We Tested the Best Bread Lames for the Most Decorative Loaves

Best Overall

Baker of Seville Bread Lame

5

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This is what you get when a bread baker sets out to make their own equipment. Designed and tested by bakers and baking enthusiasts alike, the Baker of Seville bread lame is versatile, sturdy, and streamlined.

The biggest advantage of this lame is its ability to alternate between a straight-edge and curved blade, meaning that you can make a variety of cuts without having to purchase two different tools. The blade is stabilized with a sturdy screw and two stabilizing knobs to keep the blade from slipping under pressure.

In testing, it came with the first blade attached, but of course we wanted to see how easy it is to change from straight or curved. It’s simple, really, since it depends on where a small nut is placed. The depth of the curve can also be controlled, depending on how tight the blade is attached. The screws kept the blade secure in testing, and slashing was easy whether we used the blade straight or curved.

Unlike most other bread lames on the market that are constructed with wood or plastic components, this one is entirely stainless steel, making it both sturdy and easy to clean. The stainless steel design makes for a slightly heavier-weight lame for greater control while scoring. After removing the blade and securing the screw, it can be washed in the utensils section of the dishwasher.

The lame comes with a hard plastic storage case for safekeeping and storage in your kitchen drawers.

Price at time of publish: $25

Blade Style: Curved and straight | Material: Stainless steel | Includes: Storage case, 3 blades

Best Budget

XoYo Bread Lame

4.2

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If you’re just starting out or don’t know how committed you are to making bread for the long haul, the XoYo Bread Lame is a safe and reusable lower-priced option. Instead of buying a single-use plastic lame for the same price, XoYo offers a lame design like the higher-end models but a lower price. It’s designed with a longer 6.3-inch wooden handle and stainless steel razor stick to hold a double-sided safety razor. It also comes with instructions on how to place the blade.

In testing, this worked as well as most of the other lames—because, let’s face it, the work is done by the blade. The handle was comfortable to hold, too. To attach the blade, we had to bend and hold it to slide it onto the shaft of the lame. It’s a simple process, but it needs a steady hand when handling the sharp blade.

The XoYo Bread Lame doesn’t come with a protective box but does include a leather blade cover to protect you, and the blade, while it is not in use.

Price at time of publish: $8

Blade Style: Curved | Material: Wood, stainless steel | Includes: 5 blades, leather blade cover

Best for Sourdough

UPKOCH Bread Lame

4.7

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Many bakers like to score their sourdoughs and yeasted doughs with a head-on perpendicular slice, in either the classic X or a square pattern. A straight-blade lame helps achieve a clean direct cut, as well as many of the popular decorative cuts often seen on larger artisan loaves. 

The UPKOCH bread lame has an attractive artisan wooden handle, which is especially safe and secure. The blade is held in place by two screws, with the back of the double-sided blade sunk into the handle itself to avoid any accidental cuts while using the lame. The screws can be removed to rotate or replace the blade. A small screwdriver key included in the set, or a regular small screwdriver can be used if the key disappears into the gadget drawer.

In use, we found the blade easy to install and replace, and found it easy to make both straight cuts and small decorative ones. It was less effective when trying to hold the lame at the angle required to create an “ear” on the loaf, but by adjusting the blade to stick out more, it was a bit easier.

Five blades are included, as well as a plastic blade cover for safe storage and a key to tighten the screws. Unlike other models, the UPKOCH bread lame also has a small hole drilled in the handle for hanging.

Blade Style: Straight | Material: Wood, stainless steel | Includes: 5 blades, blade cover, 1 plastic blade cover, 1 screw key

Best for Gifting

Williams Sonoma Black Walnut Handle Bread Lame

4.5

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This lame takes the utilitarian straight blade up a notch with a beautiful black walnut handle, embellished with brass accents and stainless steel fittings. The screws that secure the blade in the handle can be tightened by hand without the need for a key. A pre-drilled hole in the handle makes it easy to hang and display in your kitchen. 

The whole package includes additional razor blades and a small cardboard box for storage, making this lame a lovely and thoughtful gift for the bread enthusiast in your life.

In testing, we found the blade easy to install, but the directions were lacking. We thought we had it right, but actually had the blade inserted from the wrong side. Then we saw an online photo of the product and realized our error. It worked well, even when we had it backwards, so that’s a good thing, right? The brass accent piece is meant as a stop for the blade, but isn’t actually necessary since the screws do a fine job of keeping the blade from slipping. The brass piece sometimes felt loose or wobbly when the lame was assembled, but that’s a nitpick that doesn’t affect the product’s use.

This would be a great gift for a bread baker, but if you’re ready to up your gifting game, this same lame is also included in the Williams Sonoma Bread Baker’s Dream Set that includes a dough whisk, a ceramic bread baking pot, and a dough rising basket.

Price at time of publish: $35

Blade Style: Straight | Material: Black walnut wood, stainless steel, brass | Includes: 5 blades, cardboard storage box

Best for Baguettes

Saint Germain Premium Bread Lame

5

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The curved blade of the Saint Germain lame makes scoring baguettes for that beautiful arched expansion and delicate crisp flap (referred to as the “ear”) a breeze. Similar to other models, the lame is designed with a wooden handle and stainless steel stick to hold the blade. 

To get the blade onto the lame when testing, we had to bend and hold the blade to slide it onto the shaft of the lame. While it was easy to do, it does require a steady hand, since fingers are close to the sharp edges of the blade. The shorter handle of this lame is popular among bakers who like to hold the tool closer to the blade for more control, or bakers with smaller hands. Since baguette dough is typically a little denser than a high-hydration sourdough, the extra control for scoring comes in handy. 

The whole package includes five replaceable blades for multiple uses, a blade cover, and a cardboard box to store it all in. The blades are also covered by a lifetime warranty.

Price at time of publish: $10

Blade Style: Curved | Material: Wood, stainless steel | Includes: 6 blades, leather blade cover

Best for Beginners

Breadtopia Bread Lame

4.3

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For bakers looking for a dependable, and admittedly cute, lame for scoring homemade bread, the Breadtopia lame is an easy tool to use, change, and maintain.

Since this comes without the blade attached, our first task was bending and holding the blade as we slid it onto the shaft of the lame. While this was simple enough, it takes a sure hand since fingers are close to the sharp edges of the blade. If a more aggressive curve is desired, the shaft can be bent to change the blade’s curve. For those who are new to the process, it does come with instructions.

The long, textured resin handle is nonslip and allows for a looser and gentler pressure for soft doughs. For thicker doughs, there’s plenty of room to choke up on the handle without being directly on top of the blade. Our tester did find that this wasn't the most comfortable of lames, "but I wouldn't call it uncomfortable," she says. And while you can use the tip of the blade to learn how to make finer cuts, it's not the most ideal for that job. It comes with five blade replacements and a padded box for safe storage.

Price at time of publish: $13

Blade Style: Curved | Material: Plastic, stainless steel | Includes: Paper storage box, 5 additional blades