Chefs love to use the perfect sharp knife to simplify their cutting and food-preparing tasks faster. That’s why the best Chinese cleaver knife could be the right solution for them. It’s the type of knife that has entered in the culinary industry before some decades for its superb quality.
Because Chinese brands have a large number of modern knives to offer are rival the brands of Japanese, German, US, and Italy. The best reason for the higher popularity of the Chinese brand knives is their prices and more top quality.
It’s even true for the market of the high-end. But, many countries are producing Chinese knives as they have not patented their design. Now, let’s go through some of the most beautiful quality Chinese cleaver knives.
Top 10 Best Chinese Cleaver reviews
1. DALSTRONG – Shadow Black Series 7-Inch Cleaver Knife
With stunning design and exceptional performance, this Chinese cleaver has made of high-carbon steel. That’s why this knife is standout. The knife is not just one of your kitchenware; it’s also a unique symbol of individual cooking style.
This knife was made carefully from a single steel piece to ensure the highest serving in the kitchen. As its blade goes through a particular manufacturing process, it’s incredibly sharp, hard, and flexible. Because of its nonstick coating, it ensures effortless cutting, dicing, and mincing experience.
Its fiber-resin made handle is the military-grade that resists moisture and heat. Thanks to the textures on the handle, you can hold it firmly without falling. You’ll feel its threatening urge to place the razor-sharp edge right away to work when you uncover the blade and grab the handle.
The knife has achieved 58+ scores on the Rockwell test with a professional heat treatment method that ensures an incredible performance. Due to its non-reflective, black titanium-nitride layer, the knife is corrosion resistant, sturdy blade, nonstick, and a sinister appearance.
The knife of the Shadow Black Series is ruthlessly sharp because it has been thoroughly honed by professional craftsmen, from 16-degree to 18-degree. As a result, it ensures precise, clean, cuts, and exceptional edge-retention.
The blade has carefully tapered with a geometrical calculation that provides the optimal balance between performance and resilience, making minimal drag. Try this risk-free Chinese knife that offers a 100% refund guarantee in case of dissatisfaction with a lifetime warranty.
PROS
- Well balanced
- Non-slip handle
- Corrosion-resistant
- Exceptionally sharp blade
CONS
- The coating is scratch-prone, so the blade needs to sharpen carefully.
2. Imarku Cleaver Knife 7-Inch Stainless Steel Chopper Knife
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The knife of the Imarku brand is well-known for the longest time of its sharpest edge that makes sure the optimum cutting performance. The blade of the knife has made from the material of high-carbon stainless steel, which is the best in types.
With a lightweight model, the knife is multipurpose and flexible enough for cutting, slicing, dicing, mincing, and chopping. No matter the knife is neither ergonomic design nor full tang, its Pakkawood handle offers the most excellent quality.
As it’s pretty handy, you’re free of stress to change knives when you cook. Rockwell’s hardness scale has given it a 60-62 level of toughness certificate that ensures the highest cutting performance with the most extended durability.
When it comes to the sharpness, it’s something else of a simply best Chinese cleaver knife. It’s because the blade of the knife has made of high-quality German stainless steel. That’s why it’s not just rust-resistant; it’s also simple to maintain.
For the premium materials, the knife keeps long-term sharpness and holds permanent edge retention. Also, it’s as durable as straightforward to cut through larger food pieces. Again, the superb handle of the knife has made it tenderer and safe for your fingers and hands.
We’re confident you’ll love this knife as it’s the right fit as a gift item for weddings, birthdays, Christmases, and in any event or occasion. If you’re not satisfied with this item, you’ll get the guarantee of 100% money back. So, investing in this knife is worth and risk-free.
PROS
- Sharp-edged blade
- Made from high-carbon stainless-steel
- Extremely light in weight
- 100% satisfaction or repayment guarantee
CONS
- Non-ergonomic handle without the full tang
3. Zwilling J.A. Henckels TWIN Signature 7-Inch Chinese Chef’s Knife
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It’s the most flexible Chinese cleaver from the famous production house of Zwillings J.A. Henckels. The Twin Signature knife of this brand is precision stamped and made from one piece of durable German steel. As a result, you get a lightweight knife without compromising with its sharpness.
Indeed, the knife has made of proprietary exceptional formula steel that’s perfected for more than 280 years. With the signature ice-hardening technique of Zwilling, the blade is as harder as sharper. So, it’ll chip or stain, and it retains the sharpness for a long time.
The edge of the knife is laser-controlled and exceptionally sharp, and it has honed and handcrafted by the expert artisans to deliver you the ultimate cutting angle. Its handle has three rivets that have embedded with the ZWILLING J.A. Henckels logo to signify the optimal durability.
Because of its durable blade and laser-controlled edge, this knife delivers precision and quality available within your budget. Apart from affordable prices, the knife is a built-in full tang that ensures higher durability and secure handling.
The knife is convenient for stir-fry and diagonal cuts along with the right features of dicing and chopping fish, meat, and vegetables. That means it’s not just best Chinese vegetable cleaver, it doesn’t something more as well. Although this knife is dishwasher safe, the manufacturer recommends washing it by your hands to protect its sharpness for an extended time.
The knife scores 57 in the Rockwell hardness test because of its high-carbon steel material that’s stainless. All these features are worth investing in this knife.
PROS
- Multi-purpose knife
- Durable construction
- Ice-hardened blade
- Triple-riveted & full tang
CONS
- Not perfect for meat cutting
4. Enso HD 7-Inch VG10 Hammered Chinese Chef’s Knife
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The most considering point of this knife is its “Made in Japan” with an ultra-sharp blade that features the cutting core of VG-10. It ensures smooth and faster cutting through the most types of vegetables. The blade of the knife is double-edged, so it doesn’t matter you’re left-handed or right-handed.
Because of this feature, it’s effortless to use and control the knife. If you’re scared that its wood handle may break down, you can go with the black micarta handle that’s the right alternative.
You can use it to get the look and feel of the authentic wood handle that makes a knife is a staple tool in the kitchens of Asia. Even though the blade’s shape is western cleaver, the knife is as lightweight as thin in design.
The knife is excellent for multiple tasks like slicing, dicing, and chopping with its broad surface that’s easy for scooping and shifting the chopped ingredients. You already know that the Enso HD is a Japanese best Chinese cleaver brand; it manufactures knives with the latest technology.
Their artisans come with unmatched knowledge and skill of traditional craftsmanship. Also, this knife has equipped with three rivets along with end cap and bolster. It provides balance, strength, and durability because of its enclosed handle construction with a full tang.
This knife has scored 61 in the Rockwell hardness test due to its steel stainless material. The score is remarkably higher than many other knives are available in the market. That’s why this is the best Chinese chef knife among many other are available on the market.
PROS
- Ultra-sharp blade
- Handcrafted in Japan
- Lifetime warranty
- Firm & easy to grip handle
CONS
- A bit longer handle
5. RK- CP-285 12-Inches Cleaver style Knife
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In any case, the blade is the most vital factor while investing in a Chinese knife. The RK- CP-285 comes from the renowned knife brand of Poshland with great balance and lightweight. As it said the knife is 12-inch long, it’s the total length of the knife where the blade is 7-inch and handle is 5 inches.
The knife has the sharper cutting edge with a beautiful, secure walnut wood handle. That’s why it’s not just simple to grip; it’s also easy to use without any issue. When you need to chop and slice vegetables, you can use it with ease as it’s made nicely to provide you with the maximum productivity.
The blade of the knife gets better protection because of its pleasant leather case. That’s why this knife is familiar for its extraordinary performance. No matter it comes with a bit unpleasant look, but it’ll make you surprised by its fantastic workability.
The blade of the knife has made with a unique process that ensures you more exceptional sharpness with beautiful cuts. So, this knife can slice, chop, and cut in the preferred size and shape, whether it is vegetables or tough meat or soft tomatoes.
That’s because you’ll never return to your previous knives if you use this one for a single time. As the knife is made from selected materials, it offers a large amount of strength to the blade.
Thus, this Chinese cleaver review indicates that it’s one of the high-quality products on this list are worth buying.
PROS
- Fully functional knife
- Designed to last a long time
- Simple to control
- Stiff enough to hold
CONS
- It needs a thorough clean up and dries before the store
6. SHI BA ZI ZUO Chinese Cleaver 7-inch Kitchen Knife
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The attractive Rosewood handle of the knife is the USP or standard to this industry. With 7-inch of the length of the blade, the knife has made of premium high-carbon stainless steel. The nonstick coating of the cleaver prevents anything sticking on it.
It’s a lightweight item with just 8.5 ounces of weighing, which is why it’s perfect for somebody with limited strength on their hands. Because of its astonishingly sharper edge along with a pointed tip, it works excellent for convenient dicing and mincing.
So, you can use its more robust blade to crush ginger and garlic with ease. Besides, the blade has a layer of nonstick that allows it to avoid sticking ingredients on its body. Thus, the broad blade works like a spatula and delivers prepared items to a bowl or wok that prevents your fingers from cutting on the surface.
Due to its rounded handle, it also prevents slipping and gives you a high pivot point for your cutting stroke. Since the knife has its surface with carving design, you can grip its handle securely. Also, its full tang pattern of the blade makes it as tighter as more reliable than many other models out there.
Most importantly, the knife is durable for its built materials of clad steel that’s as long-lasting as corrosion resistant. Another thing about this knife is it has made with a unique technique of we sharpening that’s why the edge of the blade is sharp and runs for a long time.
PROS
- Attractive rosewood handle
- Extremely lightweight
- Effortless to handle
- Razor-sharp edge
CONS
- Not safe for dishwasher
7. Shun Classic 7-Inch VG-MAX Damascus Chinese Cleaver
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Shun Classic is the original Shun knife, which is the first-ever Japanese-model knife has made its availability to a large number of North American users. The blade of this knife is lighter with extremely sharp edges rather than more massive blades and made from superior steel.
Likewise, it has a light handle instead of the bulkier western handle that delivers great control while working. Using this knife will help you find out a unique shape with a traditional blade. So, it’s not hard to realize the answers of the questions why and ‘what is the best Chinese cleaver?’
So, you always get the exact hand made knife for all types of kitchen tasks. Also, you’ll instantly notice the difference of its Shun feels in your hand if you have not used this type of Japanese knife ever.
Apart from the different feelings, the knife is not just sharper and lighter; it’s also harder enough to work with for a long time. The Classic knife has designed for smother cut with slicing motion as it has honed its edge with 16-degree steeper angle.
As a result, you can use the knife for a long time. No matter you’re a home cook or professional chef, you’ll undoubtedly enjoy the Shun Classic on its every cut as the knife is keenly waiting for every bounty of the season to serve all of your ingredients in their proper time.
The materials of the knife are the combination of different elements, including cobalt, carbon, tungsten, and chromium. All these things make the knife as sturdier as possible to work with it for a long time without any issue.
PROS
- Exceptionally durable
- Very versatile
- Ergonomic handle
- Corrosion-resistant
CONS
- Doesn’t resist chip
8. Top Chef Master Cutlery 7-Inch Cleaver/Chopper
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It’s a 7-inch knife comes from the production house of renowned cutlery brand Top Chef with decent weight. So, if you’re seeking the knife that’s simple to use and control, then this is your best friend. The blade of the knife is ice-tempered that ensures exact and sharp cuts with the lowest food sticking on its body.
As the knife has made from a whole piece of steel, it’s not broken prone to its handle that leads it falling out. The blade of the Top Chef can straightforwardly cut through the joints and bones a whole chicken apart from slicing boneless meat and vegetables. So, it’s best Chinese meat cleaver among others.
It’s an exceptional knife for the price that comes with an extremely sharp edge. The knife is top-rated in some Asian countries as an all-purpose and everyday knife. It’s also getting used widely to the countries of US and European because of its cutting strength and durability.
Indeed, the knife is just right for home cooks that want to prepare different types of food without using luxury tools. Its full handle has made of steel with polished bolsters for the flawless outcome. The knife is straightforward to clean as well as maintain in addition to be durable with long-lasting edge retention.
So, you’re all set to cut your food like a professional chef while cooking in your kitchen using this knife. You’ll get the optimum cuts as it’s designed with extremely sharpened and precision cutting edge.
PROS
- Extremely sharp blade
- Steel-made handle
- Affordable in price
- Blade minimizes sticking
CONS
- Smaller handle
9. ZHEN Japanese VG-10 8-Inch Knife/Cleaver
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Although this product is similar to some other knives in this list, it has some unique features that will attract you more than others. The core of the knife has made of premium VG-10 class stainless steel with Damascus steel’s 33 layers that have made a beautiful design of the knife.
It has scored 60 to 62 in the Rockwell hardness test as it ahs made of steel stainless material. In any case, the score is extraordinarily higher than many other knives are available in the market. As the handle of the knife has made of Pakkawood, it prevents slippage with a secure grip.
The material of the knife comes from Japan, but it’s not indeed made in Japan. Indeed, it’s a product of Taiwan based manufacturer. From cutting through bones of a chicken to slicing vegetables, it’s well-balanced to handle most of your cutting tasks in the kitchen.
Thanks to its full tang pattern with a slip-resistant handle, the knife helps you get the control over it while cutting or slicing. Because this item has crafted with unique Japanese techniques, you’re free of stress about its sharpness and durability.
Also, you’ll get a lifetime warranty from the manufacturer against company defects. Most fundamentally, this is a suitable kitchen tool to help you prepare favorite meals for your guests and the entire family whenever you want.
When you finish the cutting and slicing tasks, you should store the knife after a great cleanup and wash. You can do it with this model with ease as its handle is bacterial and moisture resistant.
PROS
- Sharper edge of the blade
- Durable material
- Pakkawood handle
- Lifetime warranty
CONS
- A bit large and heavy
10. Wusthof Gourmet Heavy 8-inch Chinese Cleaver
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If you’re familiar with some kitchen knives, you must hear about the brand of Wusthof. It’s because this is a famous Germany knife manufacturer that are in this industry since the 1800s. That’s why it’s nothing shocking that they also have some high-quality Chinese cleavers.
The Wusthof Gourmet is one of their excellent performing knives comes with a stylish design. With an 8-inch long blade, the knife offers you with enough force and strength that need to cut through meat, bones, and some other things.
It’s a stainless steel made blade with a content of high carbon that has equipped with the knife to increase its hardness. As a result, this knife prevents itself from braking or clipping while chopping something.
The handle is made of durable ABS polymer that has securely pinned to give you a comfortable and firm grip while its blade is sturdy. As the handle resists impact and heat, it’s perfect to use in settings like heavy-duty and rough.
Thanks to its more robust handle, it makes the knife durable to use for years without any issue. So, when you use the Wustof Gourmet, you’re all set to accomplish your all types of cutting tasks. These include chopping thicker meat, tendons, and bones.
All these helpful features are available because of its premium stainless steel that has made it secure and comfortable to handle and maintain the sharpness of the edge for a long time. Overall, the product of Wusthof doesn’t need lots of description to introduce to its users.
PROS
- Durability & top performance
- Impact & heat resistant
- Heavy-duty build material
CONS
- Not safe for dishwasher
Buying Guide For The Best Chinese Cleaver
The buying guide is essential because it shows you the right features and most important points of the best Chinese cleaver. It would help if you chose a Chinese knife with appropriate size and length to get most out of the item.
Well, let’s know what the highly essential points are to keep in mind before you buy one.
Purpose
The Chinese knives are virtually familiar as the heavyweight boning knife. But, this is not true for the Chinese cleavers. That’s because people use the cleavers for cutting fruits, vegetables, or meat rather than bones and hard food materials.
So, before purchasing a Chinese knife, this is essential to know where you’re going to use it. The Chinese cleaver works like a delightful solution if you get the necessity of chopping and cutting partially hard foodstuff.
But, a standard Chinese knife works well as a boning knife. That’s why you have to decide at first your purpose of buying the knife to get the optimal results.
Blade Size & Material
A 7-inch long Chinese cleaver is the ideal length for most users because it makes the knife flexible. But, you have the option to go ahead of the size. The flexibility will become uncertain if its size is less than 6 inches. So, the length of the blade should be between 7-inch to 11-inch.
A knife with larger blade needs lots of metal with some extra effort to make. The weight of the knife increases automatically with its higher length. Besides, the knife you’re going to buy should have no less than three-quarters of tang. But, full tang knife is always highly recommended to choose.
Moreover, materials of the blade are important things to consider strongly. Usually, you’ll get plenty of flexibility if you choose a knife made of stainless steel. Also, you can select the knives are made of 9Cr15, VG-10, 7Cr17mov, and Friodur.
Handle
The handle of a Chinese cleaver plays a vital role in its expected performance. As it’s a type of heavyweight knife, it needs to get a handle that will help you to work with the maximum comfort.
Typically, the materials of handles include a polymer, wood, or synthetic. A large number of users love to get wood made handles because of its better look than some other materials. Moreover, it delivers an excellent grip to its users.
You should ensure that you have chosen a knife with ergonomic handle regardless of it built material. It’s because if the knife is ergonomic in design, you’ll be able to grasp its handle for more time.
Weight
We already have mentioned that Chinese cleaver’s weight is significant. They have the added weight to their own since they’re massive. If you’re with a shortage of hand strength, you should buy a lightweight model ranging from 8-ounce to 15-ounce for the optimal results.
The weight of some Chinese knives may go about 30-ounce, but they’re not suitable for all type of users. So, the best ting is that you should realize the endurable weight by your hand to ensure the right weight knife for you.
Cleaning Directions
Chinese cleavers need proper caring plus maintenance to extend their durability since they use complicated materials in their structure.
The cleaver may be or may not be secure to wash in the dishwasher depending on the material used to make it. Even if they’re dishwasher safe, it’s better to wash by hand to maximize their sharpness of the edge.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) & Answers
Why Do Chinese Cooks & Chefs Use Chinese Cleavers?
The most important thing about Chinese knives is their flexibility for cutting. It’s the critical reason that Chinese cooks and chefs use these knives. Also, their durability is another significant reason to use these knives.
Can A Chinese Cleaver Break Through Tough Bones?
As compared to typical cleavers, Chinese cleavers are less heavy-duty, which is why they may not be able to cut through or breakthrough very tough bones.
However, some Chinese cleavers are heavy-duty and can cut through sturdy bones. If your cleaver is very light and thin, it’s better to avoid working hard bones.
Is My Chinese Cleaver Dishwasher Safe?
Many of the Chinese cleavers are dishwasher safe while some others not. But, the manufacturers recommend washing your knife your hand to retain its sharpness and longevity.
Should I Sharp My Chinese Cleaver?
The cutting edge of the blade of the Chinese cleaver should sharp enough for fine slicing. But, it doesn’t need to make sharp if you use it for chopping hard bone.
Summary of Best Chinese Cleaver
Hopefully, the above review of the best Chinese cleaver will be constructive for you to find out your preferred knife. If you have the perfect Chinese cleaver, you’re all set to accomplish your chopping and cutting of fish, meat, and vegetables.
But, you’ll find it just like hell if you go with the wrong one. In any case, if you choose anyone from our reviewed products, you have nothing to get stressed. That’s because all of them has been selected after extensive research by the experts.
So, it’s your time to buy the best one and enjoy!
