best knife for cutting bone
Below is a quick list of my favorite knives for cutting bone. From the Classic line of German cutlery maker Wusthof, we have their flexible boning knife with a 6-inch blade. It has a 6-inch blade with an overall length of 11.5 inches, and weighs 3.8 ounces. In this guide, we’re looking at the different components of a boning knife, like flexible and rigid blades, shape and size considerations, and the basic differences between boning and fillet knives and gokujos (Japanese-style boning knives) so you can choose one that will best serve your needs. You’re much less likely to snag on meat and connective tissues with this design. Don’t worry if that sounds like a lot. With a bold, eye-catching design, the Shun Premier gokujo boning and fillet knife is equally proficient as a boning and trimming blade. It is also handy at peeling soft fruit and thin-slicing tomatoes. The sharp cutting edge has a conical grind for a wide break point – which makes deft, agile cuts close to the bone with minimal waste. See it on Amazon or read more about this model below. Top 5 Best Knives for Cutting Bone (2021 Review), Perfect for cutting through bone or near bones, DALSTRONG Butcher's Breaking Cimitar Knife, More versatile than traditional butchers knives, Victorinox - Swiss Army Cutlery Fibrox Pro Curved Boning Knife, My Overall Top #1 Pick: Wusthof Gourmet 7″ Cleaver. DALSTRONG Phantom Series Boning and Filet Knife. The sharpness of a blade matters a lot. Twice. Victorinox also produces a curved semi-stiff blade in the Fibrox line. No? We have one of the largest selections of congress pocket knives. That makes a good chef’s knife a great option if you’re looking to save a little money. Bone can easily break a knife that isn’t up for the job. The Shun logo is embossed on the stainless steel end cap for an impressive display both in and out of the knife block. Plus, the handle provides a sure, steady grip that doesn’t get slippery when cold or wet. We occasionally link to goods offered by vendors to help the reader find relevant products. When it comes to cutting directly through bones there are very few knives that are up to the job. The stamped blade is constructed of high-carbon stainless steel for superb rust and corrosion resistance, and is ice-tempered to 58 HRC for durability and toughness. These hybrid metals are still more like stainless than high carbon steel, but they are a little more durable. Shun’s gokujo gets top marks for its outstanding sharpness, superb slicing action, and comfortable handling. Wusthof Classic 6-Inch Curved Boning Knife with Granton Edge. The Premier arrives out the box exceedingly sharp. Here’s another Western-style model, this time from the Classic line of J.A. This sharp knife comes with a convenient 7-inch blade size … That’s not to protect your hand so much as to prevent fat and stray bits of meat coming back at you while you’re working. This makes them suitable for filleting large fish like salmon or tuna, but unless you have a masterful technique, their rigid nature makes working on smaller fish somewhat challenging. These models, made up of more advanced and harder metal alloys, retain their edge through a massive amount of protein, and we also appreciate their feel, fit and finish, and aesthetics. With the help of this knife, you can easily cut meat from the bone without any hassle. The flexibility of the blade makes boning, trimming, and skinning easy tasks. The best way to do that is to set the cleaver directly on what you want to cut. The Mercer Genesis is well made with good balance and weight, which gives a sense of control and sure handling. For general hunting uses such as chopping bone, splitting sticks, and slicing meat you need a careful balance of sharpness and durability. Boning knives can only cut through the smallest bones, but these knives are small, sharp and maneuverable. Dalstrong is a newer company that has chosen to use the best metals available in both the Western and Eastern traditions while holding prices down at a reasonable level – and at a much higher degree of fit and finish than you’d normally find at this price point. Chef’s Knife – PAUDIN Pro Kitchen Knife. Made in Switzerland, it comes with the Victorinox lifetime warranty to be made of first class stainless steel and free of any defects in material and workmanship. The sharp tip moves around large bones as easily as it separates skin from a salmon, and the cutting edge has the strength to process joints and large bones quickly and cleanly, with virtually no waste. It’s easy to maintain the edge on this blade, and it’s designed with heavy chopping in mind. What are the different kinds of knives for cutting bone? They hold an edge for a long while. Blade Features We occasionally link to goods offered by vendors to help the reader find relevant products. Carving knives are similar to slicing knives, but instead of a large rounded tip, taper to a sharp point. In some cases, it’s more of a trimming in the case of removing a fat cap or trimming fatty edges. This is attributable to their low cost, ergonomics, ability to be “steeled” back into shape, dishwasher safe build, and NSF stamp. The D-shaped handle found on this beauty is composed of a hand-polished Spanish pakkawood designed to fit perfectly into the palm of your hand, ensuring control, maneuverability, and ergonomic hand placement. It’s also made from a poly blend plastic that’s less likely to get slick (and therefore dangerous) than many alternatives. The Dexter-Russell is the blade of choice among many butchers, meat packers, and reasturant owners who provide them as “house” knives. This short video does a great job of showing one of the safest and most effective techniques. Besides the plastic scabbard, the knife comes packaged with a cleaning cloth, care instructions, a little medallion, and a card promising customer satisfaction and happiness. There is no real choil or bolster (like all traditional Japanese-style knives have) so there is a bit more of a risk of slipping and cutting yourself, but this small point should not dissuade you from purchasing this fine tool. The profile of the tip is such that they could even be used to skin out large game. The Wusthof Classic gets top marks for its comfortable hand feel and balance, its sharp, long-lasting edge, and excellent maneuverability. The degree of flexibility is another highlight, with the sharp tip and blade providing enough movement to easily follow bones and tendons without damaging delicate tissue. The Deer Splitter Game Splitter Assistant from Viking Solutions is a new tool that makes splitting the chest cavity and pelvic bone a breeze! That dedication to functionality really shows in this boning knife. To be clear, a boning knife is not designed for cutting through large bones – they’re far too light and delicate for this work. Shop Today! It removes poultry, fish, and silver skin with ease. The handle is comfortable for both right and left-handed users, and it provides a sure grip for user confidence. Mercer Culinary Genesis 6-Inch Forged Flexible Boning Knife. The fine, light point is easy to maneuver between joints and against bone; the heavy, stiff blade means you don't have to apply so much force to the cutting tip, which, combined with its single-beveled edge, makes the task of cutting through flesh and, most importantly, skin, like cutting … Here is more about what we do. If you’re not using a boning knife or gokujo to dress cooked and uncooked meats, you might be missing out on some of the tastiest morsels. I have these short ribs but there the big whole ribs. Bushcraft (the art of wilderness survival) is a hobby that needs a sturdy knife with a thick blade made of high-quality steel, as well as an easy to sharpen grind and a good wedge.Our selection of Bushcrafting knives offers both folding Bushcraft knives and fixed blade Bushcraft knives, and we have the best knife … It has enough flex to handle boning smaller items like fish and chicken, but doesn’t have the flimsy feel of many stamped blades. Plus, since it’s backed by Wusthof, you know that you’re working with a company that not only cares about their knives, but also cares about their customer service. F. Dick is a great brand as well, but I have never managed to keep the level of sharpness with Dick knives that I have with Giesser. Hand sharpened and honed, the blade has a hardness of 54 HRC for durability and strength. With Japanese kitchen knives, there are several models used specifically for filleting and portioning fish and sashimi, such as the deba or yanagi. The high-carbon steel core is known to be sharp and long lasting, with Enso components carefully fitted and finished for handsome aesthetics and functional practicality. Another common feature on all boning knives is a finger guard, an important consideration when handling slippery skin and fat. The Classic features a full tang, and is forged from a single blank of high-carbon stainless steel, which is tempered to 58 HRC. Mercer Genesis knives come with a limited lifetime warranty, not just one year. At first glance, boning and fillet knives look similar, and the uninitiated might think they’re pretty much interchangeable. You can use this knife on large fruits and vegetables, for instance. Is there a knife … Can they be cut without machines they use at the butcher shop? Hand washing only is recommended, with prompt drying from a soft cloth. Add To Wishlist Add To Compare. See our TOS for more details. Read More >> Complete Guide to Kitchen Knives. NSF approved, the Fibrox Pro Flex is dishwasher safe, although handwashing is recommended. The standout features of this knife are the bone handle and the exceptionally sturdy blade. It comes with Enso’s lifetime warranty to be free of material and manufacturing defects. 4. Hand Forged Cleaver Knife Bone Cutting 7 Inch High Carbon Steel Heavy Duty Meat Butcher Knife Ful… In fact, some of the most common knife-ruining accidents happen either while chopping through the bone or while separating a joint for different cuts of meat. Cleavers are your best option when it comes to creating the perfect bone-in cuts of meat. The blade has been angled and tapered for reduced drag, and the scalloped indentations ensure limited sticking from both protein and veggies, should the need arise to use it as a utility knife. Both semi-stiff and flexible blades will have a very sharp pointed tip that’s used to pierce the meat, and leads the cut when held with an overhead dagger-style grip for slicing along large bones. With an extremely sharp edge and hammered Damascus finish, it debones meat cleanly and efficiently, and excels at trimming and dressing duties. That’s because those two materials are the strongest, carry the best edge, are more durable than other varieties of steel, and have the most flex. Made in Japan, it comes with Shun’s limited lifetime warranty against material and manufacturing defects. For my last pick of this list I wanted to include at least one boning knife. Pair it with an F. Dick Dickoron Combi square steel, and you’ll be abandoning your Gillette razor for your boning knife before you know it! But the brittleness of the blade and the difficulty in sharpening metal that is as hard as those found in these brands (and most Japanese-produced knives) limits us to recommending these products as the best choice for everybody. Made in Spain, it comes with the Henckels lifetime warranty to be free of manufacturing and material defects. Cost. Fillet knives have a similar appearance, although they might not have the same sharp, pointy tip, and the blade will usually have considerably more flex. The Fibrox handle is another highlight. 3. Made in the USA. Read More >> The Best Cleavers for Cutting Bone for my other recommendations. A chef’s knife is the obvious pick for a budget option. I wouldn’t recommend trying to tackle any bones larger than that with this knife. The steel quality is still there, and a beautiful wood handle adds a touch of elegance. Wusthof makes another version in their Classic line, with all the same components of German steel, style lines, POM handle, and dimensions, but it comes with a granton edge. It is also well capable to handle larger cuts of meat easily. It has a flat-ground 16° double bevel to take and hold a scalpel-sharp cutting edge, and to release food quickly from the blade. Here at My Kitchen Culture, I review the best kitchen gadgets and appliances so that you can get everything you need to create your favorite foods in your kitchen. Most carving knives rate around a 56 on the scale, allowing the knife to hold a reasonably sharp edge while remaining soft enough to cut around bone without nicking. Pliability of the blade will vary depending on what you plan to bone – semi-stiff and flexible being the two most common properties. Wusthof is one of the well-known brands for manufacturing finest knives and cleavers. It has a nice balance, and a comfortable hand feel that makes it easy to use and control. Big savings. The qualities of the steel give a long-lasting, keen edge that has been laser ground for superb symmetry. Highly efficient for the task of boning, it retains a keen edge even when processing large amounts of meat. The bread knife, yep, … Keep reading to learn more about these knives. The forged blade doesn’t have a lot of flex. Others will have a finger guard built into the handle, making all of the blade usable. High-end alloys, great fit and finish, and a reasonable price all contribute to make this one the perfect bang-for-the-buck pick. This Wüsthof 8-inch chef's knife is razor sharp and super versatile. I’m talking knives that will cut through bone, knives that will let you cut right next to bones, and knives that will let you separate bones. Some of these may be affiliate based, meaning we earn small commissions (at no additional cost to you) if items are purchased. The Henckels Classic receives top marks for its sound European construction, its efficiency at processing large and thick cuts, and its versatility for use on different foods. It was more akin to unpackaging an iPad or iPhone rather than a kitchen tool. This Wutsthof classic heavy cleaver is a German cleaver specially made for cutting bones. The Dexter-Russel Sani-Safe flexible boning knife is a reliable model that’s well suited for trimming, slicing, and dressing duties. For really cutting through bone, a cleaver is your best bet. That means you’ll need some knives designed to handle bone in addition to knives for the meat itself. It makes filleting a lot easier, and for the beginner, results will be much more appealing – and encouraging. The curve and pliability combine to work around bones, tendons, and joints to cleanly separate, trim, and skin proteins, and the sharp tip is good for piercing tasks. Its high-quality craftsmanship and impressively strong German steel make it one of the best possible knives for cutting bone. Don’t like them? How To Set The Mood With A Valentine’s Charcuterie Board? Add to Cart. Now, how about you readers – any tips or insights you can share about using these beautiful knifes? Hand hammering creates the distinctive tsuchime finish – striking in appearance, hammering also has a functional practicality as it creates small air pockets to prevent foods from sticking, and allows morsels to be gently pushed from the blade. The last thing you really need to consider in getting a great knife for cutting bone is a great handle. However, arched blades have become quite popular. Be sure to care for it properly and dry it promptly after cleaning to avoid rust. I’ll also talk through how you can use each knife to make sure you’re getting the most from your cutlery. So get that sharpening stone at the ready and get ready to de-bone your family’s favorite protein like a pro. What are the Advantages of a High Quality Knife for Cutting Bone? The knife fits comfortably in your hand, and is long enough to work as your main chef’s knife. These tools are as capping knife, gut hook skinner, … This boning knife features a full bolster with dropped finger guard that adds weight, comfort, and safety. We have also put together a quick buying guide for those that want to make an informed choice for the best knife … Made in Taiwan, they come with Mercer’s one-year warranty to be free of manufacturing and material defects. Wusthof Classic 6-Inch Flexible Boning Knife, available from Amazon. Lesser steel will quickly dull and may even warp or break while you’re cutting bone. It’s lightly textured to give you better grip in addition to being a good fit for most adult hands. FOODAL® IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF ASK THE EXPERTS LLC. A slick handle is a recipe for an accident, so it’s better just to avoid them. And like the Pro Flex, the blade length, construction materials, handle, and warranty are all the same. Although you will want to also have a more traditional straight blade model in your arsenal, I’m finding that the arched blade models such as the Wusthof Classic 6-Inch Curved Boning Knife, the Shun Premier Gokujo, and the Shun Classic Gokujo make for excellent replacements for utility or large petty knives. Still, this knife is a great option for people who mostly eat poultry, fish, and small-bone cuts of meat like pork chops and bone-in steaks. I have used many brands over the years, and these hold a superior edge. Keep in mind, however, that if you are using it for tough jobs like boning out deer, a touch up or two on the steel wouldn’t hurt. This is a knife that delivers high-level cutting performance, durability, and ease of use at a low cost. This allows the blade to be keenly sharpened, and has the toughness to handle boning tasks without chipping. You’ll get significantly more versatility out of this knife than you will from any other knife style in this guide. Knowing what kind of blade you should invest in can be tricky, so we’re here to cut through all the fat and gristle with our Best Butcher Knife recommendations. Crafted with artisanal care, all components are professionally fitted, and finishing details are superb. Henckels International CLASSIC 5.5" Boning Knife and DALSTRONG Boning Knife - Shogun Series - VG10 - 6" (152mm) as the … The boning knife, as the name suggests, is used to separate the bone from the meat. And its narrow profile will quickly slice through larger fish as well. My Kitchen Culture is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. I also have santoku knives, vegetable knives, cleavers, paring knives, bread knife, shears etc. While these knives might be more specialized than most they bring a lot to the table. The cleaver … Drop us a line in the comments below! Stick to reasonably small bones, and try to cut at the thinnest point to make your cleaver more effective. In a hurry? For the price, the quality of the blade is exceedingly high. , Give it a try and you will never look back! Despite the name, this blade geometry was designed in Oregon, and as such, has found its way into the lineup of many western cutlery brands. COPYRIGHT © 2021 ASK THE EXPERTS LLC. A fillet knife has greater blade flexibility, and is designed to more easily move with contours to remove … Here’s the skinny on disabling them. I’ve picked some of the best and more reliable knives for all your bone related needs. And make sure to check out all of our kitchen knife reviews and buying guides now. And the cutting edge will be relatively straight from the heel, with an upward curve to the sharp tip to travel around rounded bones. Henckels. My Account; My Wish List ... Buck Creek Red Jigged Bone Medium Congress. Bones thicker than that will need a larger professional cutting too to break them down. Home » Cutlery & Knife Accessories » Knife Sets » Top 5 Best Knives for Cutting Bone (2021 Review). When it comes to cutting directly through bones there are only a few knives that are really up to the job. It features a long, narrow blade and thin cross section with a very sharp tip for piercing. I can appreciate the difference between deboning meat in a kitchen setting vs. that in a dedicated meat shop, but I think there is at least one knife you should give a try! Getting a high quality knife to help you handle cutting through bone and cutting meat off a bone is critical. Look for polypropylene handles with an ergonomic design. The Mercer Genesis flexible boning knife proves to be a well built and reliable performer. This blade is ideal for skinning out and deboning deer, elk, and other large game, and the Japanese steel alloy in the blade allows you to process carcass after carcass without the need to stop and sharpen. The majority of these knives are fine for occasional deboning, but you will never find a forged knife in my shop. While the wavy pattern on this knife is more decorative than a result of high-quality forging techniques, it’s still a nice detail. Mercer cutlery is well known at the cooking academies of North America. Victorinox brings us a great budget model in their Fibrox Pro boning knife with a thin, flexible blade. My favorite knife is the 8″ chef knife. We found the Wusthof Classic Flexible Boning Knife to be best suited for most home and professional chefs alike. The DALSTRONG 7 Inch Phantom Series Cleaver Knife is an elegant, well-balanced, razor-sharp knife ideal for cutting boneless meat, chicken or fish into smaller pieces. I have a couple ranging from beater knives to very high end. A semi-stiff blade is used for larger pieces, such as beef, pork, lamb, and game, or any time when a bit more oomph is needed to cut through thicker pieces of meat. Henckels’ Classic knives are forged of high-quality German stainless steel that offers superb rust, corrosion, and stain resistance, and has been tempered with ice hardening to 58 HRC for strength and durability. The Sani-Safe line features an NSF-certified Grip-Tex handle – a textured, stain resistant polypropylene material that can withstand high and low temperatures, and is sealed to the blade with an impervious barrier for the best in hygienic surfaces.