Bread knives are one of those kitchen tools where the expensive models get all the glory—and sometimes they deserve it. Our favorite overall bread knife costs close to $100 and glides through crusty sourdough like it's nothing. But here's the thing about serrated knives: The teeth do a lot of the work, which means a well-made budget option can punch well above its price. The real question isn't whether you should splurge. It's whether you even need to. Our top pick The best bread knife under $25: Mercer Culinary M23210 10" Bread Knife , $17 After testing eight budget bread knives, one was a clear winner. The Mercer Culinary bread knife produced the cleanest slices, handled tomatoes effortlessly, and had the best handle we tested—grippy, secure, and comfortable in a way that cheaper knives rarely manage. It costs under $20 and feels like it shouldn't.…