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The Best Meat Cleaver Knives of 2024
In the kitchen, different utensils are made for specific tasks, such as cutting, cooking, baking, frying, and more. A meat cleaver knife is one such kitchen utensil that’s used for chopping, slicing, and cutting different types of meats. They’re typically much larger when compared to the average kitchen knife, which makes them more convenient for cutting meats and bones.
To help you select the ideal option, we’ve reviewed the best meat cleaver knives of 2024, starting with our top pick from Kitchen Perfection. We’ve also incorporated an informative buying guide that discusses all the features to consider while you shop.
Our Top Picks
View all ContentsThe Best Meat Cleaver Knives
Best Overall
Indulge your passion for meat with the Kitchen Perfection meat cleaver knife—a true delight for home chefs. This hand-forged Serbian chef knife is a masterpiece with unique looks and utility. The razor-sharp blade is ready for action right out of the box, making cutting, chopping, and slicing tasks a stylish breeze.
What sets this cleaver apart is its high-carbon steel construction, surpassing stainless steel in both durability and sharpness. Forged by hand in fire, it boasts a natural and genuine patina, thanks to age-old Chinese techniques. No two cleavers are alike, ensuring that your meat cleaver knife stands out in both performance and aesthetics.
The full tang design, covered by high-end Pakka wood, ensures a comfortable grip. Elevate your chopping bliss with this versatile cleaver that doubles as a great carving and meat-slicing knife. Its design is a cut above the rest, earning the number one spot on our list.
Pros
- Comes with a unique, effective profile
- Easy to sharpen and maintain
- Excellent for cutting meat efficiently
Cons
- Knife is heavy and large
Best Design
Made from 100% stainless steel, the Utopia heavy-duty meat cleaver knife is not only durable but also very versatile. It can be used for bone cutting, chopping, and cleaving all types of meats. The sharp blade slides through even the toughest of proteins smoothly, ensuring a precise and even cut.
Apart from being sharp, the blade is strong enough to withstand repeated blows into thick cartilage and bones. The sleek 18-degree edging and non-slip ergonomic handle make it easy to use and maneuver. Its high-quality carbon stainless steel is conveniently dishwasher-safe, though hand washing is recommended to preserve its integrity.
This meat cleaver knife has a thoughtful and highly functional design that’s ideal for beginners and experienced cooks alike. Its balanced weight adds to its efficiency and ease of use, allowing you to cut, chop, and slice, with little effort.
Pros
- Offers versatile functionality
- Excellent cutting performance
- Durable, long-lasting build
Cons
- May not be suitable for smaller hands
Most Essential
The Cutluxe meat cleaver knife is essential for seamless chopping, slicing, dicing, and mincing both meat and vegetables. The premium German steel is precisely forged for 56+ Rockwell hardness for long-lasting performance.
The full tang ergonomic design includes a luxury Pakka wood handle that is triple-riveted for sure grip and absolute stability. This handle also ensures comfort and maneuverability, as well as being laminated and polished for a sanitary build. With its 14 to 16-degree, hand-sharpened blade edge, you can be sure that precision slicing will be achieved every time.
The meat cleaver knife is designed with quality craftsmanship to make sure that you are getting nothing but the best. The German steel provides strength and longevity while the ergonomic handle design provides comfort and stability. This multi-purpose cleaver knife is perfect for slicing through delicate tomatoes to tougher cuts of beef, making it ideal in any busy kitchen. The razor-sharp blade edge is sharp enough to make sure precise slicing is achieved without tearing or shredding your food.
Pros
- Razor sharp blade edge
- Precise slicing
- Handle is ergonomic, stable
Cons
- May require frequent honing to maintain razor edge
Best Quality
The Aroma House meat cleaver knife is another great option with some great features. This multi-functional Chinese meat knife can be used for slicing, cutting, chopping, deboning, and cleaving all kinds of meats. It can also be used to chop vegetables and smash spices.
Even better, this cleaver comes with a carbon stainless steel blade with vanadium and molybdenum metal elements that increase its strength and hardness. The cleaver’s blade is 17 degrees per side and mirror-polished by hand for ultra-thin dicing and slicing with minimal effort.
Its ergonomic handle ensures a non-slip and comfortable grip, allowing you to use the cleaver from all angles. This premier meat cleaver knife comes in a sturdy storage box that helps protect it from stains and rust.
Pros
- Made from premium materials
- Comfortable, ergonomic handle
- Comes with a storage box
Cons
- Might be heavy for some
Most Durable
Next up, the Imarku Butcher knife is designed specifically for fishing, mountaineering, outdoor camping, and kitchen cooking. It is made from German high carbon stainless steel for quick, effortless slicing and cutting. The black coating on the blade enhances its durability and rust resistance and, since this butcher knife is tougher than ordinary blades, it is more suitable for chopping bones and cutting thick meat.
For maximum durability, this meat cleaver knife is designed with a one-piece blade rather than mechanical welding. Moreover, the ergonomic, full-tang handle keeps the cleaver balanced while cutting and slicing. The blade can be covered with the included leather cover and tied to the belt for outdoor use. Although this cleaver is dishwasher-safe, it is recommended to wash it by hand to protect the blade from dulling.
Pros
- Great for outdoor use
- Ensures well-balanced cutting
- Easy to store
- Durable and rust-resistant
Cons
- It is not heat-resistant
Sharpest Blade
The Dalstrong Obliterator meat cleaver knife has been designed with excellent craftsmanship, stunning design elements, cutting-edge technology, and premium construction. It features a razor-sharp, high-carbon blade with a medieval-inspired weaponry design that helps add to its efficacy.
The sharpness of the blade allows it to pierce through the toughest of meats and bones effortlessly. It has an extra-thick, black, G10 handle that provides a solid grip to wield it from. It’s hand-polished to a satin finish and tempered for maximum flexibility, hardness, and minimal slicing resistance.
The height of the blade also provides you with useful knuckle clearance. This cleaver comes with a modern hand-made acacia wood stand that can be used to store or display the cleaver as needed. Overall, it offers extraordinary performance for the price.
Pros
- Minimal slicing resistance
- Easy to handle
- Comes with a wooden stand
Cons
- Not dishwasher-safe
Most Versatile
If you’re looking for a knife that allows you to chop or slice large pieces of meat and vegetables in seconds, then you should get your hands on the Chuo chopper knife. It features a German stainless steel blade with nitrogen cryogenic tampering and vacuum heat treatment, which enhances the flexibility and hardness of the knife.
It has an ergonomically designed Pakka wood handle that can be comfortably gripped for quick chopping and cutting. The blade’s shape helps ensure minimal slicing resistance and the cleaver itself features a sleek and stylish design that looks great placed on any counter. Thanks to the premium-quality construction of this meat cleaver knife, it is bound to last you for years.
Pros
- Beautiful Pakka wood handle
- Ergonomic and easy to grip
- Solid and durable construction
Cons
- Handle gets slippery when wet
Buyer’s Guide: Selecting a Meat Cleaver Knife
With the right selection, a meat cleaver knife can elevate your time in the kitchen, allowing you to cut and chop with professional finesse. To pick the ideal meat cleaver knife, be sure to pay attention to the following factors:
Handle
For effective use, the handle of the meat cleaver knife should be ergonomic and easy to grip. Handles that are too large can be difficult to hold, whereas short handles undermine your grip. So, make sure you look for a cleaver with a medium-sized handle and an ergonomic grip. Handles made from wood or rigid plastic are prone to breakage and cracking easily, which is why bubble or epoxy resin handles are usually preferred.
As far as balance is concerned, hollow handles usually offer better performance since they are light and easy to grip. For the best results, look for an ergonomic, non-slip, and easy-to-clean handle that is shaped according to your preference. For easy storage, try to choose a meat cleaver knife with a handle that has a hole in it.
Cutting edge sharpness and retention
The sharpness of the blade determines how smoothly and quickly you’ll be able to slice, cut, and chop meat with it. The blade should be tough enough to withstand constant impact when working with cartilage and bones. For reduced chipping, buckling, and rolling, look for a steel blade that is tempered, not brittle.
Other than that, you should also determine how frequently the blade needs to be sharpened. Some meat cleaver knives can go for months without sharpening, while some need to be sharpened every two to three weeks.
Versatility
Though meat cleaver knives were originally designed for slicing and chopping thick meat, some people like to use these for chopping fruits and vegetables. Versatile cleavers come with a broadsided back edge that allows you to cut vegetables and crush spices like garlic. Some chefs use cleaver knives to crack open coconuts as well. If you’d like to use the cleaver knife for different purposes then you must look for a knife that offers versatility.
Length
Meat cleavers come in a size range of two and a half to five (blade) inches for mini cleavers and six to nine (blade) inches for large cleavers. Standard-size meat cleaver knives have a seven-inch blade and a five-inch handle. Standard-sized meat cleavers are the best for home and professional cooks. On the other hand, a mini cleaver is ideal for regular use as the weight also increases with the size.
Cost
The cost of a meat cleaver knife depends on its quality and the brand you buy it from. Premium-quality cleavers usually cost more than the average ones since these are made from sturdier, more reliable components. Since cleavers are usually used to chop tough meat and bone, it’s best to invest in the one that is durable, corrosion-resistant, and easy to manage. Though these might cost you a little more, they are bound to last longer as well.
Ease of cleaning
Extensive moisture and heat from a dishwasher can damage the blades of some meat cleaver knives. Though the majority of meat cleavers are dishwasher safe, some are not. To protect the cleaver against damage, you must check whether it is dishwasher safe or not before purchase.
How to Choose the Right Cleaver Blade Design
For the best cutting results, you should look for a cleaver with a blade that is neither too thick nor too thin. Thinner blades tend to wear out quickly and are not the sturdiest option for slicing huge bones. Whereas, thicker blades can be a little too heavy to manage and tend to drag while cutting, which leads to damage through tearing and smashing the meat instead of slicing smoothly through it.
The material that the blade is made from also affects its performance. Blades made from stainless steel usually perform the best since they are rust-resistant and sturdy. These are also easy to sharpen and resilient. Since these don’t bend or break easily, they can also be used to cut large bones and cartilage.
The overall dexterity and efficacy of the cleaver also depend on the length and height of the blade. Large-sized cleavers are ideal for working on large meats while shorter cleavers work best on small meats, cartilages, and bones.
Does the Weight of a Meat Cleaver Knife Affect its Performance?
The cleaver’s weight usually varies according to the length of the blade—the longer the blade, the heavier the cleaver. Heavy cleavers can easily slice through the toughest of bones, but you’ll need to put in extra strength to work with these. Also, working with heavy cleavers can cause wrist and forearm fatigue.
A meat cleaver knife weighing one pound is powerful enough to give you a clean, one-swing cut with accuracy. This range can be handled easily by an average user and does not fatigue the arm. In short, it is better to opt for lightweight cleavers as compared to heavier ones since they tend to be difficult to handle.
FAQ
Why is there a hole in meat cleaver knives?
The hole on the cleaver’s handle allows users, especially chefs, to hang the cleaver on a rack. It can also be used to reinforce your grip by sliding your fingers through it while working on tough bones and tendons.
Can cleavers be used to cut vegetables?
Yes, other than cutting meat, cleavers can also be used to slice and chop vegetables and fruits. However, if you are working with smaller vegetables it is best to opt for a smaller cleaver for maximum grip.
How do I sharpen a cleaver the right way?
Meat cleaver knives are usually sharpened with a water stone or whetstone. For proper sharpening, the cleaver should be angled at about 25 to 30 degrees per side, which is blunter as compared to regular kitchen knives.
