If you are in a rush the best electric fillet knife is the Rapala Heavy-Duty Electric Fillet Knife.
Providing precise cuts, regular fillet knives are wonderful tools when filleting trout, walleyes, pike, and panfish. However, if you have an electric fillet knife, you can take cleaning and filleting fish to a whole new level. Allowing you to clean fish faster, and with less effort, finding the right electric fillet knife can be a game changer for a fisherman. Here are a few tips and reviews to help you find the best electric fillet knife for your fishing needs.
The Best electric fish fillet knives goes as follows:
- Rapala Heavy-Duty Electric Fillet Knife
- American Angler PRO Electric Fillet Knife
- Rapala Electric Fillet Knife
- Mister Twister Electric Knife
- Bubba Electric Fillet Knife
Table of Contents
Top 5 Best Electric Knife Reviews
The top electric knives as rated by customers go as follows.
1. Rapala Heavy-Duty Electric Fillet Knife
With double the blade speed and triple the amount of power, the Rapala Heavy-Duty Electric Fillet Knife is made of high-quality materials that will outperform a regular electric fillet knife. This 7 ½ inch knife is dishwasher safe and features a reciprocating style blade. It is the perfect size to use for pretty much any type of filleting, and it gives you a relaxed grip that is super comfortable.
This fatigue-free electric fillet knife is equipped with an eight-inch power cord, which gives you plenty of reach as you work around your fish. The length of the Rapala Heavy-Duty Electric Fillet Knife is perfect for medium to small fish and has the flexibility to peel the fillet down to the skin. And, it can even cut straight through to the back and rib bones.
The comfortable grip on the Rapala Heavy-duty Electric Fillet Knife prevents slippage and fatigue. You do need to hold down the power button for it to operate, which can be annoying. This knife is not at all noisy and the motor runs very cool thanks to the knife’s custom airflow design.
Pros:
- This knife comes with very sharp blades and can cut through bones
- The handle is comfortable and your hand doesn’t get too tired
- It’s a really durable and sharp knife and doesn’t get hot like other electric fillet knives
Cons:
- The blade release button tends to get stuck
- It can be a pain to have to hold the power button down while it runs
2. American Angler PRO Electric Fillet Knife
With high performance and an ergonomic design, the American Angler PRO Electric Fillet Knife works on 110-volts of power and features an eight-inch stainless steel blade. This is a highly-efficient knife that comes with a special motor that allows you to slice and fillet meat twice as fast as other fillet knives on the market. With a superior drive train, you get four times the durability and longevity than other knives on the market.
The American Angler PRO stays also stays cool for hours while it operates thanks to its advanced airflow design. It also features an EFK professional handset and a curved blade that is easy to replace. This is the perfect sized knife to cut any sized fish and is a favorite with professionals.
Not only can you clean catfish, Redfish, grouper, and striper, you can cut through their bones as well without worrying about too much heat build-up. You also get a limited two-year warranty and a handy carrying bag that provides the right amount of venting to stop odors and corrosion build-up.
Pros:
- This is a great knife with lots of power
- It is a solid feeling knife that makes big filleting jobs go fast
- It has a lot of power to cut through bones,
Cons:
- It takes a while to get used to
- It can be a bit bulky if you have smaller hands
3. Rapala Electric Fillet Knife
Giving you all the basic features you want from a premium model, the Rapala Electric Fillet Knife is an easy to use knife that is perfect for filleting fish. All you need to do to get started is plug into any 110-volt outlet, and you are ready to go. It comes with 7 ½ inch reciprocating blades made of stainless steel.
Featuring a quiet and durable motor, the Rapala Electric Fillet Knife includes an advanced airflow design that will last for years. The versatile seven-foot power cord allows you to easily walk around as you work while the included fillet fork will keep your catch secure as your cut.
Pros:
- This is a very sharp fillet knife is great for filleting fish
- It works well even without sharpening it
- This knife is so fast it doesn’t slow down at all when you fillet walleye or perch
Cons:
- It takes a little time to get used to because of the handle size
- It doesn’t come with a storage case
4. Mister Twister Electric Knife
Giving 50% more torque than the average electric fillet knife, the Mister Twister Electric Knife runs on 120-volts of power and features a heavy-duty bearing and gears and a comfortable handle design. It also comes with a safety lock and dual reciprocating blades that are dishwasher safe.
Not only do you get a nice quality knife with the Mister Twister Electric Knife, but you also get just enough power to stay steady and in control. The large handle has a nice grip that is easy to control and you don’t have to worry about annoying vibrations like the super-fast knives on the market. It also comes with a safety trigger and blade release feature for additional control.
Pros:
- This knife is very affordable with a decent amount of power
- It does not vibrate like other knives on the market
- The blades give you flexibility and make it easy to separate the skin from the fillet
Cons:
- The power cord is too short
- It does not come with a case
5. Bubba Electric Fillet Knife
Featuring a handle with a non-slip grip, the Bubba Electric Fillet Knife comes with a storage case and an eight-foot cord. It is perfect to fillet any sized fish and includes an ergonomic trigger and dual-rivet blade design. This is a non-slip knife that guarantees a safe and smooth cut,
Along with quiet operation, this is an easy to clean knife that features a non-stick TiN stainless steel coating. With the outstanding grip, you can securely hold the Bubba Electric Fillet Knife giving you the best control as well as a trigger guard for additional security. This is a fillet knife that was designed for fishermen by fishermen.
Only 8 ½ inches long, the handle has an ergonomic design that fits securely in your hand. The Bubba Electric Fillet Knife is easy to store away in the provided Premium EVA zippered storage case. The ventilation design is engineered to give you the most motor transmission output providing an incredible amount of torque. The blades on the Bubba Electric Fillet Knife are made from high carbon stainless steel, and the titanium nitride coating makes them very corrosion resistant.
Pros:
- The knife cuts through fish like butter
- The blades are high-quality and work well on a lot of different fish
- This is a very durable knife that comes with four different blades.
Cons:
- The gears tend to fail quickly
- It can get hot quickly and then shuts off
Considerations When Choosing the Best Electric Fish Fillet Knife
Filleting a fish can take a lot of time and effort, especially if you need enough for an entire meal or a party. Using an electric fish fillet knife can help the whole process go faster. Before you run out and buy one, make sure you have done your homework and read reviews to make sure you are getting the right electric fillet knife for your needs.
Why an Electric Fillet Knife?
Benefits of Electric Fillet Knives
If you have a good electric fillet knife, you can work faster and perform better than when you use a regular fillet knife. Not only will it make the filleting process faster, but it will become one of the best kitchen knives you own.
- With very little effort, you will be able to skin and clean the scales off any fish
- It will easily slice through fish bones like butter
- It is a great tool to have when filleting large fish like tuna or salmon
- Some knives will come with several blade lengths to use allowing you to adjust your knife to match the thickness and size of the fish you are filleting
- Using an electric fillet knife require very little effort since the knife is doing most of the work
- They have very durable and strong blades that won’t break if you cut through hard bones
- If you maintain the blade, they will last you a very long time
- You get smooth and fine edges on cuts that are made with an electric fillet knife
Corded vs Battery Powered
You will see both battery-powered and corded electric fillet knives when you go shopping. Keep in mind that they both basically do the same thing. If you like to travel and fillet fish at the spot where they are caught, a battery operated fillet knife will be handy since you can carry it with you anywhere. Typically, you get a pretty powerful battery made with lithium in the cordless option, and they usually come with added storage. The corded option is good if you know that you will be filleting your fish either at home or somewhere near a power source. They are both equally efficient and made of durable metal that will last you a long time.
Pros and Cons of Corded Electric Fillet Knives
Consistent and ready to use, corded electric fillet knives are less expensive than their battery-powered counterparts. However, if the cord is too short for the area where you are filleting fish, it can be annoying and frustrating.
Pros and Cons of Battery-Powered Electric Fillet Knives
When you have self-contained power, you can pretty much take the electric fillet knife anywhere. This includes remote fishing spots where you won’t find a typical 100-volt outlet. Typically, these knives run on lithium batteries that give you long-lasting and consistent power. Keep in mind that other battery types can have issues with power reduction and you may experience a blade slowdown. With a Lithium battery, you will also have more charge and discharge cycles and an overall longer life. The drawbacks of a battery-powered electric fillet knife are that you have to keep it charged. And, if you can’t charge it at a remote fishing spot, you won’t be able to use it. Make sure to carry an extra battery or a regular filleting knife along with you in case this happens.
Blade Material
The standard blade material in the fillet knife world is stainless steel. Keep in mind that not all stainless steel is the same. Typically, you won’t see what type of stainless steel is used in the construction of a fillet knife, so you are best off going with a well-known company to make sure the blade is corrosive resistant, durable, and very strong.
Size
On average, a fillet knife blade ranges between four and nine inches long. Standard sizes for a knife blade are four, six, 7 12, and nine inches long. The reason for the variety in the knife sizes is due to the size fish you will be using it on. With a larger fish, you need a long blade since the fish has more surface area to cover with your knife. A small fish only needs a short blade since it will be easier to handle.
If you are filling bluegills, crappie, or perch, a six-inch blade will be the best lake. Small trout or bass will need a 7 ½ inch blade while salmon or pike will need a nine-inch blade.
If you just want an all-purpose knife, a 7 ½ inch blade will let you fillet both large and small fish pretty well giving you the least amount of problems. If you are only able to get one knife size, this is the best choice for use with a wide variety of fish types. If you want the best ease of use and most efficiency, you should pick at least two, if not more, to make sure you cover all your bases.
Power
Since we are talking about a very powerful kitchen appliance that can actually cut through tough bones, an electric fillet knife needs to have a lot of power behind it. You want to look for a knife that has enough power that you will be able to cut through hard and thick fish bones that typically are found in large fish. And, remember that the power the knife is really coming from electricity, so you only have to guide the knife and direct the blade’s movement. With the amount of power and speed that you get from an electric fillet knife, it is a great option for anyone that has a hard time doing the heavy-duty work.
Variable Speed
This is a handy feature that lets you increase or decrease your blade speed. Variable speed is important just because you won’t need your knife to be at full speed 100% of the time. And, it allows you to be more precise while also improving safety as your work.
Blade Flexibility
How flexible a blade is a pretty important consideration when you are choosing an electric fillet knife. The flexibility will be important to get the best slicing and cutting from your knife, and it will definitely make filleting a lot easier.
Basically, flexibility is based on how thick the blade is. If it is pretty thick, the flexibility of the blade won’t hold. If it is less thick, it will hold the flexibility.
So, short blades will be more flexible, just like the small fish you will be using it on will have more sharp cuts and tight angles. With a long blade, you will still have some flexibility, but it’s not as important. If you are buying a six- or four-inch blade, it needs to be pretty thin and flexible. You actually want the blade to bend at least one inch each way when you press the tip straight down and apply pressure. As your blade gets longer, it should also get thicker due to the high strength abilities it needs to display.
Handle
While the blade may seem like the most important part of a fillet knife, the handle is also pretty important. Performance, comfort, and grip are all due to a well-designed handle that lets you fillet your fish effortlessly and safely.
The material the handle is constructed out of is the first thing you should look at when buying an electric fillet knife. Wood has been a standard over the years, but rubber and plastic are definitely being seen more often in the knife market. The drawback to wood is that it tends to be slippery when you get it wet causing slippage and a lack of control, which can be dangerous when using a sharp blade near your fingers. Wood also can soak up smells, which isn’t great when working around fish. And, they can be difficult to clean and sanitize.
Molded rubber and plastic can be great choices when choosing an electric fillet knife. While both can give you good traction, the rubber will allow you to squeeze it slightly providing a little better grip. Plastic and rubber can both be cleaned thoroughly and easily, so you don’t have to worry about fish smell or germs on them. And, they are both are corrosive resistant, so you know you will have them awhile.
The handle of your knife must come with an area that is beveled for your index finger. This should be found right at the point where the handle and the blade meet. It gives you a little more insurance against slippage and also gives you some extra leverage.
You can also get some extra grip by recessed finger holds, but they will only work well if you have a finger that is the same size. For those with larger hands, this can become a constricting and uncomfortable design since it won’t be a form fit for each of your fingers.
Safety Features
Since an electric knife is using electricity, there is always the need to use safety measures when operating the knife. Either the knife can be too sharp or you can run the risk of getting an electric shock. Several of the electric fillet knives on the market come with safety certifications and features. Many also come with a safety lock features that guarantee that your motor isn’t going to start even when it is plugged in.
Other safety features can include a blade lock button that lets you lock the blade when you aren’t using it. This is also a great feature to have in a home where there are children.
Price
A good electric fillet knife is worth the investment if you can afford it. These are long-lasting and durable products that can save you a lot of time and energy. Just make sure you do your research and read reviews to ensure that the product that you are buying fits all your needs and is worth the price you are paying. Otherwise, you can end up with another useless kitchen tool that is crowding up your kitchen drawers.
How to Fillet a Fish
There is more to fishing than just catching the fish. Once you are done casting your line, it’s time to fillet the fish and get it ready for the frying pan. Requiring some finesse, filleting a fish requires knowing the right process, so you get enough meat off the bones for a meal and not an appetizer.
Your first step in filleting a fish is to bleed out the fish so you can preserve the meat. Simply make a shallow cut under the gills of the fish and then snap its head back to break its spinal cord. Take a rope and thread it through the mouth of the fist and out through its gill to let it bleed out into the water. This will allow you to preserve its texture and taste as well as make the process of cutting up the fish less messy.
Next, take the back of the knife to descale the fish. Simply scrape off the scales of the entire fish using a long-stroke from the tail to the head. This step is recommended, but not necessary. You can also skin the fish to remove the scales, which can be done once the fish has been filleted.
Remove the guts by cutting open the stomach of the fish. Run your knife from the tail all the way down the body of the fish to head. This will open up the fish so you can remove the guts and then rinse out the insides using cold water. This process can be done right at the body of water where you caught the fish, which can make handling the guts easier.
Next, chop off the head at its gills. Just lay the fish on its side and use a chef’s knife right at the point where the head meets the gills. Cut completely through the spine of the fish using a little pressure and then sever the head right off. Either throw the head away or put it on ice if you want to make fish stock.
Your next step allows you to cut make fillet cuts. First, cut away the fins on the underside, top, and side with a pair of scissors. You can do this at the same time as you scale the fish, but it needs to be done before you cut the fillets out. Start at the head and run your fillet knife down the back of the fish to the tail using the backbone as a guide. As you cut, make sure to use a gentle and smooth slicing motion. Next, lift off the flesh as slice the fillet from the fish making sure your cut is still moving in a straight line along the backbone.
Make sure to run your fillet knife over the rib cage and not through it. You want to make a delicate cut with the rib cage’s shape and not saw through the bones found there. Later on, you can take out the bones with a pair of tweezers to save on time. Turn the fish over and repeat the process keeping in mind that the other side can be trickier since the fish is now lighter and there is less to hold on to. When you are done, you should have two large fillets.
The next part of the process is removing the bones. You will need a boning knife or set of tweezers to do this. Only after you cut the flesh off the fish can you get the bones out of your fillet successfully. Feel along the center of your fillet from the tail to the head for bones and then use the tweezers to take them out. Once the bones are removed, take your fillet knife and cut the skin off where it meets the flesh. This is a slow process moving your knife towards the other end keeping a firm grasp on the skin and pulling it away as your cut.
Next, trim away the extra fat. This can depend on the type of fish you are cutting. Some may not have a lot of belly fat while others like mackerel, salmon, and lake trout have a lot of fat. Similar to how you would cut the fat off a steak, trim off any fat you find on your fish. Then, rinse the fillet off with water and store it on ice until you can refrigerate or freeze it.
Final Thoughts
Having an electric filleting knife is almost a must-have for any kitchen where a fisherman resides. Providing a nice professional cut to any fish fillet, they also come with great safety features that will prevent you from having any injuries during the fillet cutting process. This type of knife is worth the investment, and they typically last a long time if you maintain it well.
