removable parts, which are dishwasher safe for easy cleaning after use.

6. Hamilton Beach Electric Knife

BEST CARVING KIT

With its tough and elegant design, the Hamilton Beach Electric Knife is capable and worthy of taking care of that turkey on Thanksgiving. The grip is ergonomically designed and lightweight to ensure comfort during use, while the accompanying fork keeps the meat in place during slicing. The electric knife also comes with a handy storage case and features two stainless steel reciprocating blades that create slices of uniform thickness.

7. Chefman Electric Knife

MOST VERSATILE

The Chefman Electric Knife is great for all kinds of chopping and slicing. The set includes a carving fork and handy storage case, so you’ve got everything you need for meats, cheeses, bread and more. The comfortable handle features a one-touch button for cutting as well as a safety lock button for when it’s not in use. In addition, the tough, eight-inch blade was created to assist in uniform cutting and is removable to make cleaning up quick and easy.

8. Ovente Easy Slice Automatic Electric Knife

BEST AUTOMATIC

If you’re looking for the best electric knife that has some automatic features, consider the Ovente Easy Slice Automatic Electric Knife. With a 17.5-inch blade, this knife can take on most meats, including a large turkey. However, some people may find the long blade to be a bit unwieldy. The knife comes with two blades, so you’ll always have a sharp one. It also allows you to flip the blades around in order to use the sharp edge for meats or the dull edge for crafting and softer items.

9. Oster Electric Knife

BEST BEGINNER CARVING KNIFE

This product does exactly what it says on the tin. It’s electric, and it’s a knife. The Oster Electric Knife might not be the top of the range, but it’s still a very competent choice for anyone who’s new to the idea of slicing with ease. Complete with a matching fork, this electric knife is the ideal starter kit for anyone looking to learn the methods of carving and serving with an electric knife.

10. Classic Cuisine Electric Carving Knife Set

BEST THREE-PIECE SET

In addition to the electric carving knife and two interchangeable Classic Cuisine blades, this Classic Cuisine Electric Carving Knife three-piece set comes with a high-quality display board to show and house your kit. The knife is attached to a 62-inch power to provide users with a comfortable amount of freedom during use. In addition, the interchangeable blades, which include a slicing and bread blade, feature safety finger guards to help prevent accidental slips.

11. OldthingsnewShop Betty Crocker Electric Slicing Knife

VINTAGE PICK

If you want an electric knife with a dose of nostalgia mixed in, the OldthingsnewShop Vintage Betty Crocker Electric Slicing Knife could be the choice for you. It sports a compact design which is easily stored in kitchen cupboards. It also includes an automatic shut-off, a non-slip safety handle and a six-foot power cord, providing greater freedom during use while prioritizing safety at the same time.

12. Homaider Electric Knife

BEST FOR THANKSGIVING DINNER

Whether you’ve got turkey, pork, beef or chicken in front of you, the Homaider Electric Knife will make the slicing task at hand easy. The intelligent design makes producing cuts quick and simple, while the removable blades mean the post-cutting clean up won’t take any time at all. Plus, the ergonomic and lightweight handle means you’ll remain comfortable and in control throughout your carving session.

13. Mister Twister Electric Knife

BEST BEGINNER FILLET KNIFE 

For the fishermen of our future, this fillet knife is the perfect intro tool for filleting fish with an electric knife. Making it easier than ever to fillet, this electric knife is powered by a cord and decorated with a bright yellow and green so that it’s always easy to locate in your tackle box. The Mister Twister is purposefully designed with a relaxed handle to ensure comfort when being used, especially if you have a large catch to fillet.

14. Nutrichef Portable Electrical Food Cutter Knife

BEST HOME DISPLAY

Who says that kitchen gadgets can’t look good and be incredibly useful at the same time? Definitely not Nutrichef, as their Portable Electric Food Cutter Knight does exactly that. This electric knife includes a hand-crafted premium hardwood butcher block which can be used to store the knife flat inside a drawer or assembled for countertop storage and display. Complete with an ergonomically designed handle and two blade options, this electric knife is both comfortable and adaptable to suit your every slicing need.

SAFETY PICK

If safety is your top priority when it comes to carving your Thanksgiving bird, it’s worth checking out this Brentwood Electric Carving Knife. The device includes plastic safety guards, a protective sleeve and a safety switch to help ensure there are no accidental slips or unexpected cuts. For comfort, the knife includes an ergonomic grip and uses a trigger handle for operation. The fully serrated, 7.5-inch blade delivers all the precision and clean-cutting action you need to produce the uniform turkey slices your family and guests desire.

16. VonShef Electric Knife

BEST MULTI-BLADE

This VonShef Electric Knight is ready to make your carving needs as easy as pie, and with two blades included, you can serve up meals confidently knowing that your electric knife will always be sharp and ready to help you slice. Each of the two blades is designed to handle slightly different styles of food. One is lighter and so better suited to bread, fruits and vegetables, whereas the heavy-duty blade is ready to tackle any cooked, raw or frozen meat.

17. Rapala Heavy-Duty Electric Fillet Knife

BEST FOR FISH

Don’t worry, we haven’t forgotten about the fish lovers and fishermen out there. The Rapala Heavy-Duty Electric Fillet Knife is made from the highest quality materials and makes filleting fish simple. The blades make slicing through the fish simple, and this particular knife works at twice the speed and three times the power of many standard electric filleting knives. In addition, the blades are removable for easy cleaning, while the eight-foot power cord provides plenty of flexibility during use.

18. Mighty Carver Carving Knife

BEST NOVELTY

If you’re all about giving your guests a good laugh, definitely consider pulling out the Mighty Carver Carving Knife this Thanksgiving. Styled just like a tree-felling chainsaw, this electric knife will have your guests in stitches as you carve them slices of turkey. The versatile device is also capable of cutting other items, like bread, cheeses, vegetables and fruits, while the ergonomic handle and easy-release buttons make using the knife comfortable and convenient.

BEST SLICER

The Tartle Kitchen Electric Kebab Meat Slicer offers a slightly different method of action to your traditional electric carving knife. However, if you’re looking to cut through kebabs, shawarma or gyro, there’s no better option. Additionally, this up/down style of slicing can be used on all types of meat, as long as it’s cooked. The device itself has been ergonomically designed for user comfort during extended periods and also includes a guard and a non-slip handle for greater safety and control. In addition, the powerful slicer lets you adjust your slice size between 0 and 0.8-millimeters in thickness.

20. American Angler PRO Professional Grade Electric Fillet Knife

BEST SPLURGE

The American Angler Electric Fillet Knife is superior in quality to so many others on the market and ensures clean, easy cutting and gutting every time. As part of American Angler’s PRO range, this knife boasts two times more torque than any other electric fillet knife, meaning that big bones are never going to slow you down. With an advanced airflow design included in the handle, this handset will stay cool even if used for hours of continuous filleting.

Set The Table: 9 Ways to Create Inspired Dinner Decor For Thanksgiving