Cleavers

Are you an avid home cook, or do you aspire to be one? You'll need a well-stocked kitchen. Besides pots, pans, and cutting boards, cutlery will be some of your most important purchases. Today, we'll talk in-depth about a group of knives that deserve wider recognition: meat cleavers. A meat cleaver, also called a butcher's knife or a butcher's cleaver, is a tool that's often misunderstood and misused. First off, cleavers aren't just for meat. These knife cleavers quickly halve, slice, and chop sturdy vegetables too.

What's A Cleaver?
A meat cleaver has a distinctive silhouette. A kitchen cleaver knife is smaller than the ones in a butcher’s shop. Though its dimensions are more appropriate for home use, it retains the same rectangular shape as heavy-duty meat cleavers. Cleavers are useful for butchering meat and excel at cutting through bones and breaking down tendons. They also handle tasks like cutting through thick-skinned vegetables like winter squashes and dense root vegetables. You can also use a cleaver knife to cut through any fruit or vegetable that's too large for a regular chef's knife.

Choose the Right Cleaver for the Job
When you're shopping for the best meat cleaver, you'll want to look for one that fits well in your hand and has a comfortable weight. Will you be using your cleaver to break down chickens and larger animals? You'll need a large meat cleaver. If you use a cleaver on dense veggies, a regular-sized kitchen cleaver should handle it. Are you planning on using cleavers for a range of jobs? Look for a cleaver knife set with multiple sizes. Like other kinds of kitchen cutlery, cleavers can be sharpened at home with knife sharpeners. Regular sharpening ensures that the blade cuts precisely and efficiently, which makes prep work faster and easier. A dull knife drags through meat and, in some cases, might even affect its flavor.

Shop cleavers, available at Macy’s.