Top 18 Best Chinese Cleaver Reviews In 2020

You want a good knife for your kitchen but there are so many types of knives and you are not sure which one to pick? If you just need a knife that is both affordable and functional, I think a Chinese cleaver is a great option.

You can use cleavers in slicing, chopping or even smashing – all in just one cleaver.

Now, here is the list of Top 18 Best Chinese Cleavers. After having used and experienced all of them, I brought these detailed reviews in order to help you choose a suitable cleaver.

The features of each product will be revealed later!

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Best Chinese Cleavers Comparison Chart 2020

I have compiled a comparison table for you to quickly imagine the Chinese cleavers I am about to introduce.

What Are The Best Chinese Cleavers To Buy?

For many housekeepers or cookers, this is the first time they have known the Chinese cleaver. If you are new to it, you can skim through the list of 18 Best Chinese Cleaver with the specific purposes below.

• Best Overall: ZHEN VG-10 Chinese Cleavers
  
• Best Budget: Winco KC-401, 12.541.25, Chinese Cleavers
  
• Best Nonstick: DALSTRONG Chinese Cleavers
  
• Best Carbon Stainless Steel: Wusthof Gourmet Heavy Chinese Cleavers
  
• Best Real Wood Handle: Dexter S5198 Chinese Cleavers
  
• Best Chinese Cleaver Under 100$: SKY LIGHT 7″ Chinese Cleavers
  
• Best Cleaver for Bones: Global G-49/B Chinese Cleavers
  
• Best Cleaver for Vegetables: Shun Classic 7 Inch Chinese Cleavers
  
• Best Affordable: Victorinox Chinese Cleavers
  
• Best Versatile: ZWILLING J.A. Henckels TWIN Signature Chinese Cleavers
  
• Best Cleaver for Meat: Top Chef by Master Cutlery Chinese Cleavers
  
• Best Sharp Edge: Imarku Chinese Cleavers
  
• Best Quality: CPK Elite 7″ Professional Chinese Cleavers
  
• Best Cleaver for Chinese Cooking: KOFERY 7-Inch Blade Handmade Chinese Cleavers
  
• Best Rosewood Handle: SHI BA ZI ZUO Chef Knife Chinese Cleavers
  
• Best Standard Cleaver: Wusthof 4686-7/18 Chinese Cleavers
  
• Best Large Cleaver: Mercer Cutlery 8″ Chinese Cleavers
  
• Best Handcrafted Cleaver: Enso HD 7″ Vegetable Chinese Cleavers
  

Top 18 Best Chinese Cleavers Reviews In 2020

Imarku Chinese Cleavers

The first pick of this list is Imarku Chinese Cleaver. This product is a high quality and worthy knife.

This cleaver is made of high-grade materials. The high carbon stainless steel blade is rust resistant, anti-corrosion, easy to re-sharpen and requires no maintenance. The edge of the blade maintains sharpness for a long time.

Ergonomic handle is made from pakka wood. This material is not water-absorbent  and it has a smooth surface that will not hurt your hands if you hold it for a long while.

Here is the best part!

This product comes with a box for better storage and longer durability.

Product Specs

ZHEN VG-10 Chinese Cleavers

If you are looking for a premium cleaver, ZHEN Japanese VG-10 67-Layer Damascus Chinese Cleaver is a perfect choice. I am sure that this cleaver will satisfy you with its design and quality

The high-end blade is made of 67-layer Damascus Steel, VG-10 cutting core, along with the hardness of HRC 60-62. That means the cleaver is extremely sharp, super durable, stain resistant and it has the best cutting performance.

The pakka wood handle is non-slip, moisture and bacteria-resistant. Thus, you can easily clean without fear of damaging it.

This product has a blade with many great advantages. You can slice meat, cut fruits and vegetables or bread effortlessly.

The knife comes with its own box for better protection. You can use it as a gift box when you need.

Product Specs

Wusthof Gourmet Heavy Chinese Cleavers

Wusthof Gourmet Heavy Chinese Cleaver is designed for heavy duty tasks. In addition to mincing and slicing food, you can use it to chop bones, thick meat or tendons.

Its high-carbon stainless steel blade is extremely sharp, strong and durable. Every single cut is smooth and perfect with this cleaver.

Triple-riveted handle is made from high-impact ABS polymer. Therefore, it has effective heat resistance and impact resistance. The durable handle makes you firm and comfortable when using.

Overall, this is a high quality cleaver and worthy to serve you for years. From my experience, this cleaver offers top cutting performance.

Product Specs

Top Chef by Master Cutlery Chinese Cleavers

It is a lightweight and well balanced cleaver so you can easily control it.

The 7-inch blade is made from ice-tempered stainless steel, which has good impact resistance, sharpness and firmness. The blade can cut through the bones or a whole chicken precisely.

The seamless bonded handle does not fall out. Non-slip layer makes it easy to handle and clean.

The best feature of this cleaver is the hollow ground cutting edge. This minimizes food sticking on the blade.

Product Specs

Shun Classic 7 Inch Chinese Cleavers

If you need a knife to slice vegetables, then Shun Classic 7 Inch Chinese Cleaver would be a good pick.

SHUN “super steel” blade with VG-MAX cutting core is the exclusive Shun formula, upgraded from VG10 version. Its blade is very sharp and strong for slicing and dicing vegetables. The result is slices of paper-thin vegetables.

D-shaped handle made from pakka wood. It is waterproof, durable, easy to clean and good anti-bacterial.

With this knife, slicing vegetables is not difficult at all.

Product Specs

SHI BA ZI ZUO Chef Knife Chinese Cleavers

This Chinese cleaver performs a variety of tasks such as mincing, slicing, dicing. It is suitable for vegetables, fruits, and meat. Though, it is not recommended for chopping bones.

High-quality 3-layer stainless steel blade with non-stick coating is well grind to cut through all ingredients without sticking food on the blade. It maintains sharp edge blade for a long time serving.

Rosewood handle is hygiene and equipped with the wide strong bolster and finger guard. This avoids damaging your fingers when cutting.

With many advantages, it will save your time when preparing food. It can also replace entire knife in your kitchen.

Product Specs

ZWILLING J.A. Henckels TWIN Signature Chinese Cleavers

Despite the high price, ZWILLING’s knife always comes with good quality. The same goes on this Chinese cleaver. It is simple yet full tang design and worthy to purchase.

High carbon no-stain steel blade has features like ice-hardened friodur and one-piece precision-stamped. All of this new technology provide a lightweight, durable, harder and sharper cleaver.

Triple-riveted polymer handle has a slight ridge on the bottom side for a secure and firm grip.

This product is designed for you to use it all the time, and cut any type of ingredients effortlessly.

Product Specs

Victorinox Chinese Cleavers

Victorinox Chinese Cleaver is a product that you definitely should have in your kitchen.

The blade is made of stainless steel, which is durable, strong and easy to sharpen or clean. Sharp cutting edge can mince meat, slice vegetables, dice fruits effortlessly. 7-inch flat side is used to smash things like garlics, gingers, chilis when needed.

The polymer handle attaches firmly to the blade so it doesn’t fall out. You can easily control this cleaver with a firm and comfortable grip.

The knife can perform well almost all cutting tasks in the kitchen.

Product Specs

Global G-49/B Chinese Cleavers

Global manufacturer designs this product for heavy duty tasks like splitting meat and bone cutting. Its seamless construction is sturdy and stable. Therefore, it serve you for a long time.

CROMOVA 18 stainless steel blade is specially hard, extremely sharp and still maintains the sharp edge. In addition, it also has good rust, stain and corrosion resistance.

Hollow handle is designed to balance weight. Besides, it helps you hold firmly and more comfortable.

It is best option for the butchering of all types of meat and poultry.

Product Specs

Enso HD 7″ Vegetable Chinese Cleavers

The 10th cleaver on the list of the best Chinese cleaver is the Enso HD 7″ Vegetable Chinese Cleaver. It is designed to cut soft foods like vegetables, meat, and fish.

37-layer stainless Damascus blade combined with VG-10 cutting core is sharp enough to cut through any type of food. Moreover, it is extremely durable and razor-sharp edge can maintain entire long time serving.

The black micarta handle looks like a wooden handle but it is more durable. You don’t need to worry about its cracking.

This is the most interesting and strange looking product I’ve ever seen. Enso Chinese cleaver is handcrafted in Seki City, Japan – one of the most renowned sword-making cities.

Product Specs

Winco KC-401, 12.541.25, Chinese Cleavers

Like other stainless steel products, this Chinese cleaver is durable, rust-proof and corrosion-resistant. Sharp edge blade can cut through any type of food.

One seamless piece makes it look firm, sturdy, and limiting damage.

Notched handle is designed for a secure and comfortable grip. It prevents slipping. You can easily control the knife and perform many different tasks.

One plus point of this product is that it is safe for dishwashers so you don’t have to worry when you put this buddy in the machine.

Product Specs

Dexter S5198 Chinese Cleavers

The standard knife with a blade stainless steel is well stain-resistant. Super sharp edge cuts meat and vegetables into thin slices effortlessly. It needs to be sharpened regularly, but it is also quick and easy.

Any special feature?

Yes, this is the real wooden handle. Therefore, it is not slippery and very stable. It is attached tightly to the blade by brass compression rivets so it is highly sturdy.

If you prefer taking a grip with a real wooden handle, let’s choose this product.

Product Specs

DALSTRONG Chinese Cleavers

It is the most unique Chinese cleaver on this list because of its design and features. This cleaver is a product in the Shadow Black Series knife.

High carbon ThyssenKrupp German steel blade is super sharp, strong and wear resistant. It provides precise and clean cutting. Black, non-reflective titanium-nitride coating increases corrosion, rust and stain resistance. This knife is either surprisingly non-stick.

The satin ponishing finish layer makes its blade glassy and luxury.

The special shape handle helps you take it comfortably, and without slippery. Fiber-resin military grade G10 material makes it impervious, heat-resistant and moisture-proof.

The best part?

It is the PerfectFit Dalstrong Sheath for maximum protection and better storage.

Product Specs

Wusthof 4686-7/18 Chinese Cleavers

Wusthof knives are always made from high-grade materials. Because the manufacturer wants to bring you a quality assurance product.

The blade is made from high carbon stainless steel. Hence, it has outstanding hardness and sharpness. With vegetables, fish and meat, this cleaver cut through them smoothly, without obstacles.

Two sides of the blade are wide and flat. You can use it to smash garlic, chili or ginger.

The handle is made of a seamless, synthetic material. The triple-riveted handle also has the full bolster protects fingers from slipping.

This is a worthy Chinese cleaver knife as it can assist you in every kitchen tasks.

Product Specs

SKY LIGHT 7″ Chinese Cleavers

The SKY LIGHT 7 “Chinese Cleaver handles all ingredients such as meat, fish, vegetables with operations like chopping, slicing and dicing.

The premium blade is made from high carbon German stainless steel. This material is quite hard, resistant to rust, corrosion and stain. The edge of the cleaver maintains sharpness and it is also easy to re-sharpen.

Triple-riveted stainless steel handle has an ABS black plastic coating, which make it good anti-slip. Thus, it is secure and comfortable to hold. The bolster and finger-guard design is for extra safety.

This Chinese cleaver is strong, durable and does not require much maintenance. It can perform the task of many other knives. And it can serve you for life.

Product Specs

CPK Elite 7″ Professional Chinese Cleavers

This CPK Elite 7 “Professional Chinese Cleaver looks very sturdy and durable because it is made from one seamless piece.

Its 7-inch premium stainless steel blade is extremely sharp, strong and durable for cutting through thick meat, vegetables, fish precisely. It can perform all tasks in the kitchen such as cutting, slicing, chopping, diced and with the best results.

The non-slip handle has a solid full-tang design so it cannot fall off the blade. Therefore, it provides a tight, secure and comfortable.

Any special points?

It comes with a fashionable gift box and an odor removing soap, which surely will surprise you by how it helps in cleaning and storing the knife (that sounds professional, I know).

Product Specs

Mercer Cutlery 8″ Chinese Cleavers

This is a real Chinese cleaver knife because its design is similar to the meat cleaver in China.

High quality German stainless steel blade has the razor sharp edge. This is highly effective when slicing vegetables and meat. The taper-ground cutting edge maintains long-lasting sharpness and sharpen it again quickly.

Cylindrical handle is made from natural rosewood. This wood material has a high longevity and good moisture resistance, which is hygiene and long service time. It features a slip-resistant faux bamboo grain that resembles a traditional Chinese handle.

This knife will help you prepare food faster and easier. Remember to store them in block or shealth to keep sharp edges.

Product Specs

KOFERY 7-Inch Blade Handmade Chinese Cleavers

KOFERY 7-Inch Blade Handmade Chinese Cleaver deserves the best standard cleaver knife you should have in your kitchen. It is really a versatile assistant, because it performs every tasks like garnishing, mincing, peeling, slicing and dicing.

The blade is made from high quality steel to ensure the proper hardness and high durability. And this material is strong enough to resist corrosion, rust, temperature and high-impact.

The sharp blade is ground at an angle of 15 ° per side so it is super sharp and flexible. And it is ready to cut through all kinds of vegetables, tubers, fruits and thick meat. The thin blade retains sharpness for a long time and achieves the best cutting performance.

The wide and flat sides help you smash garlic and ginger and move them to a pot or pan.

Handle with perfect shape and size is fit to the palm of your hand. Made from peer wood, this handle is more durable than other wood handles. Solid full tang handle with triple riveted is anti-slip, and comfortable operation. This also minimizes damage to the knife handle. The final polished finish makes it more anti-bacterial and moisture resistant.

This cleaver is manufactured with traditional forged and multi-step process. Because KOFERY masters want to bring you the best product.

I am completely impressed by the design and quality of it.

Product Specs

The Ultimate Guide To Choosing Best Chinese Cleavers In 2020

All products introduced in the top 18 best Chinese cleavers list are high quality. They are durable, rust-proof, anti-corrosion and strong to perform every tasks in the kitchen. They are designed to give you the best experience.

When you choose one of them, you can feel secure when using. Because it will make you satisfied. If you still wonders which suitable product to choose, you can refer to the following criteria.

Blade material

Blade material is the criterion that directly affects the quality and performance of the knife.

Blades are made from a variety of materials but high carbon stain steel is the most common. Currently, many manufacturers have improved into other types such as 67-layer Damascus steel, CROMOVA 18 stainless steel,… combined with the cutting core like VG-10 or VG-MAX.

Experts encourage you to choose stainless steel blade. Because it has many advantages: anti-rust, anti-corrosion, durable, sharp and easy to store. Improvements enhance hardness, strength, sharpness and other features such as moisture-proof, anti-bacterial, non-stick, etc.

You should choose stainless steel blades with a few improvements to increase service time and be more convenient for you to use.

Handle material

Handle material is also a point you need to pay attention in order to achieve the best cutting effect. You need to consider its material and design to fit comfortably in the palm of your hand.

There are usually two types of handles: wood and stainless steel. Wooden handles are classical, nice and premium. It provides a firm and comfortable grip.

Stainless steel handle is usually designed seamlessly and sturdier. This prevents its cracking or falling off. These handles are often covered with plastic to prevent slipping when holding.

The handle is usually designed with round cylinder or D-shape. You should choose one kind that fits your fist and does not make you tired when using it for a long time.

Blade size and weight

The blade is usually about 7 – 8 inches in size. Choose the right size and fit your needs. The flat and wide side helps you smash garlic, ginger, chili and move them into a pot or pan easily.

A lightweight cleaver makes it easy to handle and avoids hand fatigue when used a lot.

Purpose

These cleavers are designed to serve different purposes. If you want to buy a knife to chop meat then you need to choose heavy duty design. It will ensure working performance and maintain the sharp cutting edge. You should choose a cleaver that fits   what you need, for example, strength, durability or usage

Price

Price is always a factor to consider when you buy anything. In every price segments, there are good quality products. So you can choose a knife that suits your economic budget.

FAQs

Why do Chinese chefs use cleavers?

Chinese chefs often use cleaver because it can do all tasks of other knives well. Besides, it is strong and durable. The sharp edge provides the best cutting effect.

What type of Chinese cleaver does Martin Yan use?

As known, Martin Yan often uses cleaver knives in the Martin Yan kitchenware.

What is a Chinese cleaver?

A Chinese cleaver has a thin delicate knife that slices and chops well and a flat side of the blade can be used to crush product before cutting.

What is the best Chinese cleaver?

It is ZHEN Japanese VG-10 67-Layer Damascus Chinese Cleaver.

 How do I choose a Chinese cleaver?

You can read the buying guide above. In it, I have given criteria and guidelines for you to consider before buying.

How do you sharpen Chinese vegetable cleaver?

To sharpen a Chinese knife, you can use a honing tool. First, place the honing tool on a flat surface and moisten it and the blade. Next, tilt the cleaver’s edge about 15-20 degrees on it. Then move the cleaver back and forth vertically about 10 times. Finally, do the same with the other side. Your knife is super sharp again.

What knives do Chinese chefs use?

Chinese chefs currently use a cleaver with a wooden handle like Dexter s5198 Chinese Cleaver.

Conclusion

With this list of top 18 best Chinese cleavers and detailed reviews of each product, I believe you can choose the most suitable one  for you. I hope your choice of cleaver will live up to your expectations and bring great cooking experiences.

Side notes: Store your knives properly (rinse and wipe thoroughly, store in  a safe place) so that they can maintain their sharp edges and perform well.

If you have any other questions or comments, please leave a comment below to discuss!

Thanks for reading!