One of August’s greatest gifts is a simple tomato sandwich, made with white bread, salted and peppered rounds of juicy tomatoes and a slathering of mayo. Or maybe you’re a fan of the Caprese salad, which also stars perfectly sliced tomatoes along with mozzarella and basil. But if your knife destroys your tomatoes, you’ll be enjoying none of it.

If you’re the rare home cook who religiously sharpens and hones your knife, you may have a certain amount of luck slicing through a soft, ripe tomato. But the key to slicing through a tomato without putting in all that work is simply using a good serrated knife.