Best Meat Cleaver: Reviews and Buying Guide 2023

by Daisy Dao

Every professional and home kitchen needs a number of tools for hassle-free and expert cooking. These tools mainly include tongs, peelers, grater, and most importantly, different types and sizes of knives (like a paring knife, chef's knife, carving knife, bread knife and a meat cleaver).

A chef's knife cannot perform the tasks that a meat cleaver can. A flawless and sharp meat cleaver can effortlessly cut thick meat slices and chop off animal's bones and cartilage. Whereas, if you do it with any other knife, you might hurt yourself.

Many people don't feel the need for a meat cleaver in their kitchen but a professional chef knows its true worth. Many of us, specifically professional chefs, don't want any amateur butcher to damage the meat and prefer to cut it with proficiency on their own. Apart from cutting and chopping meat, a meat cleaver is an ultimate expert in mincing, slicing, and pounding.

You can undoubtedly use a meat cleaver to cut vegetables, especially tough root veggies, and crushing and smashing garlic.

Editor's Recommendation: Top Meat Cleavers 2023


Best Meat Cleaver Reviews 2023

Best Meat Cleaver Reviews 2023
Best Meat Cleaver Reviews 2023

Here is a list of the best meat cleavers 2023 with their respective reviews, pros and cons. Read through the list below and find the perfect match for your kitchen.

Meat Cleaver Heavy Duty Knife with Solid Wood Handle - Link

Meat Cleaver, Heavy Duty Butcher Bone Knife with Solid Wood Handle (Stainless Steel, 8 inch)
Meat Cleaver, Heavy Duty Butcher Bone Knife with Solid Wood Handle (Stainless Steel, 8 inch)

The Juvale's meat cleaver is a heavy-duty knife with a solid wooden handle. The blade of the meat cleaver is scratch-resistant and 100% high carbon stainless steel. The cleaver has an excellent, perfectly sized 8-inch large blade, and it is skillfully hand sharpened. The sharp and honed edges of the meat cleaver make it ideal for cutting through thicker meats and bones in just one go.

The wooden handle of Juvale's meat cleaver is 6 inches in length and triple-riveted. The ergonomic wooden handle makes the cleaver knife easy to handle and use. The meat cleaver is definitely easy-to-store as it has a small hole on the corner of the blade for hanging.

We suggest you use a heavy wood chopping board with this 2.1 lbs heavy and sharp cleaver as it might brutally break your small delicate chopping board.

The Juvale's meat cleaver is undoubtedly a steal at such an affordable price with all such unique features. Check the cost of the Juvale's meat clever here.

Pros

  • Dishwasher safe meat cleaver
  • Triple-riveted ergonomic handle
  • An affordable yet excellent cleaver

Cons

  • Other better wood-quality handles options are available.
Product details
Brand Juvale
Blade Material Stainless Steel
Blade length 8 inches
Handle Material Solid Wood
Weight 2.1 lbs.
Blade Edge Plain

Imarku Premium Cleaver Knife - Link

imarku Cleaver Knife, Chinese Chef's Knife German High Carbon Stainless Steel Meat Cleaver with Pakkawood Ergonomic Handle - 7 inches Kitchen Knife for Home, Kitchen & Restaurant
imarku Cleaver Knife, Chinese Chef's Knife German High Carbon Stainless Steel Meat Cleaver with Pakkawood Ergonomic Handle - 7 inches Kitchen Knife for Home, Kitchen & Restaurant

The Imarku cleaver knife has a high carbon stainless steel blade. The blade of the cleaver is 7 inches large and 2.5 mm thin and sharp. The High-Tech Vacuum Heat Treatment is used on the entire blade to achieve the ideal hardness. The curved blade of the cleaver makes it multifunctional to cut vegetables and meat with the sharp tip and mince with the bottom edge.

The blade of this meat cleaver is hand polished, and it has a 17 degrees cutting angle on the side. The thin and ultra-sharp blade makes all kinds of cutting and chopping pretty straightforward.

The Imarku meat cleaver has a 4.4-inch ergonomic Pakkawood handle. Pakkawood is greatly waterproof, which prevents the handle from warping and cracking. Your hand will not easily slip while cutting or chopping meat anymore when you have this excellent meat cleaver in your hand.

The Imarku is offering you a lifetime guarantee on this great cleaver knife which is definitely the icing on the cake. Without any further delay, check the price of the Imarku Premium Cleaver Knife here.

Pros

  • Premium German stainless steel
  • Curved blade with a 17 degrees cutting angle
  • Waterproof Pakkawood handle
  • Lifetime guarantee

Cons

  • The small handle might cause problems to the people with big hands.
Product details
Brand Imarku
Blade Material Stainless Steel
Blade length 7 inch
Handle Material Pakkawood
Weight 1.09 lbs
Blade Edge 17 degrees angled

Utopia Kitchen Cleaver Knife Chopper - Link

Utopia Kitchen 7 Inches Cleaver Knife Chopper Butcher Knife Stainless Steel for Home Kitchen and Restaurant
Utopia Kitchen 7 Inches Cleaver Knife Chopper Butcher Knife Stainless Steel for Home Kitchen and Restaurant

The Utopia Kitchen Meat Cleaver is an ultimate choice to have in your kitchen to chop through dense meats and bones. The blade of the meat cleaver is 7 inches large and 3.0 mm thick. The edges of the plain pure stainless steel blade are sharp enough to meet the meaty needs in your kitchen.

The handle of the Utopia Kitchen is made of Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene that allows sturdy and straightforward hold. The ABS handle gives an excellent and non-slip grip that makes the use of the meat cleaver very easy.

The meat cleaver is dishwasher safe, but we recommend you wash it by hand for the more extended durability of the steel blade. The hole in the edge allows hassle-free storage of the cleaver.

Check the price of this incredibly affordable Utopia Kitchen meat cleaver here.

Pros

  • Easy-to-store cleaver
  • The meat cleaver is dishwasher safe
  • Very much pocket friendly

Cons

  • Not suitable for professional kitchens as the handle is not strong enough to stand adequate strength.
  • The ABS handle is not ideal for cooks who favor wood.
Product details
Brand Utopia Kitchen
Blade Material Stainless Steel
Blade length 7 inches
Handle Material Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene
Blade Edge Plain

DALSTRONG Mini Cleaver - Link

DALSTRONG Cleaver Knife - 7
DALSTRONG Cleaver Knife - 7

The DALSTRONG Mini Cleaver is undoubtedly a home cook's ultimate best partner in the kitchen. The blade length of this outstanding mini cleaver is 4.5 inches, and a 3-steps Honbazuke method is used on the blade to give it an 8-12 degrees angle on each side. A total of 67 layers of AUS-10V Japanese high carbon super steel is vacuum treated to the perfectly thin, sharp, and solid blade.

The blade of the DALSTRONG cleaver knife has a sharp cutting edge that is hand polished by professional craftsmen. The G-10 fiberglass resin handle is premium quality with lifelong durability. The shape and polish of the ergonomic handle offer a solid and easy grip for easy and comfortable usage.

No need to worry about the defect because the manufacturer is offering a complete lifetime warranty if you find any manufacturing fault in the product. There is no way that you don't buy the DALSTRONG mini cleaver, so click hereand buy this magnificent mini meat cleaver now.

Pros

  • AUS-10V Japanese super steel
  • G-10 fiberglass resin handle
  • Comes with a perfect sized blade sheath
  • Lifetime warranty

Cons

  • Not ideal for cutting through bones.
  • The mini cleaver is expensive considering its size.
Product details
Brand DALSTRONG
Blade Material Japanese AUS-10V Vacuum Treated Damascus Blade
Blade length 4.5-inch
Handle Material G-10 fiberglass resin
Weight 0.60 lbs.
Blade Edge 8-12 degrees angled

Aroma House Meat Cleaver and Butcher Knife - Link

Meat Cleaver 7 inch Vegetable and Butcher Knife German High Carbon Stainless Steel Kitchen Knife chef knives with Ergonomic Handle for Home, Kitchen & Restaurant
Meat Cleaver 7 inch Vegetable and Butcher Knife German High Carbon Stainless Steel Kitchen Knife chef knives with Ergonomic Handle for Home, Kitchen & Restaurant

The Aroma House Meat Cleaver is a flawless cleaver to chop, cut, debone, slice, and even break coconuts. The blade is premium quality German stainless steel with a length of 7 inches. The particular elements of the 2mm thin blade make it sharp, strong, and rustproof to last long.

The Aroma House cleaver ensures to provide a firm and easy grip as the ergonomic handle is Pakkawood which is exceptionally water-resistant. The waterproof property of Pakkawood saves the handle from any damages making the handle lifelong durable. The full tang handle of the cleaver is 5 inches long, which makes the meat cleaver very comfortable to use.

Apart from the product itself, the fantastic packaging of the Aroma House meat cleaver makes it a perfect gift for all the home and professional cooks. Click hereto buy it today and gift it to your personal favorite cook now.

Pros

  • German stainless steel
  • Full tang and Pakkawood handle
  • Anti-rustic and waterproof property

Cons

  • A little delicate for cutting thick meat with solid and large bones.
Product details
Brand Aroma House
Blade Material German high carbon stainless steel
Blade length 7 inches
Handle Material Premium Pakkawood
Weight 1.14 lbs.
Blade Edge Plain and 17 degrees by sides

HENCKELS Meat Cleaver - Link

HENCKELS Meat Cleaver, 6
HENCKELS Meat Cleaver, 6

The HENCKELS Meat Cleaver is a high-quality meat cleaver assembled in Spain. The blade is premium German stainless steel, and the blade length is 5.75 inches. The satin-finished blade is thin and sharp enough to cut through thick meat on the very first stroke. The durable sharpness of the blade results in precise and neat cutting every time you use the cleaver.

The handle of the meat cleaver is 4.75 inches and is of carbon stainless steel to prevent it from stains. The ergonomic handle is full tang and triple riveted for long-lasting durability and comfort handling. There is a hole in the blade to hang it on a hook or nail for easy storage.

The HENCKELS meat cleaver is dishwasher friendly, but washing it by hand is recommended to last long. The lifetime warranty of the meat cleaver makes it even a better option. Click here and check the price of the HENCKELS meat cleaver now.

Pros

  • Premium German stainless steel
  • Full-tang, triple-riveted handle
  • Made in Spain
  • Manufacturer's lifetime warranty

Cons

  • The blade length is limited and not ideal for professional use.
  • Quite expensive as compared to other cleavers of comparably large size.
Product details
Brand HENCKELS
Blade Material German stainless steel
Blade length 5.75 inches
Handle Material Carbon stainless steel
Weight 0.90 lbs.
Blade Edge Cleaver

Mueller Meat Cleaver Knife - Link

Mueller 7-inch Meat Cleaver Knife, Stainless Steel Professional Butcher Chopper, Stainless Steel Handle, Heavy Duty Blade for Home Kitchen and Restaurant
Mueller 7-inch Meat Cleaver Knife, Stainless Steel Professional Butcher Chopper, Stainless Steel Handle, Heavy Duty Blade for Home Kitchen and Restaurant

The Mueller Meat Cleaver has a 7 inches large blade of high-quality stainless steel that is anti-corrosion and sharpens fast. The ultra-sharp blade has an 18 degrees cutting angle on each side. The tip-to-tip sharpness of the blade makes cutting, mincing, cleaving, and deboning meats a breeze.

The handle of the meat cleaver is stainless steel and ergonomic. At the same time, the black material of the handle supports a non-slip and stiff grip for easy cutting without a hitch. The hole in the blade helps in easy storage of the meat cleaver.

The Mueller meat cleaver comes in a stylish yet subtle box packaging, and that is where it becomes a fantastic gift for any cook. Moreover, the meat cleaver is very pocket-friendly, so why wait anymore? Click herenow and order the Mueller cleaver as soon as possible, gift it to your closest cook and make your loved ones happy.

Pros

  • Long-lasting sharpness
  • A full tang meat cleaver
  • An affordable yet perfect tool.

Cons

  • We find no con in this fantastic product.
Product details
Brand Mueller Austria
Blade Material Stainless Steel
Blade length 7 inches
Handle Material Stainless Steel
Weight 1.12 lbs.
Blade Edge Plain with an 18 degrees cutting angle

List of the Best Meat Cleavers 2023

S. no. Brand and Name of Meat Cleaver Meat Cleaver's Brief Reviews Price
1. The Juvale's Heavy Duty Meat Cleaver Best affordable meat cleaver Check price
2. Imarku Premium Cleaver Knife The best durable cleaver Check price
3. Utopia Kitchen Cleaver Knife Chopper A decent cleaver in less price Check price
4. DALSTRONG Mini Cleaver - Shogun Series An easy to carry and use - Mini Cleaver Check price
5. Aroma House Meat Cleaver and Butcher Knife An excellent German steel cleaver at a fair price. Check price
6. HENCKELS Meat Cleaver A perfect but expensive made in Spain cleaver Check price
7. Mueller Austria Meat Cleaver Knife Impressive features in the least price Check price

Buying Guide for the Best Meat Cleaver 2023

If you plan to buy a meat cleaver shortly, here is a perfect buying guide for you. Follow the buying guide and ensure to consider the following features before you buy a meat cleaver.

Material

The material is the most important feature to notice in a meat cleaver. For the blade of the cleaver knife, stainless steel is so far the best metal. Specific elements like chromium and vanadium provide stainless steel strength, anti-corrosion, and fast sharpening properties. So, look for a cleaver with a high-quality stainless steel blade and such properties for prolonged life expectancy and ideal operations.

If the handle is not stainless steel, you should also pay attention to the material of the handle. A low-quality wood handle will crack and break easily, making your cleaver useless, whereas Pakkawood is waterproof and will save the handle from cracking. So opt for a cleaver with premium quality wood or stainless steel handle.

Size

First, focus on the finished size of the cleaver and then blade and handle's sizes individually. A standard-sized meat cleaver must have a 7-8 inches blade and 5-6 inches handle. Choose a cleaver knife with an ideal size for your professional or daily use. Make sure the cleaver you are buying has a maximum of 1-1.25 inches length difference between the blade and handle. Otherwise, the balancing and handling of the tool will become very difficult.

Nature of the Handle

Look for the nature and kind of the meat cleaver handle. We prefer a full tang handle rather than a blade joint with a handle. Consider buying the meat cleaver with a full tang triple-riveted handle because a full tang triple-riveted handle ensures the durability of the meat cleaver. Even if the handle material damage someday, the cleaver will still be functional and safe to use.

The Ease

We suggest you choose a meat cleaver that is amazing but easy to use at the same time. The most important features of a comfortable tool are the weight of the meat cleaver and the shape of the handle. A heavy meat cleaver will be very tough to control compared to a lighter one, and the shape of the handle will help in an easy yet sturdy grip.

Some Additional Features for Meat Cleaver

Everyone loves to get additional features, and when you can have extra features at the same price, it becomes even better. So, if a meat cleaver has any of these following features, then you should definitely buy it without any further delay.

1. Easy Storage

Although there is an effortless way to store cleaver, is to hang it on the magnetic knife bar with other knives; but what if you don't have one? Also, magnetic knife holders are not suitable for heavy meat cleavers. So to tackle this problem, many meat cleavers have a hole on the corner of the blade to easily hang it on a nail or hook, making it an easy-to-store kitchen tool.

2. A Warranty

A product with a manufacturer's warranty is always better than the one without it. Most of the best meat cleavers come with a lifetime manufacturer's warranty against product faults. Opt for a meat cleaver with all the features plus a guarantee in case of any manufacturing defect.

Best Meat Cleaver FAQs

What are meat cleavers used for?

A meat cleaver is the best tool to cut, slice, debone, mince, cleave, and pound thin or thick meats. With the help of a meat cleaver, you can efficiently complete much cutting and chopping in the twinkling of an eye. Besides cutting meat, meat cleaver is also used to cut and peel large and complicated veggies and fruits and even break coconuts. You can also use the meat cleaver for garlic cloves to crush them in a single press.

How long does a meat cleaver last?

The meat cleaver's lastingness depends not only on the material of the cleaver but also on the way you take care of it. Everything needs some maintenance and care, so as a meat cleaver. For example, don't scrub the blade and handle with a metal scrubber as it might leave scratches on the metal blade. Also, make sure to store the meat cleaver in a dry place to save the wooden handle from warping.

What is the best length for a meat cleaver?

Meat cleavers come in a range of sizes, from 4.5 - 5 inches blades for mini cleavers and 6 - 9 inches blades for large meat cleavers. Whereas the standard-sized meat cleaver comes with a 7 inches blade, a 5-6 inches handle is ideal for professional and home cooks. If you want a cleaver for daily use in your home kitchen, then a mini meat cleaver is best for you as weight also increases with the size.

Which shape of the blade is ideal for cleavers?

The blade of a meat cleaver is typically rectangular and flat. Many cleavers also have a slight curve-shaped blade with a pointed tip. The shape of the blade hardly matters when it comes to operation, but the sharpness of the blade help in the smooth and fast cutting. And the cutting angle of the blade helps in quick sharpening with long-lasting results. So make sure to look for the cutting angle of the blade when buying a meat cleaver.

Is it okay to wash the meat cleaver in a dishwasher?

Some meat cleavers claim to be dishwasher safe, and you can surely wash it in a dishwasher. Despite the cleaver being dishwasher friendly, the manufacturers and we recommend cleaning it with lighter hands. Wash it with a sponge and a little dishwashing soap if you want the blade and handle to last long. Washing the cleaver in a dishwasher might result in rusting, decolorizing the edge and damaging the handle.

Why is there a hole in the blade of my meat cleaver?

Most of the heavy meat cleavers come with a hole in the top corner of the blade. This hole makes the storage of the cleaver effortless and convenient. You can easily hang it on any hook and clip through this hole.

Buy on Walmart

Wüsthof Classic Cleaver - 6" - Walmart Link

Utopia Kitchen 7 Inches Cleaver Knife Chopper Butcher Knife Stainless Steel for Home - Walmart Link

HENCKELS Meat Cleaver, 6", Black/Stainless Steel,31134-161 - Walmart Link

DALSTRONG Obliterator Meat Cleaver - 9" - Gladiator Series R - Stand and Sheath Included - Walmart Link

Meat Cleaver, Heavy Duty Butcher Bone Knife with Solid Wood Handle (Stainless Steel, 8 - Walmart Link

TUO Meat Cleaver - Heavy Duty Meat Chopper - High Carbon German Stainless Steel Butcher - Walmart Link

ZHEN Japanese VG-10 67-Layer Damascus Steel 8-Inch Slicer Chopping Chef Butcher - Walmart Link

Shun Classic 7 Inch Cleaver Ebony PakkaWood Handle and VG-MAX Damascus Clad, Blade Steel - Walmart Link

Dexter-Russell 8" Stainless Heavy Duty Cleaver, S5288, TRADITIONAL Series - Walmart Link

Messermeister Four Seasons Cleaver, 6-Inch - Walmart Link

Global Meat Cleaver, 6 1/2", 16cm, Silver - Walmart Link

Juvale's meat clever here - Walmart Link

Imarku Premium Cleaver Knife here - Walmart Link

Utopia Kitchen meat cleaver here - Walmart Link

Buy on eBay

Wüsthof Classic Cleaver - 6" - eBay Link

Utopia Kitchen 7 Inches Cleaver Knife Chopper Butcher Knife Stainless Steel for Home - eBay Link

HENCKELS Meat Cleaver, 6", Black/Stainless Steel,31134-161 - eBay Link

DALSTRONG Obliterator Meat Cleaver - 9" - Gladiator Series R - Stand and Sheath Included - eBay Link

Meat Cleaver, Heavy Duty Butcher Bone Knife with Solid Wood Handle (Stainless Steel, 8 - eBay Link

TUO Meat Cleaver - Heavy Duty Meat Chopper - High Carbon German Stainless Steel Butcher - eBay Link

ZHEN Japanese VG-10 67-Layer Damascus Steel 8-Inch Slicer Chopping Chef Butcher - eBay Link

Shun Classic 7 Inch Cleaver Ebony PakkaWood Handle and VG-MAX Damascus Clad, Blade Steel - eBay Link

Dexter-Russell 8" Stainless Heavy Duty Cleaver, S5288, TRADITIONAL Series - eBay Link

Messermeister Four Seasons Cleaver, 6-Inch - eBay Link

Global Meat Cleaver, 6 1/2", 16cm, Silver - eBay Link

Juvale's meat clever here - eBay Link

Imarku Premium Cleaver Knife here - eBay Link

Utopia Kitchen meat cleaver here - eBay Link

Conclusion for Meat Cleaver Buyers

You must have chosen the best appliances for your professional or home kitchen till now. You can also buy any one of these fantastic meat cleavers to gift it to your family cook. Go through the buying guide to help you out to look for the best features in an even better price range. Buy your favorite meat cleaver through any of the links given above and make cutting, deboning, and mincing the meat incredibly convenient. Use your meat cleaver to cut the meat according to your desired shape and size any day. Lastly, don't forget to wash and dry the meat cleaver after and before each use to save it from corrosion and decolorizing.

Enjoy simple cutting!

About Daisy Dao

Daisy grew up on the beautiful Honolulu island where she often found herself spending most of her day enjoying the ocean scent in sea waves. As such, Daisy came to appreciate the art of cooking seafood. She has experimented with baking, roasting, broiling, poaching, grilling (and every other cooking technique you can think of); and with all kinds of spices too. Now she is ready to present her experience: the art of cooking healthy food without any pre-packaged ingredients; food product recommendations for people who need a bit more guidance on what goes into their bodies; how to maintain an active lifestyle without having to give up your favorite foods!


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