{{Short description|Motorized kitchen tool}} {{About|the motorized domestic utensil|surgical instruments|bloodless surgery}} thumb|An electric carving knife thumb|Slicing a meatloaf with an electric knife from Krups An '''electric carving knife''' or '''electric knife''' is an electrical kitchen device used for slicing foods. The device consists of two serrated blades that are clipped together. When the appliance is switched on, the blades continuously move lengthways to provide the sawing action. They were popular in the United Kingdom in the 1970s.{{cn|date=September 2022}}
== Invention == The invention of the electric knife is usually attributed to Jerome L. Murray,<ref>Agis Salpukas, [https://www.nytimes.com/1998/02/11/business/jerome-murray-85-a-many-faceted-inventor.html "Jerome Murray, 85, a Many-Faceted Inventor"], obituary, ''New York Times'', 11 February 1998.</ref><ref>Carl W. Hall, ''A Biographical Dictionary'', p.158, Purdue University Press, 2007 {{ISBN|1557534594}}.</ref> but there are other claimants, such as Clem E. Kosterman, who filed a patent in 1939.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=wCYDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA22 "With the inventors"], ''Popular Science Monthly'', volume 36, no.2, p.22, March 1940 {{ISSN|0161-7370}}</ref><ref>C. E. Kosterman, [https://www.google.com/patents?hl=en&lr=&vid=USPAT2180244&id=TfVDAAAAEBAJ "Power operated knife"]{{dead link|date=June 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}, US patent 2180244, 14 November 1939.</ref>
Electric knives can be corded or cordless.
== Other uses == They are also sometimes used for other purposes, including sculpting polyurethane foam rubber,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://code541.gsfc.nasa.gov/documents/materials_tips_PDFs/TIP%20080R.pdf |title=Tip No. 080 ''A Method for Cutting Open Cell Polyurethane Foams NASA Materials Engineering Branch'' |access-date=2007-12-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070802122703/http://code541.gsfc.nasa.gov/documents/materials_tips_PDFs/TIP%20080R.pdf |archive-date=2007-08-02 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>Sylvia Moss. ''Costumes and Chemistry: A Comprehensive Guide to Materials and Applications'', Quite Specific Media Group Ltd, 2001. {{ISBN|0-89676-214-9}} p317</ref> cutting wood, cutting metal, and other solid or semi-solid substances and materials.
== Popular culture == *In the 1981 horror film ''Possession'', the character of Anna cuts her neck with an electric knife. *In the 1986 horror film ''Maximum Overdrive'', an electric knife turns itself on and cuts waitress Wanda June. *In the third-season ''Simpsons'' episode "Dog of Death", Homer attempts to use an electric knife to carve a Thanksgiving turkey at the table, sending pieces of it flying at other family members. *In Stephen King's 1987 novel ''Misery'', Annie Wilkes slices off Paul Sheldon's thumb with an electric knife.
*In the 1975 musical horror comedy film ''The Rocky Horror Picture Show'', an electric knife is used by Frank N. Furter to slice Meatloaf.
== See also ==
* Hedge trimmer * Reciprocating saw
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{Home appliances}} {{Knives}}
Category:Kitchen knives Category:Food preparation appliances Category:20th-century inventions Category:American inventions
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