What is needed for a perfect meat dish? Quality meat, spices, and cooking are undoubted of great importance. However, the crucial stage of meat preparation is chopping, which requires a high-quality meat cleaver.
Best Meat Cleaver
Since I’ve been cooking for 20 years, I have used and changed numerous meat cleavers. From my experience, a terrible meat cleaver can give you headaches as well as ruin your meat.
Not to mention that there is always a chance of seriously hurting yourself while handling a poor-quality cleaver. Therefore, you should think twice when choosing one.
What is the difference between cleavers and other kitchen knives? Why is it necessary to have a cleaver in your kitchen?
A clever is a huge knife with a broad blade. It can come in different shapes, but in most cases, it looks like a rectangular-bladed hatchet. It differs from other knives because it is used for cutting through bones and thicker parts of meat, which can be an impossible or strenuous job to do with regular kitchen knives.
In my opinion, everyone should have at least one cleaver in their kitchen because it facilitates the preparation of almost any dish.
Usage of a meat cleaver
A cleaver is primarily used for chopping thinner and softer bones, like chicken bones. It can also easily separate ribs and joints.
However, a meat cleaver is not intended for chopping hard, thick and solid bones, such as beef bones. For that, the bone saw is used instead.
Apart from this, a cleaver is not necessarily used only in meat preparation, but it can also be used for cutting different kinds of fruits and vegetables, especially hard ones, like squash or pumpkin.
Moreover, you can make use of its broadside in crushing some vegetables (garlic, for example).
Things to look for when looking for a meat cleaver
Even though they all seem to be the same, there are some differences between meat cleavers. They might not be obvious at first sight, but they are usually very important.
As I am someone who has a large experience with kitchen tools and gadgets, I am here to advise you on which characteristics you should pay attention to while picking the most appropriate meat cleaver.
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Versatility
Based on their sharpness and size, different meat cleavers might be specialized for cutting through different types of meat and bones.
If you are not a professional chef, you should think about buying a multipurpose cleaver, which can be used for all kinds of meat as well as fruits and vegetables.
Picking such a cleaver will save you a lot of time because you won’t have to change knives while preparing your meal. You might save some money too.
Handle
Most of the cleavers’ blades are made of stainless steel, but there are some differences when it comes to handles. Some handles are made of wood, and others are made of steel.
Also, there are one-piece cleavers whose handles are not separated from blades. It is very important for a cleaver to have a good handle because it should be easy to grip and swing. In that way, it makes your chopping much easier, and there are smaller chances that you will get hurt.
My advice is also to keep in mind that a handle should feel comfortable in your hand since constant hacking may be very tiring.
Size
Even though all meat cleavers have broad blades and are generally large, there are still differences between cleavers when it comes to their dimensions.
Logically, for tough meat, a broader blade should be used, while soft meat is easily handled with narrow edges.
Another thing to bear in mind is that larger cleavers demand more strength. So, if you are not a very strong person, you should probably consider buying a smaller one.
Balance
Balance is also a very important matter when it comes to cleavers. The weight of a blade and a handle should be well balanced if you want your cleaver to function properly. The cleaver should not be too heavy because it will be very difficult to use it.
On the other hand, if your cleaver is too light, it is highly probable that you are dealing with a poor quality cleaver, which will be damaged sooner than you have expected. Light cleavers may not be able to cut through the meat at once but require several tries.
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Most Recommended Meat Cleaver You Can Get – Reviews 2022
Utopia Kitchen 7 Inches Cleaver Knife Chopper
The blade is made of stainless steel, and in comparison to some other cleavers, it is very sharp. I didn’t have any problems while cutting different kinds of meat, even the thicker ones. It also separates bones easily.
What’s more, chopping was effortless. For the woman of my weight, the size of the cleaver was just fine, and it was easy to handle. Also, the weight is well balanced, which made it even more suitable to use.
What I didn’t like very much about this cleaver is its handle. It is also made of stainless steel, but there is an extra plastic part added to it, which is used for gripping.
That plastic proved not to be highly durable, and after some time, it detached from the rest of the cleaver. Even while it was in one piece, it was a bit slippery, and it was nearly impossible to use it with wet hands.
Things I Liked
- A blade is very sharp and cuts precisely.
- The weight of the cleaver is well balanced.
- It can cut through various kinds of meat and vegetables.
- A reasonable price
- Easy to handle and does not require much strength
Things I Didn’t Like
- It has low maintenance.
- Poor quality of a handle
DALSTRONG Cleaver – Gladiator Series – German HC Steel – 7″ (178 mm) – Sheath
This 7-inch Dalstrong cleaver cost a bit more expensive when compared to other cleavers I have tried, but let’s say that it justified its price.
I used it for various purposes, and it proved to be good in all cases. It is possible to cut through bones and meat and various vegetables as well.
The weight is well balanced, and I didn’t need to put a lot of effort into hacking. It is enough to swing it once, and it will cut through the meat for sure.
The handle is made of luxury black pakka wood and is fastened with three metal rivets which makes sure that the handle won’t loosen up.
The wood is polished, and it will probably postpone its splintering.
It nicely fitted my hand, and it wasn’t tiring to hold it. Also, it is not slippery at all, and I didn’t have problems using it with wet hands.
The quality of the cleaver seems to be just fine, and I think that it might last for a longer period of time.
Things I Liked
- It can be used for cutting various kinds of meat and vegetables
- It is lightweight and easy to use
- A luxury handle that is very comfortable to use
- It is not slippery at all
- It is very durable
Things I Didn’t Like
- The price is very high when compared to other cleavers
Winco 8″ Heavy Duty Chinese Cleaver with Wooden Handle
The biggest advantage of this 8-inch Chinese meat cleaver over others is the price; it is probably an affordable price to everyone. I tried to use it for chopping all kinds of meat, but it didn’t work fine for all of them.
For example, it can easily cut through chicken and thin bones, but the problem was with thicker parts of pork and beef.
So, if you are thinking about buying this meat cleaver, you should bear in mind that its usage is rather restricted. Also, it is not heavy at all, and it might be one of the reasons why it couldn’t cut through all kinds of meat.
As far as the handle, it is made of wood. While I used it, I didn’t have any problems with the handle itself. It is pleasant in hand, and it doesn’t slip away.
As expected, the quality of this meat cleaver is questionable, both when it comes to the blade and the handle. The blade needs to be sharpened from time to time, and the wooden handle might eventually start splintering.
Things I Liked
- The price is very affordable.
- The handle is comfortable to hold, and it doesn’t slip away.
Things I Didn’t Like
- It is a poor-quality cleaver, which isn’t very durable.
- Its usage is restricted to specific meat and bones only.
- Too lightweight
Forged Meat and Vegetable Cleaver Knife by Zelite Infinity (7 inch) – Alpha-Royal German Series
This forged, heavy-duty Meat Cleaver from the Alpha-Royal German Series by Zelite Infinity is most definitely one of the most beautiful vegetable and meat cleavers I have set my eyes on.
It comes at a premium price but also is of premium quality and is backed by a lifetime warranty.
The high-end 7-inch cleaver has been designed to provide the perfect balance, which flaunts a razor-sharp blade, which makes it very easy and safe to use for all kinds of food prep.
This amazing cleaver can handle all food ingredients without any problems, so you can forget about using other knives when preparing a meal with it in your kitchen.
It features a riveted and rounded comfortable handle with a full tang for durability. It also has a 15-piece mosaic rivet and a tapered bolster.
The German steel blade is razor-sharp and is 4mm thick, which is about 40% thicker than the standard blade of cleavers.
The blade is made of German High Carbon Stainless Steel ThyssenKrupp X50 Cr MoV 15. It is resistant to corrosion, rust, staining, and breaking.
It has exceptional blade retention and comes with a leather sheath to keep it safe and to keep you safe when it is not in use.
The blade is hand polished and sharpened by hand with the Honbazuke method. This ensures that it will slice precisely every time and won’t slide of dangerously from the food.
It is pricey, but given its quality, it is a jewel which anyone who enjoys cooking will love having in their kitchen.
Things I liked
- A gorgeous design
- Made of German High Carbon Steel
- Very comfortable to hold
- Slices each slice perfectly without sliding or slipping dangerously
- It almost does the slicing by itself, with minimal effort
- The blade remains razor-sharp even after prolonged use
- The blade is thicker than those of other cleavers
- Full tang design and a tapered bolster
- It comes with a premium leather sheath
- It is sold with a lifetime warranty by Zelite Infinity
Things I didn’t like
- It is on the high-end when it comes to price
Imarku 7-Inch Stainless-Steel Chopper-Cleaver-Butcher Knife
Another 7- inch cleaver, but a little bit pricier in comparison to others. Because of that, I had higher expectations for this one, most of which were fulfilled. The greatest thing about this cleaver is that it can be literary used for all kinds of chopping, dicing, slicing, and mincing.
While I used it, I did not need any other knife during the process of preparation because this cleaver managed to replace them all. The blade is really sharp and proved to be of excellent durability. If I compare it to other cleavers which I have used, this one is rather lightweight.
However, it was not too much, and it did not affect its performance and quality.
The handle is made of pakka wood, which seems to be all right. It wasn’t unpleasant to hold it. On the contrary, it was really comfortable in hand. Also, I didn’t have any problems with slipping, which is very significant to me.
The thing I appreciate most about this cleaver is its lifetime warranty, which probably shows the manufacturer’s concern about the customer’s satisfaction with their product.
Things I Liked
- The blade proved to be durable.
- It can be used for all kinds of cutting.
- It is very lightweight, but still not too much.
- The handle is comfortable to hold, and it doesn’t slip away.
- It has a lifetime warranty.
Things I Didn’t Like
- More expensive than other cleavers
Which of Тhese Цleavers is the Бest Оption?
Choosing the perfect one is always a tough job.
All the cleavers mentioned above have their pros and cons, and the best way to pick the right one is to think about which one can fulfill all your needs carefully.
The one which I personally would prefer to use in my kitchen is the Forged Meat and Vegetable Cleaver Knife by Zelite Infinity (7-inch) – Alpha-Royal German Series meat and vegetable cleaver. It comes with a razor-sharp blade out of the box and will slice easily through all kinds of foods, including some small bones.
This is a beautifully made meat cleaver, which is of such high quality that I am pretty sure that it will last a lifetime. And if it doesn’t – the manufacturer has backed it with a lifetime warranty for peace of mind!
Also, the cleaver is multipurpose, and it can replace all other kitchen knives during the preparation of any kind of dish.
Finally, the most important thing is that it is very easy and safe to use. 🙂
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