To chop you need a sharp and heavy weapon. Chopping the meat with a blunt knife is not good for you, and it is also not good for your fork. Meat cleaver is designed to make your chopping fast, easy, and safe. The market of cutting tools offers us hundreds of models of knives and cleavers, but choosing the best meat cleaver will depend on how you eat your meat. Let’s see which cut of meat requires what kind of cleaver.
Meat Cleaver Knives Buying Guide: Things To Consider
There are a number of things to consider when choosing the best meat cleaver knives. We will discuss about the various things that you should look for when purchasing a meat cleaver knife.
Materials
There are two main types of materials used in the manufacture and design of meat cleaver knives. One is stainless steel and the other is carbon steel. The meat cleaver knives made from stainless steel do not rust easily. This makes them easy to clean and maintain. The meat cleaver knives made from carbon steel are more durable and they are easier to sharpen than the ones made from stainless steel. However, the main disadvantage with carbon steel meat cleaver knives is that they tend to rust easily.
Sharpness
The sharpness of the knife matters a lot when you are chopping meat because if it’s too dull, then you will struggle to cut through the bones, tendons and cartilage in meat. If it’s too sharp, you’re going to injure yourself as you cut through this tough material. Therefore, you need a blade that has just the right balance between these two extremes.
Rockwell Hardness
The Rockwell Hardness is an important factor to consider when buying a meat cleaver. This is basically how hard or soft steel is. If you get a meat cleaver with high hardness then it won’t break easily, even if it hits bone or other hard objects. Since you need to cut through hard bones when butchering, you should get a knife with high Rockwell Hardness. If you don’t mind buying your knives frequently then the hardness doesn’t matter much and any knife will do. But if durability is what you’re looking for then look for knives with 60-65 Rockwell Hardness
Handle Construction
A well-made handle on a meat cleaver knife will ensure that you have a firm grip on the knife when it’s in use, and this can prevent accidents from happening. A handle that is made of wood or plastic is more comfortable to hold than one made of metal, but some people prefer the feel of wood over plastic because they like the way it feels in their hands.
Size and Weight
The next thing to consider when you buy a meat cleaver is its size. The size of the meat cleaver should be able to fit in your hand comfortably. The blade should also have a smooth, flat surface so that it can cut through the meat easily.
When choosing a meat cleaver, be sure to choose one that has a good grip on the handle so that the user can hold it easily while cutting through the meat. There are many different types of handles available for different sized knives, but make sure that you choose one that fits your hand comfortably and doesn’t slip when you are cutting through tough pieces of meat.
You may also want to consider how heavy the cleaver is in your hand. Heavy knives require more force to cut through thick pieces of meat, but if the weight of the knife makes it hard for you to handle then it may not be worth the extra cost and effort.
Design of the blade
The design of the blade determines its cutting efficiency. It has two main parts: Double bevel edge and single bevel edge. Double bevel edge is common in American cutlery while single bevel edge is common in Chinese cutlery. In the former, both sides of the blade are sharpened while only one side is sharpened in the latter. Single bevel edges are thicker than double bevel edges but they can cut through bones easily due to their super sharpness.
Quality of the Blade
The quality of the blade influences its ability to cut through meat and bones as well as how long it will last. You must ensure that you buy a blade that is made from high-quality materials such as stainless steel, carbon steel or high carbon stainless steel. These materials can withstand regular use and will not easily get damaged.
Types of Meat Cleaver Knives
There are three basic types of cleavers: Western, Chinese and Japanese. Each has its own unique characteristics and is often used for a specific purpose.
- Western-style cleavers: These are the most common type used in home kitchens in the US. They’re typically rectangular in shape with a curved cutting edge. They range from 6 to 8 inches in length and are used for a variety of purposes including chopping meat, poultry and vegetables. They’re also great at breaking down large pieces of meat into smaller portions for further cooking or other uses such as stir-fry dishes or soups.
- Chinese cleavers: These are similar in shape to Western cleavers but usually thinner and lighter. This makes them ideal for chopping, slicing and dicing meats and they’re used in Asian cooking. They come in an array of different shapes, some with straight blades, others with curved blades and some with both curved and straight blades. Chinese cleavers are almost always used as part of a pair with a heavier cleaver.
- Japanese cleavers: These are also similar to Chinese cleavers but have more of an almond-shaped blade. They’re typically shorter than other types of cleavers (around 3 inches in length) but their curved shape makes them ideal for cutting vegetables and other soft foods.
Some cleavers are designed to be used right-handed while others are designed for left-handed use. Many also come with a sharpening stone for additional functions. However, experts recommend that you have a good quality sharpening stone or a professional blade sharpener available to help maintain your cleaver blades.
The 10 Best Meat Cleaver Knives Reviewed
1. J.A. Henckels International Forged Premio Meat Cleaver
This meat cleaver from J.A Henckels is a beautifully designed 6” cleaver, with a full tang that runs through the handle. This gives it great balance and makes it feel very comfortable in your hand.
The blade is made from high-carbon German stainless steel, which gives it great strength and rust resistance. It does have an edge that can be sharpened, though you should exercise caution when doing so as this is a very heavy knife with a thick spine. You don’t want to damage the edge by applying too much force when sharpening!
The handle is made from black polypropylene and has been riveted onto the blade. The handle has a nice curve to it and has been shaped to fit comfortably into your hand. It also has some grooves at the bottom of the handle that give you a better grip on the knife if your hands are wet or greasy.
The meat cleaver comes with a lifetime warranty, so you know that J.A Henckels are confident in its quality!
2. Mueller 7-inch Meat Cleaver Knife
The Mueller 7-inch Meat Cleaver Knife is a premium quality knife that does not have any type of welding holding the handle to the knife. This makes for a more durable knife and reduces the chance of bacteria build up. Even the handle is made from stainless steel and has a solid construction, which not only makes it safe to use but also comfortable. The blade is 6mm thick, which makes it perfect for cutting through large pieces of meat and bones.
The blade is extremely sharp and stays that way longer than other knives at this price point. To help you keep the blade in top condition, this cleaver has a sharpening stone included to help you hone the blade back to like-new condition. This meat cleaver is multi-purpose as well and can be used for chopping or dicing meat or vegetables as needed. You can even use it to crush nuts or garlic cloves as needed with minimal effort.
This cleaver has an ergonomic design and a weighted handle to help reduce hand fatigue while in use. It also has a hole at the end so you can hang it up when not using it, which helps keep your countertops clear. It is easy to clean and dishwasher safe, but hand washing is recommended to extend its lifespan.
3. Juvale Heavy Duty Butcher Bone Knife
Juvale’s Heavy Duty Butcher Bone Knife is a great option if you’re looking for a cleaver that can be used for chopping up small bones, as well as thick pieces of meat.
With its 8-inch blade, this knife is shorter than most of the other cleavers on this list. But it’s also heavier and thicker, so will still do well at tough cutting tasks.
The sturdy handle is made from solid wood, with no metal in sight. It has a hole at the end for easy hanging – although this does mean there’s no bolster to protect your hand from slipping onto the blade.
The end of the handle has a cool feature: it’s thicker than the rest, giving you extra grip and leverage when chopping through tough ingredients.
The manufacturer says that this cleaver can be put in the dishwasher, which is always good news if you want to save time on cleaning up after using it.
4. Utopia Kitchen 7 Inches Cleaver Knife
Utopia Kitchen has been known for their high-quality stainless steel knife collection and this cleaver knife is just another addition to their vast collection. It will blow your mind away with its ability to chop through the toughest of bones and raw meats with ease.
But it does not stop there, the knife is extremely versatile and can also be used for chopping vegetables and herbs. The balance on this knife is excellent, it feels very comfortable in your hand and you will notice that you have complete control over your cuts. The handle has a great grip which allows you to cut with as much force as you need without worrying about dropping the knife.
The blade is super sharp and once you get this guy out of the box, you will notice that it comes out of the packaging ready to use. All you need to do is sharpen it once in a while and it will give you the same results like it did the day you bought it.
This cleaver knife is perfect for any kitchen setting, whether it be a commercial kitchen or even at home; this thing fits like a glove!
5. Golden Bird Meat Cleaver Knives
The Golden Bird Meat Cleaver Knives is a great product that offers a good balance between quality and value. The knife is made from high-carbon steel, which is known to be more durable than stainless steel. It features a unique tiger pattern design on the blade to make it stand out from the other cleavers on the market.
The Golden Bird Meat Cleaver Knives has a 16° cutting edge, which means you won’t have any trouble cutting through meat with ease. It also has an upward curved angle that’s perfect for breaking down chickens or fish into smaller pieces so they can be stored in less space when not being used. The wooden handle makes this knife comfortable for long periods of use as well!
The Golden Bird Meat Cleaver Knives has brass tiger tail design on the end of the handle that makes this cleaver easy to identify and helps keep your fingers safe during use
The Golden Bird Meat Cleaver Knives comes with an ergonomic grip that’s comfortable for long periods of time while chopping vegetables or meats without fear of slipping out of your hands due to sweat buildup on them. A non-slip handle ensures this will never happen – even if you’re working with wet products like chicken breasts or salmon fillets!
6. LA TIM’S Meat Cleaver Knife
The LA TIM’S Meat Cleaver Knife is a professional butcher knife with a powerful blade. It has a sharp, straight blade edge. You can cut through bones and hard meats. The blade is thick and stiff to handle the toughest meat cuts.
The cleaver knife has a total length of 14 inches with an 8-inch long blade. The handle is 6 inches long and made of wooden material.
It’s made of high carbon steel, which is durable and rust resistant. The cleaver knife has a hand forged technology with a full tang design. This makes it sturdy and strong to use for heavy duty chopping jobs.
This cleaver knife is recommended for cutting through bones, splitting poultry & seafood, cutting large fruits & vegetables, slicing meat, mincing herbs & garlic, prepping sandwiches & salads and even as a serving plate when entertaining guests.
7. HENCKELS 6″ Meat Cleaver
The Henckels International Classic 6″ Meat Cleaver is forged from a single piece of exclusive-formula steel to ensure outstanding strength, balance, and heft.
Henckels carves out a niche as one of the top cutlery producers in the world with their high-quality, heavy duty knives. The forged construction process is what makes this meat cleaver so sturdy and durable, as it’s made from a single piece of steel.
The blade is 6 inches long and made of stainless steel that’s been satin finished for precision cutting and a razor sharp edge. It’s not quite as thick as the Victorinox or Dexter Russell knives here, but the quality of the steel means you can be confident it will slice through bone with ease.
The traditional triple rivet handle has been ergonomically designed to give a comfortable grip while still providing balance and control. The full tang goes all the way through to the end of the handle, so there’s no weak spot where it could break off.
Another great thing about this knife is that it’s dishwasher safe, so cleaning it up after use is quick and easy rinsing in warm soapy water should do the trick if you prefer this method.
8. Freelander Hand Forged Meat Cleaver 6.3 Inch
The Freelander is a full tang cleaver with a 6.3-inch blade. The handle is made of pakkawood and has been ergonomically designed for comfort.
The steel used to manufacture the blade is of high carbon, German grade stainless steel. The blade has been heat treated to perfection. This gives it exceptional strength, hardness and flexibility.
The edge of the blade is one side hollow ground while the other side has been honed to a razor sharpness. This ensures that the knife will stay sharp for long periods of time.
The knife comes with a leather sheath so that you can safely store or transport it without having to worry about injuring yourself or others.
9. GRANDKNIFE Cleaver Knife
The GRANDKNIFE Cleaver Knife is the perfect choice for when you need to get a lot of work done. It’s a well-made knife with an ergonomic handle that gives you good control over the blade. It has a nicely balanced weight and a sharp, non-stick blade that will easily slice through raw meat. The knife is also rust-resistant and it comes with a protective sheath so that you can store it safely away when not in use.
If you’re looking for the perfect tool for cutting up meats, the GRANDKNIFE Cleaver Knife is one of the best on the market. It’s manufactured from premium quality steel and features an ergonomic handle that allows you to cut through meat with ease. The handle also has a non-slip grip so your hands won’t slip while cutting.
This cleaver knife can be used for chopping up large pieces of meat and it can even be used as a hammer to tenderize meat or break bones. The blade is made from high carbon stainless steel which makes it rust resistant and ensures that it will retain its sharpness for longer than other knives on the market. This knife is dishwasher safe too which means cleaning up after butchering your meat
10. DALSTRONG Obliterator Meat Cleaver
The DALSTRONG Obliterator Meat Cleaver is a beast of a blade, so if you’re looking for something that can make light work out of large cuts of meat, this is an excellent option.
The Obliterator’s incredibly razor sharp edge makes it incredibly precise, but with a thick handle and heavy weight, it is still ideal for those larger cuts.
It’s also forged from premium 7CR17MOV steel and heat treated to 60HRC. This will give you plenty of durability, while still being a very effective blade. It’s also got a full tang construction which adds to the stability of the knife when you’re using it.
The bolster and handle are designed to fit comfortably in your hand, giving you maximum leverage when cutting. It has a full tang design, ensuring that the blade and handle remain strongly connected.
This meat cleaver comes with a beautiful black pakkawood sheath that allows you to store it away while not in use or transport it safely when going camping or hunting trips with friends.
Overall, this is an excellent choice if you’re looking for a meat cleaver that can be used for a variety of different tasks in the kitchen.
Conclusion
Meat cleavers are one of the most useful (and dangerous) knives in the kitchen. They can be used to chop or slice any part of an animal, but the most common use is for breaking down cuts of meat into smaller pieces. Often designed with a hammer-like end and a bracing handle that keeps your hand away from the blade, these sharpen steel blades come to an unnaturally sharp point and are capable of handling heavy duty tasks with ease.
We hope we were able to help you choose the best meat cleaver knives for your kitchen. It’s an important decision, and one that you don’t want to rush into. But with our comprehensive guide and our ten recommended models, you should have everything you need to get started.