Do you guys have trouble carving your meat? You really look forward to having juicy lamb chops or delicious pork ribs but guess what? The knife is not sharp enough and you don’t have something to slice your roasts perfectly and precisely into your desired chunks of meat. If this situation sounds all too familiar, I strongly recommend that you get a meat cleaver. If you are a meat lover like me, your kitchen is definitely missing this cleaver for slicing, dicing, shredding the meat, and chopping the bones.

Chopping animal flesh and bones has never been easy but the 10 best meat cleavers that I have below will certainly get the job at hand done immediately so go ahead and add this essential tool in your kitchen:

1.Utopia Kitchen

  • Heavy-duty stainless steel
  • Ultra-sharp edge
  • Ergonomic handle
  • Corrosion and rust-resistant

Utopia Kitchen 7 Inches Cleaver Knife is a chopper butcher knife made of stainless steel and is perfect for home kitchens and restaurants. It cuts through the meat as if you’re slicing through butter.

Construction: Utopia cleaver knife is made from the finest quality of 100% heavy-duty stainless steel. ABS+430 handle is just what you need to have a firm grip on the knife while you cut the meat. Also, the 7-inch blade is the perfect tool for cutting through tough meat and bone. The blade is corrosion and tarnish resistant.

Function: The handle of this all-purpose cleaver is designed ergonomically to provide you the ease of cutting with minimized wrist tension and a natural fit in your hands. It not only caters to the needs of a domestic home kitchen but also definitely meets the difficult cooking demands of the commercial kitchen as well. The 7-inch blade works equally well for vegetables and fruits besides meat. You get complete accuracy while segmenting or trimming meat or even melon, squash or pineapple. Hence, it is perfect for bone cutting, chopping, and cleaving.

Cleaning and maintenance: The Utopia cleaver knife is dishwasher safe but it is better to hand wash it to preserve the fine quality of the exceptional blade. Moreover, since it is corrosion and tarnish-resistant, it is easy to clean and maintain its quality.

Pros

  • Sturdy and built to last long
  • Slicing is easier and quick
  • Cuts with ease and precision
  • Stainless steel is recyclable
  • Perfect for bone cutting and cleaving
  • Easy cleanup and maintenance

Cons

  • A bit heavy

2.Winco Heavy-Duty

Highlighted Features

  • Stainless steel construction
  • Corrosion-resistant
  • 8-inch long blade
  • Dishwasher safe

Winco 8-inch heavy-duty Chinese cleaver is an all-purpose knife that can not only cut a whole chicken into parts but can also chop and cut ribs. The long handle of 5-inches gives it a firm grip and the sharp blade gives you perfectly sliced meat.

Construction: Winco heavy-duty Chinese cleaver is made of highly corrosion-resistant stainless steel (KC-301). The sharp cutting blade is 8-inches long and 3.5-inches wide. The handle is wooden and has a convenient length of 5-inches.

Function: This all-purpose knife is a perfect tool for cutting, chopping, and cleaving. You can not only cut a whole chicken into parts but also chop and cut ribs. The blade is so sharp that the cutting boards may damage, so you need to have a sturdy wooden board for slicing your meat. In addition, you can use it to cut vegetables and fruits too. You need to take care of the handle as the two wooden sides of the handle are held together to the full tang of the cleaver with three brass rivets.

Cleaning and maintenance: This heavy duty meat cleaver is dishwasher safe but it is recommended to hand wash it to maintain its quality. It is easy to maintain as it is easy to clean and is corrosion-resistant.

Pros

  • Sustainable build
  • Sturdy grip
  • Perfectly chops and cleaves
  • Equally good for fruit and vegetables
  • Easy maintenance

Cons

  • A bit heavy
  • Brass rivets may pop out

3.Butcher’s Knife By SKY LIGHT

Highlighted Features

  • Premium German steel
  • Multi-functional
  • Peak-performance edge
  • Enhanced hardness
  • Hand polished

Sky light 7-inch cleaver knife is specially designed using old-fashioned craftsmanship blended with advanced modern technology. Therefore, the knife has gone through a rigorous inspection before it approaches your kitchen. A perfect tool for slicing, dicing and chopping with an extremely thin and ultra-sharp blade.

Construction: Skylight Cleaver knife has a full tang construction which means that the cleaver is made of a single piece of fully forged steel that includes the blade, bolster and tang. Hence you get an added strength and balance while you slice, dice and chop the meat. The triple-riveted handle provides you a firm grip. The blade is made from premium high-carbon, German steel. Due to the high carbon content, the knife can not only be sharpened easily but also resists stains and discoloration while maintaining the edges.

Seasoned craftsman hand-forge the knife for over 60 days. It is precisely tempered for extra durability and achieves enhanced hardness due to being nitrogen cooled.  This sturdy knife has a 58+ Rockwell Hardness for protection against wear & tear plus its durable and it also resists corrosion and stains. Since it is hand polished by seasoned craftsmen, many hours of work are involved in the design and testing, from the most minute of details to the overall construction of the knife.

 

Function: This multi-functional cleaver is a classic 7-inch knife that can easily cater to your day to day kitchen tasks like slicing, dicing, chopping, and mincing your meat and vegetables. It is equally suitable for busy commercial kitchens as well. It gives a peak performance as the all-purpose wider blade is extremely thin and ultra-sharp to provide you with the best cut.

 

Cleaning and maintenance: The thinness of the blade allows you to resharpen it easily and helps in properly maintaining its quality. It is dishwasher safe, however, it is recommended to hand wash the knife. After each use, you should clean the knife with a soapy cloth. Also, keep it dry and safe. Use a honing steel to hone the knife every 2 or 3 months to maintain its sharpness.

Pros

  • Full tang construction
  • Resists corrosion and stain
  • For slicing, dicing, and chopping
  • Equally good for meat and vegetables
  • For home kitchen and restaurant use
  • Hassle-free cleaning

Cons

  • NOT for joints, bones, tough frozen meat

4.Epica Multipurpose Chopper

Highlighted Features

  • Ice tempered steel
  • Advanced full tang body
  • Exceptionally hard
  • Seamless handle
  • Hollow ground edge

Top Rated Epica stainless steel cleaver is a multi-purpose professional heavy-duty 7-inch blade cleaver for home and restaurants. Professional chefs have cherished this classic Chinese-style cleaver for generations simply because of the fact that it easily does tough cutting jobs that an average kitchen knife obviously cannot. It will definitely cut down an entire chicken in seconds, chop through a rack of lamb chops with extreme comfort and it will carve a coconut as if you are slicing butter.

 

Construction: Knife enthusiasts are well aware that X30cr13 stainless steel is chosen for high-performance cutting tools such as professional restaurant knives and other stuff. Hence, Epica cleaver has been forged using this extraordinary stainless steel for an advanced full-tang construction. The blade is seamlessly bonded to the handle making the handle ergonomic. You would feel as if it is an extension of your hand.

 

Function: Epica’s premier stainless steel cleaver and chopper very rightly takes pride for having a perfectly balanced weight along with an ergonomic precision-cut ground edge handle that is seamlessly bonded to the blade. This sharp high-grade ice-tempered blade elegantly slips through chops, roasts, steaks and even tough melons and squashes without much effort. Moreover, the ingredients that you chop would not stick to the blade due to its hollow ground edge so it provides comfort and ease by reducing your cutting time.

Cleaning and maintenance: It is dishwasher safe but it is better to hand wash it. You should be careful while washing this cleaver as it is very sharp. Immediately dry it with a soft towel after washing and then place it safely in your knife block or you can store it in your knife drawer.

Pros

  • High-performance cutting tool
  • Ergonomically designed handle
  • Cuts through meat like butter
  • Ingredients do not stick on the blade
  • Reduces cutting time
  • Easy cleanup and storage

Cons

  • A bit heavy

5.Juvale Wood-Handled

Highlighted Features

  • High-carbon stainless steel
  • Triple-riveted, wood handle
  • Hand sharpened blade
  • Honed edge
  • Hanging hole for storage

Juvale 8-inch heavy-duty meat cleaver is no doubt a great addition to any kitchen for it is constructed with stainless steel making it a perfect tool for cutting through tough meat and bones.

 

Construction: This Juvale cleaver is built with 100% stainless steel. High-carbon stainless steel is used for making the blade, that is hand sharpened and has a honed edge. It has a triple-riveted, ergonomically designed, solid wood handle ensuring great ease and control while using. The hole at the top corner can be used for convenient storage.

 

Function: The construction of Juvale cleaver is such that it can get through even the toughest of meat and even the bones, making it the best meat cleaver for cutting bone. It is ideal for chopping large chunks of meat. It would be great for the home kitchen as well as restaurants for making the job of slicing, dicing or chopping easy and comfortable. The handle provides a firm grip so there are no chances of the knife slipping while you work. Storage becomes easy with a hole at the top corner of the blade. You can dangle it on either a hanging hook or a peg.

 

Cleaning and maintenance: It is dishwasher safe, therefore, cleaning is pretty convenient.

Pros

  • Hand sharpened blade
  • Ease of cutting through meat and bones
  • Firm grip with a solid riveted handle
  • Hole in the top corner of blade to hang
  • Easy cleanup

Cons

  • Blade needs repeated sharpening

6. DALSTRONG Butcher Knife

Highlighted Features

  • High-carbon German steel
  • Hand polished blade
  • Tapered design
  • Laminated pakkawood handle
  • Engraved rivets
  • BPA-free protective sheath

Dalstrong cleaver butcher knife is a tremendous tool for ruthless chopping, be it large cuts of meat and poultry, ranging from pork bones to salmon heads to endless pounds of chicken. The blade of the Gladiator Series is forged with precision from high-carbon German steel of premium imported quality. Hence, it has excellent wear and stain resistance. It also features an imported black pakkawood handle for maximum control and effectiveness. Let’s read more in this Dalstrong cleaver review.

 

Construction: Dalstrong cleaver is a versatile multi-purpose knife made from high-carbon ThyssenKrupp German steel demonstrating outstanding craftsmanship with cutting-edge technology and stunning design elements. The edge of the blade is incredibly razor-sharp, has a full-tang construction of imported high-carbon German steel and a hand-polished edge. The 9-inch length of the blade is extra-long that gives it a good reach. The extra-thick handle is made of imported black pakkawood that is triple-riveted. It is laminated and polished to a satin finish and has a 56+ Rockwell hardness.

 

Function: This premium quality cleaver gives you peak performance. The handle on this Gladiator Series knife is a bit shorter and thicker than other Gladiator Series knives so it provides maximum heft and balance. Its sanitary build makes it perfect for busy kitchens. It has been engineered to perfection and has been carefully tapered for enhanced hardness, flexibility, and very minimal resistance while slicing. You get useful knuckle clearance due to the tall blade height. The hand-polished edge at 14 to 16 degrees on each side along with appropriate length and width ensures effortless cutting of vegetables, fruits, fish and small bones.

 

Cleaning and maintenance: It can be cleaned easily and you won’t have to worry about the maintenance at all. You also get a BPA-free protective Dalstrong PerfectFit sheath with the product to store it conveniently.

Pros

  • Tapered design for hardness & flexibility
  • Full tang for extra strength
  • Ultra-sharp, wear-resistant blade
  • Triple rivets provide extra durability
  • Comfortable pinch grip
  • Added chromium for stain resistance
  • Easy to clean and store

Cons

  • A little heavy

7.Kessaku Nakiri Knife

Highlighted Features

  • High carbon stainless steel
  • Pakkawood handle
  • Razor-sharp serrated blade
  • 16-degree sharpening angle per side
  • Full-tang construction
  • Damascus pattern

Kessaku cleaver Samurai Series is an 8-inch professional bread knife. It is hand constructed with high-carbon stainless steel with 58+ Rockwell hardness. Therefore, it is corrosion-resistant. It also features a mirror-polished, smooth pakkawood handle that has a sanitary build and provides superior strength. The blade of this great meat cleaver is hand sharpened by a 16-degree angle per side to give a razor-sharp, well-balanced serrated blade.

 

Construction: Kessaku professional knives are designed by highly trained technicians in Japan using cutting edge technology and the highest quality materials. They are handcrafted to suit your culinary needs. High-carbon 7CR17MOV stainless steel build and a 58+ Rockwell Hardness make this knife corrosion resistant. The high-carbon stainless steel is razor-sharp and is hand sharpened at an angle of 16°on each side to give it sharper, long-lasting blade. The handles are made from smooth pakkawood with seamless build.

 

Function: Kessaku means ‘masterpiece’ in Japanese and with the superb performance of this knife, you can expect nothing less. The knife is designed with such balance that you would never feel dragged down as the ergonomic handle of the knife will never let you experience any kind of ache or fatigue. The blade is razor-sharp, strong and durable. The handle offers superior strength and comfort while you cut your meat. It is heat, cold and moisture resistant. The seamless build does not let any debris or dirt collect on it while the full tang gives it an added strength. This sharp cleaver will surely become your staple knife aiding you in cutting, chopping and smashing in your kitchen preparations.

 

Cleaning and maintenance: You must hand wash your knife and then wipe it dry. Kessaku cleaning cloth is included to help keep your knife looking fresh and polished.

Pros

  • Ergonomic, long-lasting design
  • Superior quality materials used
  • Smooth pakkawood handles
  • Ample knuckle clearance
  • Corrosion-resistant blade
  • Heat and moisture resistant handle
  • Easy cleanup

Cons

  • Not for bone cutting

8. SHI BA ZI ZUO Knife S2308-B

Highlighted Features

  • Strong and thick blade
  • Finger guard
  • Rosewood handle
  • Full tang
  • Anti-slip, exquisite finish
  • Laser shiny surface

Chinese Knife SHI BA ZI ZUO Vegetable Meat Knife is a 6.7-inch Stainless Steel Slicer Cleaver with a biomechanical rosewood handle that has a moderate weight. This chef knife is your ultimate need for chopping, mincing or slicing at home or a restaurant.

 

Construction: The steel for Shibazizuo S2308-B heavy-duty Chinese chef knife is made by the manufacturers themselves to ensure high quality and superior standards. The 40Cr13 stainless steel and Chromium 12.00-14.00 is used in the construction of the knife. The blade edge angle is 25-30°. There is an extended finger guard available. The handle is well polished with a full tang.

 

Function: The multifunctional wide blade slicer is a suitable slicing knife convenient for slicing, dicing or mincing meat and vegetables. It can even flap garlic and deliver food to the pan. The laser shiny surface of the knife prevents meat or any other ingredient that you cut from sticking on the blade.

 

The full-length tang provides stability and extra weight to the knife. The exquisite finish of the rosewood handle with the metal rivets holding the rosewood scales to either side of the tang gives it an anti-slip design with a safe and comfortable grip. The streamline protective finger guard does not let the finger of the user reach the edge of the blade. It is not for hard bones or any other hard material.

 

Cleaning and maintenance: After using, wash the knife with running water. Wipe the knife dry with a towel and place it in a knife stand or block. It is better to store the knife in a dry and airy place, most preferably in a knife block. You should keep the knife away from acidic, alkaline or corrosive substances. The blade should be sharpened with a sharpening tool after some duration of use to keep the edge sharp.

Pros

  • Manufacturer -made steel
  • For cutting meat and veggies
  • Ingredients do not stick to the blade
  • Beautifully designed handles
  • Safe and comfortable grip
  • Protection with finger guard
  • Easy cleanup and maintenance

Cons

  • Not a bone cleaver
  • Small for some people

9. SPEVORIX Knife

Highlighted Features

  • High-quality stainless steel
  • Chinese style large blade
  • Ergonomic handle
  • Multipurpose cleaver

Spevorix 7inch kitchen Meat Cleaver is a Professional Chinese style Chef Knife made from imported high-carbon German Stainless Steel. It has an ergonomic handle with a full-length tang and slip-resistant comfortable grip. This incredible knife has a multipurpose use for lovers of cooking who want to add freshly cut ingredients to their meals and prepare everything from scratch.

 

Construction: The Chinese cleaver knife construction is done while it goes through a traditional hot-forging process accompanied by the latest heat treatment technology. This process greatly improves the durability and toughness in addition to sharpness and comfort of honing. The cleaver is made from a high-quality GCr15 stainless steel that is one of the highest levels of steels in cutlery. It has been inspected and found to be within the standards of FDA, LFGB and Japan food contact laws. The handle is made of triple-riveted pakkawood with a solid full-tang. The blade is tapered for enhancing flexibility and reducing hand fatigue.

 

Function: The outstanding crafting of the knife enables it to provide multipurpose uses. The edge of the cleaver is sharpened to an angle of 15° per side to give it an ultra-sharp blade. Hence, it becomes ideal for cutting, slicing, chopping or shredding meat, herbs, and vegetables. The 3.5-inch width of the blade is perfect for crushing ingredients like garlic, ginger, tomato, etc. and transferring them to the pan.

 

You would also find it great for bigger veggies like pumpkin or for cutting the ends off corn on the cob. It will not only make the cutting of the meat extremely easy but it can deal with almost all the ingredients except bones.

 

Cleaning and maintenance: You need to hand wash the knife with warm soapy water, wipe it dry with a towel and store it in the knife stand.

Pros

  • Very durable and tough
  • Multipurpose Chinese knife
  • Tapered blade for enhanced flexibility
  • Ultra-sharp blade for cutting
  • Even transfers chopped food to pan
  • Easy cleanup

Cons

  • A little heavy
  • Not for bones

10. ZHEN Japanese VG-10

Highlighted Features

  • High-quality stainless steel
  • Chinese style large blade
  • Ergonomic handle
  • Multipurpose cleaver

Zhen Japanese VG-10 chef knife saves you from a frustrating experience of preparing meals with blunt knives. As the name suggests, ‘Zhen’ which means ‘to achieve utmost perfection’ provides you the utmost ease to slice, dice and mince to perfection. You can effortlessly chop straight through vegetables with just one gliding motion. Forged with top-grade Japanese steel, you get exceptional sharpness, edge retention, and durability.

 

Construction: The Japanese VG-10 knife is made from top-grade Japanese 3-layer forged steel with a VG-10 cutting core. It has been crafted in ISO 9001 certified Taiwan factory and the steel is imported from Japan. Exclusive heat-treating technology is used to achieve the 60-62 HRC that provides exceptional sharpness, edge retention, and durability. The soft TPR (Thermo Rubber) handle has a full tang design that is sealed tight and is waterproof, non-slip, durable and bacteria resistant.

 

Function: This exceptional cutting tool is long-lasting with a sharp edge to chop and slice veggies. The blade simply glides through the vegetables with ease and precision. Operating the knife with an ergonomic handle makes your work a fun pastime.

 

Cleaning and maintenance: You must hand wash the knife with a gentle dish soap. Rinse it and wipe it dry immediately with a towel. It is recommended to sharpen Zhen knives at an angle of 15 degrees on a whetstone.

Pros

  • Superb design and ergonomics
  • Secure grip with TPR-covered handle
  • Lightweight, very easy to sharpen
  • Slicing and chopping is a breeze
  • Less hand aches and fatigue
  • Easy cleanup and maintenance

Cons

  • Not good for chopping bones

Things To Look For Before Buying!

When you think of chopping through the slabs of meat you definitely wonder about getting the quintessential meat cleaver, the tool that is designed to withstand hard chops without breaking itself.

You are also in need of something that can cut through the bones as easily as it cuts through a thick roast. So, look for the following things before you make a buying decision.

Your meat cleaver should have:

  • A good quality material
  • An ergonomically designed handle
  • A full-tang construction
  • A well-balanced weight between blade & handle
  • An exceptional hardness and sharpness

                   Buying Guide

What Is A Cleaver? Why Do You Use A Meat Cleaver?

A cleaver is a large meat-cutting knife that varies in its shape and generally looks like a rectangular-bladed hatchet.

It is primarily used as a butcher knife to cut meat and thin, soft bones. You can also use it to crush foods like garlic while prepping for meals and to chop fruits and veggies. It is mostly used with chefs, bread, paring, utility, butchering, filleting, slicing, santoku, and sushi knives.

What Is The Difference Between A Cleaver And A Butcher Knife?

The butcher knife is used all over the world in the meat processing trade. The blade is hefty and works well for cutting, splitting, and stripping meat. On the other hand, a cleaver is just like a butcher’s knife but with a lighter and thinner blade for precision cutting.

How Are Cleavers Designed?

Soft and tough steel and a thicker blade are two of the most important things kept in mind when designing cleavers in order to achieve the resilience needed by the cleavers to withstand repeated blows directly into thick meat, bones, and the cutting board. If a harder steel or a thinner blade is used, it might fracture or buckle under hard use. This also makes it a suitable tool for crushing. The cleaver is used like a meat tenderizer or hammer so the edge of a meat cleaver need not be particularly sharp.

Why Is There A Hole In Some Meat Cleavers?

Why do meat cleavers have a hole? The hole is usually at the top corner of the cleavers. Not all cleavers have this hole. The butchers or chefs use this hole to dangle the cleavers either on a hanging hook or a peg to store it. In this way, they do not take up much space. Besides, they are very large as compared to other kitchen utensils so they cannot be stored in a drawer.

How To Use A Meat Cleaver?

The traditional use of a meat cleavers by the butchers is to section larger carcasses but there are more modern uses for it in the kitchen as well. The most common is the sectioning of chickens. A cleaver has a long, sharp blade that is perfect for slicing the flesh. For cutting through small poultry bones, a cleaver has a thick, heavy-duty spine. You can even cut the hard-to-cut parts  by pushing down on the top of the blade, which is easy to do since it is so wide. Here is a video that can help you in using a cleaver perfectly.

Why Do You Need A Cleaver?

One of the most useful tools in the kitchen is your meat cleaver. The large and broad face of the cleaver helps a cook to chop the flesh and bones at a lightning speed. The construction of the blade is such that it will not buckle or shatter even with hard blows. You can separate chicken thighs, chop through beef bones and chop through the flesh with utmost ease.

 

Vegetarians may not need this knife as much as a meat savvy would. Even so, it could come in handy for hard vegetables like pumpkin and squash. The precision provided by the cleaver cannot be attained by a standard kitchen knife. If you attempt to chop the meat with a small knife with a thin blade, you may get a serious injury.

What Are The Benefits Of Possessing A Meat Cleaver?

Meat cleavers can cut through a large chunk of meat as if it is nothing. You would think that the blades of the cleavers must be sharp but actually they are blunt. Therefore, you get to chop safely. Don’t get this wrong; sharpness is definitely there but they may not be as sharp as a fillet knife that glides through meat like butter. The chefs consider this tool a heavenly descend for precisely the following reasons:

  • To separate ribs or bones
  • To slice chicken or other meat
  • To chop thin bones (poultry bones) conveniently
  • To chop through even the hard ones (if possible)
  • To cut through tough vegetables
  • To even crush food like garlic or tomato

How To Clean An Maintain A Meat Cleaver?

If you want to maintain the quality of the meat cleaver that you use so very often, you should take care of it. The following points would be beneficial in this regard.

  • First the cleaning process: You should wash the knife, rinse it under running water and clean it thoroughly. Use a towel to dry the knife. Then it is better to place it in a knife block or knife stand for storage.
  • It is recommended to store the cleaver in an airy, dry place.
  • The knife needs to be kept away from any corrosive, alkaline, or acidic substance.
  • After some time, you need to sharpen the knife if you want that it continues to perform the way you want it to. For this, you may need a whetstone on which you can rub it at a convenient angle for sharpening.
  • The blade needs to be kept out of reach of children.

Conclusion

It is rightly stated sometimes that a good knife is an extension of your hand. Therefore, you need to choose one that gives you the comfort of getting the tasks done in an effortless manner without making it cumbersome or leading to fatigue. I hope the review of some of the best meat cleavers above will guide you in choosing the one that is best suited to your needs and your kitchen.

Do you guys have trouble carving your meat? You really look forward to having juicy lamb chops or delicious pork ribs but guess what? The knife is not sharp enough and you don’t have something to slice your roasts perfectly and precisely into your desired chunks of meat. If this situation sounds all too familiar, I strongly recommend that you get a meat cleaver. If you are a meat lover like me, your kitchen is definitely missing this cleaver for slicing, dicing, shredding the meat, and chopping the bones.

Chopping animal flesh and bones has never been easy but the 10 best meat cleavers that I have below will certainly get the job at hand done immediately so go ahead and add this essential tool in your kitchen.

Product Length Best for Highlight

Utopia Kitchen

 7-inch Best Overall
  • Heavy-duty stainless steel
  • Ultra-sharp edge
  • Ergonomic handle
  • Corrosion

Winco Heavy-Duty

 8-inch Best Budget Pick
  • Stainless steel construction
  • Corrosion-resistant
  • 8-inch long blade
  • Dishwasher safe
Butcher’s Knife by SKY LIGHT 7-inch Best for Homecooks
  • Premium German steel
  • Multi-functional
  • Peak-performance edge
  • Enhanced hardness
  • Hand polished
Epica Multipurpose Chopper 7-inch Best for Quality
  • Ice tempered steel
  • Advanced full tang body
  • Exceptionally hard
  • Seamless handle
  • HollowUtopia Kitchen

1. Utopia Kitchen

Highlighted Features

  • Heavy-duty stainless steel
  • Ultra-sharp edge
  • Ergonomic handle
  • Corrosion and rust-resistant

Utopia Kitchen 7 Inches Cleaver Knife is a chopper butcher knife made of stainless steel and is perfect for home kitchens and restaurants. It cuts through the meat as if you’re slicing through butter.

 

Construction: Utopia cleaver knife is made from the finest quality of 100% heavy-duty stainless steel. ABS+430 handle is just what you need to have a firm grip on the knife while you cut the meat. Also, the 7-inch blade is the perfect tool for cutting through tough meat and bone. The blade is corrosion and tarnish resistant.

 

Function: The handle of this all-purpose cleaver is designed ergonomically to provide you the ease of cutting with minimized wrist tension and a natural fit in your hands. It not only caters to the needs of a domestic home kitchen but also definitely meets the difficult cooking demands of the commercial kitchen as well. The 7-inch blade works equally well for vegetables and fruits besides meat. You get complete accuracy while segmenting or trimming meat or even melon, squash or pineapple. Hence, it is perfect for bone cutting, chopping, and cleaving.

 

Cleaning and maintenance: The Utopia cleaver knife is dishwasher safe but it is better to hand wash it to preserve the fine quality of the exceptional blade. Moreover, since it is corrosion and tarnish-resistant, it is easy to clean and maintain its quality.

Pros

  • Sturdy and built to last long
  • Slicing is easier and quick
  • Cuts with ease and precision
  • Stainless steel is recyclable
  • Perfect for bone cutting and cleaving
  • Easy cleanup and maintenance

Cons

  • A bit heavy

2. Winco Heavy-Duty

Highlighted Features

  • Stainless steel construction
  • Corrosion-resistant
  • 8-inch long blade
  • Dishwasher safe

Winco 8-inch heavy-duty Chinese cleaver is an all-purpose knife that can not only cut a whole chicken into parts but can also chop and cut ribs. The long handle of 5-inches gives it a firm grip and the sharp blade gives you perfectly sliced meat.

 

Construction: Winco heavy-duty Chinese cleaver is made of highly corrosion-resistant stainless steel (KC-301). The sharp cutting blade is 8-inches long and 3.5-inches wide. The handle is wooden and has a convenient length of 5-inches.

 

Function: This all-purpose knife is a perfect tool for cutting, chopping, and cleaving. You can not only cut a whole chicken into parts but also chop and cut ribs. The blade is so sharp that the cutting boards may damage, so you need to have a sturdy wooden board for slicing your meat. In addition, you can use it to cut vegetables and fruits too. You need to take care of the handle as the two wooden sides of the handle are held together to the full tang of the cleaver with three brass rivets.

 

Cleaning and maintenance: This heavy duty meat cleaver is dishwasher safe but it is recommended to hand wash it to maintain its quality. It is easy to maintain as it is easy to clean and is corrosion-resistant.

Pros

  • Sustainable build
  • Sturdy grip
  • Perfectly chops and cleaves
  • Equally good for fruit and vegetables
  • Easy maintenance

Cons

  • A bit heavy
  • Brass rivets may pop out

3. Butcher’s Knife By SKY LIGHT

Highlighted Features

  • Premium German steel
  • Multi-functional
  • Peak-performance edge
  • Enhanced hardness
  • Hand polished

Sky light 7-inch cleaver knife is specially designed using old-fashioned craftsmanship blended with advanced modern technology. Therefore, the knife has gone through a rigorous inspection before it approaches your kitchen. A perfect tool for slicing, dicing and chopping with an extremely thin and ultra-sharp blade.

 

Construction: Skylight Cleaver knife has a full tang construction which means that the cleaver is made of a single piece of fully forged steel that includes the blade, bolster and tang. Hence you get an added strength and balance while you slice, dice and chop the meat. The triple-riveted handle provides you a firm grip. The blade is made from premium high-carbon, German steel. Due to the high carbon content, the knife can not only be sharpened easily but also resists stains and discoloration while maintaining the edges.

 

Seasoned craftsman hand-forge the knife for over 60 days. It is precisely tempered for extra durability and achieves enhanced hardness due to being nitrogen cooled.  This sturdy knife has a 58+ Rockwell Hardness for protection against wear & tear plus its durable and it also resists corrosion and stains. Since it is hand polished by seasoned craftsmen, many hours of work are involved in the design and testing, from the most minute of details to the overall construction of the knife.

 

Function: This multi-functional cleaver is a classic 7-inch knife that can easily cater to your day to day kitchen tasks like slicing, dicing, chopping, and mincing your meat and vegetables. It is equally suitable for busy commercial kitchens as well. It gives a peak performance as the all-purpose wider blade is extremely thin and ultra-sharp to provide you with the best cut.

 

Cleaning and maintenance: The thinness of the blade allows you to resharpen it easily and helps in properly maintaining its quality. It is dishwasher safe, however, it is recommended to hand wash the knife. After each use, you should clean the knife with a soapy cloth. Also, keep it dry and safe. Use a honing steel to hone the knife every 2 or 3 months to maintain its sharpness.

Pros

  • Full tang construction
  • Resists corrosion and stain
  • For slicing, dicing, and chopping
  • Equally good for meat and vegetables
  • For home kitchen and restaurant use
  • Hassle-free cleaning

Cons

  • NOT for joints, bones, tough frozen meat

4. Epica Multipurpose Chopper

Highlighted Features

  • Ice tempered steel
  • Advanced full-tang body
  • Exceptionally hard
  • Seamless handle
  • Hollow ground edge

Top Rated Epica stainless steel cleaver is a multi-purpose professional heavy-duty 7-inch blade cleaver for home and restaurants. Professional chefs have cherished this classic Chinese-style cleaver for generations simply because of the fact that it easily does tough cutting jobs that an average kitchen knife obviously cannot. It will definitely cut down an entire chicken in seconds, chop through a rack of lamb chops with extreme comfort and it will carve a coconut as if you are slicing butter.

 

Construction: Knife enthusiasts are well aware that X30cr13 stainless steel is chosen for high-performance cutting tools such as professional restaurant knives and other stuff. Hence, Epica cleaver has been forged using this extraordinary stainless steel for an advanced full-tang construction. The blade is seamlessly bonded to the handle making the handle ergonomic. You would feel as if it is an extension of your hand.

 

Function: Epica’s premier stainless steel cleaver and chopper very rightly takes pride for having a perfectly balanced weight along with an ergonomic precision-cut ground edge handle that is seamlessly bonded to the blade. This sharp high-grade ice-tempered blade elegantly slips through chops, roasts, steaks and even tough melons and squashes without much effort. Moreover, the ingredients that you chop would not stick to the blade due to its hollow ground edge so it provides comfort and ease by reducing your cutting time.

 

Cleaning and maintenance: It is dishwasher safe but it is better to hand wash it. You should be careful while washing this cleaver as it is very sharp. Immediately dry it with a soft towel after washing and then place it safely in your knife block or you can store it in your knife drawer.

Pros

  • High-performance cutting tool
  • Ergonomically designed handle
  • Cuts through meat like butter
  • Ingredients do not stick on the blade
  • Reduces cutting time
  • Easy cleanup and storage

Cons

  • A bit heavy

5. Juvale Wood-Handled

Highlighted Features

  • High-carbon stainless steel
  • Triple-riveted, wood handle
  • Hand sharpened blade
  • Honed edge
  • Hanging hole for storage

Juvale 8-inch heavy-duty meat cleaver is no doubt a great addition to any kitchen for it is constructed with stainless steel making it a perfect tool for cutting through tough meat and bones.

 

Construction: This Juvale cleaver is built with 100% stainless steel. High-carbon stainless steel is used for making the blade, that is hand sharpened and has a honed edge. It has a triple-riveted, ergonomically designed, solid wood handle ensuring great ease and control while using. The hole at the top corner can be used for convenient storage.

 

Function: The construction of Juvale cleaver is such that it can get through even the toughest of meat and even the bones, making it the best meat cleaver for cutting bone. It is ideal for chopping large chunks of meat. It would be great for the home kitchen as well as restaurants for making the job of slicing, dicing or chopping easy and comfortable. The handle provides a firm grip so there are no chances of the knife slipping while you work. Storage becomes easy with a hole at the top corner of the blade. You can dangle it on either a hanging hook or a peg.

 

Cleaning and maintenance: It is dishwasher safe, therefore, cleaning is pretty convenient.

Pros

  • Hand sharpened blade
  • Ease of cutting through meat and bones
  • Firm grip with a solid riveted handle
  • Hole in the top corner of blade to hang
  • Easy cleanup

Cons

  • Blade needs repeated sharpening

6. DALSTRONG Butcher Knife

Highlighted Features

  • High-carbon German steel
  • Hand polished blade
  • Tapered design
  • Laminated pakkawood handle
  • Engraved rivets
  • BPA-free protective sheath

Dalstrong cleaver butcher knife is a tremendous tool for ruthless chopping, be it large cuts of meat and poultry, ranging from pork bones to salmon heads to endless pounds of chicken. The blade of the Gladiator Series is forged with precision from high-carbon German steel of premium imported quality. Hence, it has excellent wear and stain resistance. It also features an imported black pakkawood handle for maximum control and effectiveness. Let’s read more in this Dalstrong cleaver review.

 

Construction: Dalstrong cleaver is a versatile multi-purpose knife made from high-carbon ThyssenKrupp German steel demonstrating outstanding craftsmanship with cutting-edge technology and stunning design elements. The edge of the blade is incredibly razor-sharp, has a full-tang construction of imported high-carbon German steel and a hand-polished edge. The 9-inch length of the blade is extra-long that gives it a good reach. The extra-thick handle is made of imported black pakkawood that is triple-riveted. It is laminated and polished to a satin finish and has a 56+ Rockwell hardness.

 

Function: This premium quality cleaver gives you peak performance. The handle on this Gladiator Series knife is a bit shorter and thicker than other Gladiator Series knives so it provides maximum heft and balance. Its sanitary build makes it perfect for busy kitchens. It has been engineered to perfection and has been carefully tapered for enhanced hardness, flexibility, and very minimal resistance while slicing. You get useful knuckle clearance due to the tall blade height. The hand-polished edge at 14 to 16 degrees on each side along with appropriate length and width ensures effortless cutting of vegetables, fruits, fish and small bones.

 

Cleaning and maintenance: It can be cleaned easily and you won’t have to worry about the maintenance at all. You also get a BPA-free protective Dalstrong PerfectFit sheath with the product to store it conveniently.

Pros

  • Tapered design for hardness & flexibility
  • Full tang for extra strength
  • Ultra-sharp, wear-resistant blade
  • Triple rivets provide extra durability
  • Comfortable pinch grip
  • Added chromium for stain resistance
  • Easy to clean and store

Cons

  • A little heavy

7. Kessaku Nakiri Knife

Highlighted Features

  • High carbon stainless steel
  • Pakkawood handle
  • Razor-sharp serrated blade
  • 16-degree sharpening angle per side
  • Full-tang construction
  • Damascus pattern

Kessaku cleaver Samurai Series is an 8-inch professional bread knife. It is hand constructed with high-carbon stainless steel with 58+ Rockwell hardness. Therefore, it is corrosion-resistant. It also features a mirror-polished, smooth pakkawood handle that has a sanitary build and provides superior strength. The blade of this great meat cleaver is hand sharpened by a 16-degree angle per side to give a razor-sharp, well-balanced serrated blade.

 

Construction: Kessaku professional knives are designed by highly trained technicians in Japan using cutting edge technology and the highest quality materials. They are handcrafted to suit your culinary needs. High-carbon 7CR17MOV stainless steel build and a 58+ Rockwell Hardness make this knife corrosion resistant. The high-carbon stainless steel is razor-sharp and is hand sharpened at an angle of 16°on each side to give it sharper, long-lasting blade. The handles are made from smooth pakkawood with seamless build.

 

Function: Kessaku means ‘masterpiece’ in Japanese and with the superb performance of this knife, you can expect nothing less. The knife is designed with such balance that you would never feel dragged down as the ergonomic handle of the knife will never let you experience any kind of ache or fatigue. The blade is razor-sharp, strong and durable. The handle offers superior strength and comfort while you cut your meat. It is heat, cold and moisture resistant. The seamless build does not let any debris or dirt collect on it while the full tang gives it an added strength. This sharp cleaver will surely become your staple knife aiding you in cutting, chopping and smashing in your kitchen preparations.

 

Cleaning and maintenance: You must hand wash your knife and then wipe it dry. Kessaku cleaning cloth is included to help keep your knife looking fresh and polished.

Pros

  • Ergonomic, long-lasting design
  • Superior quality materials used
  • Smooth pakkawood handles
  • Ample knuckle clearance
  • Corrosion-resistant blade
  • Heat and moisture resistant handle
  • Easy cleanup

Cons

  • Not for bone-cutting

8. SHI BA ZI ZUO Knife S2308-B

Highlighted Features

  • Strong and thick blade
  • Finger guard
  • Rosewood handle
  • Full tang
  • Anti-slip, exquisite finish
  • Laser shiny surface

Chinese Knife SHI BA ZI ZUO Vegetable Meat Knife is a 6.7-inch Stainless Steel Slicer Cleaver with a biomechanical rosewood handle that has a moderate weight. This chef knife is your ultimate need for chopping, mincing or slicing at home or a restaurant.

 

Construction: The steel for Shibazizuo S2308-B heavy-duty Chinese chef knife is made by the manufacturers themselves to ensure high quality and superior standards. The 40Cr13 stainless steel and Chromium 12.00-14.00 is used in the construction of the knife. The blade edge angle is 25-30°. There is an extended finger guard available. The handle is well polished with a full tang.

 

Function: The multifunctional wide blade slicer is a suitable slicing knife convenient for slicing, dicing or mincing meat and vegetables. It can even flap garlic and deliver food to the pan. The laser shiny surface of the knife prevents meat or any other ingredient that you cut from sticking on the blade.

 

The full-length tang provides stability and extra weight to the knife. The exquisite finish of the rosewood handle with the metal rivets holding the rosewood scales to either side of the tang gives it an anti-slip design with a safe and comfortable grip. The streamline protective finger guard does not let the finger of the user reach the edge of the blade. It is not for hard bones or any other hard material.

 

Cleaning and maintenance: After using, wash the knife with running water. Wipe the knife dry with a towel and place it in a knife stand or block. It is better to store the knife in a dry and airy place, most preferably in a knife block. You should keep the knife away from acidic, alkaline or corrosive substances. The blade should be sharpened with a sharpening tool after some duration of use to keep the edge sharp.

Pros

  • Manufacturer -made steel
  • For cutting meat and veggies
  • Ingredients do not stick to the blade
  • Beautifully designed handles
  • Safe and comfortable grip
  • Protection with finger guard
  • Easy cleanup and maintenance

Cons

  • Not a bone cleaver
  • Small for some people

9. SPEVORIX Knife

Highlighted Features

  • High-quality stainless steel
  • Chinese style large blade
  • Ergonomic handle
  • Multipurpose cleaver

Spevorix 7inch kitchen Meat Cleaver is a Professional Chinese style Chef Knife made from imported high-carbon German Stainless Steel. It has an ergonomic handle with a full-length tang and slip-resistant comfortable grip. This incredible knife has a multipurpose use for lovers of cooking who want to add freshly cut ingredients to their meals and prepare everything from scratch.

 

Construction: The Chinese cleaver knife construction is done while it goes through a traditional hot-forging process accompanied by the latest heat treatment technology. This process greatly improves the durability and toughness in addition to sharpness and comfort of honing. The cleaver is made from a high-quality GCr15 stainless steel that is one of the highest levels of steels in cutlery. It has been inspected and found to be within the standards of FDA, LFGB and Japan food contact laws. The handle is made of triple-riveted pakkawood with a solid full-tang. The blade is tapered for enhancing flexibility and reducing hand fatigue.

 

Function: The outstanding crafting of the knife enables it to provide multipurpose uses. The edge of the cleaver is sharpened to an angle of 15° per side to give it an ultra-sharp blade. Hence, it becomes ideal for cutting, slicing, chopping or shredding meat, herbs, and vegetables. The 3.5-inch width of the blade is perfect for crushing ingredients like garlic, ginger, tomato, etc. and transferring them to the pan.

 

You would also find it great for bigger veggies like pumpkin or for cutting the ends off corn on the cob. It will not only make the cutting of the meat extremely easy but it can deal with almost all the ingredients except bones.

 

Cleaning and maintenance: You need to hand wash the knife with warm soapy water, wipe it dry with a towel and store it in the knife stand.

Pros

  • Very durable and tough
  • Multipurpose Chinese knife
  • Tapered blade for enhanced flexibility
  • Ultra-sharp blade for cutting
  • Even transfers chopped food to pan
  • Easy cleanup

Cons

  • A little heavy
  • Not for bones

10.ZHEN Japanese VG-10

Highlighted Features

  • High-quality stainless steel
  • Chinese-style large blade
  • Ergonomic handle
  • Multipurpose cleaver

Zhen Japanese VG-10 chef knife saves you from a frustrating experience of preparing meals with blunt knives. As the name suggests, ‘Zhen’ which means ‘to achieve utmost perfection’ provides you the utmost ease to slice, dice and mince to perfection. You can effortlessly chop straight through vegetables with just one gliding motion. Forged with top-grade Japanese steel, you get exceptional sharpness, edge retention, and durability.

 

Construction: The Japanese VG-10 knife is made from top-grade Japanese 3-layer forged steel with a VG-10 cutting core. It has been crafted in ISO 9001 certified Taiwan factory and the steel is imported from Japan. Exclusive heat-treating technology is used to achieve the 60-62 HRC that provides exceptional sharpness, edge retention, and durability. The soft TPR (Thermo Rubber) handle has a full tang design that is sealed tight and is waterproof, non-slip, durable and bacteria resistant.

 

Function: This exceptional cutting tool is long-lasting with a sharp edge to chop and slice veggies. The blade simply glides through the vegetables with ease and precision. Operating the knife with an ergonomic handle makes your work a fun pastime.

 

Cleaning and maintenance: You must hand wash the knife with a gentle dish soap. Rinse it and wipe it dry immediately with a towel. It is recommended to sharpen Zhen knives at an angle of 15 degrees on a whetstone.

Pros

  • Superb design and ergonomics
  • Secure grip with TPR covered handle
  • Lightweight, very easy to sharpen
  • Slicing and chopping is a breeze
  • Less hand aches and fatigue
  • Easy cleanup and maintenance

Cons

  • Not good for chopping bones

Things To Look For Before Buying!

When you think of chopping through the slabs of meat you definitely wonder about getting the quintessential meat cleaver, the tool that is designed to withstand hard chops without breaking itself.

You are also in need of something that can cut through the bones as easily as it cuts through a thick roast. So, look for the following things before you make a buying decision.

Your meat cleaver should have:

  • A good quality material
  • An ergonomically designed handle
  • A full-tang construction
  • A well-balanced weight between blade & handle
  • An exceptional hardness and sharpness
  • Buying Guide

What Is A Cleaver? Why Do You Use A Meat Cleaver?

A cleaver is a large meat cutting knife that varies in its shape and generally looks like a rectangular-bladed hatchet.

It is primarily used as a butcher knife to cut meat and thin, soft bones. You can also use it to crush foods like garlic while prepping for meals and to chop fruits and veggies. It is mostly used with chef’s, bread, paring, utility, butchering, filleting, slicing, santoku and sushi knives.

What Is The Difference Between A Cleaver And A Butcher Knife?

The butcher knife is used all over the world in the meat processing trade. The blade is hefty and works well for cutting, splitting and stripping meat. On the other hand, a cleaver is just like a butcher’s knife but with a lighter and thinner blade for precision cutting.

How Are Cleavers Designed?

A soft and tough steel and a thicker blade are two of the most important things kept in mind when designing cleavers in order to achieve the resilience needed by the cleavers to withstand repeated blows directly into thick meat, bones and the cutting board. If a harder steel or a thinner blade is used, it might fracture or buckle under hard use. This also makes it a suitable tool for crushing. The cleaver is used like a meat tenderizer or hammer so the edge of a meat cleaver need not be particularly sharp.

Why Is There A Hole In Some Meat Cleavers?

Why do meat cleavers have a hole? The hole is usually at the top corner of the cleavers. Not all cleavers have this hole. The butchers or chefs use this hole to dangle the cleavers either on a hanging hook or a peg to store it. In this way, they do not take up much space. Besides, they are very large as compared to other kitchen utensils so they cannot be stored in a drawer.

How To Use A Meat Cleaver?

The traditional use of a meat cleavers by the butchers is to section larger carcasses but there are more modern uses for it in the kitchen as well. The most common being sectioning of chickens. A cleaver has a long, sharp blade that is perfect for slicing the flesh. For cutting through small poultry bones, a cleaver has a thick, heavy-duty spine. You can even cut the hard-to-cut parts  by pushing down on the top of the blade, which is easy to do since it is so wide. Here is a video that can help you in using a cleaver perfectly.

Why Do You Need A Cleaver?

One of the most useful tools in the kitchen is your meat cleaver. The large and broad face of the cleaver helps a cook to chop the flesh and bones at a lightning speed. The construction of the blade is such that it will not buckle or shatter even with hard blows. You can separate chicken thighs, chop through beef bones and chop through the flesh with utmost ease.

 

Vegetarians may not need this knife as much as a meat savvy would. Even so, it could come in handy for hard vegetables like pumpkin and squash. The precision provided by the cleaver cannot be attained by a standard kitchen knife. If you attempt to chop the meat with a small knife with a thin blade, you may get a serious injury.

What Are The Benefits Of Possessing A Meat Cleaver?

Meat cleavers can cut through a large chunk of meat as if it is nothing. You would think that the blades of the cleavers must be sharp but actually they are blunt. Therefore, you get to chop safely. Don’t get this wrong; sharpness is definitely there but they may not be as sharp as a fillet knife that glides through meat like butter. The chefs consider this tool a heavenly descend for precisely the following reasons:

  • To separate ribs or bones
  • To slice chicken or other meat
  • To chop thin bones (poultry bones) conveniently
  • To chop through even the hard ones (if possible)
  • To cut through tough vegetables
  • To even crush food like garlic or tomato

How To Clean An Maintain A Meat Cleaver?

If you want to maintain the quality of the meat cleaver that you use so very often, you should take care of it. The following points would be beneficial in this regard.

  • First the cleaning process: You should wash the knife, rinse it under running water and clean it thoroughly. Use a towel to dry the knife. Then it is better to place it in a knife block or knife stand for storage.
  • It is recommended to store the cleaver in an airy, dry place.
  • The knife needs to be kept away from any corrosive, alkaline, or acidic substance.
  • After some time, you need to sharpen the knife if you want that it continues to perform the way you want it to. For this, you may need a whetstone on which you can rub it at a convenient angle for sharpening.
  • The blade needs to be kept out of reach of children.

Conclusion

It is rightly stated sometimes that a good knife is an extension of your hand. Therefore, you need to choose one that gives you the comfort of getting the tasks done in an effortless manner without making it cumbersome or leading to fatigue. I hope the review of some of the best meat cleavers above will guide you in choosing the one that is best suited to your needs and your kitchen.