8 Best Chinese Cleavers [Reviewed & Buyer’s Guide]

If you’re a person who loves to devote time to cooking, then you know the importance of a good knife in the kitchen. A good knife shouldn’t just be sharp; it must sit comfortably in your hand, and cutting with it should feel perfect. Also, cutting something for a prolonged period shouldn’t stress your hand. […]

8 Best Chinese Cleavers [Reviewed & Buyer’s Guide]

If you’re a person who loves to devote time to cooking, then you know the importance of a good knife in the kitchen.

A good knife shouldn’t just be sharp; it must sit comfortably in your hand, and cutting with it should feel perfect. Also, cutting something for a prolonged period shouldn’t stress your hand.

Any professional chef would tell you that a knife is an essential tool in the kitchen. They would, in fact, be a tad possessive of the best knives they use.

So, there’s no denying that to enjoy the perfect cooking experience, you need the right knife. And we’re here to help you with that by reviewing the 8 best options.

Without further ado, read on to know more.

Best Chinese Cleavers

Wooden cutting board and Chinese chef knife on black cement floor. Top view and copy space for text. Concept of kitchenware and cooking.

Here is the list of the 8 best Chinese cleavers that you can use to cut, chop, mince, and slice a variety of ingredients.

1. TUO TCO702 Vegetable Cleaver

When it comes to edgy knives, it doesn’t get better than the TCO702 range of cleavers. These knives, coming in Pakkawood handles, are ideal for both domestic and commercial use. The blade is made of high-carbon stainless steel and is quite an impressive pick for your kitchen.

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TUO Cleaver Knife, Chinese Chef Knife Stainless Steel 7 inch...
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Why Did We Like It?

Looking at the customer reviews for the TUO 7-inch Chinese Cleaver, you’d be impressed by its steely blade. The whopping 7 inches on the blade makes the knife quite impressive to look at and to hold.

Like most products in its Fiery Phoenix Cleaver Knife Collection, the TCO702 could be an essential tool in your kitchen. The firm grip that the Pakkawood handle gives you, combined with its sharp edges, helps chop up meats in your kitchen. This knife isn’t impressive just for its sharp blade, but also because it is comfortable to hold and fits perfectly in your hands.

In spite of its size, cutting food is not a terrifying task as you’d imagine. Simply put, hold the cleaver tightly in one hand, apply weight on the other, and cut easily. You’ll see that the knife is perfect for thick chunks of meat. 

What Could’ve Been Better?

The Fiery Phoenix Cleaver looks good, but unfortunately, it is more of a vegetable knife. If you’re the kind of chef that makes do with one knife for most of the cutting purposes, this may not help you with bone pieces. The blade’s shape can be a disadvantage, and you might find your motions limited to slicing and cutting.

Pros
  • Comes with sharp edges
  • Not as heavy as you would expect
  • Works for your complete kitchen usage
  • Gives a firm grip on the knife’s handle while chopping
Cons
  • Sharp edges can be a disadvantage
  • Extreme care is needed for speedier chopping
Weight: 0.65lbs | Blade Length: 7″ | Blade Material: High-Carbon Stainless Steel | Handle Material: Pakkawood, Steel

2. Winco KC-101 Blade Chinese Cleaver

Like the Fiery Phoenix Cleaver series, the Winco Blade Chinese Cleaver is an edgy-looking knife suited for both domestic and commercial kitchens. It is ideal for chopping large and small pieces of food. As impressive as it looks, the KC-101 is a cleaver that has lots to do in your kitchen.

Why Did We Like It?

The Winco Chinese Cleaver, if used correctly, can be a popular kitchen tool. Unlike several knives in this range, the KC-101 is sturdy and perfect for domestic as well as commercial use. Its wooden handle ensures a good grip and smoothness while using.

First of all, the 8 inches in length and 3.5 inches in width make for quite an impressive blade size. The blade’s steely edges can cut through veggies and fleshy meats effortlessly. Along with that, this knife is dishwasher-safe, so cleaning it after all that cooking won’t be too tedious.

Most importantly, you need to sharpen the knife regularly if you want to get the best out of it. That said, as an all-purpose knife, the KC-101 does its job well enough. 

What Could’ve Been Better?

The KC-101 is perfect if you want to chop vegetables and fleshy parts of meat. But we definitely wouldn’t recommend using it to chop bone. The size of the blade makes you believe that it’s incredibly sharp. But after using it a few times, you need to sharpen it regularly to get the most out of it.

Pros
  • 8-inch long and 3.5-inch wide carbon steel
  • Dishwasher-safe
  • Wooden handle promises good grip
  • Easy to clean
Cons
  • Heavier than most cleavers
  • Needs regular sharpening
Weight: 0.1lbs | Blade Length: 8″ x 3.5″ | Blade Material: Stainless Steel | Handle Material: Japanese Oak Wood, Steel

3. JapanBargain 1564 Japanese Butcher Knife

The JapanBargain Japanese Butcher Knife is not similar to the Fiery Phoenix 7” Cleaver or the Winco Chinese Cleaver. An intimidating-looking knife with a 7-inch length and 3.5-inch width, the JapanBargain Japanese Butcher Knife suits almost every one of your cutting and slicing needs.

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Why Did We Like It?

Right off the bat, you don’t need to be intimidated by the size of the blade. Unlike its appearance, it sits well in your hand and is comfortable for your cutting, chopping, and slicing needs.

While some people think that the tang bolt on 1564 seems uncomfortable in their hands, it doesn’t matter since this knife’s purpose is entirely different. Such a case would be true if you are planning on making sharp stabs on your meat. The handle offers perfect balance while working, and the stud doesn’t touch your hands.

Another reason to love this knife is due to its stainless steel blade being rust-resistant. This means that the knife lasts long, and its razor-sharp edges can be sharpened regularly for constant use. Unlike several knives of this category, 1564 is perfect for a number of slicing and cutting purposes in the kitchen. 

What Could’ve Been Better?

Once you get the hang of using the JapanBargain Japanese Butcher Knife, a critical aspect that could bother you is the handle. The point where the spine meets the handle seems to project a little and can be strenuous for your hand. It might need a little sharpening around the edges to provide comfort.

Pros
  • Easy to handle and clean
  • Comes with a rust-resistance feature
  • Can be used for a number of cutting and slicing needs
  • A firm wooden handle provides a good grip
Cons
  • Sharp edge on the spine can affect your hand
Weight: 0.75lbs | Blade Length: 6.87″ x 3.37″ | Blade Material: High-Carbon Stainless Steel | Handle Material: Japanese Oak Wood, Steel

4. Mueller WD-77 7-inch Cleaver Knife

The Mueller 7-inch Cleaver Knife is touted as a multi-purpose knife that can be used for both types of kitchens. Meaning it fits comfortably in the knife rack of your home or in a restaurant kitchen. This is a durable knife with a razor-sharp blade that helps you in the kitchen.

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Why Did We Like It?

The first thing you notice about the Mueller 7” Cleaver Knife is its German steel blade. Mueller promises a hassle-free experience, and we happen to agree with them. The Mueller 7” Cleaver Knife is easily noticed by its razor-sharp blade. The German steel is easy to clean and handle. Its rust and corrosion resistance feature is quite an advantage over other brands manufacturing the same product.

Besides its durability factor, the WD-77 offers you the luxury of a sharp blade that cuts through bone effortlessly. Not just bone, the knife is sharp enough to cut through tough shells of coconuts, removing flesh from bones or cutting through any form of meat and vegetables. The knife’s sharpness coupled with the blade’s design makes it a formidable tool in a kitchen.

What makes the WD-77 a reliable tool in a kitchen is simply the fact that the knife retains its sharp edges a long time after being used in the kitchen. This factor makes it ideal for both commercial as well as domestic purposes. 

What Could’ve Been Better?

While the Mueller 7” Cleaver Knife is a reliable tool in the kitchen, it does have a minute problem that can prove a hindrance. We told you that the handle was of Pakkawood and offered a firm grip. But it’s not as heavy as needed. A heavier handle can help you keep a firmer grip when you put in an effort while cutting.

Pros
  • Offers a razor-sharp edge
  • Rust and corrosion-resistant blade
  • Easy to clean and sharpen
  • Can be used for multi-purpose cutting and slicing
Cons
  • Lighter handle can be a hindrance while cutting
Weight: 0.83lbs | Blade Length: 7″ | Blade Material: Stainless Steel | Handle Material: Pakkawood, Steel

5. WALLOP Meat Cleaver Knife

The WALLOP Meat Cleaver Knife stands out for its sheer size. The handle, made of wood, is well-polished and looks impressive. More than its aesthetics, the handle’s polished look protects it from moisture, keeping it firmly in your hands. The blade is designed specifically to mince or slice meat. It can also be used for the day-to-day slicing of vegetables.

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Why Did We Like It?

WALLOP is known for its impressive-looking knives, and they did not disappoint this time around either. The WALLOP Meat Cleaver Knife is designed to mince meat like beef, poultry, and pork and not for cutting through bones and frozen meat. It may not have as much use as other knives in your kitchen, but it does not disappoint either.

The WALLOP Meat Cleaver Knife is a 7.5-inch long, 3.8-inch wide blade, excellent for mincing and slicing. The blade is made of layers of Japanese Damascus Blade and German Stainless Steel, making it an improvement on the steel structure. It’s sharper and rust as well as corrosion-resistant. This means that if you maintain it well enough, it can last pretty long.

Many commercial chefs favor the rectangular blade design, and a lot of them will welcome the design. The handle is polished and has been designed to avoid slippery effects.

What Could’ve Been Better?

The knife has a polished handle made of Wenge wood that helps to keep the grip. However, the spine itself is thick, and the knife does have a sturdy feel to it. So, using it for a long time can be strenuous on your arm. Besides, the knife is designed solely for mincing and slicing flesh. It does not help you with frozen meat, bones, or with cutting through lobster.

Pros
  • Combination of two types of cutting material
  • Explicitly designed for mincing and slicing
  • Comes with corrosion and rust resistance features
  • Handle designed to protect from moisture
Cons
  • Thickness at the spine makes cutting for too long strenuous
  • Not designed as an all-purpose kitchen knife
Weight: 0.86lbs | Blade Length: 7.5″ x 3.8″ | Blade Material: High-Carbon Stainless Steel | Handle Material: Wenge Wood, Steel

6. Victorinox 5.4063.18 Chinese Classic Chef’s Knife

The Victorinox 7” Chinese Classic Chef’s Knife, at first glance, had us a little confused. But one closer inspection, we found that there was a delicate and sharp edge. The knife is ideal for your regular day-to-day cooking. It’s perfect for slicing, mincing, and chopping, as good as a professional Chef’s Knife.

Why Did We Like It?

The Victorinox Chinese Classic Chef’s Knife features a 7-inch blade with a thin, sharp, and delicate edge. One thing we liked about the knife is that its lightweight design allows effortless control while cutting.

Another fact that stands out about this knife is the blade’s stainless steel design is not just good to look at. It is also easier to clean since it is dishwasher-safe and heat-resistant. The lightweight feel and its handle allow for speedy chopping and dicing of vegetables. This is a perfect vegetable cleaver.

With a stamped blade and edge perfect for prepping, it works well for daily chopping and dicing. If you want a precise commercial knife for intricate cutting and chopping, you need to try a different knife. This knife works well for regular use. 

What Could’ve Been Better?

While this is a good knife for chopping vegetables and some meats, you can’t use it for tougher meats or bones. That requires an entirely different knife. The handle might feel good due to its ABS handle, but when dicing something for too long, a lightweight handle might not give you control over the knife.

Pros
  • Ergonomic ABS Handle makes the knife lightweight
  • Sharp blade makes cutting effortless
  • The knife is dishwasher-safe and heat-resistant
  • Works well for regular, domestic vegetable chopping
Cons
  • Lightweight design can be tiresome in the long run
  • Cannot be used for professional cutting and slicing
Weight: 0.22lbs | Blade Length: 7″ | Blade Material: Stainless Steel | Handle Material: ABS

7. KITORY Vegetable Cleaver 7″ Kitchen Knife

The Kitory Vegetable Cleaver 7” Kitchen Knife is a multi-functional tool that is quite sharp. It is made of German stainless steel and is perfect for cutting anything fleshy. This is a knife that helps you finish cutting perfectly without being a hassle.