Is the Wüsthof Classic Bread Knife Worth It?
Based on tests by America's Test Kitchen (Jun 2025). How we score
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Why
America's Test Kitchen rated the Wüsthof Classic bread knife Recommended with reservations. Its edge "was incredibly keen, capable of cutting paper-thin slices of tomatoes," but its double serrations "often skidded over food and failed to give us the power we needed to really bite into it." The blade was too short for large loaves, and the short handle left larger hands cramped and knuckles scraping the board. ATK's top-rated bread knife, the Mercer Millennia 10-inch, beat it for blade and handle for a fraction of the price, and the MAC Superior matched its sharpness with a better blade.
Cheaper alternatives, scored against the Wüsthof Classic
Millennia 10-Inch Wide Wavy Edge Bread Knife
From 1 tester: America's Test Kitchen
From 1 tester: America's Test Kitchen
America's Test Kitchen's top-rated bread knife, rated well above the Wüsthof for blade (3 vs 1.5 of 3) and handle (3 vs 2). "Its blade is long enough to span large loaves and pastries and tall enough to direct easily through thick sandwiches," and "it sliced and chopped every food well." It's slightly less sharp than the Wüsthof (2.5 vs 3). ATK didn't test long-term durability.
| Criterion | Wüsthof Classic | Mercer Millennia |
|---|---|---|
| Blade | 1.5/3 | 3/3 |
| Handle | 2/3 | 3/3 |
| Sharpness | 3/3 | 2.5/3 |
From America's Test Kitchen: The Best Serrated (Bread) Knives (updated June 25, 2025)
Sources: America's Test Kitchen: The Best Serrated (Bread) Knives (updated June 25, 2025), Manufacturer specs via Amazon listing
Superior Bread and Roast Slicer, 10.5 in
From 1 tester: America's Test Kitchen
From 1 tester: America's Test Kitchen
Rated Highly Recommended by America's Test Kitchen, with the same full marks for sharpness as the Wüsthof and higher scores for blade and handle. It sliced "almost every food with authority and an especially buttery smoothness," and "its long handle was easy for hands of all sizes to grip comfortably." Its rounded serrations "sometimes skidded and slipped on crusty bread instead of biting into it." ATK didn't test long-term durability.
| Criterion | Wüsthof Classic | MAC Superior |
|---|---|---|
| Blade | 1.5/3 | 2.5/3 |
| Handle | 2/3 | 3/3 |
| Sharpness | 3/3 | 3/3 |
From America's Test Kitchen: The Best Serrated (Bread) Knives (updated June 25, 2025)
Sources: America's Test Kitchen: The Best Serrated (Bread) Knives (updated June 25, 2025), Manufacturer specs via Amazon listing
Common questions
Is the Wüsthof Classic bread knife worth it?
Not according to America's Test Kitchen, which rated it Recommended with reservations: its double serrations skidded over food and its blade and handle are short. The Mercer Millennia 10-inch, ATK's top-rated bread knife, costs a fraction as much.
Sources: America's Test Kitchen: The Best Serrated (Bread) Knives (updated June 25, 2025), Manufacturer specs via Amazon listing
