10 Best Electric Fillet Knives for Effortless Fish Cleaning

Manual fillet knives are excellent, but the best electric fillet knife can radically change your life. At least, it changed mine.

My grandfather was a devotee angler, and I got my passion for fishing from him. So my methods and fishing styles have always been classic. And like any other regular angler, I had been using manual fillet knives forever.

But some of my fellow anglers convinced me to consider electric fillet knives, and I did. After researching a lot, I got one for myself, and my fishing experience has never been more joyous before.

So, I don’t want to keep you in the dark anymore. Let me give you all the fantastic details I’ve discovered about electric fillet knives after using a couple of them.

Why use an Electric Fillet Knife?

Anglers have been using manual fillet knives for a long time, and they are very efficient. But with time, we should try to evolve our style or at least try new things to check out their proficiency. 

Both electric and manual knives have flexible blades, and they will give you clean-cut fillets. So why use an electric knife? Let me answer this question from my experience.

Firstly, electric-powered knives can save your time. I mean, you can be done with filleting fishes faster than manual knives. 

If you are using a manual knife, you have cut along the ribs of the fish. But with electric knives, you can cut through the ribs of the fish. It allows you to finish your filleting task quicker than ever.

Secondly, the electric knife saves your energy. As you don’t have to manually cut the fish, you can be done with the process without getting tired, especially when working with a bunch of big fish.

Lastly, using electric knives doesn’t require a higher level of filleting skill. You can cut the fish with the ribcage attached to the fillets and remove it later. So you don’t have to have a precise skill of filleting to work with electric knives.

Though electric knives are much handier than manual knives, you would still need them for places without electricity. But for regular use, I like electric knives for the ease it provides me.

If you are also thinking about getting the best electric fillet knives, let me suggest some of my favorite electric knives. From my list of top 10 best electric knives, you will definitely pick one for yourself at the end of this guide.

Top 10 Electric Fillet Knife Review

01. Bubba Li-On

Okay, let me be clear that just because I am mentioning this knife at the end of my list, doesn’t mean that it’s less efficient. In reality, it is a preeminent electric knife for fish you can come across out there.

The ergonomically designed non-slip handle ensures a firm grip even if you hold it with wet hands. It has a titanium-covered stainless steel blade that offers you clean fillet cuts no matter what fish you are going to work on.

The blade of this knife is easy to remove, carry, and clean. It comes with a pair of lithium-ion batteries that ensure you longer working time. Trust me; these rechargeable batteries are some of the best ones that I have experienced. Moreover, these batteries come with an LED battery-life indicator, so you will know when you need to recharge them.

This knife has a dual-rivet design for getting clean cuts, and it comes with a lightweight, high-quality carrying case.

02. Rapala

If you don’t want to get a corded electric knife, the Rapala Cordless electric knife is one of the best options for you.

This robust electric fillet knife has got lithium-ion batteries. Moreover, it has a built-in airflow system to keep the handle cool while using this knife.

The battery of this knife takes around one and a half hours to get fully charged. You can use this fully charged knife for medium to heavy-duty filleting, and it will run for 70-80 minutes. 

This electric knife has got a comfortable handle, and this set comes with two serrated blades. One of the blades is 7.5 inches, and another one is 6inches. These blades are made of top-quality stainless steel that can cut through some bog fishes and sturdy fish bones. 

I don’t recall the accurate amount, but I could fillet like 40-50 fish with a fully charged battery. So, undoubtedly it is a super-efficient electric knife for fish.

This electric knife is quite lightweight, so it doesn’t bother you much if you are working with it for a long time. Moreover, this set of knives comes with a good-looking carrying bag.

03. Cuisinart

If an angler uses electric knives, whether he/she is using this knife or thinking about getting one. Yes, the Cuisinart CEK-30 Electric fillet knife is one of the most proficient fillet knives out there.

This flexible tool eases your filleting process to a great extent. You can have many options while choosing blades. You can get a single one or buy a set if you don’t have many of them at home.

If you get the knife set containing two blades, it will own a great versatile tool. One of the blades is an excellent knife for filleting fish, and the other one is for cutting pieces of bread or whatever you want to use it for.

It comes with a butcher back block holding tray to keep them in one place when you do not use them. And my most favorite part of it is the handle. It is an ergonomically designed handle that has a one-touch pressure-activated on/off the trigger and security lock.

Cuisinart is a brand mostly reputed for making top-notch kitchen tools, and this CEK-30 electric knife is not different than that. The quality of the stainless steel they use in this knife is one of the best ones.

The blade of this knife is corrosion-resistant and dishwasher-safe. So, you will have to be less bothered by the maintenance issue of this knife.

04. Waring Commercial

If you want the safest filleting electric knife for your house, you can’t have better options than this one. This heavy-duty electric knife comes with loads of safety measures. It comes with a long-lasting battery and flexible slicing options.

It is a cordless knife with awe-inspiring features. To be honest, when I got to know about this electric knife, I kind of had a crush on it! Don’t laugh at me; I was really impressed by the looks and features it offers.

My first concern about this knife was its battery life. Well, that’s one of my most pressing concerns about a cordless electric knife. The lithium-ion battery of this knife is remarkable as it comes with a quick charging feature. Unlike other electric knives, it doesn’t lose its charge when it is stored.

The high-quality serrated stainless blade is very flexible and performs the slicing task very smoothly. The ergonomic handle perfectly fits in your hand, and the power button is also on the handle. So there isn’t a chance for it to turn on accidentally, and you are safe from any injury.

Besides have corrosion-resistant technology in its blade, this knife has got LED lights. It is another fantastic safety feature of this knife so you can have a safer experience even in darker places.

This well-built electric knife then ensures précised cuts of fillets every time. It is easy to carry, lightweight, and you can work with this for a more extended amount of time without getting exhausted.

05. Rapala deluxe

With high durability and a powerful motor, this is another excellent fillet knife by Rapala. It has excellent adapters that will fit in wall outlets.

The advanced airflow design is one of the notable features of this knife. As it has got a heavy-duty motor, it was a much-needed feature of this electric fillet knife.

It has a very comfortable grip that allows stirring your wrist without any hitch. Moreover, it has an 18 feet long power cord, which allows you to have a substantial working space while slicing your fish.

This versatile tool doesn’t only get for fish; you can cut roast, ham, beef, or anything with this knife with high efficiency. The stainless steel blade offers a smooth filleting experience every time you take this knife in your hand.

Rapala deluxe knife for filleting fish claims to have a quite long-lasting motor. Moreover, it has got a top-quality plastic case to carry around this electric knife. This plastic carrying case proves to be very handy when you have to travel fishing.

06. Mister twister

If you want to get an efficient and affordable electric knife for fish, you can choose this option with closed eyes. It is one of the most favorite electric knives of the anglers who use electrically powered knives.

Mister twister MT-1201 electric knife comes with a fun color combination and is one of the popular knives for slicing fish. It is a lightweight knife that you can move with ease no matter what you are slicing.

The conveniently designed blade of this knife is 7.5 inches long and can cut through a lot of medium to lightweight fish. You can get clean cuts of your fish without much trouble.

This knife comes with a lightweight yet powerful 120V motor. You can do some severe light to medium loads of filleting tasks smoothly. Though the blade can’t be re-sharpen after using it for a massive amount of time, you can easily replace it as it is very cheap.

Moreover, if you are buying this knife, you are not getting this for fish one. You can slice chicken, turkey, and hum with this ergonomic knife. If you are a beginner angler or willing to use electric fillet knives for the first time, it is a great knife to start with.

The size of this knife is convenient. You can use it also for removing bones from the big fillet of fish. And from my experience, I can say that it is the best electric fillet knife for crappie.

07. Black & Decker

With 9 inches offset serrated blade made of top-quality stainless steel, it can slice big fish, craft foam, and meat-like butter. Additionally, the blade also has 1.5 inches of tang for better performance.

This corded knife has a 5 feet long power cord and a very comfortable handle for a secure grip. It has also got non-slip safety tabs for supreme security.

The 9 inches long excellent stainless blade offers a silky smooth experience with slicing fish and some other things that you need to cut around the house. As the blades are corrosion resistant, you don’t need to be much worried about its cleaning and maintenance.

It has got a cleverly designed handle that will ensure a relaxed grip and easy movement facility. With the long, stiff, serrated blade, you can slice some big fish with finesse.

This knife has a rubberized thumb rest so you can slice the fish and meat with exceptional flexibility. Moreover, the non-slip tabs help you to protect your hand while cleaning and dissembling. With the tabs, you can just release and drop the blades.

08. Rapala heavy

Well, as you have already known that this knife is a heavy-duty one, as the name suggests. This corded electric knife has got a powerful motor, yet it runs silently. 

This well-built knife has got a comfortable grip that allows you to hold and work with it effortlessly. With this knife, you don’t have to use any physical force; the electrically powered motor does most of it. You just have to hold the knife and do some sleek wrist actions with ease to get some perfectly cut fillets.

The length of the power cord of this knife is 8 inches and so you can move it around easily around your workspace. There is a safety button in the handle, which will help you in preventing some dangerous injury. In this knife, you get twice more speedy as most other electrically charged knives for fish. 

This knife has one of the most powerful motors you can find in any regular electrically powered fillet knife. Moreover, this knife’s motor doesn’t heat up because of the airflow design, and it has also got a low vibration technology for ease of use.

I love this electric knife because of the versatility and power it provides. If I get massive workloads, I always carry this knife with me because it helps me get over with my filleting task much sooner.

09. Berkeley Deluxe

I love the fact about this electric knife is that this knife has got chromium-coated 7.5 inches blade for efficient slicing. As it is cordless, this knife is extremely portable, and there are no troubles with tangled cords.

The knife’s blade’s teeth are sharp and strong enough to cut through some big fishes with stiff bones. I have seen my friends fillet crappie, salmon, and redfish all the time with this electric knife.

The handle of this knife offers ease and comfort while working with it. It has got an airflow design so it can remain cool while running. In addition, it has one of the finest-looking handles I have seen in electric knives.

This Berkley electric knife has high torque, but it is smaller in size. Though the lithium-ion batteries are long-lasting, I would like to suggest you carry backup batteries for extended workloads.

Cordless electric knives are portable, and that’s one of the best things about these types of knives. And these Berkley knives come with a sheath so you can carry it around safely.

10. American Angler Pro

If someone was making a list of the best commercial electric fillet knife for fish and didn’t mention this knife, something must have gone really wrong. I would like to recommend the sportsmen’s kit as it has different blades and protective pair of gloves.

It has twice the torque of any other hard-wearing electric fillet knives on the market. I use this EFK when I have got a massive load of fish to fillet. And trust me; this knife hasn’t disappointed me even for a single time.

This ergonomically designed knife performs smoothly. And it can run longer without any trouble of heating up, thanks to the built-in airflow system. It has excellent motor power, but the best part of this knife is its blade.

The robust stainless steel blades provide superior flexibility. With these blades, you don’t have to worry about filleting giant fishes and chopping some tough bones. I frequently use this set for filleting big fishes like Salmon or Redfish.

This knife has got a very comfortable handle. So, if you have to work for a long time with this electric knife, your finger joints will not be cramped later. You can fillet up to 15-18 medium to big sizes of fish without getting into any trouble.

The American Angler’s pro electric knife set contains five different blades. Additionally, you get a stainless steel mesh fillet glove to perform your task safely every time.

This knife set is my go-to and one of my most beloved electric knives for filleting fish. If you get this one, you’ll surely fall in love too!

The ultimate buyer’s guide to the best electric fillet knives

An electric fillet knife is robust, and as they are powered by electricity, there are so many things to consider before buying one. I don’t know about everyone else, but I sure was getting a little panicked before getting an electric knife.

Electrically powered tools usually heat up, lose control, or even can burn down your entire house if malfunctioned! And when a razor-sharp blade is attached to it, you can just imagine how cautious you have to be before buying one.

So, here I am mentioning some features that turn an electric knife into the best one.

The Motor

The initial thing you need to seek in an electric knife is its power management qualities. If your knife’s motor isn’t a proficient one, there is no chance for you to work with that knife without accidents.

The most significant feature of a good motor is that it will not heat up too quickly. If the motor runs smoothly without any trouble, you have an excellent electric knife.

A powerful motor ensures the durability and performance of your knife. How many fillets you can cut with your knife depends on the motor power.

If you usually work with massive loads of fish, you should get a knife with a heavy-duty motor. Otherwise, you can have a knife that can easily take some lightweight workloads.

Blade Material

What’s a knife without a superior blade? Blade materials are essential to get a perfect fish fillet. Nobody likes to eat or cook a botched fish fillet.

One of the several things I like about electric fillet knives is that you don’t have to sharpen them very often. Occasional sharpening and getting them sharp before a heavy-duty filleting session is more than enough.

Though most of the fish filleting knives have stainless steel blades, there are other blade materials available. Some of the conventional blade materials are:

• Plain carbon steel
• Alloy steel
• Tool steel 
• Titanium 

According to my observation, stainless steel is the most efficient blade material for electric knives. They are rust-proof, dishwasher-safe, and easy to maintain. So if you feel confused about the type of blade that you should get, pick the one with stainless steel.

Blade size

Another thing to look for besides the material is the size of the blade. It would be best if you had different sizes of blades for different sizes of fish. Otherwise, you will not be contented with the knife’s filleting job.

The best way to determine your blade size is to choose the two inches longer than the fish. But if you don’t want to buy several blade sizes, get a 7 inches blade. This particular size goes well with a variety of fish sizes.

Handle Design

The design of the handle determines the comfort and firmness of your grip. And it is one of the most noteworthy issues you need to scrutiny while getting your electric knife.

Make sure to get a non-slip handle so you can be safe with wet hands. Otherwise, you can use mesh cut-resistant gloves to avoid injuries.

Variable speed

Though most electric knives don’t have this feature, it may be proven very handy if you work with a big pile of fish. If you get a load of fish of different sizes, you can just increase or lower the speed according to the sizes of the fish.

But this feature isn’t absolutely necessary in an electrically powered fish fillet knife.

Versatility

If you are into regular fishing like me, you need blades of various sizes and motors with different powers. It isn’t an impossible task to get an electric knife that can work with various sizes and kinds of fish. 

Some knives even have multipurpose blades that you can use to slice veggies, turkey, ham, chicken, or even slices of bread.

Durability

It isn’t like that electric knives cost a fortune, but it is much more expensive than manual knives. So, you need to get a tool that will serve you for a long time with minimum to zero trouble.

Safety measurements

I don’t call an electric knife an efficient one if it doesn’t have enough safety options. Non-slip handles, thumb rest, conveniently placed power buttons ensure that you will not be harmed in any way.

But in the case of safety, you can’t totally depend on the knife as you have some responsibility too. Never lose focus, keep your power outlets proper and work with calm minds. You can also use cut-resistant gloves for preventing accidents.

FAQ For Electric Fillet Knives

Final Verdict

There are indeed many safety concerns, and confusion may come to your mind when you think about motor-powered knives. But trust me; the best electric fillet knife will make your fishing experience much more comfortable. You can finish your filleting task quicker than ever without wasting much energy.

And with those saved time and energy, you would love to sip beers on the porch and think about how beautiful your life is.

Luna L. Rusk

I am Luna L. Rusk, a passionate content writer. Always I provide accurate product reviews and information for quicker shopping. I love to cook for my family. In my leisure time, I love spending time with chefs for learning new cooking.