If you’re familiar with basic cooking tools, you’re also probably familiar with the meat cleaver. For the uninitiated, these are heavy-weight knives with a hole in the middle. You would primarily use meat cleavers to cut chicken in smaller chunks, marinate meat smoothly, compress drumstick meat, et al.

Because these devices are extremely heavy, you cannot fit them in a regular storage unit or a drawer. This is also the reason why you can’t sneak them anywhere in proximity to kitchen blades.

To address these issues, the makers of cleavers always install a central hole. Thanks to the hole, you can now conveniently hang the device anywhere to your liking. This enhances the storage options and helps keep the device safe.

In the following few sections, we will discuss this in detail and find out more about why do cleavers have a hole in the first place.

Why is here a hole in a meat cleaver?

Meat cleavers are heavy and need proper storage. Since drawers aren't ideal due to their size, the hole in the cleaver allows you to hang it conveniently. This saves space and prevents damage to the cleaver and other knives, ensuring its long-term durability.

Reasons for the hole in a meat cleaver

Most professional chefs and butchers use cleavers daily to slice meat and break down bones and larger cuts into manageable pieces.

Cleavers come in various shapes and sizes, and one common feature is the hole near the blade. This hole is primarily for hanging the cleaver on a kitchen wall. But what other purposes does the hole serve? Why do manufacturers include it in their design? Let’s explore:

• The hole provides protection for the cleaver.
• Enables easy maneuverability and safe hanging.
• Ensures controlled, convenient retrieval.
• Helps achieve smoother, easier meat slices.
• Reduces resistance during cutting, improving motion.
• Essential for handling large or frozen meat chunks.
• Allows fingers to slide and drag the knife through tough meat.

In addition to the mentioned reasons, the hole also serves the following few functions:

Improves the Aesthetics

While we often overlook aesthetics, they leave a lasting impact on our minds. This is why manufacturers invest significant time in designing various objects.

Most cleaver knives feature a heavy-duty design with a central hole and a wide, sturdy rectangular blade. These elements enhance the knife's aesthetics, with the hole adding both style and practicality. This results in a beautifully finished knife that is also highly functional.

Minimizes Friction

This is yet another reason why most meat cleavers come with a hole. When you use these devices to cut through tough bone, it might develop a degree of friction. Within the next few seconds, you will be left with meat cuts but with shards that may potentially choke the consumer.

To address this issue, meat cleavers come with a hole. Because these holes significantly minimize and limit friction, you are left with cleaner meat cuts without shards. This also improves the tool’s overall usability quotient and makes it convenient to use and operate.

Uses of a Cleaver

As with the many different types of knives, meat cleavers come with diverse and versatile functions. In this section, we will take a closer look at these roles.

Section Meat More Conveniently

The defining aspect of cleavers is their sharp and wide blade. While these blades may be used for a range of different functions, the primary role is to trim out meat skin and fat. You would also want to use this dive to cut poultry meat.

With the suitable cleaver in place, you can conveniently chop out the problematic sections like ribs and bones. Thanks to the heavy-duty blades, cracking bones is even simpler.

In addition to this significant benefit, you might also want to use cleavers for the following reasons:

• To chop, mince, and dice vegetables and meat
• To enjoy more excellent balance and control while cutting meat
• Extremely durable and will last you for the longest time
• Easy to handle and master
• The handle can be doubled up as a pestle to grind ginger, garlic, and other herbs or dry spices

Thanks to these many benefits, cleavers are now a significant part of all amateur and seasoned cooks. So, if you want to chop meat faster and hone the best cooking techniques, you might as well consider getting these knives for yourself.

Cleaver Recommendations

 

If you are planning to invest in a quality meat cleaver, the iMarku cleaver would be our top recommendation. Made from professional grade steel.

This is an exceptionally lightweight cleaver that offers you just the perfect balance while slicing or mincing heavy meat chunks. It’ll barely take you twenty minutes to half an hour to debone large meats. Make sure to check out the best cleaver knives to buy in 2024 for more tips.

The key feature of these cleavers is their diverse and versatile functions. You typically use these tools to chop, mince, slice, and dice meat and vegetable chunks. Thanks to the vast and super-sharp blade, you can cut through any food item with ease and convenience.

Because the blade is manufactured and built in Germany, you can rest assured of its overall quality and rust-free properties. Cleaver or butcher, which one is your choice?

The entire knife is highly durable and using it to cut through dense veggie, or meat chunks would be a breeze! We are also incredibly impressed by the solid handle of the knife.

Crafted from high-quality Pakka wood, the handle offers a solid grip and is extremely comfortable holding and operating. Because the handle is slip-resistant, you can comfortably hold it for the longest time without feeling tired.

Overall, this is an excellent product to cut your veggies and meat regularly. Because the cleaning guidelines are equally simple, maintaining these cleavers for the long term is practically hassle-free. 

Bottom Line

Now that you know why cleavers have a hole, it's time to get a quality meat cleaver! Understanding the cleaver's anatomy, including the hole, helps with proper storage and maintenance.

We've also shared guidelines on how to use cleavers effectively. If you perform any of these functions, a meat cleaver is a must-have. We recommended a sturdy cleaver with a large hole for easy storage and maneuverability. So, add a quality cleaver to your kitchen for more efficient and hassle-free cooking.