Best Knife to Cut Through Bones

Not every knife has the capacity to cut through bones. Some are made for lighter duties and you need to know the type to pick if you want a heavy-duty one for your home, restaurant, or butcher shop. In this review, we have the best knife to cut through bones options that have been trusted on the market. They are all efficient and great choices for any chef master.
Best Knife to Cut Through Bones

Like in any other market, buying the best meat cleaver requires you to know the capacity of the knife, the features and specs, and quality among other considerations. In this case, you need to consider the following features:

Size of the Knife and the Blades

Different knives come with different sizes. You need an ideal size that would suit your meat cutting needs. You should check the overall size of the knife, and that of the blades to ensure it is the right size that you need for the kitchen, restaurant, or butcher shop. 

Handling

When it comes to handling your meat cleaver, you need to make sure that the handles offer the comfortable grip that you need for cutting through bones. The handle should be comfortable even with wet hands. 

Material design

The other thing to check is the quality of the materials that have been used to make the knife. Check the quality of stainless-steel blades and the capacity to handle cutting through the bones. Material design of the blades, and also of the handles would also determine the durability of the knife. 

You should also note that poor quality materials, especially for the blade may lead to rusting of the blade making it unhygienic. 

Heavy Duty Performance

If you need a heavy-duty knife, you need to check on the weight, the size, and the quality of the blades. The knife should have the capacity to cut through hard bones, and that comes with all the features combined. The lightweight options are not the best when choosing a commercial or heavy-duty knife for heavy cuttings. 

In this review, you will find the best knives for cutting through bones, both soft and hard. Whether you need the best knife for cutting chicken, fish, or hard bones, or just removing meat from the bones, this guide is the best for your search.

What is the Best Knife to Cut Through Bones?

Preview
SHI BA ZI ZUO Heavy Duty Heft Cleaver Butcher...
KYTD 7-inch Meat Cleaver Knife, Professional...
Zelite Infinity 7 Inch Butcher Knife - Meat...
Dexter-Russell 8" Stainless Heavy Duty Cleaver,...
Dalstrong Butcher Knife - 10 inch - Gladiator...
ZWILLING HENCKELS Classic Razor-Sharp 6-inch Meat...
Product Name
SHI BA ZI ZUO Heavy Duty Heft Cleaver Butcher...
KYTD 7-inch Meat Cleaver Knife, Professional...
Zelite Infinity 7 Inch Butcher Knife - Meat...
Dexter-Russell 8" Stainless Heavy Duty Cleaver,...
Dalstrong Butcher Knife - 10 inch - Gladiator...
ZWILLING HENCKELS Classic Razor-Sharp 6-inch Meat...
Size
7 inches
7 inches
7 inches
8 inches
10 inches
6 inches
Blade Material
Stainless Steel
Stainless_steel
Stainless Steel
Stainless Steel
Stainless Steel
Stainless Steel
Handle Material
Wood
Wood
Forged
Wood
Pakkawood
Stainless Steel
Blade Edge
Plain
Cleaver
Cleaver
Cleaver
Hollow
Cleaver
Weight
2.54 pounds
14.4 ounces
14.3 ounces
2.5 pounds
15.8 ounces
14.4 ounces
Dimensions
14.84 x 5.27 x 1.42 inches
13.9 x 4.65 x 1.18 inches
11.81 x 0.98 x 3.35 inches
14 x 5 x 1.5 inches
18 x 4 x 3 inches
8.8 x 5.2 x 15.2 inches
Preview
SHI BA ZI ZUO Heavy Duty Heft Cleaver Butcher...
Product Name
SHI BA ZI ZUO Heavy Duty Heft Cleaver Butcher...
Size
7 inches
Blade Material
Stainless Steel
Handle Material
Wood
Blade Edge
Plain
Weight
2.54 pounds
Dimensions
14.84 x 5.27 x 1.42 inches
Preview
KYTD 7-inch Meat Cleaver Knife, Professional...
Product Name
KYTD 7-inch Meat Cleaver Knife, Professional...
Size
7 inches
Blade Material
Stainless_steel
Handle Material
Wood
Blade Edge
Cleaver
Weight
14.4 ounces
Dimensions
13.9 x 4.65 x 1.18 inches
Preview
Zelite Infinity 7 Inch Butcher Knife - Meat...
Product Name
Zelite Infinity 7 Inch Butcher Knife - Meat...
Size
7 inches
Blade Material
Stainless Steel
Handle Material
Forged
Blade Edge
Cleaver
Weight
14.3 ounces
Dimensions
11.81 x 0.98 x 3.35 inches
Preview
Dexter-Russell 8" Stainless Heavy Duty Cleaver,...
Product Name
Dexter-Russell 8" Stainless Heavy Duty Cleaver,...
Size
8 inches
Blade Material
Stainless Steel
Handle Material
Wood
Blade Edge
Cleaver
Weight
2.5 pounds
Dimensions
14 x 5 x 1.5 inches
Preview
Dalstrong Butcher Knife - 10 inch - Gladiator...
Product Name
Dalstrong Butcher Knife - 10 inch - Gladiator...
Size
10 inches
Blade Material
Stainless Steel
Handle Material
Pakkawood
Blade Edge
Hollow
Weight
15.8 ounces
Dimensions
18 x 4 x 3 inches
Preview
ZWILLING HENCKELS Classic Razor-Sharp 6-inch Meat...
Product Name
ZWILLING HENCKELS Classic Razor-Sharp 6-inch Meat...
Size
6 inches
Blade Material
Stainless Steel
Handle Material
Stainless Steel
Blade Edge
Cleaver
Weight
14.4 ounces
Dimensions
8.8 x 5.2 x 15.2 inches

The best knives that cut through bone according to our analysis will depend on the type of bone, whether soft or hard. For soft bones, Victorinox 47602 Curved Knife is a perfect choice that has been trusted by chef masters. 

For hard bones, Zelite Infinity Cleaver will work great. It is a heavy-duty and the best-rated knife for cutting meat and hard bones.

Top 10 Best Knife to Cut Through Bones

Below is a list of the best meat cleavers that you can pick for your kitchen. The list comes with trusted and well-researched products that can work for boning. Whether for soft or hard bones, you will find a matching cleaver that is suitable to handle your bone cutting needs:

SHI BA ZI ZOU Heavy-Duty Bone Knife

SHI BA ZI ZUO Heavy Duty Heft Cleaver Butcher...

This is an ideal knife for cutting meat bones. It comes with a heavy-duty design and toughened stainless-steel material of good quality. This gives it the strength to chop everything that it comes across. With the weight of 1000g, you can rest assured of the impact it has on hard bones. 

Heavy-Duty Blade 

We can say SHI BA ZI ZOU is a full tang knife due to its blade design and quality. It is made of the best quality stainless-steel material, and a sure thing to last for years. Apart from durability, it is strong enough to handle all your kitchen cutting needs. 

Wooden Handle Design 

The handle is triple riveted and made of wood. The design of the handle offers a well-balanced nature for cutting performance. The handle is also comfortable to hold and does not hurt even if used for long hours.

Pros:

  • Ergonomic and comfortable handle
  • Toughened and strong stainless-steel blade
  • Efficient for all types of bones
  • Full tang and well-balanced for better performance
  • Extended finger guard protection

Cons:

  • It’s heavy and not suitable for everyday kitchen use

Expert opinion:  SHI BA ZI ZOU is the best knife for cutting bone. It is heavy in design and with a toughened blade. The handle is also extended for better performance. It is, therefore, a recommendable bone cutting knife.

KYTD Professional Bone Cutting Knife

KYTD 7-inch Meat Cleaver Knife, Professional...

This is a professional and well-balanced meat cleaver with uniform blade thickness. It is a heavy-duty knife and weighs 260g of its net weight. The blade is 7 inches in length and rectangular in shape to suit its function. It is also a multipurpose knife that you can use not only for cutting large pieces of meat, but also for vegetables, and other food stuff. 

Stainless-Steel Blade 

This knife is handcrafted and forged hence strong to handle all your cutting needs. You can use it for soft bones like fish and chicken bones. It may not work perfectly for hard bones since you will need to sharpen it every other to maintain its edge. 

The stainless-steel material is resistant to corrosion, rust, and does not get stained. 

Hardwood Handle 

The handle is made from natural mahogany. The design of the handle offers ergonomic grip and is well-balanced for efficient cutting. The handle is also triple-riveted and is durable.

Pros:

  • Comfortable and ergonomic handle
  • Wide and heavy-duty blade for efficient chopping
  • Forged and durable stainless-steel
  • Well-balanced and comfortable to use
  • Corrosion and stain resistant
  • Easy to clean

Cons:

  • Not good for cutting hard bones

Expert opinion: This brand model is the best for cutting large pieces of meat and soft bones. It is efficient, reliable, and comes with a sharp, stainless-steel forged blade for better performance.

Zelite Infinity Cleaver

Zelite Infinity 7 Inch Butcher Knife - Meat...

Zelite Infinity Cleaver is made of high-carbon German stainless-steel material that is strong enough and does not rust. It comes with an excellent thickness and edge of 18-20 degrees hence an efficient cleaver for cutting meat. 

Blade Design

The blade is 7-inches long and works for cutting meat cubes, meat with light bones, and for other purposes that include chopping vegetables and fruits. It is a versatile knife that works for restaurants, butcher shops, and for home use.

Other Details 

This knife is not just efficient but also durable. Being made of rust-resistant German stainless-steel material, you can rest assured of the longevity of service that comes with this Zelite Infinity Cleaver. Also, the ABS handle comes with tapered bolster and full-tang hence offer perfect handling and comfort.

Pros:

  • Made of quality materials that makes it durable
  • It is sharp and efficient for separating bones from meat
  • It works for both commercial and for home use
  • It is easy to clean
  • Comes with a comfortable handle

Cons:

  • It needs more sharpening when it's new

ENOKING Butcher Knife

ENOKING Serbian Chef Knife 6.7 Inch, Handmade...

If you are looking for a multipurpose knife that also works great as a bone cutting knife, then ENOKING Butcher Knife is the best choice that you will need. You can use this cleaver to cut vegetables, fruits, bones, and any other food that you may want to cut. 

Blades and Handle

ENOKING Butcher Knife comes with ultra-sharp blades made of high-carbon steel and hence are strong to cut through bones. In addition to that, the blades are rust-proof and highly polished hence easy to clean. It is also hard and durable. 

When it comes to the handle, ENOKING Butcher Knife comes with a wooden handle with ergonomic design and hence comfortable to handle. 

Dimensions 

On the dimensions side, ENOKING Butcher Knife is a good size knife that features a blade length of 6.8-inches and blade thickness of 5.5mm. The weight for this knife is 1.79lbs, and thus is an efficient knife and a great choice for commercial and home use.

Pros:

  • Highly versatile and works for other uses apart from cutting meat
  • Comes with leather sheath for protection
  • Ergonomic wooden handle for comfortable use
  • Hard and high-quality durable blade
  • It is sharp and efficient
  • It is comparatively cheaper.
  • Comes with a good weight to cut bones

Cons:

  • It may rust if not well taken care of

PAUDIN Pro Chef Kitchen Knife

PAUDIN Chef Knife, 8 Inch High Carbon Stainless...

This is an 8-inch excellent knife that is made of high-quality carbon stainless-steel and hence is an efficient and durable knife that you can buy. It is good for restaurants and also for home use among other purposes. Of course, you can also take it for camping. 

Material Design

PAUDIN Pro Chef Kitchen Knife features high-quality stainless-steel that is durable. It also comes with ultra-sharp blades with 0.25mm thickness, and 15-degrees edge. The alloy also makes the blades rust-resistant and helps in maintaining its original sharpness. 

Handle and Comfort

What you need with every knife is comfort and efficiency. PAUDIN Pro Chef Kitchen Knife comes with a balanced handle for efficient cutting of vegetables, fish, and meat. The ergonomic and smooth handle also makes PAUDIN Pro Chef Kitchen Knife a versatile knife that can be put into different uses.

Pros:

  • Forged sharp blades for reliable performance
  • Smooth and ergonomic handle
  • 2mm thickness and 8-inches size makes it an ideal size for cutting
  • Made of stainless-steel durable blade
  • Suitable for a variety of uses
  • Easy to clean and to maintain

Cons:

  • Cannot be washed in a dishwasher machine

Dexter-Russell Heavy Duty Meat Cleaver

Dexter-Russell 8' Stainless Heavy Duty Cleaver,...

This meat cleaver is 8-inches in size and is the best for use at home, restaurants, or butcher shops among other uses. Dexter-Russell Heavy Duty Meat Cleaver comes with an excellent design that makes it useful and efficient for cutting meat and bones. You can also chop vegetables and fruits among other food stuff. 

Blade and Handle

What makes Dexter-Russell Heavy Duty Meat Cleaver efficient is the design that comes with the handle and the quality of the blade. The heavy-gauge stainless-steel blade with hardwood handle makes this knife easy to use. 

It also comes with a good size and that is suitable for cutting large pieces of meat without hassle. It is, therefore, the best knife for cutting meat and chicken. 

Other Features

Dexter-Russell Heavy Duty Meat Cleaver also features a hole for easy storage. You can just hang it after cleaning. The handle is comfortable and with excellent design that makes the whole knife easy to use and efficient for cutting.

Pros:

  • Sharp blades for easy slicing of meat
  • Versatile and good for cutting different food stuff
  • Comfortable handle fixed with heavy-duty brass rivets
  • Strong carbon steel blade that is durable and efficient
  • Easy to clean and to manage
  • Hole for hanging to ease storage

Cons:

  • A bit too heavy and may not suit normal home usage

DALSTRONG Butcher Knife

Dalstrong Butcher Knife - 10 inch - Gladiator...

DALSTRONG Butcher Knife is a great addition for any kitchen. This knife is made of high-carbon German steel material and is not just durable but also ultra-sharp and efficient. If you need one for your butcher shop or other commercial purposes, this brand is the real deal. 

Handle and Blade

DALSTRONG Butcher Knife comes with a well-crafted and finished high-carbon German steel and with a curved design making it useful for the purpose. With an ergonomic handle, you have all the comfort that you need for chopping. 

Size and Other Features

This knife comes with a long blade for professional cutting experience. The blade length is 10-inches and cutting edge sharpened to about 15-degrees. Therefore, DALSTRONG Butcher Knife is an excellent knife that does not disappoint when cutting through meat. 

DALSTRONG Butcher Knife also comes with a sheath guard for protecting the blade hence keeping it sharp at all times.

Pros:

  • Comes with a BPA-free sheath guard
  • Easy to clean and to maintain
  • Long blade for efficient cutting of large pieces of meat
  • Versatile and can be used to cut other food stuff
  • Premium quality and durable high-carbon steel blade

Cons:

  • The blade is relatively thinner

HENCKELS Meat Cleaver

ZWILLING HENCKELS Classic Razor-Sharp 6-inch Meat...

HENCKELS Meat Cleaver is a great option for cutting through meat and bones. It is an excellently made 6-inch cleaver and works great for its purpose. It is also a versatile knife that you can use at home, in your butcher shop, or restaurant among other places. 

Material and Design

This meat cleaver is made from great quality materials and thus good for chopping meat among other stuff. Made from high-quality German stainless-steel material, you can rest assured of the longevity of service that it can offer. The same quality of the material makes it a durable quality knife. 

Other Features

Looking into details, HENCKELS Meat Cleaver comes with other wonderful features to make it an efficient knife for chopping meat and bones. The satin finished blade and the precision edge sharpness makes it a professional and reliable meat cleaver.

Pros:

  • High-quality stainless-steel sharp blades for efficient cutting
  • Triple-rivet traditional handle for comfortable use
  • Dishwasher safe and hence easy to clean after use
  • Hole at the edge of the blade for hanging and storage
  • Versatile and useful for cutting different food stuff

Cons:

  • The size of the cleaver is relatively shorter

Victorinox 47602 Curved Knife

Victorinox Swiss Army Fibrox Pro Curved Boning...

Victorinox 47602 Curved Knife as the name suggests is a curved knife that is made for a variety of uses including boning. The knife is useful for separating meat from bones, and is also versatile that you can use for other kitchen cutting needs. 

Blade and Handle Design

The design of the blade and handle determines the comfort of the knife. Victorinox 47602 Curved Knife features an ergonomic handle with the best grip for comfortable cutting. It is easy to handle and offers firm grip even when it is wet. 

The blade is made of high-quality stainless-steel that is 6-inches in length and with pointed tip. The pointed tip and general design of this knife makes it suitable for cutting delicate meat from chicken, fish, and other meat types. 

Other Features

Victorinox 47602 Curved Knife comes with lightweight design and may not be suitable for cutting through thick or hard bones.

Pros:

  • Good for cutting and removing meat from chicken and fish
  • Non-slip ergonomic handle for comfort when being used
  • Highly versatile and can do most kitchen cuttings
  • Durable quality stainless-steel blades
  • Easy to clean and to maintain

Cons:

  • It is not a good choice for cutting through hard bones

ZHEN Japanese Meat Cleaver

ZHEN Japanese VG-10 3-Layer Forged High Carbon...

ZHEN Japanese Meat Cleaver is the best kitchen cleaver made of forged stainless-steel material and efficient for cutting through bones. The hardness of the 3-layered steel makes it good for retaining the sharpness. It is also durable hence can last long. 

Blade Size

The dimension of the blade for this ZHEN Japanese Meat Cleaver is 6.5-inches, and with 1.8mm thickness. Therefore, it is a real deal for cutting through hard bones. The weight of 0.58 pounds also adds to the efficiency of this great knife. 

Other Features

ZHEN Japanese Meat Cleaver also comes with ergonomic handle design. The handle is tightly sealed and is waterproof and durable. Above all, the ZHEN Japanese Meat Cleaver handle is comfortable and does not slip off when cutting a heavy bunch of meat with bones.

Pros:

  • Sharp and efficient blades
  • Retains edge sharpness for long
  • Cuts though hard bones and meat
  • Versatile and suitable for most kitchen cutting needs
  • 3-layered forged steel for durability

Cons:

  • The knife is relatively shorter

Mercer Culinary Meat Cleaver

Mercer Culinary Kitchen Cleaver, 6 Inch

This is a multipurpose knife that every chef master should consider. The knife is made with every detail in mind and with high-quality materials. Mercer Culinary Meat Cleaver is 11-inches long and made of stainless-steel hence a durable quality and efficient bone cutting knife. 

Blade and Handle

When it comes to blade and handle design, Mercer Culinary Meat Cleaver is the choice that has been made for comfortable and efficient cutting. The high-carbon German steel gives this knife the ability to cut through soft bones. 

Other Features

Mercer Culinary Meat Cleaver as mentioned is a versatile knife and the best bone cutting tools that you need in your kitchen. It also serves other cutting purposes such as for vegetables, fruits, and other stuff. This cleaver also features a riveted pom handle that is not just comfortable but can last for long.

Pros:

  • Riveted comfortable and durable handle
  • High-quality stainless-steel durable blade
  • Good for soft bones and other cutting needs
  • Good size for cutting large pieces of meat
  • Easy to clean by hand

Cons:

  • It is not good enough for cutting hard bones

Wusthof Gourmet Cleaver

Wusthof Gourmet 7' Cleaver

This cleaver measures 7.7-inches in size and is useful when separating bones from meat. The knife is thick and with a sharp edge hence works greatly for large pieces of meat with bones. The other thing to mention is that Wusthof Gourmet Cleaver comes with an excellent handle that makes it easy to use. 

Material Construction

On the material part, Wusthof Gourmet Cleaver is made of high-carbon stainless-steel material and you can rest assured that it works greatly for its purpose. The strength of the material also makes it a durable knife to last for years. 

Size and weight

The size and weight matter a lot when it comes to choosing the best knife for butchering meat. The large and heavy blade adds to the efficiency of this wonderful cleaver. The size of the blade is 6-inches, and the overall weight of the cleaver is 1.59 lbs.

Pros:

  • Works for both domestic and commercial purposes
  • Heavy-gauge stainless-steel material
  • Comfortable handle for comfortable grip
  • Strong and durable construction
  • Sharp and efficient for separating meat from bones

Cons:

  • It does not include a blade guard for protecting its edge

How to Cut Through Bone?

Before cutting the bone, you need a meat cleaver that has the capacity to cut through. Depending on the type of bone, whether soft or hard, pick the cleaver that is well suited for the task. 

After picking the right cleaver or knife, lay your meat with bone on the chopping board, then cut your bone through while on the chopping board with your knife. 

For soft bones like chicken and fish, you may need a lightweight and narrow size cleaver so that you can do your boning perfectly without cracking the bones on your meat.

How to Choose the Best Knife to Cut Through Bones?

Knives are of different nature. They are made to suit different purposes. Therefore, choosing a knife for cutting through bones is different from when choosing your normal kitchen knife. You need to look at the design and the capacity of the knife to handle bones. This is how to choose your knife:

Type of Bones

When choosing your knife, you need to know the type of bones that you intend to cut with the knife. For hard bones, you may need a heavy-gauge knife like ENOKING Butcher Knife

If you are looking for a bone knife for fish and chicken, you may get a curved choice that is a bit lighter. Victorinox 47602 Curved Knife would be the best choice for soft bones. 

Size and Weight of the Knife

Long or short? The length of the knife also plays a role in the purpose for which the knife is intended. Therefore, you should check the size and the weight of the knife before committing to it. For a long meat cleaver, Mercer Culinary Meat Cleaver is recommendable and is good for cutting soft bones. 

Overall Performance

When all the features are combined, you get a knife that is able to cut through both soft and hard bones, and with good size and above average features. For that case, Wusthof Gourmet Cleaver is a great and multipurpose knife that can serve all your kitchen needs. It is a heavy-duty cleaver and works for both soft and hard bones. 

Best Budget

If you are after the best meat cleaver for budget, then you may want to choose Victorinox 47602 Curved Knife for light duty functions, or Zelite Infinity Cleaver for commercial or heavy-duty functions. The former cuts both soft and hard bones.

Conclusion

After considering all the features and specs of these great meat cleavers, you can rest assured that you will make a choice that will give you the best for your kitchen, butchery, restaurant, or any other place where you may want to use your knife. Of course, these knives are the best also for barbecue and grilling masters.

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