The second question you need to answer is how to get very good butcher knives to buy and if you will know a good knife if you see one. Except you are an experienced butcher, you may not be able to tell the difference between a superior knife and an inferior version but fear not. In this review, we will help you identify some of the best knives that are worth your investment.
Table of Contents
Best Butcher Knives
| Image | Best Butcher Knives | Rating |
|---|---|---|
 | 1. Imarku German Cleaver Carbon Steel Butcher Knife | 99% |
 | 2. Mueller Professional Butcher Chopper Knife | 96% |
 | 3. XYJ Full Tang Handmade Butcher Knife | 92% |
 | 4. Freelander Chef Butcher Knives | 89% |
 | 5. Rada Old Fashioned Butcher Knife | 85% |
Want to learn more?
Here are our best butcher knives review.
1. Imarku German Cleaver Carbon Steel Butcher Knife
Imarku carbon steel butcher knife is a prime example of what a sturdy butcher knife should look like. This German styled classic cleaver knife is suitable for meat and vegetables and other spices and cooking ingredients. Imarku is 7 inches long and boasts an outstanding 7-inch cutting blade made from HC stainless steel. The steel also contains 0.75% of carbon for extra sturdiness. So, no matter how tough the meat you are cutting might be, Imarku will not bend or blunt, neither will it lose color.
The ergonomic handle is made of Pakkawood that is durable and easy to clean. Pakkawood is immune from bacteria and insect infestations and quite sturdy. Imarku’s handle also has a comfortable grip feature that allows you to hold it with ease. Even if you work with it for a long time, your hands will not suffer from cramps because of the handle’s exquisite shape. The possibility of the knife slipping off your hands is almost nil due to its anti-slip feature.
The manufacturer of this butcher knife offers buyers a lifetime warranty package to prove the product’s value.
Why do we like it?
- Excellent craftsmanship
- User-friendly handle
- An even weight distribution
- Sharp and ultra-thin blade
2. Mueller Professional Butcher Chopper Knife
Mueller is a solid cutlery for cutting and chopping tough meat piles. This heavy-duty stainless steel blade is ideal for homes and restaurants where meat chopping is a daily activity. Nobody likes to buy knives with weak blades, but Mueller’s blades are as sturdy as a butcher blade can be from what we can see. The blade has anti-rust properties, and it does not rust. That means you can wash it as often as you use it and never have to worry about the blade losing form.
We also like this 7-inch cutter because it can be re-sharpened quite easily should you notice that the blade is not as thorough like it used to be. While users may complain of blade discoloration after a while, be rest assured that you will have no complaint of that nature with Mueller’s butcher knife.
This cutting ware is a multipurpose tool for slicing, dicing, chopping, and cutting. Designed for both professional and domestic applications, this is a butcher knife worth adding to your set of cutleries.
Why do we like it?
- Premium quality steel blades
- Extremely sharp edges
- Easy on your fingers
3. XYJ Full Tang Handmade Butcher Knife
XYJ is a handmade butchering knife forged with high carbon steel. It has a leather sheath for preserving the blade when it is not in use. In case you didn’t know, handmade knives are highly sought after because the construction of their blades are delicately forged to help the user achieve precisive cuts. This butcher knife is easy to use as you maneuver your way from one region of your beef to the next. You don’t have to keep slashing and cutting the same spot with this cutlery. One slash is enough to sever meat regardless of size.
We like XYJ’s brilliant piece of engineering because the handle and the blade are merged together without soldering. This merging strategy ensures that the blade stays firm while the handle remains unbroken even when it comes under significant tension. Due to the excellent craftsmanship of XYJ, we do acknowledge that this is one butcher knife that will last a lifetime.
To extend the lifecycle of XYJ, do make sure that you wash the blade after you use it because alkaline and acidic substances weaken steel blades.
Why do we like it?
- Ergonomically designed for comfort
- Not too heavy
- Attractive leather protector
- Easy to clean
4. Freelander Chef Butcher Knives
Who says you need to be a professional chef to own some of the best butcher knives ever sold? Make no mistake; a butcher knife is a piece of cutlery every home should have unless all the people in the home are vegetarians who eat little or no meat. Even so, a butcher knife like Freelander will still come in handy for chopping and slicing fruits and vegetables. Freelander Chef butcher knife is designed for users who prepare a lot of meat delicacies. From BBQ to grilled beef and raisins, you need a knife you can trust, and that is exactly what Freelander guarantees you.
This butcher knife is handmade and made with two key materials: high manganese steel and carbon steel. The combination of both steel compounds makes for a very strong and sharp steel blade that will cut through your beef, chicken, or pork with a single stroke. Built after the legendary Asian San Mai construction, you can never go wrong with this blade.
The blade’s edge is razor-sharp, and the handle is made of wood with non-slip features. Freelander is a cheap and affordable butcher knife for both home and professional use.
Why do we like it?
- Super sharp blade
- A multifunctional cutter for meat and vegetables
- Safe and easy to handle
5. Rada Old Fashioned Butcher Knife
Rada Butcher knife is classified as an old-fashioned butcher knife because it bears a close resemblance to cutting knives used by chefs and butchers of yesteryears. This tool has a stainless-steel blade and an aluminum handle with a length of more than 12 inches. Rada is a smooth meat cutter that enables you to chop or split meat effortlessly. Spending much time on the same meat pile is out of the question when you have a cutting tool you can trust.
The steel blade is 7- inches long and surgically constructed with T420 high carbon. It will also interest you to know that Rada is sharpened by hand and not by machines for extra sharpness. Furthermore, as part of its makeup, the Rada Butcher knife has a skinning tip for severing skin from flesh. This feature is one you will find helpful if you process meat directly from animals.
Next time you plan to cut meat, consider using a cutting tool that ensures a hassle-free cut with minimal effort, just like what Rada offers.
Why do we like it?
- The skinning tip is indeed a thoughtful design
- The handle is easy on the hand
- Value for money
Butcher Knives Buyer’s Guide
Unless you are a professional chef or butcher, you will need all the help you can get when shopping for the best butcher knives for your kitchen. Experienced butchers know a good quality knife just by looking at it, but for non-initiates like us, We need to examine the knife closely, and even then, we are not 100% sure of the quality we are buying. Many have had the misfortune of buying knives that lose their color and sharpness after a few weeks, and we are sure that is a fate you are hoping to avoid.
When next you go shopping for a butcher knife or set of knives for your kitchen, here are some of the things to look out for.
Home Use/Professional Use
Do not be confused with terms. Butcher knives all serve the same purpose; to cut meat. It doesn’t matter whether the description classifies it as a chef knife or a home use knife. Names should generally count for little when shopping for meat cutting utensils.
Blade thickness
Watch out for the thickness of the blade. The best butcher knives have thin blades that are equally very thick. You want a knife that will last, so we recommend blades that are forged with carbon steel or manganese steel or a combination of both.
Size
Size matters for obvious reasons. Long blades that are at least 6-8 inches long are easy to use because they allow you to cut thick meat. 10-inch blades cut more meat with a single swipe. If you are a new user, we recommend 5-8-inch butcher knives. As you become more skilled with the knife, you can then progress to longer blades.
Style
Butcher knives come in two shapes. We have the straight and the curved blades. Although there are other shapes, these two are the common ones, so you may go for either of the two. Many professionals prefer the curved version because they are more efficient for deboning meat, but the straight version works just as well.
Edge Design
We decided to include this section separate from the blade style. When it comes to edge designs, there are three dimensions to look out for. They are the
- Scalloped Edge: Knives of this ilk have prominent waves along their edges, and they work well on vegetables and fruits as they do on meat. If you consume a lot of fruits and vegetables, a scalloped knife will serve both purposes.
- Serrated Edge: Serrated blades are smaller than your average butcher knife, but they don’t have a smooth but jagged edge like tooth clusters. This design style is ideal for sawing meat.
- Granton Edge: Knives with Granton edges have hallowed grooves on both sides of the blade for tearing and cutting meat.
Buying any of these versions is fine, but if you want special purpose sets, you may go for all three if you can afford them.
Steel Version
There are two steel versions to consider when shopping for good butcher knives. Forged steel knives are tempered and fired during construction, while stamped steel knives are cut directly from steel sheets. Both versions are durable, so you may want to consider some other factors when evaluating a knife’s quality.
Handles
What handle should you go for? Stainless steel, aluminum, or wood? As you can see, there are varieties of designs to pick from but make sure you go for a model with a comfortable ergonomic design. Plastic handles are fine, but the only downside to plastic is their limited shelf life. Regardless of the handle you go for, just make sure that you purchase a knife that has a good grip and an embedded anti-slip feature.
Skinning Tip
Not all butcher knives have a skinning tip because most users don’t need such a feature. A skinning is only required when attempting to separate skin from the flesh. Since most of us cook meat that has already been deboned and de-skinned by butchers in their abattoirs, we don’t really have any need for a knife with a skinning tip. However, if you prefer this feature, you can go for it, after all, it wouldn’t cost you extra.
Brand
Buying branded knives from top manufacturers may cost you more but suffice to say that the model you will get will be of good quality. The best butcher knives have sharp edges and user-friendly features that command higher prices but to be on the safe side, go for functionality over appearance and don’t pay more than you can afford for it.
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