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Chinese-style chef's cleavers
Chinese-style chef's cleavers
I have had the Yan Can Cook cleaver by messermeister for 20 years now (from my time as a pastry cook) and it is still the knife I reach for most frequently. It's a great full tang blade with no heel or bolster. I keep it at a western 15-15° and it performs like a santoku with a thinner, lighter blade with more "scooping" potential. Easier to handle than a full "Chinese" cleaver. With no point it's not great for butchering/prepping meat, but that is why you have filet knives.
All cleavers are not created equal.
Its worth differentiating between Chinese style cleavers which substitute for a chef's knife and western style cleavers which often get used for cutting through bones and the like. If want an entry level Chinese cleaver to experiment with, I would recommend https://www.wokshop.com/newstore/product/carbon-steel-cleaver/
For the western ones, your best bet is to frequent Ebay and search for butcher's cleavers, along with "lamb splitters". (I am fond of the ones that "Foster brothers" used to make)
Its worth differentiating between Chinese style cleavers which substitute for a chef's knife and western style cleavers which often get used for cutting through bones and the like. If want an entry level Chinese cleaver to experiment with, I would recommend https://www.wokshop.com/newstore/product/carbon-steel-cleaver/
For the western ones, your best bet is to frequent Ebay and search for butcher's cleavers, along with "lamb splitters". (I am fond of the ones that "Foster brothers" used to make)
25
I've grabbed hold of a zhen cleaver from a drop on mass drop. Super sharp and easy to use. So far, this is one of my faves. Not used to it yet, as i've always used a chefs knife
Im hoping for the CCK cleaver, I just decided I was going to buy it a few days ago actually, and it would be nice to get it through massdrop. I read that it is a really good entry to carbon steel knives.
73
CCK cleavers are very good for the money. Unfortunately, they are very hard to source where I live. I hear rumors of them being easy to find in "China Town" but, I'm in the midwest without access to good Asian markets and Asian products in general.
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