Opinel Intempora Full-Tang Bread Knife

Family-owned company Opinel in the French Alps is famous for its iconic folding knives, which are so popular that the producer released a set of dedicated kitchen knives—the Intempora line—based on its original designs. One of our favorites is the No. 216 Bread Knife. Its serrated 7.75-inch blade, made of the same Sandvik steel as Opinel's pocket knives, is deeply scalloped with a sweeping shape that is highly effective for slicing through the toughest loaves of bread, tomato skins or peppers, with little risk of banging your knuckles on the cutting board. The blade steel runs through to the end of the handle (known as full-tang construction), making the knife particularly sturdy—it won’t twist or turn during use. Our favorite part of the knife might be the robust polymer handle, which echoes the classic ergonomic shape of Opinel’s folders, designed to fit comfortably in most any hand. An effective bread knife is an essential tool in any kitchen, so you might as well have the best we’ve tried.