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 8 best options.
Without further ado, read on to know more.
Best Chinese Cleavers
Here is the list of the 8 best Chinese cleavers that you can use to cut, chop, mince, and slice a variety of ingredients.
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.
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
Weight: 0.65lbs | Blade Length: 7" | Blade Material: High-Carbon Stainless Steel | Handle Material: Pakkawood, Steel
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.
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
Weight: 0.1lbs | Blade Length: 8" x 3.5" | Blade Material: High-Carbon Steel | Handle Material: Japanese Oak Wood, Steel
The JapanBargain Japanese Butcher Knife is not similar to the Fiery Phoenix 7” Cleaver or the Winco Chinese Cleaver. An intimidating-looking knife with a 7-inch length and 3.5-inch width, the JapanBargain Japanese Butcher Knife suits almost every one of your cutting and slicing needs.
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
Weight: 0.75lbs | Blade Length: 7" x 3.5" | Blade Material: High-Carbon Stainless Steel | Handle Material: Japanese Oak Wood, Steel
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.
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 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
Weight: 0.83lbs | Blade Length: 7" | Blade Material: German Steel | Handle Material: Pakkawood, Steel
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.
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
Weight: 0.86lbs | Blade Length: 7.5" x 3.8" | Blade Material: Japanese Damascus Blade, German Stainless Steel | Handle Material: Wenge Wood, Steel
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
Weight: 0.22lbs | Blade Length: 7" | Blade Material: Stainless Steel | Handle Material: ABS
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.
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 of 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
Weight: 0.72lbs | Blade Length: 8.1" x 3.3" | Blade Material: High-Carbon German Stainless Steel | Handle Material: Pearwood, Steel
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 their 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
Weight: 1.08lbs | Blade Length: 7.5" | Blade Material: Molybdenum Steel | Handle Material: Quince Wood, Steel
Best Chinese Cleaver Comparison Table
| Product | Weight | Blade Length | Blade Material | Handle Material |
|---|
| TUO TCO702 | 0.65lbs | 7" | High-Carbon Stainless Steel | Pakkawood, Steel |
| Winco KC-101 | 0.1lbs | 8" x 3.5" | High-Carbon Steel | Japanese Oak Wood, Steel |
| JapanBargain 1564 | 0.75lbs7 | 7" x 3.5" | High-Carbon Stainless Steel | Japanese Oak Wood, Steel |
| Mueller WD-77 | 0.83lbs | 7" | German Steel | Pakkawood, Steel |
| WALLOP Cleaver Knife | 0.86lbs | 7.5" x 3.8" | Japanese Damascus Blade, German Stainless Steel | Wenge Wood, Steel |
| Victorinox 5.4063.18 | 0.22lbs | 7" | Stainless Steel | ABS |
| KITORY Cleaver | 0.72lbs | 8.1" x 3.3" | High-Carbon German Stainless Steel | Pearwood, Steel |
| Misono 661 | 1.08lbs | 7.5" | Molybdenum Steel | Quince Wood, Steel |
Buying Guide For The Best Chinese Cleaver
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.
Chinese Cleavers FAQs
Though it might look intimidating, a Chinese cleaver can be easily mastered with practice. Its wide blade can help with the control and precision of cutting.
Traditionally, the push cut is used, sliding the cleaver forward or downward while maintaining contact with the chopping board. It’s best to start with softer ingredients and gradually move towards tougher ones as you gain control and precision.
Sharpening a Chinese cleaver involves the same techniques used for other kitchen knives. Regular honing is crucial to maintain a sharp edge.
It’s best to hand wash your Chinese cleaver after use with mild soap and warm water. Dry it immediately to prevent any oxidization, particularly with high-carbon steel blades.
Conclusion
Wrapping up our culinary journey, one can see the importance of having the right cleaver in the kitchen. These reliable tools not only play a pivotal role in cooking but also ensure precision and ease when tackling various cuts of meat, vegetables, and even hard shells like coconuts. After sifting through the features, pros, and cons of 8 top Chinese cleavers, here are our top three expert recommendations to consider:
For those in search of comfort while chopping, the TUO TCO702 Vegetable Cleaver is an ideal option. Its high-carbon stainless-steel blade and Pakkawood handle provide a perfect balance of sharpness and grip, making it an excellent addition to your kitchen arsenal.
For multifunctional use and kitchen versatility, the Winco KC-101 Blade Chinese Cleaver is a good choice. This sturdy cleaver impresses not only with its robust construction but also with its versatility in handling both veggies and meat, making it an essential tool in your kitchen.
If durability and longevity top your list, the JapanBargain 1564 Japanese Butcher Knife is the right choice. Besides being easy to handle and clean, it stands out with its rust-resistant feature that guarantees its long-term effectiveness.
So, whether you’re a home cook or a professional chef, owning the right cleaver can elevate your cooking experience and make meal preparation a breeze. Don’t miss out on these top options. Enjoy your kitchen time and make those precise cuts with ease and flair.
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