If you like to make your own cuts of meat and bone then you probably need a meat cleaver in your kitchen. However, with the many brands available on the market today, it’s a bit bewildering to choose the right one. That’s why I have shortlisted your choices to five products and I’ll reveal my pick for the best meat cleaver for cutting bone at the end of this article.
Living with a family of culinary experts, I have always seen them using a meat cleaver. Nothing can beat a meat cleaver when slicing thick slabs of meat or cutting through the bone. Not all meat cleaver is perfect for chopping the bone. You will need a meat cleaver with a special feature to cut bones. Before you started with your shopping list, check my guide and reviews.
What Is A Cleaver Knife?
Before we go to the real deal, let’s describe what a meat cleaver truly is. A meat cleaver is a valuable asset in the kitchen if you like to chop tough ingredients. Its torque and dedicated edge can cut through thick slabs of meat, dense cartilage, and even bones.
A cleaver features a square blade that’s often connected to a wooden handle. As compared to other types of knives, a clever is designed with a hard edge to endure constant heavy blows. Its made of soft steel and has a thick blade with San Mai construction.
Wait, soft steel?
Ironically, soft steel or mild steel doesn’t damage easily. Its thickness can handle any impacts as compared to thin, hardened steel. This enables you to use blunt force instead of relying on the sharpness of the blade.
Why Do You Need a Meat Cleaver?
You will need a meat cleaver to prepare meat for your grill or smoker, as well as for general use in the kitchen. It will not only be difficult to cut through certain cuts, but it could also damage expensive kitchen knives.
You can reap several benefits from investing in a good cleaver knife or you can make your own meat cleaver.
Benefits of a Good Cleaver Knife
- Cuts through meat, bones, cartilage, and hard vegetables with ease.
- An investment in a good meat cleaver means a knife that will last a long time.
- An ergonomic handle on a more expensive model allows for more precise chopping.
- A better model makes more precise, powerful cuts and has a better balance.
Consequences of a Bad Cleaver Knife
- Clever knives that are inexpensive can start out great but quickly lose their edge.
- Having defective or low-quality tangs or using poor-quality materials can also pose a safety hazard.
- Models that are poorly balanced won’t cut as well.
- In addition, their handles can be uncomfortable, slipping through your grasp or causing injury to your hands.
- If you purchase a poor-quality cleaver knife, it is likely that you will need to replace it soon after.
Types Of Bone Cutting Meat Cleaver
There are actually two types of meat cleavers available on the market. There are The Chinese cleaver and Western Cleavers.
Western Cleavers for Bone Cutting
A typical Western cleaver has a wide-blade design. Its thick spine along with its weight can easily cut through poultry or meat bones. These varieties do a better job of chopping bones and meat than a Chinese cleaver.
This type of cleaver is great for medium and small-sized bones. If you’re working for large bones, you may need to use a band saw or ax first then chop the meat into smaller pieces with a meat cleaver.
Chinese Cleavers for Bone Cutting
The Chinese variety also has rectangular wide blades but they have a narrower spine than Western cleavers. This makes them suitable for removing meat from bones. Their thinner blades also make them perfect for softer foods.
As you might notice, Chinese cleavers are graded from 1 to 4. The Chinese chef knife is one of the best cleaver knives for the kitchen. If you want the thickness to be as close as the regular Western cleaver, choose grade 1.
Best Meat Cleaver For Cutting Bone
1. CPK Elite Stainless Steel Professional Meat Cleaver
The CPK Elite Cleaver is made of a 7-inch premium stainless steel blade, which is rust-resistant and easy to maintain. This cleaver is versatile because it can also be used for other tasks such as mincing, slicing, dicing, and cutting meat and bone.
With its sharp and heavy blade, it cuts through the toughest meat and is even capable of precision cuts. This cleaver has a full tang design making it one solid piece from the tip of the blade to the end of the handle.
You can bet that the blade won’t fall off incidentally. The handle is ergonomically designed to be non-slip and comfortable. Aside from the knife, this package also includes a free odor removing the soap.
Pros
- Built with a rust-resistant stainless steel blade
- Designed with a hole for easy storage
- Includes an odor removing soap
- Has a full tang design
- The handle is comfortable and has a nice grip
- Dishwasher-safe and easy to maintain
- Versatile functions- chopping, mincing, dicing, etc.
- Features a 30-day money-back guarantee
Cons
- A bit heavy for chopping and mincing
- Wish it has a warranty or a money-back guarantee
2. Dalstrong Meat Cleaver-Gladiator Series
The Dalstrong Cleaver is a versatile knife with remarkable craftsmanship. Its full tang design makes it one solid piece of a cutting tool. The blade is made of German steel so you can expect the high performance of this knife.
This cleaver is carefully tapered to improve flexibility and hardness. I like its Pakkawood handle because it gives a good grip and great maneuverability. It’s triple-riveted so the handle stays securely in place even with some constant heavy beating.
Pros
- Made of high-quality German steel
- Has a full tang design and triple riveted for durability
- Made of an ergonomic Pakka wood handle for comfort
- Has a great balance and sharp edge
- Tapered for flexibility and sturdiness
- Resistant from stains, rust, and corrosion
- Includes a sheath for easy storage
- Offers a money-back guarantee
Cons
- A bit expensive as compared to other similar cleavers
- Not built with a hole on the blade
- The sharp edge dents easily
3. Utopia Kitchen 7-Inch Stainless Steel Chopper
The Utopia Kitchen Cleaver is a heavy-duty cutting tool meant for the toughest demands in the kitchen. Its blade is made from 100% stainless steel making it able to resist rust and keep its edge for a long time.
The ergonomic handle is made of ABS + 430 material to give that good grip and easy maneuver. This multipurpose knife can be used to cut through big slabs of meat, fruits, and vegetables.
Although handwashing is recommended, this knife is dishwasher-safe meaning that you can put in the dishwasher for hassle-free cleaning. It’s full tang so the blade stays together with the handle in one piece for durability.
Pros
- Has a full tang design for durability
- A multipurpose knife- cleaver, chopper, and butcher
- Made of ergonomically designed handle for comfort
- Made of rust- and corrosion-resistant stainless steel blade
- Comes with a good sale price
- Dishwasher-safe for hassle-free cleaning
- Easy to maneuver and maintain
- Has a built-in hole for easy storage
Cons
- Doesn’t offer a replacement option for damaged purchases
- The handle cracks easily
- The blade gets dull so fast
4. iMarku 7-Inch Stainless Steel Chopper-Cleaver Knife
The iMarku Cleaver is a multi-use knife that can also be used for several cooking methods, such as mincing, dicing, and slicing. While it slices meat easily, it can also chop vegetables into small cubes. The lightweight design allows you to cut items at high speed.
The best feature of this cleaver is its ergonomic Pakka handle which gives an antibacterial effect on your hands. The stainless steel blade is rust-resistant and seems to hold its edge for a very long time.
Although this isn’t dishwasher-safe, cleaning is easy because the mirror polishing of the blade can be washed with mild soap and water.
Pros
- Made of smooth, rust-resistant stainless steel blade
- Cleans easily with water and mild soap
- Has a hole on top of the blade for easy storage
- Gives a comfortable grip
- The Pakka wood handle has an antibacterial effect on your hands
- Comes in a neat package
- Offers multiple cutting functions
- Offers a 100% satisfaction guarantee and lifetime warranty
Cons
- Not dishwasher-safe
- Not as durable as expected, especially the handle
- Not a full tang blade so the blade may fall off
5. Professional Stainless Steel Butcher Knife
This Professional Stainless Steel Butcher Knife is a heavy-duty Japanese meat cleaver that can also cut vegetables, fish, and fruits. It’s dishwasher-safe so cleaning will be fast and easy. The whole knife is made of stainless steel for rust resistance and durability.
It comes with a lifetime guarantee to provide refunds or replacements if you feel unsatisfied with the product. The opposite side with the ridges is meant to break bones easily.
It has a built-in hole on the blade so you can hang it in your kitchen but keep it away from the kids and pets because the blade is very sharp.
Pros
- Comes at an affordable price
- Made of stainless steel for rust-resistance
- Has a hole on the blade for convenient storage
- Multipurpose as it can chop, mince, and slice different types of food
- Supports a lifetime guarantee and money-back guarantee
- Dishwasher-safe for ease of cleaning
Cons
- The handle may still get slippery when wet
- Too lightweight for its purpose of cutting through bones and meat
- Not tough enough to chop meat with bones
What To Consider For Buying Bone Cutting Meat Cleaver?
As I said earlier than not every cleaver knife is perfect for chopping bone. You have to keep your eye open to some feature that demands the quality of cutting bone. Let’s discuss some features a bone-cutting cleaver knife should have.
Blade
As I told you earlier, there are two main types of meat cleaver blade profiles, the Western cleaver, and the Chinese Cleaver.
Western knives resemble small hatchets or ax-like tools with thick spines. As you move down the blade, the thickness continues down until you reach the cutting edge, which is generally between 12 and 25 degrees. You’ll have more brute force and much greater durability with this design, but there will be less precision. This will be useful for cutting through bones and larger cuts of meat.
Unlike the Japanese-style knives, the Chinese meat cleaver is more versatile, being used not just for cutting meat but also for chopping vegetables. In addition, its blade is thinner and its cutting angle is lower than that of the Japanese knives. Despite the fact that they are more accurate when cutting, they are less durable and stiff when cutting very tough cuts and bones.
Versatility
Some cleavers are made not only for slicing through the meat but also for other cutting functions. For instance, CPK Elite is also good for cutting, mincing, and dicing vegetables. This versatility can save you the cost of getting another knife.
Ergonomic, Non-Slip Handle
For comfort and safety, make sure that the handle of the cleaver is ergonomically designed. It should support your wrist and allow you to do a powerful cutting motion without the extra weight.
Also, make sure that the handle is not slippery. The last thing you need is to have the blade of the cleaver slip from your hands and end up slicing your finger instead of the meat.
If you like having an antibacterial effect, look for a Pakka wood handle that is also comfortable to use.
Durability
Just like with any other purchase, durability is key in choosing the best meat cleaver. Usually, full-tang knives are very strong because they come in one solid piece.
Investing in a rust-proof blade, like stainless steel, can make a big difference because you’ll be using the cleaver mostly in heavy-duty applications.
Built-In Hole
A meat cleaver may consume a bit of room in your drawer. For this reason, look for a cleaver with a built-in hole. The hole allows you to hang your cleaver on a rack or wall.
All of the cleavers I reviewed below have holes on them except for the Dalstrong Cleaver. You might wonder why the hole is built on the blade, not on the handle. The answer is simply for safety.
You don’t want the blade hanging freely because it might bump into your kitchen walls or worse slice your finger.
Ease Of Maintenance
You may look for a dishwasher-safe cleaver if you don’t want to risk your finger manually cleaning the blade. Although manual washing is recommended, there’s nothing more convenient than letting your dishwasher do the job.
Usually, a stainless steel blade is easy to maintain because it resists rust and washes rather easily.
Price
Contrary to popular belief, being expensive doesn’t always mean a good thing. In the case of meat cleavers, the cheaper models are alright since they don’t need to be razor-sharp. Selecting expensive German or Japanese cleavers may be unwise since a cleaver is meant to get beaten up.
Money-Back Guarantee
I always look for a money-back guarantee when buying a kitchen appliance or equipment because it allows me to ask for a replacement or a refund. I suggest that you do the same so you get peace of mind in case you bought a defective model.
Before you purchase the cleaver make sure that you check the manufacturer’s return policy so you get the refund or replacement as promised.
Our verdict
Looking at the reviews above, it’s easy to point out that my pick is the CPK Elite Stainless Steel Professional Cleaver Knife. This is because it has the ability to become the best meat cleaver for cutting bone.
CPK Elite is versatile, easy to maintain, made of an ergonomically designed handle, offers a money-back guarantee, and best of all durable.
As compared to the rest of the products, CPK Elite includes a nice package and an odor-removing soap. This makes this a nice gift to your family and friends.
Final Thoughts
Did you have fun reading the reviews for the best meat cleaver for cutting bone? You should consider getting a meat cleaver if you like to chop through thick meats with bones. Of course, take heed of my advice because I don’t want you to throw away the money on something poor in quality.
If you’ve tried any of these meat cleaver brands or want to suggest a better brand, post them here in the comment section. Please share this article with your friends if you like it.
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