What is the difference between a boning knife and a cleaver?

Author: Evangeline Blick  |  Last update: Wednesday, September 10, 2025

The boning knife and the cleaver are different in both appearance and usage. Boning knives are small and are used to cut raw meat away from the bone. Cleavers chop through raw meat and bone with a large, rectangular blade.

What's the difference between a boning knife and a cleaver?

Boning knives are smaller in size and cut raw meat off the bone. On the other hand, cleavers have big, rectangular blades. They are used for chopping through both meat and bone.

What is a boning knife good for?

Boning knives are used for deboning, trimming, and slicing all kinds of animal (or fish) proteins. Their narrow blades can range from rigid (for cutting through thick cartilage) to flexible (for bending between bones and the surrounding meat).

What to use instead of a boning knife?

You could get by with a utility knife. They aren't that expensive something in the 4-6 inch range. But a good boning knife with some flex I'm it isn't a bad thing to have, it can double as a filet knife.

Can a cleaver cut through bones?

A meat cleaver is great for cutting through tough cuts of meat and small bones, like in a chicken. They are also great for mincing meat for hand-ground applications, and their flat, wide side can also be used to crush garlic, ginger, and lemongrass.

Chinese Cleaver vs Meat Cleaver: Are you chopping BONES or VEGGIES?

What knife is best for cutting through bones?

Cleaver: to cut through bones and tendons

If bones and/or tendons need to be cut, for instance, when cutting spareribs, it is best if you use a cleaver. Because of the thick blade the edge won't be damaged. The amount of weight helps when cutting through the bones.

What's the hole in a cleaver for?

Reduce Friction

When cutting through bone, friction may trigger unwanted shards which can cause choking. Fortunately, the 'aeration' in meat cleavers reduces friction. This prevents bone shards while making the use of this high carbon tool easy and enjoyable.

What is the best tool to cut bones with?

When you need a knife that cuts through bone with sheer force, a cleaver is your go-to tool. This hefty kitchen implement is designed to tackle tough tasks that require more power than precision. Cleavers are the best knives for cutting through bone, especially when dealing with larger cuts of meat or whole animals.

Is a straight or curved boning knife better?

The Blade's Design

The curvature makes it easy to separate skin and bones away from the flesh. Moreover, when handling delicate meat (e.g. quail), curved boning knives are your best option. On the other hand, a straight blade is better suited for detaching chunks of meat such as beef.

What is another name for a boning knife?

A boning knife looks a lot like a filleting knife and vice versa. The names are often also used interchangeably.

Should you wash your knives in the dishwasher or by hand?

To prevent your sharp knives from being damaged in the dishwasher, it makes sense to clean them by hand. All you need for hand washing is warm water, a little dish soap and a dishcloth.

What is the point of boning?

The boning supports the desired shape and prevents wrinkling of the corset fabric. Bones, and the substances used for the purpose, are generically called boning. The corsets of the 16th through 18th centuries (called "stays", "bodies" or "corps") were intended to mold the upper torso into a rigid, cone-like shape.

Do I really need a boning knife?

Using a boning knife to prepare meat

A boning knife is the go-to knife for preparing meat. The shape of the blade allows you to manoeuvre around bones while the sharp tip is great to braking up cartilage in joints.

Can you use a cleaver knife for everything?

A Chinese cleaver is a fantastic all-purpose knife that's great for a myriad of chopping, slicing, and mincing tasks. You can use it for anything you'd use a chef's knife for, and it also doubles as a bench scraper for moving chopped ingredients.

What knives should every kitchen have?

There are three primary knives that every home cook should have in their kitchen: a chef's knife, a serrated knife (also called a bread knife), and a paring knife.

What is the best shape for a boning knife?

First, an effective boning knife has a curved blade. A smooth, curving blade allows for precise, effortless cuts and long strokes. Your boning knife should also be a single, tapered unit from tip to tail, rather than a blade connected to a handle. As mentioned earlier, the best boning knife has a semi-stiff blade.

What to look for when buying a boning knife?

A boning knife needs to be razor-sharp. A dull knife will rip through the meat instead of slicing it, which will have you wasting meat and affects your food presentation. A blunt blade also poses a safety hazard since you use extra force, which can easily slip and harm your hand.

What is a Japanese boning knife?

Japanese boning knives are designed for accuracy. Their thin, flexible blades make it easy to cut around bones and joints, resulting in cleaner cuts essential for cooking and presentation. Versatility in Various Culinary Tasks.

What do butchers use to cut bones?

There are a few knives that can cut through bone. Other than the cleaver, the most common knife used for cutting through bone is the standard butcher knife. In fact, the terms "butcher knife" and "cleaver" are often interchanged by casual users.

How to prepare bones for carving for beginners?

Simmer the bones for about two hours to remove the meat and sinew; don't boil it, she says, as the heat will make the bone brittle. Then, soak it in bleach and water for several hours to kill off the bacteria. Rinse and dry. Beginners may like to practice on wax.

Why is there a hole in a machete blade?

Manufacturing design: Some machetes have a hole intentionally incorporated into the design. This hole is known as a "lanyard hole" or "wrist lanyard hole." It serves as a point to attach a wrist lanyard or strap for added security and convenience while using the machete.

What is a cleaver knife best used for?

WHAT IS A CLEAVER KNIFE USED FOR? A cleaver knife, commonly referred to as a meat cleaver, is a multifunctional kitchen tool designed for handling substantial cuts of meat. Characterized by its wide, rectangular blade and robust build, this knife is perfectly suited for a variety of demanding tasks.

What is the main job of a cleaver knife?

A cleaver is a large knife that varies in its shape but usually resembles a rectangular-bladed hatchet. It is largely used as a kitchen or butcher knife and is mostly intended for splitting up large pieces of soft bones and slashing through thick pieces of meat.

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