The overall top knife for cutting meat is the Imarku Pro Kitchen chef's knife. There is a lot to like about this knife – it has a very sharp blade, is made from high quality materials, and is easy to handle.
As a professional chef, I probably spend more time on prep than actually cooking the food. So, I need specific knives for specific tasks. Luckily, since I have spent a couple of decades in some of the best kitchens in the world, I know which knives fit the bill!
In this post, I will highlight the best knife for cutting meat – I have also included some other options for you to check out and even have a shopping guide!
Here are the top knives for cutting meat:
Best Overall
One of the things that makes this chef knife the top option for cutting meat is how razor sharp this blade edge is. It easily cuts through all types of meat – poultry, beef, and pork without any issue at all. In fact, it is such a sharp knife that you have to be careful that you don’t cut yourself with it while handling it.
The other thing that I like about this chef’s knife is that it doesn’t dull easily either. I used it several times on different cuts of meat and each time it was as sharp as the last use. This means that you don’t have to worry about sharpening the knife too often.
With this chef knife, you are getting value for the cost. This is because the blade is made from really high quality materials such as high carbon stainless steel. One of the benefits of this material is that it adds durability to the blade. You can use it over and over and there will be no scratches or nicks in the blade.
The other benefit is that this makes the knife completely corrosion resistant. So, it doesn’t matter what the conditions are, you don’t have to worry about this knife rusting.
The only issue that I have when it comes to this chef’s knife is that the handle isn’t as well made. The wood has a tendency to dry out and crack so I had to continuously wipe it down with oil.
Of all the knives for cutting meat that I tried out, I have to say that this one was my favorite to hold and use. One of the reasons was due to the exquisitely balanced nature of the stainless steel blade length and the handle. This made it a breeze to cut through the meat.
The ergonomic grip also made it easier to cut through larger chunks of meat with minimal hassle. The knife is also quite lightweight which means that you don’t get tired of using it.
Runner Up
This is yet another chef’s knife that can cut through meat without any hassle at all. You will be able to easily slice and dice your way through larger cuts of raw meat. With this knife, the motion takes hardly any effort at all.
My only issue with this chef knife is that the blade edge does go dull rather quickly. As a result, you have to keep sharpening it every few uses to maintain the edge. This can be a bit frustrating.
The good news, though, is that this chef knife blade has been made from durable stainless steel. As a result, it is well worth the investment. You can use it time and time again without having to deal with any kind of imperfections.
The same can be said for the handle as well. It is made from polyester rather than traditional wood. However, I found that this material was remarkably strong and tough. Even when using the knife continuously, there were no issues found.
One of my favorite parts of using this chef knife was the handle. There are small indentations throughout the handle for your fingers to curl around. Not only does this make the knife a lot more comfortable to use, but it also prevents the knife from slipping.
Sure, aesthetics aren’t necessarily the most important thing but I do think it is nice when you have an attractive design on your knife. And, this is precisely what this chef knife offers you!
Best Butcher Knife
Do you want to section or portion your meat, especially beef or pork? If so, this is the butcher’s knife that you are going to need. This meat is ably sliced into even thicker cuts of meat with minimal effort on your part.
As an added bonus, you will find it a breeze to trim fat and cut through cartilage as well. In short, if you want a knife that can do a bit more heavy lifting for you, this is the one to go with.
I knew that this blade was made from German Steel but I was still impressed with the durability and quality. Even after using the knife several times with some tough cuts of meat, I found no imperfections, scratches, or nicks on the blade.
Given the price point of the knife, it is nice to know that this is a blade that is going to last you a while.
Now, I did have to sharpen the knife out of the box but once I did this, the blade was able to cut through raw meat like it was butter.
To add to this, I like how well balanced the narrow blade is. It took a lot of effort out of cutting through the meat.
My only problem with this butcher knife is that the handle isn’t that great. I found it a bit uncomfortable to hold so it isn’t great if you want to cut large quantities of meat in one go.
Best for Cutting Through Bone
Do you want a knife that can get through practically anything including bone? Well, then this is the cleaver for you. I was able to cut through raw meat as well as beef and pig bone easily and with very little energy output on my end.
That being said, this is an incredibly heavy and hefty knife. So, if you don’t have some upper body strength, you may struggle to wield it.
What I love about this knife is that not only is it great for cutting meat and bone but it holds up to continuous use. I have actually used this cleaver for a while now and I have yet to find a mark on it despite cutting through bone as well as frozen raw meat.
I really like the grip on this handle. There are grooves that you can curl your fingers around, allowing you to get a good hold of the knife and bring it down with the necessary force.
Best Slicing Knife
Do you want to cut thin slices of raw meat? If so, then this is the knife for you. You are able to control the cutting motion beautifully, ensuring that each slice is just as thick as it needs to be. And, as the blade is quite long, you are able to cut through large cuts without any problem.
Even if you have never used this kind of knife before, you will find it easy to figure out. The knife is well balanced and the sharpness of the blade ensures that the meat slices off easily with every run through of the knife.
I really like the quality and the design of this blade. Not only does it have the perfect angle but this knife has been designed to be used over and over without dulling or losing its slicing performance.
The only downside is that the handle isn’t nearly so well designed. Due to this, it can be a bit uncomfortable to use over long periods of time.
Best Carving Knife
It isn’t easy to find a good carving knife, but this one gets the job done each and every time. One of my favorite things about this carving knife is that it cuts through everything from cooked brisket to turkey smoothly and swiftly. You really don’t have to make any effort at all.
In fact, the only downside that I can mention with this knife is that it is too sharp. This can sound a little silly but the reality is that I have nicked myself on this blade a few times so you do have to be very careful about how you use it.
Made from German steel, I was really impressed with the quality of this carving knife, especially at this price point. It feels really durable and while there is enough flex to cut through larger slices, there is plenty of firmness to the blade as well. As a result, it doesn’t feel flimsy.
I also like how well this blade holds up with continuous use. It doesn’t lose its sharpness and I have also not noticed any issues with scratches or any kind of damage.
I really do like this handle as it has been well designed. It is comfortable, has a good grip, and doesn’t slip out of my hand, even with repetitive motions. It is also quite durable and is likely to last as long as the blade.
Best Boning Knife
A boning knife can a minute to get used to but it is even easier with this make and model. The knife sits in the palm of your hand quite comfortably, allowing you to move it through the raw meat without any issue at all.
The curved blade makes this even easier to do with all kinds of meat.
The only downside is that this blade doesn’t have nearly as much flex as I would like. Due to this, it isn’t always the smoothest performance when cutting through more delicate meat like fish.
I really like the grip on this boning knife. The handle is lightweight and comfortable. It works especially well if you need to debone a larger quantity of meat. Your hand doesn’t get cramped or tired. Also, I have found that the knife doesn’t slip out at all.
A lot of the top boning knife brands can be quite expensive but I was pleasantly surprised to find that this knife was really affordable. At the same time, you get good quality and durability out of it, making it an excellent investment too!
I absolutely love how sharp this knife is. If you want your meat knife to be able to cut through practically all meat like it was butter, then this is the blade for you to invest in. I do have to warn you to be careful when using this knife because it really is that sharp.
I really like how well balanced this knife is, which is one of the reasons that it is so great and easy to use. Even if your knife skills aren’t the greatest, you will be able to handle this knife like a pro.
The only thing that I am not thrilled about this model is the handle. While it does offer up a good grip, the wood has a tendency to crack after a while. So, you will need to find some way of keeping it in good condition.
I know that looks aren’t everything but it is nice to have a good looking knife in your collection. From the wooden handle to the imitation Damascus blade, this is one stylish knife – perfect for showing off in front of guests!
Here are the top guidelines to follow when shopping for your own blade:
Now, if you are like a lot of people, odds are that you have been using a chef’s knife or kitchen knife for everything.
There is no denying that a chef’s knife will work for most small cuts of meat but it doesn’t always get the job done.
For instance, if you want to section off meat from larger cuts, then you will need a butcher’s knife. Need to get through tough meat and bone? You are going to require a cleaver.
There is a bit of confusion when it comes to slicing knives and carving knives. While they can look rather similar, it is important to know that a slicing knife is good for cutting thin slices off of meat.
Carving knives, on the other hand, are meant to cut cooked meat instead.
Then there are boning knives. These have been designed to cut the flesh away from the bone. A boning knife won’t really work for much else.
Unlike a bread knife, most knives for cutting meat have a straight edge and no serrated edges. So, when it comes to knives for cutting meat, you need to consider blade thickness.
If you are looking for a blade that will easily slice through meat, then you should look for a thinner blade. If you want to get through lots of muscle and tough cuts, then look for a slightly thicker blade – but one that is still not too wide.
And, make sure that you always get a sharp blade. This will ensure that you are able to slice, dice, and cleave with less issue.
The last thing that you may want to do is to spend too much money on a knife. However, when it comes to knife blades, it is all about quality.
See, a good quality blade will cut through meat a lot more easily. Just as importantly, a good quality blade will last longer.
See, if you frequently have to cut up meat, then you have to think of all the work that your knife blade has to do. It has to cut through tough muscle fibers, sometimes bone and has to even make contact with the cutting board.
If you don’t choose wisely, it is likely that you will begin to see scratches and other signs of damage fairly early on.
To avoid this, you should look for high grade stainless steel that will withstand all of this wear and tear without any issue at all.
This is something that people forget to do all the time. And, I get it, you would imagine that to find the best knife, you have to focus on the sharp blade.
While you are right to a certain degree, it is just as important to pay attention to the blade.
See, the blade will determine how easy it is to hold, manage, and maneuver a knife.
Always look for an ergonomic handle as it will be designed for the shape of your hand. If you want a good grip on the handle, look for those small humps – this gives you grooves for you to place your fingers in.
Another important thing to think about is the width of the knife handle. If you have smaller hands, make sure that you can wrap your fingers all the way around them.
Now, knife handles can be made from various materials and each person has their own personal preference.
What I do recommend, though, is getting a nonslip grip so that you can hold onto the knife with ease.
The top knife for cutting meat is the Imarku chef knife. It has a sharp blade, is made from high quality materials, and it is easy for anyone to handle.
I do suggest going through all the knives on this list, though. Each of them has its own set of opportunities. So, if you want to find the perfect blade for you, it is important to know what is available to you.
Happy shopping!
