• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
knifepal

Knifepal

  • Home
  • Cutlery & Kitchen Knife
  • Japanese Knives
  • Mercer Knives
  • Contact
You are here: Home / Cutlery & Kitchen Knife / Chinese Cleaver vs Chef’s Knife: What’s the Difference?

Chinese Cleaver vs Chef’s Knife: What’s the Difference?

August 31, 2022 by Editor

Most online cooking videos feature chef’s knives as the go-to tool for professional chefs. However, Chinese cooks usually prefer to use a Chinese cleaver for cutting, slicing, mincing, and dicing.

Does that mean the latter is the all-around better choice? Also, what’s the difference between the Chinese cleaver vs. chef knife? 

chinese cleaver vs chef knife

The design of a Chinese cleaver makes it significantly different from a chef’s knife. A Chinese cleaver has a large, broad-surfaced, rectangular blade that is held firmly by a wooden handle.

As a result, it works well for slicing huge pieces of meat and bones. In contrast, a traditional chef’s knife is typically an 8-10 inch general purpose kitchen knife with evenly distributed weight, and a pointed blade curved upwards along its length.

In this guide, we’ll examine the functionality of these knives and their respective strong points. Additionally, we’ll weigh in on the recommended use for each of them. 

Table of Contents

  • Difference Between Chinese Cleaver & Chef’s Knife
    • 1. The Blade Design
    • 2. The Handle
    • 3. Purpose
  • Wrapping Up: Chinese Cleaver Vs. Chef’s Knife in a Nutshell  

Difference Between Chinese Cleaver & Chef’s Knife

1. The Blade Design

chinese cleaver blade

The Chinese cleaver differs significantly from a chef’s knife in that it has a much heavier and larger blade. The blade is usually made of carbon steel and has a rectangular shape with a wooden handle.

Therefore, switching to it from a smaller knife requires some adjustment, especially in terms of learning to hold it and re-adjusting based on the different centers of mass.. 

The Chinese cleaver typically weighs between eight and twelve ounces. It is one of the strongest and longest-lasting types of silverware. You can use it to cut through large pieces of meat and bone as well as other frozen foods thanks to the huge, broad blade and flat edge.

For these reasons, it is safe to say that the Chinese cleaver is tougher than the traditional chef’s knife.

Chef’s knives, on the other hand, are all-purpose knives used for chopping and slicing. Although high quality versions are constructed of high carbon stainless steel, they are commonly composed of stainless steel.

The largest part of a chef’s knife’s blade is its heel. And often, rivets hold the handle and blades together.

You can use them extensively, and learning the correct hand movements won’t take long. Furthermore, because these knives often measure no longer than eight inches, storing them is not a problem, nor is learning to work with them for hours.

As such, chef’s knives are lightweight and won’t elicit fatigue or impair your hand movements.

2. The Handle

chef knife handle

Chinese cleavers usually have a shorter handle than their rectangular blades, which are usually large. 

Most designs have a single metal piece that runs into the short handle. However, other varieties have an additional attached piece that is made of wood or plastic. 

The purposeful design of the small handle allows the heavier, wider blade to perform thorough cuts through tougher things like frozen meats or bones due to the imbalance in weight.

However, keep in mind that the handle shouldn’t be too short since this would make the cleaver more difficult to use. Additionally, because of its shape, a Chinese cleaver with a solid grip is the best choice because mishaps are much less likely.

A chef’s knife, on the other hand, typically has a handle that is well balanced and complements the blade. These handles are typically made of wood, although some are also constructed of metal, plastic, or other composite materials.

There are rivets holding the blade in place since the blade’s steel typically reaches into the handle. Since chefs’ knives are the ones you use the most at home, they have sturdy handles made for comfort and daily usage.

Additionally, they are lightweight and simple to control, allowing you to use them for extended periods of time without feeling too worn out.

Related Reading: Mercer Renaissance Vs Wusthof Classic: Battle of the 8-Inch Chef Knives

3. Purpose

Chinese cleavers are sturdy, well-balanced choppers that work well for a variety of kitchen activities. You can use them to cut vegetables, large pieces of meat, frozen food, and other things.

Given their larger-than-average size, it could take some time to become used to dealing with them. So keep that in mind when purchasing and using one.

Furthermore, you should choose other knives, such as chef’s knives, rather than Chinese cleavers if you need to make accurate cuts because they have a more evenly distributed weight.

Chinese cleavers usually come in two forms: meat cleavers and vegetable cleavers. Hence, consider your needs if you’re only planning to get one at first. As for telling them apart, note that meat cleavers usually have a thicker blade and a sturdier handle. 

On the other hand, look for a vegetable cleaver (AKA Chinese chef’s knife) if you seldom prepare meat or are a vegetarian.

These resemble chef’s knives more closely as they also have thin and small blades. However, they also feature rectangular designs. The front end of such a knife is usually thin, with a thicker rear portion. 

Although Chinese chef’s knives excel at chopping and slicing, they can also be used to cut tender meats on occasion due to their sturdy construction. These versatile knives can be used for activities including slicing, dicing, and cutting.

A chef’s knife is also your best bet whenever you need to quickly mince garlic and herbs. In addition, they’re great for cutting things like ham, seafood, fruits, vegetables, dairy goods, etc. into slices while doing routine kitchen tasks.

You will be capable of preparing a variety of dishes using just a regular chef knife once you have some proficiency using the blade.

Wrapping Up: Chinese Cleaver Vs. Chef’s Knife in a Nutshell  

Chinese cleavers and conventional chef knives are created for different purposes, and they are both effective in those tasks. Chinese cleavers are your greatest option if you need to cut through large portions of meat, bones, or even frozen food.

Their strong construction and heavy blades will expedite the process. But if you want a kitchen knife that can be used for anything, you should get a chef knife.

Related posts

  • Can You Use an Electric Knife to Carve a Turkey?
  • Why Shouldn’t I Put my Chef Knives in The Dishwasher? 5 Reasons to Know
  • How to Choose a Boning Knife? The Ultimate Buying Guide
  • Which Sabatier Knife is the Best for Cutting Meat? Our Top 5 Picks
  • What Makes Kitchen Knives Go Dull So Fast? 5 Things to Know
  • Where Can I Buy Knives Online? 5 Best Online Stores
  • What’s the Best Knife for Cutting Charcuterie? The 5 Best Choice
  • What Kind of Cutting Board is Best for Meat? Our Top 5 Picks
  • What Should I Look for in a Good Carving Knife? The Ultimate Buying Guide
  • What are the Safety Tips for Your Best Kitchen Knives?

Filed Under: Cutlery & Kitchen Knife

Primary Sidebar

Latest Posts

Best Spring Assisted Tactical Pocket Knife

Best Sog Folding Pocket Knife

Best Tanto Blade Pocket Knife

Best Ka-bar Pocket Knife

Best Small Wooden Handle Pocket Knife

Best Marlin Spike Pocket Knife

Best Rescue Pocket Knife

Best M390 Steel Folding Knives Under $150

Best Fishing Pocket Knives

Best Leatherman Pocket Knife

Best Full Tang Pocket Knife

Best Forged Pocket Knife

Best Swiss Army Pocket Knife

Best Automatic Pocket Knives

Best Mid Range Pocket Knife

Best Pocket Knife For Construction Worker

Best Victorinox Pocket Knives

Best Hunting Pocket Knife

Best Foldable Pocket Knife

Best Multi Blade Pocket Knife

Footer

Browse By Category

  • Boning knife
  • Bread Knife
  • Carving Knife
  • Chef Knife
  • Chicago Cutlery
  • Cutlery & Kitchen Knife
  • Dalstrong Knives
  • hunting knives
  • Japanese Knives
  • Kitchen Knife
  • Knife Brands
  • Mercer Knives
  • Misc
  • Paring Knife
  • Pocket Knife
  • Reviews
  • Shun Knives
  • Steak Knife
  • Utility Knife
knifepal

Knifepal is a collection of buying guides and user guides about various different products.

Learn More →
  • Home
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclosure

Knifepal.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.

Copyright © 2023 · Knifepal