Having the kitchen's exact equipment is vital if you need to make your desired food easily and quickly. And the knife is one of the utensils without which you cannot start your cooking. But, if you are tired of having different cutters for each task, it is high time to invest in a Chinese chef knife.
In this article, you will learn about the 10 best Chinese chef knife with all details. A right knife should be selected very carefully as you will have to use it everyday.
To help you pick the Chinese chef knife according to your task, we have prepared a complete list of the products. Now, you can go through it quickly without wasting any time.
List of 10 Best Chinese Chef Knife 2023
According to the research and customers' response, we have prepared a list of the top 10 best Chinese chef knife. You will know in detail about it after reading the given information. Last but not least, you will result in choosing the best one for you.
Our Top Picks
Image | Product Name | Editors Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Zwilling J.A. Henckels Twin Signature Chinese Chef's Knife | ||
  | TUO Cutlery Fiery Phoenix- Chinese Chef's Knife | ||
  | Dexter Chinese Chef's Knife | ||
 | Shun Classic Chinese Chef's Knife | ||
 | Wusthof Classic Chinese Chef's Knife |
Best Chinese Chef Knife Reviews
Before buying a knife, you must look for the best one available in the market. It will sound perfect for purchasing the product with a standard knowledge about it.
Therefore, to make the procedure easy for you, we have already provided honest feedback on different kinds of Chinese Chef Knife. So have some time to keep reading the given description.
1. Zwilling J.A. Henckels Twin Signature Chinese Chef's Knife – Overall Best
Zwilling J.A. Henckels is our first choice in the case of a Chinese chef's knife. It is manufactured in Germany and has a 7" sharp edge. With its Friodur blade, you can cut all boneless meat and vegetable finely.
The sharpness of the blade will remain for a long time. So, you will not have to be worried before starting chopping your main ingredients. Moreover, it is free from corrosion resistance because of its special high carbon formula.
It also comes with 57 Rockwell hardness, which provides excellent edge retention and a 15 degrees cutting angle on both sides. The handle is made of ergonomic polymer and has a full tang design.
Therefore, you will have a total balance over the handle with its three rivets. Last but not least, this knife is hard, extremely durable, and does not discolor.
Features at a Glance
Pros
Cons
Final Verdict
Excellent manufacturing with a little more price, but serves all the properties of a Chinese chef knife.
2. TUO Cutlery Fiery Phoenix- Chinese Chef's Knife – Best for Gifting Cook Lovers
The second product on our list is the TUO Cutlery Fiery Phoenix because of its award-winning moment. It has been nominated as one of the best kitchen knives in the world. It has 7 inches sharp edges like the above overall best one.
Its blade is slightly curved but perfect for chopping, mincing, and cutting ingredients. The holder of this knife is made of pakkawood, which is waterproof, ergonomic, and polished. As a result, it is very comfortable to grab in your hand.
You will not have to buy any other knife because of its full tang durability and stability. Moreover, the blade is made with high premium carbon German stainless steel. It also has 18 degrees cutting on angle per side.
Features at a Glance
Pros
Cons
Final Verdict
It can be an exceptional gift for your friend, who is a chef or love cooking.
3. Dexter Chinese Chef's Knife – Best for Double Bevel
Dexter Chinese chef's knife has an 8" blade, large brass solidity rivet, and rosewood handle. The razor used is made with high-carbon stainless steel, which will not stain or get discolored. Instead, the edges will remain sharp for long periods.
Molybdenum, cobalt, and vanadium are included with high-quality alloys to improve cutting performance, strength, and edge holding. It is also heat-treated to the solidity of 54 to 56 HRC.
It is not a matter if you are lefty or righty as you can use it with both hands because of its double bevel feature. Remember not to use it on meat with bones, hard, or other dense materials as it is relatively thin.
Features at a Glance
Pros
Cons
Final Verdict
If you are looking for a chopper to use with both hands, go for this without confusion.
4. Shun Classic Chinese Chef's Knife – Best Quality Blade
Shun Classic Chinese chef's knife is manufactured in Japan with a 7" blade steel, pakkawood handle, and VG-MAX Damascus Clad. This knife has been made by combining traditional blade-making formula with cutting edge innovation and technology.
Shun creates an elite cutlery line design in this modern age to show the artists' precision and skill. As a result, cutting performance is enhanced due to vanadium's increasing VG-MAX cutting core formula. Moreover, molybdenum is also used for corrosion resistance and improving strength.
As highly skilled artisans have created this chopper, it has 69 comprehensive layers of vegetable cleaver. The procedure to make this stunning Damascus cladding is by layering several metal alloys before forging into a solo steel sheet.
Features at a Glance
Pros
Cons
Final Verdict
Many have a craving to use nostalgic products. It is perfect for them with some extra budget.
5. Wusthof Classic Chinese Chef's Knife – Best For Chefs'
The Wusthof Classic Chinese chef's knife is made with X50CrMoV15 high-quality stainless steel alloy and fully forged. That means the blade is created to be durable, keen, and long-lasting with high-carbon vanadium or molybdenum material, and 58HRC hardened.
You will not have to worry about getting a chip and sharpened because the hardening and alloy is the right combination of durability and edge retention. Moreover, it can be pointed to 14° on per side, which is quite similar to Japanese knives.
You can precisely slice, chop, mince, scoop, and many more with the easily balanced polypropylene handle and a full tang triple-riveted. Now, cut all veggies, boneless meat, fish with a broad blade, and double-beveled edge.
Features at a Glance
Pros
Cons
Final Verdict
The chefs' can choose to use it professionally as it is perfect with a little bit of extra money.
6. 9 inch Chinese Chef's Knife – Best for Everyday Use
The 9 inch Chinese chef's knife has a 3 layer high quality clad stainless steel and high carbon 80Cr13 core steel. These elements make the blade durable, hard, and sharp. Other than this, to make the outer layer tough, plasticity, and corrosion resistance 10Cr17 is used.
The reason behind using two sheets of steel is to do your kitchen work perfectly. Sometimes, the knife gets slip from our hand. But, this specific chopper is anti-freezing, firm, and anti-slip as an ergonomic designed classic rosewood handle has been used.
Moreover, food will not get stuck on the blade because of its non-stick coating properties. The vacuum heat treatment can endow the steel with the best mechanical property. Therefore, this cutter is stable and safe.
Features at a Glance
Pros
Cons
Final Verdict
For everyday use, this knife can be your regular choice in the kitchen.
7. SHI BA ZI ZUO Chinese Chef's Knife – Best as a Multipurpose Knife
SHI BA ZI ZUO Chinese chef's knife has a 3 layer of high-carbon stainless steel blade to make it durable. You can do almost all heavy-duty professional and home kitchen cooking work with this multi-functional knife.
The handle used is made of ergonomic hygiene rosewood to avoid any injuries to the fingers while using. You can also easily grab it into your hand. Furthermore, its blade edge is finely grind to attain its best performance in sharpness.
It has a similar feature as the number 6 product on our list. That is, the food does not stick on the edge due to its non-stick coating. So, rock, slice, mince, and dice without any trouble. After finishing all these, wash it with normal water.
Features at a Glance
Pros
Cons
Final Verdict
If you are looking for a knife that will be a pro utensil in the kitchen, choose none other than this one.
8. SHI BA ZI ZUO Professional Chinese Chef's Knife – Best for Cutting Small Bones
The main material of SHI BA ZI ZUO Professional Chinese chef's knife is high-quality SL 1309-AB and 50Cr15MoV stainless steel. These elements help to keep the blade rust free and sharp.
You can also easily sharpener the edge as the unique wet sharpening prevents the metallographic edge structure from changing phase. The edges will also remain sharp for a longer time. But remember, use the blade's former part for slicing and use the latter portion for chopping.
You will not face any trouble while holding the handle as it is made of ergonomic ABS steel. The full tang has also been filled with ABS for well balance. It is stabilized and fixed with rivets via tang to increase safety.
It is more durable and robust because of its optimal metallic composite elements enabled by vacuum heat treatment. At last, after finishing all your work, you can wash it easily according to the user manual.
Features at a Glance
Pros
Cons
Final Verdict
Usually, bones cannot be cut using a Chinese chef knife. But with this, you can cut cartilages, which are known as soft bones.
9. KYOKU Daimyo Series Chinese Chef's Knife – Best for Enjoying a Life Time Warranty
KYOKU Daimyo Series Chinese chef' knife is manufactured with ultra-sharp and cobalt-added VG-10 Japanese Damascus steel. The blade is straight, so you can easily cut meat and vegetables through the knife's slice. Moreover, you will have a well balance and comfort over the knife, so the chopping or slicing will be perfect.
Therefore, you will get a superior sharpness like mirror polish from 8 to 12° using the traditional 3-step Honbazuke process. The blade will remain corrosion-resistant, flexible, and hard for a long time.
Then, triple-riveted G10 is used in the handle to sustain in cold, heat, and moisture. At last, to make the holder durable and robust, it has been sealed with mosaic pins.
Do not worry if your knife gets defective as the manufacturer provides a lifetime warranty and free exchange offer or return.
Features at a Glance
Pros
Cons
Final Verdict
For enjoying a lifetime warranty with an extra amount, this cutter will be perfect.
10. Winco Blade Chinese Chef's Knife – Best in Minimal Cost
The final product on our list is the Winco Blade Chinese chef's knife. This company is one of the oldest ones and still in position because of its splendid performance. It is made of a carbon steel blade and an authentic wooden handle.
The carbon steel makes the razor highly wear-resistant and gives it good edge retention. Therefore, the knife will remain sharp for a more extended period and will need less sharpening.
If you are even new to use the Chinese chef knife, you can use it without any trouble. The blade's 6.75 inches length and 3.5 inches width give a large surface for ease cutting technique. You will also have total control over the handle as it is designed with ridges.
Features at a Glance
Pros
Cons
Final Verdict
Within a minimal price, you can have this high-quality knife that will last for a long time.
How to Buy the Best Chinese Chef Knife for General Use?
After reading the above description, you might be excited to choose the best Chinese chef knife among hundreds of them. However, it is very easy to select the best one.
You will have to study the products and pick the best one according to your need. Below we have provided a complete guide to keep you away from unnecessary tension.
But, before that, let us look at some initial things about a Chinese chef knife.
What is a Chinese Chef Knife?
A Chinese chef knife is a special kind of knife to cut any boneless meat, fish, vegetables, and many more. It has a different size of blades that are to be used according to the requirement. The edges are made of carbon steel or stainless steel, or both.
Its handle can be made of stainless steel or different kinds of wood. Stainless steel will keep the holder oil-free and durable, while the wood will make it only long-lasting.
It is easy to cut and wash. But avoid to clean it with the dishwasher as this will make the steel less shiny and damage. Furthermore, after finishing all your cooking work, store it in the knife block.
Types of Chinese Chef Knife
Based on the blade's thickness and uses, the modern Chinese chef knife comes in three different types. These are:
Slicers are also known as vegetable knives or Caidao. They have the sharpest and the thinnest blade. They are perfect for slicing meat, cutting vegetables, and mincing herbs into skinny strips. As it is very thin, avoid using it on the bones.
Choppers are the most common Chinese chef knife that has a thicker blade than slicers. They are suitable for multiple tasks, including slicing, mincing, and chopping herbs, meat, and vegetables. As it is slightly thicker, thin bones or cartilages of fish and poultry can be cut perfectly.
Cleavers are also known as Gudao or bone choppers. They have a thicker and robust blade. It is a real bone knife that can cut even heavy and dense bone without any trouble.
Why Do You Require a Chinese Chef Knife?
A Chinese chef knife is perfect for those who cook in the home or restaurant kitchen. It is not always possible to cut everything using the regular blade. For some particular purposes, we need to use the Chinese chef knife.
So, if you are planning to buy such a chopper, read the valid reasons below that are as follows:
How to Cut Foods with a Chinese Chef Knife?
Before cutting the meat, vegetable, or fish, you should know how to hold the knife correctly to avoid any accident. You will need to position the thumb finger on the front and index finger on the backside. And with the rest of the three fingers will be to hold the handle tightly.
After doing the above procedure, you are ready to cut your foods into fine pieces. The correct processes, according to some of the different foods, are given below.
Chinese Chef Knife VS Meat Cleaver: Ultimate Differences
We all have some confusion between the two cutters, "Chinese chef knife" and "Meat cleaver". Although they look similar, they are entirely different tools. The possible differences are as follows:
How to Take Care of Chinese Chef Knife?
Things will be long-lasting if you take care of them properly. Similarly, there are also some tips and tricks to be followed to make the knife durable. The steps are given below, so read it carefully.
Professional Chinese Chef Knife
The chef uses a professional Chinese chef knife in restaurants or home kitchens to cut foods finely. It is their profession, and their professionalism should also be seen through chopping. Therefore, they need to have a high-quality knife.
In the above list, we have also mentioned some expert knife built to be professional. Those are TUO Cutlery Fiery Phoenix, Wusthof Classic, SHI BA ZI ZUO, and SHI BA ZI ZUO Professional Chinese Chef's Knife.
Things to Look at while Buying The Best Chinese Chef Knife [Buying Guide]
Before cooking food, it is vital to cut the main ingredients finely. And for that, you will, of course, need a high-quality knife or cutter.
Therefore, below are some essential things you must look at while buying a Chinese chef knife. Read it carefully to pick the right one for you.
Quality
The first thing that you should look at is the quality of the product. Try to buy a high-quality knife even if you need to spend a little more money. Moreover, the low-quality cutter will not give you a fine cut and may get spoiled very early.
Dimension
Before buying a knife, you must look for its dimension. It is important to grab it in hand or store it properly. If the chopper is too big, it will be challenging to hold and keep. And if the cutter is too small, it will also be hard to maintain and may misunderstand spoons and forks.
Tang
The tang is the point that attaches the blade to the handle. If a partial tang is used, there is more possibility that the knife will break down very early. But, a full tang that has a long continuous piece of metal is more durable as the blade will not break easily. A full tang knife is also felt more balanced in hand, which makes it easier to use.
Blade
From an early age, the Chinese chef knife blade is made of carbon steel, which is highly durable. But it can add a metallic flavor to the food and is prone to rust. So, many manufacturers are now using stainless steel to avoid all the cons. However, many blades are made with a combination of stainless steel and carbon steel. It is because to give you the experience of both the elements.
Thickness
The thickness of the blade can vary from two to eight millimeters. The main purpose of thickness is to ensure what foods can be cut and how finely foods can be cut. Thinner blades are suitable to cut soft foods like vegetables and fruits. On the other hand, thicker blades work great for meat and fish. Follow the guide below to choose preferable blade thickness:
Length
There are various lengths of blades in a Chinese chef knife. Among them, the most common and versatile is 7 inches. It is better to avoid shorter knives as they are not really useful. So, the best one to choose is 11 inches, including blade and handle.
Sharpness
The sharpness of the blade is very important. Without the sharpness, you cannot cut or chop foods finely. There is also some knife in the market that loses its sharpness very fast. Try to avoid those. Otherwise, if you sharpen your blade more often, it may get damaged due to excess pressure.
Handle
The Chinese chef knife's handle can be made of different materials like stainless steel, wood, and molded plastic. All three materials are well and long-lasting, but the wooden handle is the most durable and attractive. Moreover, ask the manufacturer which one is non-slippery to have total control over the holder.
Design
The design is a huge factor while making a Chinese chef knife. What tasks the knife can perform depends somewhat on the design of the cutter. All models are not made to cut bone. Some are also designed to cut meat, fish, and vegetables. So, if you want to cut bone, go for the thicker blade, and if you need to cut softer foods, choose the thinner edge.
Weight
There is a minimum weight of everything. Like that, the knife also has a standard weight. It should not be too much or too little. A massive chopper will be hard to work with, and a lightweight cutter will be unable to work with. So, the perfect one is from 8 to 10 ounces.
Guarantee And Warranty
It is always better to choose the one that provides a guarantee or warranty. You never know when the product may get damaged without your fault. Therefore, if you have a guarantee or warranty policy, you can return the product to get a new one or get back your money.
Price
A Chinese chef knife's price depends on a few factors like material, thickness, and construction. Most of them cost from $13 to $250.
Reasonable: The most inexpensive Chinese chef knives are made with thinner blades and carbon steel or stainless steel. They usually have a partial tang and cost somewhere between $13 to $28.
Mid-range: They have blades made from carbon steel or stainless steel, which are relatively thicker. They may have a full or partial tang. These choppers cost between $28 to $112.
Expensive: The most costly Chinese chef knives have thick blades made of stainless steel, carbon steel, or a combination of both. They have a real full tang, which costs between $112 to $250.
Final Thoughts
All the cutters on the above list are the best Chinese chef knife for regular use in the kitchen by professionals and nonprofessionals. Once you start using it, you will replace most of your cutting tools.
Therefore, I hope you have assumed why we have selected these actual 10 products for you. All these are easy to hold, use, and clean. So if you are a cooking lover, you may keep this knife to make your cutting procedure easy.
The cooked food does not look attractive until and unless they are finely chopped. Above all these, we have made the total procedure simple for you to choose the knife as we are concerned about you.
FAQ: Best Chinese Chef Knife
Many questions have come to us regarding the Chinese chef knife. Here you will find most of your answers. So without ruining any time, let us read the answers.
Are Chinese Chef Knife Safe to Use?
Chinese chef knives are safe to use until and unless you know how to use it correctly. It is slightly different than a regular chopper. So, if you are a beginner in the kitchen, we will recommend not to use it. Instead, go for the regular one. Once you become an expert in cutting, you can switch to the Chinese chef knife.
How Long Does a Chinese Chef Knife Last?
The durability of the chopper depends on the manufacturing and the user. If the product is of good quality and used properly, it can even last for 8-10 years or more. Before using, read the user manual carefully.
Which One to Buy; Chinese Chef Knife or Chinese Cleaver?
Many people think that the Chinese chef knife and Chinese cleaver are the same. But no, they are completely different from each other. The Chinese chef knife is comparatively thinner and lightweight than the Chinese cleaver. So, buy the one according to your need.
What are the Advantages of Having a Chinese Chef Knife?
A Chinese chef knife is an all in one cutter. You can chop garlic, onion, ginger, meat, vegetables, and many more. Therefore, you will not have to buy a separate chopper for different tasks. It is alone comparable to two to three knives.
Can a Chinese Chef Knife be Cleaned with Dishwasher?
It will be better if you check the company's guidelines for the cleaning and taking care purpose. Some manufacturers claim that it will be safe to wash with a dishwasher while other does not. But it is better to avoid the dishwasher as it can result in a dull and damaged blade.
What is the Best Place to Store a Chinese Chef Knife?
As a Chinese chef knife is thin and sharp, it will be best to keep it in the knife block or on a magnetic strip. Remember not to keep it flat on the kitchen shelves. Otherwise, it can cause an accident to both you and your family members.
How much Does a Chinese Chef Knife Cost?
The price depends on the quality of the product. But it may cost somewhat from $10 to $1000 (or more). You can choose the one according to your budget.
Is It Worth to Buy Expensive Knife?
To be honest, expensive knives stay sharp for a long time and will feel more balancing in your hand. But, that does not mean you will have to buy the costly one. You can sharpen the blade of the chopper when necessary, and it will stay longer.
How to Sharp the Knife at Home?
For sharping a knife, you will need another chopper. You can use a regular cutter for this purpose. At first, hold the knife at an 85-degree angle keeping a heavy cloth beneath it. Then, take the other chopper and move it forward and backward along with the blade. Do it for a while, and soon you will get a sharp edge.
How Often is the Chopper to be Sharpen?
It depends on the usage of the knife. Some need to be sharpened every few months while others need 1 to 2 years. Our recommendation is to polish it every 1 to 2 years because more pressure can damage your knife.