The Best Cleaver Knives In 2022
Photo Studio One/Shutterstock By Anita Surewicz/Updated: Dec. 20, 2022 11:06 am EST
We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. While cleavers aren’t as popular as kitchen knives, in many ways they are just as versatile. Ideal for chopping up vegetables, fruit, herbs, meat, fish, and even splitting bones, a high-quality cleaver knife can be worth its weight in gold. Due to their large blades, cleaver knives can also be used for crushing ingredients such as garlic or ginger, as well as transferring them from a cutting board to a bowl or pan.
Most modern meat cleavers are forged from stainless steel, which makes them not only durable but also corrosion and stain-resistant. It also means that they are easy to sharpen with a whetstone. Ranging in size and weight, cleaver knives feature rectangular blades to provide knuckle clearance during use. They are also relatively sturdy, measuring high on the Hardness Rockwell Scale or HRC. Most knives fall between HRC 53 and HRC 63 with 53 indicating the softer end of the spectrum and 63 being very hard, as per Savernake Knives. If you find all of this confusing, don’t worry — we’ve dug up the best cleavers on the market in 2022.
How we selected products
Serhii Opikanets/Shutterstock
While cleavers are generally larger than kitchen knives, they are by no means all created equal. And we aren’t just talking about size. Cleaver knives range in quality, design, and characteristics. And the countless available brands and models can turn a simple shopping expedition into a mind-boggling experience. To help you select the right cleaver knife for your specific needs, we have spent hours sifting through some of the best products on the market. We have also consulted both community and expert reviews to ensure that the cleavers on our list meet or exceed your expectations.
In our quest to bring you the best cleaver knives in 2022, we looked at a number of factors, including each utensil’s size — most cleaver blades range between 4.5 and 9 inches. We also took into consideration each cleaver’s handle since we believe that prepping ingredients shouldn’t be uncomfortable. Last but not least, we took into consideration each gadget’s construction and ease of use. Whether you’re after a product to chop vegetables or dismantle entire chickens, here’s our roundup of the best cleaver knives in 2022.
The Best Cleaver Knives In 2022
Photo Studio One/Shutterstock
By Anita Surewicz/Updated: Dec. 20, 2022 11:06 am EST
We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. While cleavers aren’t as popular as kitchen knives, in many ways they are just as versatile. Ideal for chopping up vegetables, fruit, herbs, meat, fish, and even splitting bones, a high-quality cleaver knife can be worth its weight in gold. Due to their large blades, cleaver knives can also be used for crushing ingredients such as garlic or ginger, as well as transferring them from a cutting board to a bowl or pan.
Most modern meat cleavers are forged from stainless steel, which makes them not only durable but also corrosion and stain-resistant. It also means that they are easy to sharpen with a whetstone. Ranging in size and weight, cleaver knives feature rectangular blades to provide knuckle clearance during use. They are also relatively sturdy, measuring high on the Hardness Rockwell Scale or HRC. Most knives fall between HRC 53 and HRC 63 with 53 indicating the softer end of the spectrum and 63 being very hard, as per Savernake Knives. If you find all of this confusing, don’t worry — we’ve dug up the best cleavers on the market in 2022.
We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.
Most modern meat cleavers are forged from stainless steel, which makes them not only durable but also corrosion and stain-resistant. It also means that they are easy to sharpen with a whetstone. Ranging in size and weight, cleaver knives feature rectangular blades to provide knuckle clearance during use. They are also relatively sturdy, measuring high on the Hardness Rockwell Scale or HRC. Most knives fall between HRC 53 and HRC 63 with 53 indicating the softer end of the spectrum and 63 being very hard, as per Savernake Knives. If you find all of this confusing, don’t worry — we’ve dug up the best cleavers on the market in 2022.
How we selected products
Serhii Opikanets/Shutterstock
While cleavers are generally larger than kitchen knives, they are by no means all created equal. And we aren’t just talking about size. Cleaver knives range in quality, design, and characteristics. And the countless available brands and models can turn a simple shopping expedition into a mind-boggling experience. To help you select the right cleaver knife for your specific needs, we have spent hours sifting through some of the best products on the market. We have also consulted both community and expert reviews to ensure that the cleavers on our list meet or exceed your expectations.
In our quest to bring you the best cleaver knives in 2022, we looked at a number of factors, including each utensil’s size — most cleaver blades range between 4.5 and 9 inches. We also took into consideration each cleaver’s handle since we believe that prepping ingredients shouldn’t be uncomfortable. Last but not least, we took into consideration each gadget’s construction and ease of use. Whether you’re after a product to chop vegetables or dismantle entire chickens, here’s our roundup of the best cleaver knives in 2022.
In our quest to bring you the best cleaver knives in 2022, we looked at a number of factors, including each utensil’s size — most cleaver blades range between 4.5 and 9 inches. We also took into consideration each cleaver’s handle since we believe that prepping ingredients shouldn’t be uncomfortable. Last but not least, we took into consideration each gadget’s construction and ease of use.
Whether you’re after a product to chop vegetables or dismantle entire chickens, here’s our roundup of the best cleaver knives in 2022.
Best overall cleaver knife
Wüsthof
The Blog of Dad calls the Wüsthof classic 6-inch cleaver well-crafted, balanced, and enjoyable to hold, giving it 5 out of 5 stars. “The blade is chunky — an absolute must for achieving that desirable weight. That being said, it isn’t the heaviest cleaver around; in fact it is the lightest in [the] Wüsthof’s range.,” the blog explains.
Best budget cleaver knife
Utopia Kitchen
According to Ben North, who reviewed the Utopia Kitchen cleaver knife for Nothing But Knives, the kitchen utensil outperforms some of its more expensive counterparts. Despite its low price tag, the cleaver makes easy work of chopping through meat and bone. On the downside, North says that while the cleaver’s handle is comfortable, it can get slippery when wet. North also comments that the cleaver may need to be sharpened after purchase.
Best cleaver knife for a splurge
Shun
So what makes the Shun cutlery classic vegetable cleaver worthy of its steep price tag? Unsurprisingly, the cleaver is perfect for what it’s been designed to do — namely, chop up veggies and protein. Forged with a proprietary VG-MAX core with 34 layers of Damascus, the full tang cleaver isn’t just sturdy but also rust and stain-resistant. The utensil also features a razor-sharp 16-degree edge for precise slicing.
Best cleaver knife with a stand
Dalstrong
Best lightweight cleaver knife
Zhen
Best rocking cleaver knife
Best Serbian cleaver knife
XYJ
According to the Knives Academy, the XYJ 6.7-inch Serbian chef’s knife is comfortable without being excessively bulky. In particular, the blog praises the cleaver’s versatility and balance, saying, “This is the type of blade you can take anywhere, from outdoor cooking to a professional kitchen to preparing your grandmother’s stew at home […] The full tang adds more weight to the knife but also creates a better balance. […] The blade really is larger than you expect so having a good balance made it easier to manipulate blade movement.”
