Chinese cleavers offer a ton of versatility in the kitchen but do require careful consideration when purchasing. You want a cleaver that is equally safe as much as sharp. With some close attention to maintenance, you can find a great cleaver from our list, including our top pick, the Zwilling Twin Signature 7” Chinese Cleaver. In the end, it will always come down to your personal preference as the most critical factor. That is why we have put together a Chef knives buying guide for those that prefer a bit of a different style, but the same power and versatility. Let’s get on to the list of the best Chinese cleavers of 2023.
Top 10 Chinese Cleavers
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1. Zwilling Twin Signature 7” Chinese Cleaver – Editor’s Choice
We chose the Zwilling not only because it looks the part, but also because it has the best features for the price level to add to any home or professional kitchen.
Zwilling Twin Signature 7” Chinese Cleaver Specifications
About the Knife
If you were surprised to find out the top choice of the best Chinese cleavers is a stamped knife, so were we! This incredible kitchen tool has just enough balance of all the features we want in a cleaver that we had to boost it to the top. Not to mention the price point is incredible considering this makes easy work of thick vegetables that you would use in Asian cuisine as well as cutting cleanly through smaller bones. Between all of that and the easy maintenance, we highly recommend this cleaver for your kitchen.
Maintenance
You can put this cleaver into your dishwasher if you want, but we suggest sticking to hand drying and washing to maintain the quality of the blade. Be sure to hone the edge occasionally whenever it’s needed.
Pros:
- Keeps its edge extremely well
- Has just enough weight to cut through meat
- Makes easy work of thick vegetables like pumpkins
Cons:
- The back of the blade is sharp, so watch your fingers
- No easy way to store it due to its size
- May require an initial sharpening out of box
2. Tuo Vegetable Chinese Cleaver
An excellent forged cleaver with a pointed tip and rounded top makes for a solid grip when dealing with large amounts of ingredients.
Tuo Vegetable Chinese Cleaver Specifications
About the Knife
This is more of the traditional cleaver choice for home kitchens that will still get you all the benefits you want in your ingredient preparation. The edge is more than sharp enough, and the handle is, to put it bluntly, fantastic. Everything about this knife feels professional quality. The only thing to watch out for is flexibility. If you prefer a more rigid cleaver, you may want to try something else from our list.
Maintenance
The pakkawood handle and forged steel make this a no-go for the dishwasher. Hand washing and drying only, and be sure to store a cool, dry space safe from little hands.
Pros:
- Stunning traditional design
- Excellent sharpness with a high HRC
- The handle feels amazing
Cons:
- Careful with hand placement to avoid nicks
- Pretty heavy for smaller hands
- Has a lot of flexibility for a cleaver
3. Linoroso 7.5” Chinese Cleaver
The traditional rectangle-styled cleaver that you would expect to see buried in a wooden block at a Chinese restaurant.
Linoroso 7.5” Chinese Cleaver Specifications
About the Knife
This is a bigger blade than the other cleavers we’ve looked at so far and in the traditional rectangle style. The extended length helps with thicker veggies and meats, making this a highly useful tool in kitchens that handle a lot of Asian-inspired cuisines. There is a decent amount of hardness to the blade even though it has flexibility as well. The bolster is thick enough for control while using sweet potato or something as small as garlic clove.
Maintenance
You have to hand wash and dry the blade completely because of the forged materials. Do not put this into your dishwashing. It is way too sharp and bulky.
Pros:
- Larger size for more ingredients
- Excellent bolster for a pinch grip
- Incredibly sharp for even smaller vegies
Cons:
- Does have flexibility
- Not great if you are not used to the rectangle style
- May need to sharpen out of the box
4. Shi Ba Zi Zuo 8” Chinese Cleaver
A cleaver you would expect to see at a Chinese food cart in one of the famous shopping alleys of Shanghai.
Shi Ba Zi Zuo 8” Chinese Cleaver Specifications
About the Knife
This Chinese cleaver is made for frequent use. You’ll notice the shorter handle compared to others in the “beehive” style, which makes it optimal for people like shop owners or restaurants with a high turnover rate. The 3-layer clad sides make it far more durable than you would expect and helps keep food off the blade when you are working, making for a much easier clean-up.
Maintenance
Not dishwasher safe because of the quality of the blade and the handle. You will ruin both if they are exposed to air-drying instead of hand drying and then safely storing away.
Pros:
- Excellent control of the handle
- Durable steel materials designed for heavy use
- Heavy enough to do the work for you
Cons:
- The bolster is a bit small for the pinch grip
- The handle is hard for people with larger hands
- This is a big knife making it bulky at first
5. Shun Classic 7” Chinese Cleaver
The first Damascus blade on our list with stunning patterning along both sides and a character accent that make it wildly attractive.
Shun Classic 7” Chinese Cleaver Specifications
About the Knife
It is interesting that Shun went with a black pakkawood instead of the natural brown color. Otherwise, this is a beautiful cleaver. The hardness and multi-layered forging mean you get those tell-tale designs along the sides of the cleaver to let you know it is real Damascus steel. This option is on the higher end of our pricing scale, but for obvious reasons. The detailed work of creating this blade is fantastic.
Maintenance
You cannot wash this blade in a dishwasher. It will damage Damascus steel. Stick to hand washing and drying entirely before replacing in a safe space. Many users report using this as a display knife.
Pros:
- Excellent sharpness retention from the forging process
- Highly sought-after Damascus steel
- Both right and left-handed users can enjoy it
Cons:
- On the pricier side of our list
- Does require a bit of maintenance to keep that shine
- The bolster could be thicker
6. Dexter 8” Chinese Cleaver
A very traditional cleaver design with a beehive handle that requires a bit of strength to maneuver well.
Dexter 8” Chinese Cleaver Specifications
About the Knife
You have to clean this cleaver carefully. While you get the experience of a traditional cleaver with a wooden handle, that also means you need to watch your maintenance a bit more. It is amazing this is an American brand, but the quality is undeniable. For a partial tang cleaver, you get a lot of chopping power that can handle practically any Asian-inspired dish. At one of the more reasonable prices on our list, this would make an excellent blade giving as a gift.
Maintenance
You have to keep this blade out of the dishwasher. The forged materials and wooden handles require hand washing. Be sure to do a good job hand drying the handle to avoid any issues down the road.
Pros:
- Love the feeling of a wooden handle
- Longer cleaver length for larger ingredients
- Feels hefty in your hands
Cons:
- Wooden handle requires careful maintenance
- Lower hardness to the blade for bone work
- Chinese cleaver made in the USA
7. Kyoku Samurai Series 7” Chinese Cleaver
A lot of pluses about the handle and material construction of this taller cleaver that you can use with pretty much anything in the kitchen.
Kyoku Samurai Series 7” Chinese Cleaver Specifications
About the Knife
This Japanese cleaver was definitely created by a designer with a deep appreciation for craftwork. From the premium steep to the mosaic in one of the handle pins, you can see real effort was made towards a user with experience using a cleaver. The bolster makes this one of our favorites because it is wider and allows for way more maneuverability. Just be sure to take advantage of the included sheath because this is an extremely sharp blade.
Maintenance
Not safe for the dishwasher because of the premium steel. Only use a bit of soapy water and be careful when drying so you avoid needing a band-aid.
Pros:
- Excellent sharpness right out of the box
- Wide bolster for added grip
- Fantastic craftwork in the design
Cons:
- The sheath can slide occasionally
- Reports of some loose rivets
- A little lighter than others on our list
8. Shi Ba Zi Zuo 9” Chinese Cleaver
Get ready for a seriously heavier and longer meat cleaver that is meant for repetitive use in a professional kitchen.
Shi Ba Zi Zuo 9” Chinese Cleaver Specifications
About the Knife
Yes, this is a beast. If you are not in the market for a seriously huge cleaver, then you may want to try a different option. This is also a wooden-handled cleaver, meaning you will need to pay close attention to maintenance. However, the control and sharpness of this cleaver is pretty impressive. For the price point, you can get a lot of value from the blade. So much so that we recommend this to professional ramen cooks or cart chefs.
Maintenance
Must be hand dried and washed to avoid the handle gathering any bacteria.
Pros:
- Excellent wooden handle control
- More than enough length and weight for bigger ingredients
- Quality materials for the blade
Cons:
- Slightly softer HRC for durability
- Wooden handle requires more maintenance
- Not meant for people with smaller hands
9. Shi Ba Zi Zuo 6.7” Chinese Cleaver
Excellent blade for the price and meant for people who do not like a larger cleaver in their kitchen.
Shi Ba Zi Zuo 6.7” Chinese Cleaver Specifications
About the Knife
Another of our wooden handle options, but this time for users that prefer something slightly smaller. You can still get all the Asian cuisine needs out of the way with this cleaver. There is no bolster, so watch your hands. We think this is a great introductory cleaver for people who may not be used to the tool as part of their ingredient-prepping habits.
Maintenance
This is not a dishwasher-safe cleaver because of the metal and the wooden handle. You will need to completely hand dry after washing in some light soap.
Pros:
- Smaller size for those with smaller hands
- Wooden handle feels amazing in your grip
- Shorter length for greater maneuverability
Cons:
- Material is not as hard as you would like
- Wooden handle requires more maintenance
- Lighter weight requires a bit more effort to cutting
10. Kyoku 7” Shogun Series Chinese Cleaver
The only other Damascus blade on our list that looks and feels amazing to use.
Kyoku 7” Shogun Series Chinese Cleaver Specifications
About the Knife
If you are looking for the most aesthetically pleasing cleaver on our list, this is probably it. Between the sheath and rippled side layers, you get a knife that is great for displaying. As for cutting, there is enough weight and sharpness to work with most ingredients. You cannot go wrong with Damascus steel, even when blended with a little stainless steel to even out the design.
Maintenance
Damascus steel is not meant for the dishwasher and will require hand drying and washing.
Pros:
- Damascus steel is more durable than others
- Excellent grip on the handle
- Wonderful design details
Cons:
- On the more expensive side of our list
- Feels a bit lighter than you would expect
- Requires occasional sharpening at a fine angle
FAQ
How to use a Chinese cleaver?
Traditionally, this is the only knife in a Chinese kitchen. You can use it for pretty much anything, but do need to adjust your grip occasionally to get the full maneuverability. Start with the pinch grip along the top of the blade or bolster and then take your time getting used to different activities to naturally adjust.
How to sharpen a Chinese cleaver?
You should often hone your edge to ensure you are getting the most out of the blade. A honing steel is a thin rod with a handle, and you hold it vertically (handle up) while sliding the cleaver along the steel, moving away from you 5-10 times per side depending on the angle you desire.
How thick is a Chinese cleaver?
Most Chinese cleavers will be between 2 and 8 mm. You want it to be a little flexibly without losing the durability or blade hardness. The best cleavers are usually between 3-5mm. When you work with less than 3mm, you get a thinner blade that may not hold up well to chopping actions.
Why do the Chinese only use a claver?
Most traditional Chinese cooking at home involves a pot or wok. Everything is cooked in the same pan, with the exception being rice. That requires all the ingredients to be thinly sliced to cook evenly. A cleaver can do the work by itself. It is a cost-affordable choice to just have one knife for everything.
How to store a Chinese cleaver?
Most cleavers are sharp and do cause a risk of getting hurt. You need to keep them in a safe spot where the blade edge is covered by a sheath and away from children. If you do use a magnetic bar, make sure it is high enough that little ones cannot grab the cleaver.
Conclusion
There are a lot of different options for your Chinese cleaver selection. We strongly encourage you to check out the Zwilling Twin Signature 7” Chinese Cleaver, but always go with a knife that is comfortable in your hands. Be sure to maintain your knife well, and you should get plenty of years out of its use for practically any style of cooking in your home or kitchen.
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