Best Butcher Knives (2019): Reviews Of All Our Favorites For Home Chefs
No cutlery set would be complete without a butcher knife. A butcher knife is undeniably an indispensable tool in the kitchen because only it can be used for effectively chopping all sorts of ingredients no matter the shape, size, and hardness.
If you want to get a butcher knife of your own, but don’t know which one you should get, then you’re in the right place. This article will tell you all you need to know in order to get the best butcher knife for your home.
Quick Comparison: Top Butcher Knife 2019
| Product | Quality | Price | Our Rating |
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| A+ | $$ | ||
| A | $$ | ||
| A | $ | ||
| B+ | $ | ||
| B | $ |
**Below, you’ll find our more detailed reviews, but you can also click the links above to see current prices or read customer reviews on Amazon.
What Is A Butcher Knife?
A butcher knife, also known as a meat cleaver, is a piece of cutlery that originally came from China. One of its distinguishing characteristics is the size of its blade that is similar to a meat cleaver.
Butcher knives can be used for multiple cutting tasks such as chopping vegetables, meat, and cutting through bone. But its main purpose is to cut, strip, and chop meat. Hence, the name.
Without a doubt, the butcher knife is a very versatile piece of cutlery that can outweigh the purpose of other knives in the culinary world.
Why You Need To Get A Butcher Knife
So why would you need a butcher knife in your kitchen? I can think about different benefits that you can enjoy once you have a reliable butcher knife.
For one, it can offer you extreme versatility around the kitchen. You can use it for cutting hard ingredients such as coconuts, carrots, and other kinds of food that can be hard to penetrate by using a light knife.
However, if you ask me about the main benefit of this piece of cutlery, I think it would be the fact that it can be used to efficiently chop through meats, bones, and hard vegetables in just a single swift motion. You can get cleaner cuts with the help of a butcher knife.
Another thing you can enjoy if you had a butcher knife at your disposal is efficient cooking. Since a butcher knife comes with a wide and thin blade, you can use it to instantly scoop up the ingredients you have chopped up. This can make it easy for you to transfer ingredients from the chopping board right into the pot or pan. You can even use a butcher knife’s handle to crush peppers and to grind herbs or spices.
How To Choose A Butcher Knife
If you have no idea whatsoever about butcher knives, I encourage you to take a look at these following features that I have listed below.
Even though butcher knives may seem like a simple and practical piece of cutlery, there are still a number of factors that you should look into to make sure that you end up with a completely reliable product that in turn, will end up making you a satisfied customer.
Size
Butcher knives come in different shapes and sizes. Some butcher knives come with a design that is somewhat similar to a chef’s knife, but other butcher knives come with a blade that has a classic rectangle shape like that of a Chinese cleaver.
I personally suggest going with a meat cleaver that comes with a rectangle-shaped blade. Why? Because a blade with that shape allows for efficient chopping. You can also use it for scooping up ingredients.
Material
Butcher knives can be made with stainless steel or carbon steel. If you ask me, there isn’t really any noticeable difference between the two. However, it is deemed that carbon steel is much more durable than stainless steel.
However, you must take note that even though carbon steel is much more durable, it is more corrosive than stainless steel.
Ergonomics
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Another factor that you should look out for is ergonomics. Ergonomics pertains to the design of a product that adds to its overall usability. When it comes to butcher knives, this means that you should go with one that comes with handles that are comfortable and easy to grip.
Take note that since this is a knife, you will have to pay close attention to the handles since it can significantly affect your overall use of the product.
Weight
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What makes butcher knives great tools for cutting meat is their weight. Butcher knives are significantly heavier than other pieces of cutlery because of their large blades. The large blades that come with the added weight is what makes this knife easy to handle when it comes to chopping hard ingredients such as thick vegetables and bone.
Others
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Other things you may have to pay attention to in order to get a product that you’ll be happy using is the ease of maintenance and cleaning. This could mean going with a knife that is completely dishwasher safe. You may also want to look for a knife that comes with a hanging loop for easier storage.
The Best Butcher Knife For Your Home
1. iMarku Cleaver Knife
Whether you are a meat lover at home or a person who runs a butcher shop, you will surely enjoy using the iMarku 7-inch stainless steel butcher knife for cutting, chopping, and stripping meat.
What’s great about this knife is that it comes with a highly attractive design that will make it very easy for you to pair it with your existing utensils. It comes with a nice pakka wooden handle that is easy and comfortable to grip. It will help you perfectly secure this knife in your hands as you proceed to chopping up your ingredients.
With this knife at your disposal, you can do so much more than cut and prepare meat. In fact, you can even use it for mincing, dicing, and slicing other ingredients such as soft and hard vegetables.
Another thing that I like about this knife is that it comes with a mirror-like shine that will help you determine whether this knife is completely clean or not. Even though it isn’t dishwasher safe, it’s smooth stainless steel exterior will provide you with no hassle at all when it comes to cleaning. This knife also comes with a handy hanging loop for easier storage.
Pros
- Comes with an ergonomic handle
- Can be used to chop, mince, dice, and slice meat and vegetables
- Is made with durable stainless steel
- Is easy to clean
- Comes with a hanging loop
Cons
- Is not dishwasher safe
- Requires some more effort to maintain
- Needs to be sharpened frequently
2. TUO Cutlery Vegetable Meat Cleaver Knife
This knife is probably the most attractive one in this list if you ask me. In fact, this knife has been deemed as one of the world’s best knives today.
Right from the moment, I saw this butcher knife I knew that I was going to enjoy using it. It comes with a semi-rectangular-shaped blade that is curved at the end and its blade is paired with a very attractive wooden handle that’s supposed to make it look rustic, but only made it look more luxurious if you ask me.
Aside from the overall look of the knife, what I loved about this piece is that it is made with high-carbon German steel. What’s great about this material is that it is really durable. Being so, it doesn’t require much maintenance such as blade alignment and sharpening because it maintains both of those factors really great all on its own.
Perhaps the only downside to this knife is that it is not dishwasher safe. And since the handles are made out of wood, you would have to take extra care of it to avoid getting unattractive chips, dents, and scratches.
Pros
- Comes with an ergonomic handle
- Is made with high-carbon german stainless steel
- Is very durable
- Doesn’t require frequent sharpening and aligning
- Comes with a very attractive design
Cons
- Cannot be dishwashed
- The handle requires a lot of effort to maintain
3. Utopia Kitchen 7 Inch Stainless Steel Chopper
For those on the look-out for something with a more classic look, this one is the best option for you. The blade is made from complete stainless steel and has a heavy-duty construction to it to ensure that it will truly last for a long time. It doesn’t get dull easily unlike other knives, especially when they are in storage.
Don’t worry about using this to cut through animal bone because it gets the job done perfectly. You can use it either as a butcher knife or as a chopping knife to ensure that vegetables and meats can get cut with utmost precision.
Pros
- If you own a restaurant, this might be a better choice for you.
- It can be cleaned in the dishwasher
- Can last for a long time
- Handles are easy to grip
- The design stands out from the rest
- Isn’t too heavy or too light
Cons
- Might need frequent alignment
- It has no warranty
4. Dalstrong Cleaver Butcher Knife
This razor-sharp butcher knife can be relied on for all sorts of chopping needs. It has been crafted from high-carbon German steel and the edges have been polished at a remarkable 18-degree angle on each side. With its 9-inch blade that also boasts of 4.2 mm thickness, this is a force to be reckoned with when it comes to cutting meats, fruits, vegetables and fishes into precise cuts.
This is one luxuriously-made knife, which justifies its price. You won’t be disappointed with the handles as it is thicker than standard butcher knives, which offers a better grip. It also has black pakkawood handle for a nice aesthetic.
Pros
- It is easy to grip and has a good size that makes cutting and chopping ingredients easier.
- The pakkawood handle is laminated so it is resistant to damages.
- There is a nice knuckle clearance, so it is easier to use.
- It comes with a money back guarantee. The warranty lasts for a lifetime so in case you have a problem with it, the manufacturing company can help you out.
- It cleans easily and is also a cinch to sharpen.
Cons
- This is more expensive than other knives out there.
5. Winco 8-inch Heavy Duty Chinese Cleaver
One of the most rustic-looking butcher knives in this list is the 8-inch Winco Chinese cleaver. What makes it look like an irresistible piece is its rectangular shaped blade that comes with a nice engraving on one side that is paired with a 5-inch wooden handle.
This product literally looks like it has been passed down from generation to generation during ancient Chinese times. If you are into aesthetics, then this Chinese cleaver might be the best choice for you.
If this product is too pretty, that it makes you doubt its overall usability, don’t get fooled into thinking that it can’t perform as well as the other products in this list. In fact, this cleaver comes with a highly durable and rust-resistant blade that you can use to effectively cut meat and other ingredients as well.
It also comes with a highly ergonomic 5-inch long handle that allows for a comfortable grip. Its handle is just the perfect size for a secure grip that will prevent you from accidentally throwing your cleaver during cutting.
This product is also quite easy to clean and maintain. It can be cleansed in the dishwasher and its rust-resistant handles makes for easier storage.
Perhaps the only downside to this product is that you may have to take extra care of its wooden handle since wood can easily accumulate molds when stored in a damp place.
Pros
- Comes with a highly attractive design
- Comes with a decent weight
- Has attractive wooden handles
- The handles are ergonomically designed
- Is great for cutting bone
Cons
- The handles can be hard to grip if you have large hands
- The wooden handle can accumulate molds overtime
The Winner
We recommend the iMarku Cleaver Knife for those looking for a mid-priced butcher knife that is flexible enough to be used for different chopping needs. It has a good design and seems well-made and sturdy.
If you are looking for a butcher knife that isn’t tedious to keep sharp and doesn’t require a lot of maintenance, the TUO Cutlery Vegetable Meat Cleaver Knife is the best choice for you.
The Utopia Kitchen 7-inch Stainless Steel Chopper is a sleek and modern-looking butcher knife that can be a good choice for those who are looking for a simpler design. It is a heavy-duty choice, so you can enjoy using this to prepare ingredients for a long time.
If budget is not an issue, invest in the Dalstrong Cleaver Butcher Knife. It is more expensive, but it does offer durability, so you can use it for a long time. If budget is an issue, then you should consider selling your used knives (read about the your options for where to sell your used chef knives on this post by UsedChefKnives.com).
Get the Winco 8-inch Heavy Duty Chinese Cleaver if you are on a tight budget. It’s not as impressive as the others but it can be relied on for heavy cooking needs.
It’s been a tough choice, but overall we think the best butcher knife has to be the Dalstrong cleaver for its luxurious design and easy grip.
Now that you know all these, it’s time to decide which one to get. If you are looking for more kitchen and cooking products that will make working in the kitchen more convenient, go ahead and visit our homepage to find more product reviews, buying guide and product recommendations.
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