A Chinese chef’s cleaver, also known as a Chinese chopper, is a versatile kitchen knife perfect for everything from chopping meat and vegetables to smashing garlic and slicing delicate proteins. For Asian cooking enthusiasts, a quality Chinese cleaver is an indispensable tool. With their broad blades and lightweight but robust designs, these knives make quick work of meal prep tasks. But with the variety of styles and steel types available, it can be daunting to pick the best Chinese cleaver for your needs.
In this buying guide, we’ll recommend the top Chinese cleaver knives on the market and discuss what to look for in terms of blade material, construction, weight, tang, and handle. Whether you need a nimble slicer or a heavy-duty smasher for crushing spice blends, we’ll help you find the right Chinese chef’s knife to become your go-to kitchen companion.
With the proper chopper by your side, you’ll fly through Chinese cooking prep with ease.
10 Best Chinese Chef Knives
Here’s the quick pick:
- Meat Cleaver 7 Inch Cleaver Knife
- HENCKELS Zwilling J.A. Henckels TWIN Signature Chinese Chef’s Knife
- Global Kitchen-Knives Chop & Slice 7-Inch Chinese Chef’s Knife
- TUO Vegetable Meat Cleaver Knife
- Mercer Cutlery Chinese Chef’s Knife
- Victorinox 7″ Chinese Classic Chef’s Knife
- Kiaitre Cleaver Knife 7 Inch – High Carbon German Steel Chinese Chef Knife
- Enso HD 7″ Vegetable Cleaver
- SHI BA ZI ZUO Chef Knife Chinese Cleaver Kitchen Knife
- Yaxell Ran Plus 7″ Chinese Chef’s Knife
Best Chinese Chef Knives Reviews
10. Yaxell Ran Plus 7″ Chinese Chef’s Knife
If you are looking for maximum strength and longevity of applications, you have these two embodied by this specific knife. That is mainly guaranteed by its enclosed full tang handle construction. With it, you may tackle the hardest recipes that are way beyond the scope of your ordinary knife.
Its blades have the added benefit of inclining at some comfortable angles of roughly 12°. Thanks to this capability, the item is able to also slice the food at varying degrees of inclination for your convenience. Rounding it all up is the fact that you may clean it with the normal soap and water.
Why We Like It
- Japanese VG10 Cobalt Molybdenum Vanadium stainless steel
- Japanese kanji engraves
- 61 Rockwell Hardness
- Black resin and linen Canvas Micarta handle
- 2 stainless steel rivets
9. SHI BA ZI ZUO Chef Knife Chinese Cleaver Kitchen Knife
Consistent and prolonged use of these items will usually inflict some discomforts on your part. To stem the tide, you need a piece of equipment that bears an ergonomic design. None comes even close to this one as pertains to that metric or parameter. Its ergonomic design stands out as the premier trait.
Complementing this is the high-carbon stainless steel blade. On the strength of this material, the item is sure to last longer and also manage those tougher applications that are tougher and likely to inflict premature damages. Its handle is hygienic and less prone to the risks of infections.
Why We Like It
- High-carbon stainless steel blade
- Heavy-duty multi-functional knife
- Superior class 7-inch Stainless Steel Knife
- Ergonomic hygienic rosewood handle
- The ultimate sharp blade edge
8. Enso HD 7″ Vegetable Cleaver
Looking to complement your interior’s beauty and décor? Fewer if any knives may let you achieve that end better than this one. Each of its blades comes about with the hammered or sashimi finish that is both very beautiful. Its handles are not left out either because they too have the strong Micarta material makeup.
Each part that makes the entire knife up is riveted for solid structure and general performances. You will hence find the knife to be a little bit stronger and more reliable to make do with, in the long run. At its edges are some caps that are designed and intended for your own safety and peace of mind.
Why We Like It
- Japanese VG10 steel cutting core
- 37-layer stainless Damascus blades
- Hammered (tsuchime) finish
- Rounded spine for ultimate comfort
- Black canvas Micarta handle
7. Kiaitre Cleaver Knife 7 Inch – High Carbon German Steel Chinese Chef Knife
Have many recipes to care for per given time? Get your hands on this specific set of knives. It is able to handle a vast array of tasks like the cutting of fruits, vegetables, meat, and fish to name but a few! That is mainly made possible by its sheer strength and multipurpose overall makeup.
Its core comprises the premium HC German stainless steel that is renowned for longevity. The steel is also able to endure corrosion and other agents of damages a bit reliably. Because of this, the knife is sure to last you longer and take you further.
Why We Like It
- Anti-rust kitchen knife
- Multi-functional 7-inch cleaver
- High-quality German stainless steel
- High-level of corrosion and wear resistance
- Ergonomic Pakkawood handle
6. Victorinox 7″ Chinese Classic Chef’s Knife
Lacking the necessary muscle power or merely want to cut through the leaner meat? This knife is the one to look up to if you answered back in the affirmative. It is not only light but also agile enough to cut through the delicate and lean meat with absolute efficacy.
Using this knife, you may also scoop, scrape, and smash the recipes with the utmost degree of fairness and efficacy. With its awesome look, you also reap the benefit of enhanced décor of your interior spaces thanks to the fact of it being shiny and breathtaking to the eyes.
Why We Like It
- Fibrox-handle Swiss-made
- Delicate and sharp-edge
- Far lighter feels
- Smashes, scrapes, and scoops
- Stainless steel cleaver Butcher knife
5. Mercer Cutlery Chinese Chef’s Knife, 8″
In a nutshell, this is a highly versatile knife that is similarly suited for tackling many tasks. You will find it useful for the prepping of foods and chopping of meats and vegetables. It is hence an all-rounded kitchen companion as it negates the need for you to spend too much to afford the food-preparation tools.
Owing to its general simplicity, this knife is also suitable for those who are barely getting started out. Its handle has a tough grip that secures it from the likelihood of slipping when in the course of getting handled. Look up to it hence for your maximum comfort.
Why We Like It
- Natural, comfortable, and triple-riveted rosewood handle
- Highest-quality Japanese steel
- Rapid sharpening for a razor-sharp edge
- Stain-resistant, hand wash knives
- One-piece high carbon steel
4. TUO Vegetable Meat Cleaver Knife
Could it be that you just seek a knife to use repeatedly over a prolonged duration of time? If you answered back in the affirmative, you may want to tap into the high-standard craftsmanship of this specific gadget. It is stronger by virtue of this and also tends to last longer.
Thanks to its sleek blade pattern, the item is also capable of adding to the interior aesthetics of the rooms where you choose to dedicate it for your use. The fiberglass construction gives it the strength and the endurance it requires to serve you further.
Why We Like It
- Black Hawk-S 7-inch heavy-duty cleaver knives
- Special-forged high-carbon stainless steel
- State-of-the-art technology ripple-pattern finish
- High-standard craftsmanship
- Full-tang structure
3. Global Kitchen-Knives Chop & Slice 7-Inch Chinese Chef’s Knife/Cleaver, Stainless Steel
With continual use, these items tend to corrode. If and when that happens, they lose their strength and luster. Also, they tend to contaminate the foods you handle using them. To be on the safe side of issues, you must choose and make use of a knife that is resistant to stains and corrosion.
Choose to work with this one. Over and above merely bearing those twin traits, it also features a carefully-weighted makeup. That confers to you the dual benefits of balance and exceptional performances in one comprehensive packaging. Have we mentioned the seamless construction that adorns its whole length and breadth?
Why We Like It
- CROMOVA 18 stainless steel
- Rust, corrosion, and stain resistant
- Global chop and slice 7-inch Chinese chef’s knife/cleaver
- Seamless construction
- Careful weighting
2. HENCKELS Zwilling J.A. Henckels TWIN Signature Chinese Chef’s Knife/Vegetable Cleaver
Piercing through the tougher stakes is never a mean feat. You need a knife that is really sharp and able to maintain that sharpness for longer. Why not set your eyes on this particular gadget? Its edge has been touted to be very sharp and enduring.
Adding to that is the hardness of the blade thereof. The blades are steady and less inclined to warp or fall apart even when subjected to the most extreme impacts possible. Courtesy of its lightweight, the gadget is more convenient to handle and engage repeatedly over a spread out period of time.
Why We Like It
- Special formula high-carbon no-stain steel
- One-piece precision-stamped blade
- Ice hardened Friodur blade
- Ergonomic polymer handle
- Traditional three-rivet design
1. Meat Cleaver 7 Inch Cleaver Knife
Topping up the charts is this knife apparatus. It takes pride in the fact that it can handle and tackle many tasks and find them in use across many occasions. The core reason underlying this is its suitability for both professional and home applications. This in turn is made possible by the high-quality Carbon steel material makeup.
Adding to this steel is the molybdenum, chromium, and vanadium metal elements. All these combine to confer to the knife some hardness, maximum strength, and overall efficacy. They jointly make for the longevity of the use of the item and the ability to take on rough applications.
Why We Like It
- Chromium, molybdenum, and vanadium metal elements
- Full-tang no-slip ergonomic Handle
- Delivers unrivaled massive cutting performance
- 17° per side, hand-made grooves
- Non-slip feeling and grip
Top Chinese Cleaver Knives for the Kitchen
Benefits of a Chinese Cleaver Knife
- Multipurpose use for chopping, slicing, mincing, and smashing
- Broad-bladed design provides ample knuckle clearance
- Lightweight but durable construction
- Easy to sharpen edge
- Comfortable grip handles
- Tall blade ideal for scooping cut ingredients
What to Look For
- Full-tang construction for balance
- High carbon stainless steel or forged steel
- Blade edge angle suited for chopping tasks
- Comfortable handle material (wood, plastic, etc.)
- Proper heft and weight for leverage
CONCLUSION
Your hunt for the best Chinese chef knives should not be too much of a hassle now. The kinds of insights we have generously relished you above should truly enable you to make a decision that is now more informed. We caution against dragging your feet or taking too long to act.
Why would you even want to forfeit or delay in leveraging the wonderful benefits that these knives have to offer? Is it not also wise of you to spread the news far and wide? You definitely want those around you to tap into the selfsame benefits that these knives have the ability to offer.