How can I sharpen a pizza cutter?

Depending on how much use you're getting out of your pizza cutter, you may want to sharpen it from time to time. "If you're sharpening your pizza cutter at home, the easiest way is to use a multi-sharpener. That said, it's better to take it to a local cutlery shop to be sharpened," says Simon. "However, the best way is to take care of your cutter during use, such as avoiding using it on stone surfaces and applying too much pressure. With a quality pizza cutter, you won't have to apply pressure for a good cut and that helps to keep the blade sharp." Restaurateur Donatella Arpaia suggests using an abrasive nail file as an inexpensive user-friendly method. "Using short strokes, run the nail file over the blade's existing ridges, starting at the base and working your way toward the tip," she says.

Can I use a pizza cutter on a pizza stone?

Though you can technically use a pizza cutter on a pizza stone , the chefs we spoke to don't recommend it as it will dull your blade. "I recommend removing your cooked pizza from the stone and placing it on a flat surface such as a wood cutting block," says Simon.

Who invented the pizza cutter?

Fun fact! David S. Morgan created the pizza cutter in the late 1800s — but the design was originally created to cut wallpaper, not pizza. The mezzaluna (known today as a pizza rocker) was invented by Italian Silvio Pacitti in the early 1700s as a way to cut vegetables.

The Best Pizza Cutters of 2023, Reviewed by Food & Wine

Pizza cutters available from Amazon — Amazon

To precisely slice a pizza, nothing compares to the pizza cutter. Seriously — not even the sharpest blade in your knife block will get the job done quite like one of those round, sharp wheels. So what's the difference between a pizza cutter and a similarly sharp, pointy knife? The right pizza cutter allows you to slice through the thickest and crunchiest pizza crusts without dragging a single ounce of cheese or topping off the tray.

There are a few nonnegotiables when looking for a great pizza cutter. You want a tool that seamlessly glides through all levels of crisp and crunch with a blade that exhibits the toughness of your favorite steak knife. The handle is just as critical and should feature a slip-resistant or textured grip to keep your fingers and wrist in place as you slice.

You can use a pizza cutter for a whole lot more than, well, slicing pizza. Think carving up dough for homemade pasta, sectioning off quesadillas, and even precision-cutting fruits, fresh herbs, and veggies from your garden. Read on for our chef-recommended picks for the best pizza cutters.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

Dexter-Russell 18023P Outdoors 4-Inch Pizza Cutter at Amazon

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Best Value:

OXO Steel Pizza Wheel and Cutter at Sur La Table

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Best Splurge:

Rösle Ergonomic Stainless Steel Pizza Wheel at Amazon

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Best Professional:

Dexter-Russell Sani-Safe 2 3/4-Inch Pizza Cutter at Amazon

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Best Pizza Scissors:

Dreamfarm Scizza Pizza Scissors at Amazon

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Dexter-Russell 18023P Outdoors 4-Inch Pizza Cutter with Purple Handle

Amazon

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Pros

This pizza cutter features textured handles, a protective finger guard, and a stain‐resistant replaceable blade, hand-honed to a super-sharp edge.

Cons

The tool is not dishwasher safe.

One chef we spoke with called the Dexter Russell Sani-Safe 4-inch Pizza Cutter "the Old Faithful of pizza wheels." It makes cutting pizza and other flatbreads a quick and effortless task. One of its biggest selling points is its high-carbon steel blade, a durable, stain-free material that's corrosion-resistant. Though the blade's edge should hold strong for consistent use, it may reach a point where replacement is necessary. In that case, skip the purchase of a new tool and opt for a new blade instead.

"If you've ever owned a pizza cutter, you know how quickly it can get very dull very fast," explains Greg Tetzner and Jackie Richie of Old Greg's Pizza in Miami, Florida. "It effortlessly slices through even the thickest, cheesiest crust. It isn't built using pizza rocket science — it simply has one feature that helps save time and money: Replaceable blades! It can also be exclusively used to prevent cross-contamination for those with allergies or dietary restrictions."

Price at time of publish: $23

Material: Stain-free, high-carbon steel
Dishwasher-safe: No
Length: 4 inches

Amazon

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Pros

It's simple and safe to use, with a convenient soft-grip handle. Plus, it's dishwasher-safe and easy to store with a hole at the base of the handle.

Cons

The blade is not replaceable.

The workhorse of pizza cutters, the OXO Steel Pizza Wheel will get you the most bang for your buck. This durable kitchen tool is preferred by chefs and home cooks alike, thanks to its quick-moving stainless steel blade and soft exterior grip. The comfortable, textured handle absorbs pressure when cutting, while the thumb guard offers an added layer of safety. When not in use, store the wheel on your wall using the hole at the handle's base or tuck it away inside a drawer.

Durability and ease of use aside, the biggest advantage of this pizza cutter is it's one of the only dishwasher-safe tools our experts recommended. That means you won't have to worry about scrubbing off all that gooey cheese yourself.

"As with most OXO products, this pizza wheel has a rubberized handle, making it easy to grip, even when you've got pizza grease on your hands," says food editor Kelsey Youngman. "There's also a nice space between the blade wheel and the handle, making it easy to see the pizza you're cutting, for lovely, even slices, and it's easy to clean since there are no small grooves or coverings to capture cheese and sauce."

Price at time of publish: $18

Material: Stainless steel
Dishwasher-safe: Yes
Length: 4 inches

Rsle-ergonomic-stainless-steel-pizza-wheel

Amazon

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Pros

This hand-held pizza cutter features a sleek, sophisticated design.

Cons

It's not dishwasher-safe and requires a bigger investment up front.

This German-engineered pizza wheel is sharp, both literally and figuratively. It features a sleek, polished chrome design with a rounded, ergonomic handle that gives users precise control when slicing. The free-running roller blade — made of heat- and corrosion-resistant steel — is razor-edged all the way around, providing substantial power and even pressure to cut more evenly through the toughest of ingredients. Though this tool isn't dishwasher-safe, it does easily disassemble for cleaning.

"If I had to live and die by one pizza cutter, it would be the cutter I use personally at home, the Rösle Ergonomic Pizza Wheel," explains executive chef Andrew Simon of Edera Italian Eatery in St. Louis. "It's efficient, applies great pressure, rolls smoothly, and has a sharp edge for a quick and crisp cut every time."

Price at time of publish: $55

Material: Stainless steel
Dishwasher-safe: No
Length: 5 1/2 inches

Dexter-russell-sani-safe-2-34-inch-pizza-cutter

Amazon

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Pros

This tool is a more stylish version of the 4-inch Dexter Russell Sani-Safe. Its compact size makes it convenient for chefs on the go.

Cons

Slicing through extra-large pizzas may prove challenging due to this tool's smaller blade size. It's also not dishwasher-safe.

Think of the Dexter Russell 2 3/4-inch Pizza Cutter as the stylish, more compact sibling to the 4-inch version. This kitchen tool ranks just as strong in performance and quality, while the overall appearance — high-carbon steel from top to bottom — lends itself to a more sophisticated, fast-paced commercial environment.

It helps that the replaceable blade is more than an inch smaller, making this pizza cutter even easier and quicker to maneuver when slicing through pies of all sizes. The aluminum handle is ergonomic in design for a comfortable experience from start to finish.

"I've always owned a Dexter Russell because it is just a perfect tool," says Michele Rubini, head pizzaiolo at the Los Angeles outpost of the legendary L'Antica Pizzeria da Michele. "It is reliable, easy to disassemble, and easy to clean. The cutting wheel remains sharp for months, and the ergonomic aluminum handle fits like a glove."

Price at time of publish: $22

Material: Stain-free, high-carbon steel
Dishwasher-safe: No
Length: 2 3/4 inches

Dreamfarm Scizza | Non-Stick Pizza Scissors with Protective Server | Stainless Steel Pizza Cutter Scissors | All-In-One Pizza Slicer and Pizza Server | Easy-To-Use & Easy-To-Clean Pizza Cutters | Red

Amazon

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Pros

With a safety lock and a unique spatula base, these scissors make slicing pizza easy, safe, and mess-free.

Cons

Because this pizza scissor is on the larger side, it may be more difficult to store at home.

Once you take the leap into the world of pizza scissors, you may never go back. Compared to their cutter and wheel counterparts, this kitchen tool takes the mess out of cutting. One of our all-time favorites is the Dream Scizza, which effortlessly slices through pizza, flatbreads, and dough. It even keeps toppings in place, thanks to two curved blades that cleanly cut through ingredients versus requiring forward and backward motions.

It also includes a handy spatula base that slides under your pizza — which means you won't risk scratching your precious pizza stone. Though the blades should maintain their razor-like edges, you can remove them to sharpen as needed. When not in use, there's a safety lock for easy storage.

Price at time of publish: $31

Material: Stainless steel
Dishwasher-safe: Yes
Length: 5 inches

Our Favorite

When we asked pizza-obsessed chefs and experts what their favorite pizza cutter is, they overwhelmingly named the same brand: Dexter Russell. Though there was some variation on the size, style, and color, the consensus is Dexter Russell is favorite among pros across the country.

Factors to Consider

Size

The ideal size of a pizza cutter is up for debate, but our chefs agree it's up to a user's preference. Some are more comfortable with a larger, longer blade, while others feel more control with a smaller cutter. Storage is also a factor: Do you have the room to store an extra-large pizza rocker, or would you rather find a compact pizza cutter instead? There's no wrong answer here, ultimately.

At the end of the day, the cutter's overall size is nothing compared to the blade's sharpness and the inclusion of a ripped ergonomic handle. The best pizza cutters offer maximum precision over what they're slicing, whether it's deep-dish pizza, razor-thin flatbreads, or uncooked dough. You want a cutter that gives you safe, comfortable control when slicing.

Style

Cutters, wheels, scissors, and rockers: There is no shortage of options when it comes to the traditional pizza cutter. Again, this factor is a personal decision. We spoke to some chefs who wouldn't consider anything but a pizza cutter, while others swore by wheels and rockers. Think about what would sit best in your kitchen: Do you have the space for a rocker, or are you looking for a tool that's as easy to use as it is to conceal?

Durability

To be worthwhile in a kitchen, pizza cutters must have a strong, sharp edge that rolls smoothly. A defined edge is essential to avoid tearing the crust or pulling at the toppings. You want it to roll smoothly, too, so it doesn't damage the pizza or anything else you're slicing. Depending on how often you see yourself using your pizza cutter, it may benefit you to consider a tool that has a replaceable blade option. You can skip the headache of sharpening your cutter and purchase a new edge instead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I sharpen a pizza cutter?

Depending on how much use you're getting out of your pizza cutter, you may want to sharpen it from time to time.

"If you're sharpening your pizza cutter at home, the easiest way is to use a multi-sharpener. That said, it's better to take it to a local cutlery shop to be sharpened," says Simon. "However, the best way is to take care of your cutter during use, such as avoiding using it on stone surfaces and applying too much pressure. With a quality pizza cutter, you won't have to apply pressure for a good cut and that helps to keep the blade sharp."

Restaurateur Donatella Arpaia suggests using an abrasive nail file as an inexpensive user-friendly method. "Using short strokes, run the nail file over the blade's existing ridges, starting at the base and working your way toward the tip," she says.
Can I use a pizza cutter on a pizza stone?

Though you can technically use a pizza cutter on a pizza stone, the chefs we spoke to don't recommend it as it will dull your blade. "I recommend removing your cooked pizza from the stone and placing it on a flat surface such as a wood cutting block," says Simon.
Who invented the pizza cutter?

Fun fact! David S. Morgan created the pizza cutter in the late 1800s — but the design was originally created to cut wallpaper, not pizza. The mezzaluna (known today as a pizza rocker) was invented by Italian Silvio Pacitti in the early 1700s as a way to cut vegetables.

Our Expertise

Clarissa Buch Zilberman is an acclaimed food writer with nearly a decade of experience. She spoke with pizza pros Greg Tetzner and Jackie Richie, Michele Rubini, Andrew Simon, and Donatella Arpaia to get their thoughts on the best pizza cutters and then rounded out the list with market research.