An electric knife can dramatically "cut" food preparation time-- if it's working properly. And one that isn't working properly can cause injury. So let's call a quick meeting of the Fix-It Club and make sure your electric knife makes the cut.

As needed, test the Motor in place or remove it for testing and replacement.

How Does It Work?

An electric knife is a hand-held, motor-driven appliance for cutting food. It's simple in operation: A gear assembly converts a motor's rotary motion into a reciprocating (back-and-forth) action. The driver arm moves a pair of serrated blades, pushing one forward as it pulls the other one back.

What Can Go Wrong?

Most electric knife problems are the result of dull or unclean blades. The blades can be misaligned or the rivet that holds the two blades together can be worn. In addition, the electric cord can be faulty, internal wiring can be damaged, switches can be dirty or faulty, and bearings can be dry.

Fix-It Tip

Let the knife's motor do the work. Don't force the knife blade down hard while cutting or you could wear out the motor.