Bread Slicing Guide: How to Slice Bread Perfectly Every Time

You’d think slicing bread would be easy—until you watch a beautiful loaf turn into a pile of torn crusts and squashed slices. The trick isn’t just how you slice, it’s what you’re slicing with.

Here’s how to get clean, even slices every single time—without destroying your bread or your patience.

1. Use a proper serrated knife
Forget the chef’s knife. You need a blade that grips the crust and glides through the crumb. A good bread knife will make a bigger difference than most people realize.

The Dynasty Series Bread Knife is sharp, long, and perfectly balanced for both soft sandwich loaves and crusty sourdough. For something a little bolder and built to handle denser artisan loaves, the Nomad Series Bread Knife is solid, durable, and easy to control.

2. Let your bread cool completely
Slicing bread too soon is one of the easiest mistakes. Even if it smells amazing fresh from the oven, the crumb inside hasn’t finished setting yet. Let it rest at least 30–60 minutes depending on the size of the loaf. You'll get way cleaner slices—and no gummy mess.

3. Use long, gentle sawing strokes
Don’t press. Don’t saw like you’re cutting wood. Let the blade do the work. Start with light pressure and use long, even strokes. This keeps the crust intact and stops the crumb from compressing.

4. Anchor your loaf properly
Put the bread on a large, stable cutting board. If your board slips, place a towel underneath it. Better grip = better cuts.

5. Clean between slices if needed
Especially for fresh or sticky loaves, wiping the blade between slices can help keep cuts clean and reduce crumbs.

Bonus tip: Don’t try to "muscle" through crust
If you’re working with a hard crust, angle the tip of the blade slightly to start the cut, then let the full edge follow through in one smooth motion.

The key to better bread slices? A sharp serrated blade, a little patience, and a gentler touch. It’s one of those simple upgrades that instantly makes homemade (or even store-bought) bread feel 10x better.

Still deciding on a knife?