Knife (or other tool) for Cake Splitting

[ElenaRose]

Cooks illustrated recommends a 10 inch bread knife for cake splitting, but I wondered if any of you have used a 9 inch, or what other tool do you use to split a cake into layers?

Thanks!

[billieboy]

I use nylon fishing line. Cheap, clean and works well.

[JK Grence the Cosmic Jester]

I have heard that a length of dental floss works rather well too. Granted, I've never tried this, so your mileage may vary. Unwaxed unflavored would be the way to go.

[nofunlatte]

I've used the dental floss method successfully for years now. Granted, the kind of cake I usually split in half is a denser, almost poundcake-like texture, so I'm not sure how well it would work on lighter cakes. But the floss wraps easily onto hands, it's easy to grip, and there's no sawing motion. Just need to make sure that the floss is properly lined up to give you even halves. And you raise an important point--UNFLAVORED, unwaxed floss is best (I know this from experience!)

I do use a serrated bread knife to trim the domed top, though. And then I eat that.

[sbp]

I've used floss for years too. On lighter cakes, the trick is to make a "starter slit" with a regular knife, then go at it with the floss.

[nofunlatte]

Thanks! I'll remember that!

[irishnyc]

I've used the floss method successfully for many years. Like others have said, make sure it's lined up right (I use 10-12 toothpicks around the cake) and just pull.

[RGC1982]

I use a 9" when I do split a cake because that is all I have, but a longer knife would be easier. I don't see any reason to run out to buy another knife unless you are doing quite a bit of this. At the worst case, you can use a 10 inch chef''s knife and probably have the same results as long as the knife is sharp.

[Amy Mintzer]

CI is recommending a 10" knife because its desirable to use a knife with a blade longer than the diameter of the cake. That way, you have a better shot at a level, even cut. A bread knife is serrated, and that's the right edge for sawing, which is how you'll cut a cake. In other words, the longest serrated knife you have is the best knife for the job.

Baking supply stores/catalogues carry a wire tool designed for cutting cake layers. MIght be handy if you do a lot of this kind of baking.

[dscheidt]

Wilton sell a really cheap and reasonably useful wire tool. It's really cheap: I think I paid two bucks for my current one. It's a metal bow frame with a wire strung between the two legs. There are a bunch of notches on the two legs, so you can set the height of split levels. Some cakes require some care when starting the cut or finishing it, but I have much better results iwth it than i do with a knife.