The Best Meat Cleavers (Review) in 2020

Kicking off our list is Zelite Infinity, with their beautiful – and practical – meat cleaver. Featuring a razor sharp edge, combined with satisfying heft, this Chinese cleaver is perfect for a wide range of tasks. With this knife, you can cut, chop, de-bone, or cleave any meat. It’s great for vegetables, too, making short work of tougher produce like yam or sweet potato.

Heavy enough for a satisfying chop, but light enough for manoeuvrability, the cleaver strikes the perfect balance for comfortable use – even during long cooking sessions. The blade is formed from Germain stainless steel, which won’t rust, dent, or wear out quickly thanks to its high carbon content. This type of steel is known for its excellent edge retention, too, so you won’t need to sharpen the blade very often. At the other end, a full tang, ergonomic handle provides excellent grip and control. Overall, this sharp, durable, and attractive knife will be at home in professional and home kitchens alike.

The next cleaver to earn a  spot on our list is made by Utopia Kitchen. With a seven inch edge, razor-sharp edge, the knife can make its way through anything from vegetables to bone almost effortlessly. Made from 100% stainless steel, in a sturdy one-piece design, the cleaver is resistant to rust and corrosion – so much so that it’s even dishwasher safe.

Its handle is carefully molded to allow a comfortable grip and easy maneuverability. Thanks to the excellent edge retention, it won’t need to be sharpened often either. Designed and built with professionals in mind, the blade is up to the task of domestic and commercial use alike.

TUO has also earned a spot on our list, with its Chinese style chef’s knife. The blade is constructed from Japanese Damascus steel, featuring a hammered finish for a beautiful and unique appearance. The steel is extremely hard and durable, making for impressive edge retention, corrosion resistance, and maximum sharpness. All this adds up to a knife that can cut through almost anything with very little effort.

At the other end, an ergonomic handle allows for a comfortable grip, making the cleaver easy to use even for extended periods. It is carved from polished pakkawood, known for its exceptional durability and striking appearance. The cleaver includes an attractive presentation box, making it the perfect gift for the culinary enthusiast in your life. Every TUO knife includes a 100% money-back guarantee.

Topchef is a well-known name in the culinary world – producing high quality but affordable products for amateurs and professionals alike. This ethos has clearly been channeled towards their versatile seven-inch cleaver. Its ice-tempered blade is durable and rust-resistant. It’s also designed to retain an edge extremely well, cutting back on the time you’ll need to spend on sharpening.

The cutting edge has been hollow ground to reduce the risk of ingredients sticking. This impressive blade flows seamlessly into a full steel handle, connected to a non-slip coating that keeps the knife firmly in your control, helping to prevent any kitchen mishaps. It’s deliberately shaped for a comfortable hold, so you’ll have no trouble using it for long periods of time. At under $20, Topchef’s cleaver is a sound investment for any budding chef, designed to last for years to come. With seven inches of blade, it’s the perfect length for general use. It also has a little weight behind it, easily supporting your chopping.

This Dexter cleaver is the next knife to make it onto our list. At over two pounds, it’s the perfect heavy-duty option – for when you need a little weight behind your chopping. This design makes the knife ideal for meat preparation. It can smash, or slice through, bone without a second thought. Although it’s heavy, the knife has been carefully designed for balanced use, making it surprisingly comfortable to handle.

Made from high-quality steel, the blade itself is strong, durable, and offers excellent edge retention. At the other end, a handle provides the stability you need for safely tacking tough foodstuffs. This handle is carved from attractive rosewood, known for its resistance to decay, and regular grain. The wood is securely connected to the blade tang with a series of brass rivets, for maximum security. It’s a little longer than many cleavers on the market, offering a blade length of eight inches.

The next cleaver to earn a spot on our list is by Epica. Their professional quality knife is ideal for home and commercial kitchens alike. It’s perfectly weight balanced, allowing comfortable usage time after time. Thanks to its precision cut, hollow ground edge, it’ll slice through almost any ingredient with ease, and without sticking.

Made from high grade, ice tempered steel, the blade itself retains a razor-sharp edge, and won’t ever rust. The handle is ergonomic, too, carefully shaped for comfortable cutting, even during long periods of use. A grip is bonded seamlessly to the handle, providing an extra larger of comfort and maneuverability. Each Epica cleaver comes with a 100% lifetime warranty, demonstrating the faith that they have in their product. Users say this excellent value knife is easy to use, super sharp, and durable too.

Dalstrong have also impressed us, with their heavy duty “Ravenger” knife. The versatile blade is ideal for chopping vegetables, meats, and more. It features a razor sharp blade, achieved with high carbon German steel, hand polished for a long-lasting edge. Its award-winning design looks great in any kitchen – weighty enough to slide through ingredients with ease, and featuring a full tang pakkawood handle. This extra thick handle is ergonomically shaped for improved manoeuvrability, and triple-riveted for a lasting finish. Thanks to its laminated and polished blade, the knife is incredibly easy to keep clean, too. The carefully tapered blade offers the perfect amount of flexibility, while minimising slicing resistance. Over 75,000 chefs have switched to Dalstrong, and we can see why.

If you’re searching for the ultimate Chinese vegetable cleaver, look no further than Shun. Their carefully crafted knife isn’t just a tool – it’s practically a work of art! The beautiful seven inch blade is made with 32 layers of Damascus stainless steel, known for its durability and excellent edge retention. It’s easy to sharpen, too, saving you considerable time in the kitchen.

The unique wood grain pattern on the blade not only looks amazing, it actually reduces friction while you cut, making for an overall smoother experience. Its ‘D’ shaped handle fits into your palm with ease, offering ultimate comfort and control during use, helping you to chop with confidence. Each Shun knife is produced with care in Seji City, Japan – the home of samurai sword making – so you can rest assured it comes with an impeccable pedigree. Overall this knife is a melting pot of Chinese and Japanese cleaver styles, making it a great all-rounder for any kitchen. Bear in mind that unlike some cleavers, this option isn’t designed to cope with bone.

For meat-lovers, this Chinese meat cleaver could be everything you’re looking for. Forged from German steel, the blade offers excellent strength, durability, and rust resistance. It also holds an edge very well, so it won’t require too much sharpening, either. Each blade is mirror-polished by hand, for ultra-thin slicing with very little effort.

The knife’s handle blends seamlessly into its blade. This ergonomic contact point is secured in place with three solid rivets, keeping blade and handle firmly together for confident chopping. A protective bolster at the end of the handle keeps your fingers safely away from the cutting edge. Meanwhile, the surprisingly lightweight build of the knife makes it comfortable to use for almost any chopping task. Although it tackles meat with ease, bear in mind that this particular blade is too fine to smash through bone.

No knife buying guide would be complete without mentioning Chicago cutlery, and their 6.5 inch Belmont cleaver is here to nab the final spot on our list. The professional quality blade can easily slice through vegetables, thick cuts of meat, and even soft bones. Precision sharpened for a smooth cutting experience, the stainless steel blade offers excellent performance for everyday use.

The cleaver also features a sturdy full-tang handle, coated with durable polymer for a smooth and comfortable grip. A full-tang handle helps to reinforce the blade, adding balance and control when you need it most. Because of its carbon content, the steel can stand up against rust for years – in fact, each Chicago Cutlery knife includes a limited lifetime warranty.