If you’re a person who loves to devote time to cooking, then you know the importance of a good knife in the kitchen.
A good knife shouldn’t just be sharp; it must sit comfortably in your hand, and cutting with it should feel perfect. Also, cutting something for a prolonged period shouldn’t stress your hand.
Any professional chef would tell you that a knife is an essential tool in the kitchen. They would, in fact, be a tad possessive of the best knives they use.
So, there’s no denying that to enjoy the perfect cooking experience, you need the right knife. And we’re here to help you with that by reviewing the 9 best options.
Without further ado, read on to know more.
Best Chinese Cleavers
Contents
- Best Chinese Cleavers
- TUO TCO702 Vegetable Cleaver
- Winco KC-101 Blade Chinese Cleaver
- JapanBargain 1564 Japanese Butcher Knife
- Mueller WD-77 7 inch Cleaver Knife
- WALLOP Meat Cleaver Knife
- Victorinox 5.4063.18 Chinese Classic Chef’s Knife
- KITORY Vegetable Cleaver 7″ Kitchen Knife
- DENGJIA TP-02 Chinese Multi-Functional Knife
- Misono 661 Molybdenum Steel Chinese Kitchen Knife
- Chinese Cleaver Buyer’s Guide
- Verdict
When it comes to edgy knives, it doesn’t get better than the TCO702 range of cleavers. These knives, coming in Pakkawood handles, are ideal for both domestic and commercial use. The blade is made of high-carbon stainless steel and is quite an impressive pick for your kitchen.
TUO Vegetable Cleaver knife - Chinese Chef’s Knife -...
- PROFESSIONAL CLEAVER KNIFE: TUO vegetable cleaver featured...
- WELL DESIGNED: From the striking grain of the polished...
Why Did We Like It?
Looking at the customer reviews for the TUO 7-inch Chinese Cleaver, you’d be impressed by its steely blade. The whopping 7 inches on the blade makes the knife quite impressive to look at and to hold.
Like most products in its Fiery Phoenix Cleaver Knife Collection, the TCO702 could be an essential tool in your kitchen. The firm grip that the Pakkawood handle gives you, combined with its sharp edges, helps chop up meats in your kitchen. This knife isn’t impressive just for its sharp blade, but also because it is comfortable to hold and fits perfectly in your hands.
In spite of its size, cutting food is not a terrifying task as you’d imagine. Simply put, hold the cleaver tightly in one hand, apply weight on the other, and cut easily. You’ll see that the knife is perfect for thick chunks of meat.
What Could’ve Been Better?
The Fiery Phoenix Cleaver looks good, but unfortunately, it is more of a vegetable knife. If you’re the kind of chef that makes do with one knife for most of the cutting purposes, this may not help you with bone pieces. The blade’s shape can be a disadvantage, and you might find your motions limited to slicing and cutting.
Pros
- Comes with sharp edges
- Not as heavy as you would expect
- Works for your complete kitchen usage
- Gives a firm grip on the knife’s handle while chopping
Cons
- Sharp edges can be a disadvantage
- Extreme care is needed for speedier chopping
Like the Fiery Phoenix Cleaver series, the Winco Blade Chinese Cleaver is an edgy-looking knife suited for both domestic and commercial kitchens. It is ideal for chopping large and small pieces of food. As impressive as it looks, the KC-101 is a cleaver that has lots to do in your kitchen.
Winco Blade Chinese Cleaver w/ wooden handle – blade...
- High carbon steel
- Wooden handle
Why Did We Like It?
The Winco Chinese Cleaver, if used correctly, can be a popular kitchen tool. Unlike several knives in this range, the KC-101 is sturdy and perfect for domestic as well as commercial use. Its wooden handle ensures a good grip and smoothness while using.
First of all, the 8 inches in length and 3.5 inches in width make for quite an impressive blade size. The blade’s steely edges can cut through veggies and fleshy meats effortlessly. Along with that, this knife is dishwasher-safe, so cleaning it after all that cooking won’t be too tedious.
Most importantly, you need to sharpen the knife regularly if you want to get the best out of it. That said, as an all-purpose knife, the KC-101 does its job well enough.
What Could’ve Been Better?
The KC-101 is perfect if you want to chop vegetables and fleshy parts of meat. But we definitely wouldn’t recommend using it to chop bone. The size of the blade makes you believe that it’s incredibly sharp. But after using it a few times, you need to sharpen it regularly to get the most out of it.
Pros
- 8 inch long and 3.5 inch wide carbon steel
- Dishwasher-safe
- Wooden handle promises good grip
- Easy to clean
Cons
- Heavier than most cleavers
- Needs regular sharpening
The JapanBargain Japanese Butcher Knife is not similar to the Fiery Phoenix 7” Cleaver or the Winco Chinese Cleaver. An intimidating-looking knife with an 8-inch length and 3.8-inch width, the JapanBargain Japanese Butcher Knife suits almost every one of your cutting and slicing needs.
JapanBargain 1564, Japanese Butcher Knife High Carbon...
- Our multipurpose cleaver knife can be used for chopping,...
- This kitchen knife blade is Molybdenum Rust-Resistant, Razor...
Why Did We Like It?
Right off the bat, you don’t need to be intimidated by the size of the blade. Unlike its appearance, it sits well in your hand and is comfortable for your cutting, chopping, and slicing needs.
While some people think that the tang bolt on 1564 seems uncomfortable in their hands, it doesn’t matter since this knife’s purpose is entirely different. Such a case would be true if you are planning on making sharp stabs on your meat. The handle offers perfect balance while working, and the stud doesn’t touch your hands.
Another reason to love this knife is due to its stainless steel blade being rust-resistant. This means that the knife lasts long, and its razor-sharp edges can be sharpened regularly for constant use. Unlike several knives of this category, 1564 is perfect for a number of slicing and cutting purposes in the kitchen.
What Could’ve Been Better?
Once you get the hang of using the JapanBargain Japanese Butcher Knife, a critical aspect that could bother you is the handle. The point where the spine meets the handle seems to project a little and can be strenuous for your hand. It might need a little sharpening around the edges to provide comfort.
Pros
- Easy to handle and clean
- Comes with a rust-resistance feature
- Can be used for a number of cutting and slicing needs
- A firm wooden handle provides a good grip
Cons
- Sharp edge on the spine can affect your hand
The Mueller 7 inch Cleaver Knife is touted as a multi-purpose knife that can be used for both types of kitchens. Meaning it fits comfortably in the knife rack of your home or in a restaurant kitchen. This is a durable knife with a razor-sharp blade that helps you in the kitchen.
Mueller 7-inch Cleaver Knife, Vegetable Meat Chinese...
- Premium Durability And Quality - Mueller super sharp Chinese...
- Multi-purpose Cleaver’s Knife - Designed to be...
Why Did We Like It?
The first thing you notice about the Mueller 7” Cleaver Knife is its German steel blade. Mueller promises a hassle-free experience, and we happen to agree with them. The Mueller 7” Cleaver Knife is easily noticed by its razor-sharp blade. The German steel is easy to clean and handle. Its rust and corrosion resistance feature is quite an advantage over other brands manufacturing the same product.
Besides its durability factor, the WD-77 offers you the luxury of a sharp blade that cuts through bone effortlessly. Not just bone, the knife is sharp enough to cut through tough shells of coconuts, removing flesh from bones or cutting through any form of meat and vegetables. The knife’s sharpness coupled with the blade’s design makes it a formidable tool in a kitchen.
What makes the WD-77 a reliable tool in a kitchen is simply the fact that the knife retains its sharp edges a long time after being used in the kitchen. This factor makes it ideal for both commercial as well as domestic purposes.
What Could’ve Been Better?
While the Mueller 7” Cleaver Knife is a reliable tool in the kitchen, it does have a minute problem that can prove a hindrance. We told you that the handle was of Pakkawood and offered a firm grip. But it’s not as heavy as needed. A heavier handle can help you keep a firmer grip when you put in an effort while cutting.
Pros
- Offers a razor-sharp edge
- Rust and corrosion-resistant blade
- Easy to clean and sharpen
- Can be used for multi-purpose cutting and slicing
Cons
- Lighter handle can be a hindrance while cutting
The WALLOP Meat Cleaver Knife stands out for its sheer size. The handle, made of wood, is well-polished and looks impressive. More than its aesthetics, the handle’s polished look protects it from moisture, keeping it firmly in your hands. The blade is designed specifically to mince or slice meat. It can also be used for the day-to-day slicing of vegetables.
Sale
WALLOP Meat Cleaver Knife - Combines 67 Layers Japanese...
- WALLOP Utility CLEAVER knife for mincing pork, slicing beef...
- HIGH QUALITY MATERIALS: Combines 67 Layers VG10 Core...
Why Did We Like It?
WALLOP is known for its impressive-looking knives, and they did not disappoint this time around either. The WALLOP Meat Cleaver Knife is designed to mince meat like beef, poultry, and pork and not for cutting through bones and frozen meat. It may not have as much use as other knives in your kitchen, but it does not disappoint either.
The WALLOP Meat Cleaver Knife is a 7.5-inch long, 3.8-inch wide blade, excellent for mincing and slicing. The blade is made of layers of Japanese Damascus Blade and German Stainless Steel, making it an improvement on the steel structure. It’s sharper and rust as well as corrosion-resistant. This means that if you maintain it well enough, it can last pretty long.
Many commercial chefs favor the rectangular blade design, and a lot of them will welcome the design. The handle is polished and has been designed to avoid slippery effects.
What Could’ve Been Better?
The knife has a polished handle made of Wenge wood that helps to keep the grip. However, the spine itself is thick, and the knife does have a sturdy feel to it. So, using it for a long time can be strenuous on your arm. Besides, the knife is designed solely for mincing and slicing flesh. It does not help you with frozen meat, bones, or with cutting through lobster.
Pros
- Combination of two types of cutting material
- Explicitly designed for mincing and slicing
- Comes with corrosion and rust resistance features
- Handle designed to protect from moisture
Cons
- Thickness at the spine makes cutting for too long strenuous
- Not designed as an all-purpose kitchen knife
The Victorinox 7” Chinese Classic Chef’s Knife, at first glance, had us a little confused. But one closer inspection, we found that there was a delicate and sharp edge. The knife is ideal for your regular day-to-day cooking. It’s perfect for slicing, mincing, and chopping, as good as a professional Chef’s Knife.
Why Did We Like It?
The Victorinox Chinese Classic Chef’s Knife features a 7-inch blade with a thin, sharp, and delicate edge. One thing we liked about the knife is that its lightweight design allows effortless control while cutting.
Another fact that stands out about this knife is the blade’s stainless steel design is not just good to look at. It is also easier to clean since it is dishwasher-safe and heat-resistant. The lightweight feel and its handle allow for speedy chopping and dicing of vegetables. This is a perfect vegetable cleaver.
With a stamped blade and edge perfect for prepping, it works well for daily chopping and dicing. If you want a precise commercial knife for intricate cutting and chopping, you need to try a different knife. This knife works well for regular use.
What Could’ve Been Better?
While this is a good knife for chopping vegetables and some meats, you can’t use it for tougher meats or bones. That requires an entirely different knife. The handle might feel good due to its ABS handle, but when dicing something for too long, a lightweight handle might not give you control over the knife.
Pros
- Ergonomic ABS Handle makes the knife lightweight
- Sharp blade makes cutting effortless
- The knife is dishwasher safe and heat-resistant
- Works well for regular, domestic vegetable chopping
Cons
- Lightweight design can be tiresome in the long run
- Cannot be used for professional cutting and slicing
The Kitory Vegetable Cleaver 7” Kitchen Knife is a multi-functional tool that is quite sharp. It is made of German stainless steel and is perfect for cutting anything fleshy. This is a knife that helps you finish cutting perfectly without being a hassle.
Cleaver Knife- Chopping Knife 8"- Super Sharp German...
- 🔪【Multi-Functional Vegetable Cleaver Knife】Kitory 8...
- 🔪【Premium HC German Stainless Steel】The blade of...
Why Did We Like It?
Right off the bat, let us tell you that this 7” cleaver knife has quite a razor-sharp blade. The blade is made of high-carbon German steel. It is rust and corrosion-resistant, making it a long-lasting knife for your kitchen. It also cleans easily, even if it is not dishwasher-safe.
The Kitory Vegetable Cleaver Kitchen Knife has a handle with an ergonomic pearwood design. It provides a comfortable grip allowing you to hold the knife in your hand for a considerable period. Another practical reason to make this knife a part of your collection is its multi-purpose feature.
The Kitory Vegetable Cleaver has a sharp blade designed for regular cutting, slicing, and mincing. It may not be as intricate as a regular Chef’s knife, but it is still reasonably useful. You can slice meats, chop vegetables or fruits with it. This means that the Kitory Vegetable Cleaver Kitchen Knife is ideal for domestic use.
What Could’ve Been Better?
As with the Victorinox Chinese Classic Chef’s Knife, the main disadvantage with using this knife is its limitations. If you’re a person who uses a lot of meat or carves bones from the flesh, this knife isn’t ideal.
While it is perfect for fruits and vegetables and occasional meat slicing, it cannot be used for intricate meat carving. You also need to ensure that you use a chopping board with this knife.
Pros
- Comes with a razor-sharp blade
- Ergonomic pearwood handle
- Has a rust-resistance and corrosion-resistance feature
- Ideal for cutting fruits and vegetables
Cons
- Cannot be used for deboning meat
- Needs a chopping board for regular use
At first glance, the Dengjia 5Cr15Mov Chinese Multi-Functional Knife looks intimidating. It has a mean-looking blade that promises to slice through anything. This is an ideal multi-purpose knife for your kitchen.
Why Did We Like It?
Unlike a number of Chinese Cleavers, the Dengjia 5Cr15Mov Chinese Multi-Functional Knife has been produced through traditional handmade forging methods. This makes the knife tougher looking than most others. Moreover, it has strong abrasion resistance features, corrosion as well, as rust resistance features.
Another important aspect is that the knife is quite strong and durable enough. It effortlessly cuts vegetables and fruits, slices meat, and can be used to carve it as well. The blade’s unique dragon horn-shaped feature makes it easier to cut vegetables with kernels. Along with cutting vegetables, the knife is sharp and long enough at 7.3 inches to easily shred and dice soft tissue meat.
Along with the sharp blade, the handle, made of Rosewood, is perfect to grip and does not slip even with moisture in your hand. The knife sits firmly in your hand even when chopping vegetables and meat in the kitchen.
What Could’ve Been Better?
While the Dengjia 5Cr15Mov Chinese Multi-Functional Knife promises to be a multi-functional knife at this price, it does not, however, provide an ideal setting to chop the bones of meat. While the blade is sharp and perfect for thick meat, fruits, and vegetables, it struggles while cutting through bone.
Pros
- Comes with a sharp, stainless steel handle
- Gives a firm grip on the handle
- Has strong abrasion resistance features
- Long-lasting due to its rust and corrosion resistance feature
Cons
- Does not cut through bone
It’s safe to say that the Chinese Cleaver is quite a versatile all-purpose kitchen knife. Having one in a kitchen makes slicing, chopping, scraping, and crushing ingredients a one-knife job. In this regard, the Misono Molybdenum Steel Small Chinese Kitchen Knife seems to be fulfilling quite an essential purpose in the kitchen.
Why Did We Like It?
As we mentioned earlier, the Chinese Cleaver is a vital tool in a kitchen, especially if you have a lot of dicing and chopping to do and very few tools to do it in. The Misono Molybdenum Steel Small Chinese Kitchen Knife does many functions that a standard Chinese Cleaver does.
The blade is made of a unique Molybdenum Steel that offers knife corrosion resistance and durability. The blade has a high-quality cutting performance and can be resharpened effortlessly if you find it getting dull after constant usage. The tall blade on this knife helps cut a sturdy vegetable like cauliflower or cabbage and thick chunks of meat.
In addition to its sharp blade, this knife comes with a Quince wood handle. This offers the knife a perfect balance, which helps cut through food easily without needing to put in too much effort.
What Could’ve Been Better?
One feature of Japanese Knives like this one is that its blades are made to thin cutting edges. This helps provide sharper and thinner cuts on vegetable slices. But that also means you need to provide it with extra protection and avoid chipping and cracking from happening. As with a number of these knives, avoid cutting bone with it.
Pros
- Molybdenum steel provides a sharper blade
- Quince wood provides a firmer grip on the handle
- Offers perfect balance while cutting
- Useful for multi-purpose chopping function
Cons
- Constant care needed for the blade’s edge
- Avoid cutting through bone
Chinese Cleaver Buyer’s Guide
Buying the perfect Chinese Cleaver is not a problem if you know what to look for. When they think of the Cleaver, many people imagine a large knife that chops anything from vegetables to thick bones. That’s not the actual case with a Chinese Cleaver.
The Chinese Cleaver may look like a regular meat cleaver, but it has a far lighter design and a thinner edge. It is quite a versatile knife and an essential tool in the kitchen. Here are a few key points that will help anyone looking to buy a Chinese Cleaver.
Blade Material
Traditionally, the blades of a Chinese Cleaver were made of carbon steel. But the material is prone to rust and, as a result, can leave a metallic taste when cutting ingredients. However, most cleavers manufactured today are a combination of carbon steel and stainless steel. This makes the blade less prone to corrosion and rust. A number of manufacturers also prefer to use just stainless steel blades.
Handle
When shopping for a good cleaver, always pay utmost importance to the handle. The handle always differs in design, length, and material depending on the maker. Your preference could depend on what feels comfortable to you. If a traditional handle sounds good, then go for a model with a wooden handle. Always remember that alternative material handles are durable and easy to clean as well.
Weight and Comfort
Before you buy a Chinese Cleaver, make sure to test it out. This is mainly to ensure that the weight feels comfortable enough in your hands. Too much weight can make the knife difficult to control. The cleaver should have a solid feel but shouldn’t be too heavy. If your hands hurt when using the cleaver, try a different one.
Verdict
The Chinese Cleaver is designed to withstand heavy use in the kitchen and can be easily maneuvered. The model you need depends on the food prepared in the kitchen. After all, there’s no point in buying a knife that doesn’t fit well in your hand or can’t be controlled.
Before bidding adieu, we’d like to point out a couple of our favorites.
The TUO 7 inch Chinese Cleaver is a perfect all-around Chinese Cleaver that can do most of the cutting in your kitchen. You could also opt for the Dengjia 5Cr15Mov Chinese Multi-Functional Knife, which does almost all the functions of a regular knife.
Whichever option you pick, make sure it suits the needs in your kitchen.
We’ll see you soon with another review!
Related Articles
13 Best Pastry Mat [Reviewed & Buyer’s Guide]
9 Best Tamale Steamer [Reviewed & Buyer’s Guide]
11 Best Chef Knife Bags Under the Microscope
11 Best Electric Knife Sharpeners
How to Build a Hidden Cabinet Knife Drawer Safe For Children
