Why does a meat cleaver have a hole in it?

Author: Susie Hirthe  |  Last update: Saturday, April 12, 2025

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 hole in a knife blade used for?

The holes in butcher knives are more than just eye-catching features. They have a real impact on the knife's performance, making it easier to use and maintain. These openings help reduce friction when cutting, improve balance and control, and allow for easier cleaning and storage.

Why is there a hole in a machete blade?

Some knives have holes in the blade because it's ergonomically efficient. Meat cleavers, machetes, and other large knives usually have holes on the top edge of the blade so they can be hung from a rack or hook when not in use.

Can a meat cleaver cut through bone?

The cleaver was created for meat. The blade can cut right through joints or even straight through bones to separate chicken, pork, beef, and other proteins into portions.

What is the hole in the blade of a meat 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.

The Process of Making Butcher Meat Cleaver Knife from Rusted Railroad Steel Track

Why is there a hole at the end of a meat cleaver?

Meat cleavers are heavy and need proper storage. Since drawers aren't ideal due to their size, the hole in the cleaver allows you to hang it conveniently. This saves space and prevents damage to the cleaver and other knives, ensuring its long-term durability.

Is a meat cleaver supposed to be sharp?

While you might not be using a cleaver to mince garlic or chop onions, the blade still needs to be sharp to cut through flesh and bone.

What is the purpose of a Tourne?

Every kitchen tool has its purpose, and this is no exception. Simply put, a tourné knife is used for any sort of turning cut -- "tourné" means "turned" in French. So any time you're going to be making a circular cut, this is the knife you should use.

What is the difference between a Serbian cleaver and a cleaver?

The design of the Serbian chef's knife is similar to that of a meat cleaver, but it is not a meat cleaver. For one, you'll find that the Serbian chef's knife has a slightly thicker, sharper, less flexible blade. A traditional Chinese cleaver usually has a taller, thinner blade that is also more flexible.

Why is there a hole in a military knife?

These holes, or scallops, are usually located near the blade's spine and are designed to reduce weight and improve the knife's balance.

Why are machetes curved?

A curved blade is optimized for slicing and slashing, this is a positive thing if you're fighting wild animals on a regular basis, but for the average outdoor survivalist, that's not going to be the primary use.

Why do Spyderco knives have a hole in them?

In addition to serving as a one-hand control mechanism, the hole also doesn't interfere with the blade's swift cutting action. Funny how it works, isn't it? A real need exists. A company comes along (in this case, Spyderco) and solves the problem.

What is the slot in a knife blade for?

A fuller is a rounded or beveled longitudinal groove or slot along the flat side of a blade (e.g., a sword, knife, or bayonet) that serves to both lighten and stiffen the blade, when considering its reduced weight.

What do dimples on a knife do?

These dimples or Grantons form air pockets that minimize suction and stop foods that are quite moist like meat and vegetables from sticking to the knife.

What knife has teeth?

Serrated knives are knives of which the edge is enhanced with small serrations. The best-known example is the bread knife: a knife with an elongated and narrow blade that is rounded at the front and, as said before, has a serrated edge.

What is the purpose 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.

Why do meat cleavers have a hole in the top?

The hole on the heavy-duty blade makes cutting through bone easy. The hole enables you to hold the upper part with your fingers. As you reinforce your grip on the handle, you are able to pull the blade free.

Can you use a meat cleaver for everything?

Rather, they're actually more like chef's knives and are great multitaskers when it comes to chopping and slicing vegetables, fruits, and meats. Chinese cleavers have a boxy, rectangular shape, which also makes them handy for scooping and moving chopped bits.

What is the best angle for a meat cleaver?

Meat cleavers are generally ground at around 25 degrees as they take a lot of abuse. The steep angle not only reduces chipping but helps cleave (split apart) the food. Setting your sharpening angle with a TOG angle guide.

Can you cut bone with a meat cleaver?

As mentioned, the cleaver is used to cut through both raw meat and bone. Some people liken it to a hatchet in that the blade has a broad, blunt face that's attached to a thick handle.

Why are meat cleavers so big?

First, meat cleavers, or gudao (“bone knife” in Mandarin), tend to weigh more, have thicker blades, and are meant for hacking through hard bones. The other type is a vegetable cleaver, often called a caidao (“vegetable knife”), a slicer, or a Chinese chef's knife.

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