So, you want to have a decent gathering in the backyard, inviting all your friends and relatives for a BBQ. That boosts everyone's spirits, especially when you have a premium brisket cut for everyone to enjoy. But, your kitchen might not have the appropriate cutlery to make the most of the event.
Well, if you're looking for solutions, you've come to the right place. This piece will tell you everything about the knives you need for the perfect BBQ brisket and what qualities you should focus on regarding them.
Desired Qualities for BBQ Brisket Knives
As the food items you cook for the event vary, so does the cutlery you use. BBQ briskets are tough and have several different layers of meat, depending on how well you cook them. Therefore, you need rigid knives that don't lose their strength with long blades while remaining sharp enough to last multiple feasts.
Knives for a BBQ brisket should possess the following qualities.
Long, Serrated Blade
If you want to obtain slices of uniform thickness in one go, you need knives with long, serrated blades to make cutting easier. Typically, brisket knives should be between 10" to 14" (25.4 to 35.5 cm) long. Moreover, the blade's edge should have fine teeth exposed to cut through the meat. That is called serrations, and it helps the knives remain usable longer without sharpening. The other reason is that the brisket (or breast of beef) contains large amounts of intra-muscular fat which can "clog" a straight edged knife with cooling fat. Serrated knives avoid this by capturing the fat in the grooves, keeping the cutting tips free to glide through the meat.
Stainless Steel
The ideal metal for a BBQ brisket should be a metal that doesn't get spoiled, even if someone spills some beer or wine on it. Stainless steel certainly fits the bill. It is highly durable and resists the effects of moisture from any beverage and ingredient.
Thickness
In order to obtain consistent brisket slices, you need a knife that is thin enough to separate vast portions without a mess. So, the thickness of the blade should be no more than 2mm.
Curvature of Blade
While most people consider straight serrated blades to be ideal for brisket knives, a slight curvature at the end assists with the cutting action. A deviation of 10 to 12 degrees is enough to rest the front of your palm safely and exert pressure without fatigue.
Handle Type
For brisket knives, you need a handle that is easy to grab for most hand sizes. It is more than likely that you'll pass the knife along, letting each guest take their desired portion size. Wood grips are often the most common occurrences. Alternatively, you can get ones with a curve to increase the grip while slicing the pieces. As there is a high percentage of fat in brisket, hands can become slippery when carving, so a comfortable handle is important for safety.
Maintenance
Usually, you don't need a brisket knife out of a cupboard all that often. Its use is often for a few special occasions, such as Independence Day or the New Year's dinner. As such, these knives have a modest maintenance schedule. You may want to sharpen one if you've used it before starting on the next feast. Make sure to bring it out a week or two before use to check its sharpness prior to the event.
Knives Perfect for a BBQ Brisket
Considering the qualities mentioned above, it is now easier to browse the shelves (or the internet, if we're being honest) for the right knife for a BBQ brisket. You can choose any of the following.
Carving Knife
A slicing or carving knife is often the best choice for the occasion. Both of these knives have quality stainless steel blades and are easy to handle in less-experienced hands. Our Brolga Carver is an excellent option for brisket and other larger cuts of meat. Although straight edged, it's longer length can easily handle a brisket without "clogging" the blade. Furthermore, if you're careful enough, you can use a carving knife for other chores in the kitchen, such as removing fat from beef or portioning fish.
Butcher's Knife (Cleaver)
A favourite tool of a chef and a manic serial killer simultaneously, the butcher's knife requires little to no expertise in slicing your desired portion of BBQ brisket. It is relatively inexpensive when compared to other variants on this list, but you can get a lot more mileage without worrying about breakage or the blade going dull.
The handle has a lot of space from the sharp end of the blade. So, those who've never even seen the inside of the kitchen can handle it with care. It often lasts for weeks without requiring much maintenance, and you can usually store it with other cutlery without worrying about cross-contamination.
Boning Knife
Boning knives have long, curved blades and are often used for deboning meat or filleting fish. However, they are also just as suitable for slicing off portions of BBQ briskets. Given that they are available with stylish grips and handles, you can use them as a subtle flex for all the guests at the gathering.
Plus planning and preparation prevents poor performance. Boning knives can help prepare the brisket for the BBQ, removing excess fat and sinew from the piece, keeping it tender and moist. Our Tassie Devil Boning Knife is a great addition to your kit, with fine tip, rigid spine and comfortable grip.
Serrated Knife
As we have mentioned above, the serrated knife is a great option for carving brisket. The toothsome blade edge allows you to make cuts int he brisket without losing too much moisture. Our 'Croc' Serrated Knife is the perfect partner for a brisket. it has a great length that can handle even the largest of pieces in one stroke, plus its recurved tip allows for a double-slicing action on each cut.
Electric Slicing Knife
One of the most advanced brisket cutting knives available in the market today, an electric knife is the most expensive, too. But, if you’re willing to pay the price, you get a piece of cutlery that can last you decades. An electric slicing knife has a broad handle that houses several miniature motors. Those motors reciprocate to create thousands of horizontal vibrations per second. So, as you cut through the meat, the blade cuts across by itself, allowing for sizeable portions to be obtained within seconds.
It is the best knife if you want to serve a large number of guests and have multiple briskets for the feast. Another useful addition is that you can replace the blades mid-service, as it only takes a few seconds. That helps you keep the flavour of festivities going without stopping the service for cleaning or sharpening.
Given that the initial cost of an electric slicing knife is high, you might be tempted to consider its alternatives. However, a couple of these can save you thousands of dollars in the long run. Electric knives are not too prone to breakage, and their vibration action keeps the blades clean for several years after the first cut.
Although we do like the ease and versatility of an electric carving knife, we have a preference for higher quality steel in the blades which remain sharper for longer. Besides, when working with fire, it almost seems like cheating to bring a modern tool to such a primal endeavour (but we are biased hahah).
Summary
And those are all the knives that can help you through a massive BBQ brisket service for any occasion. Which one do you prefer? Are there any cutlery variants that we left out? Comment your thoughts down below.
