Chuka (Cleaver)

中華

Chinese cleaver General Purpose 3D Model

A chuka bocho (中華包丁) is the large, wide-bladed knife of Chinese cooking, as a Japanese dictionary describes it. KAI, the Japanese knife maker, calls it an all-rounder that cuts, chops and crushes: it shreds vegetables, crushes garlic and ginger under the side of the blade, peels with the edge, and carries cut food on the side of the blade, small amounts straight into the pan. It also warns that the weight takes getting used to and can tire the arm over a long session.

KAI sorts chuka bocho into three kinds by blade thickness. A thin blade suits the everyday foods a supermarket sells and, being the lightest, suits a first chuka. A medium-thick blade is heavier and can also cut hard foods such as bone-in chicken and fish bones. A thick blade, the heaviest and meant for experienced hands, takes bone-in block meat and frozen food. So check a cleaver's thickness before you cut bone.

Besides chuka bocho, this page lists a K-tip cleaver and bunka-style cleavers. The ones we list come in carbon steels such as White 2, Blue 1 and Blue 2 and in stainless steels such as Ginsan and VG10. KAI notes that carbon steel is easy to sharpen but rusts very easily, so it needs daily care, while stainless rusts less and asks less upkeep.

Interactive

3D Profile Model

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Key Features

Frequently asked questions

Can a chuka cleaver cut bone?

It depends on the blade thickness. A knife maker's guide sorts the chuka cleaver (中華包丁) into three thicknesses, each suited to different foods.

The thin kind (薄刃), the lightest, is for the everyday foods a supermarket sells; the medium-thick kind (中厚刃) can also cut hard foods such as bone-in chicken and fish bones; and the thick kind (厚刃), the heaviest and meant for experienced users, suits bone-in block meat and frozen food. Check the thickness of your blade before you cut any bone.

Published by K&S Education Desk; staff review pending

Chuka (Cleaver)

3D Profile Model

Key Features

Frequently asked questions

Can a chuka cleaver cut bone?

Shop Chuka (Cleaver) Knives

Shigeki Tanaka Ginsan Nashiji Chinese Cleaver/Chuka 195mm

Kisuke x Xinguo ATS34 Chuka Tsuchime Mirror Kasumi Finish 180mm w Knife Guard

Shibata Tinker Chibi Tank 180mm

Shibata Tinker Chibi Tank 135mm

Introductory Offer: K&S White 2 Kurouchi Chinese Cleaver 210mm

Introductory Offer: K&S White 2 Stainless Clad Chinese Cleaver 200mm

Matsubara Blue 2 K-tip Cleaver 180mm Nashiji Burnt Kashi

Hatsukokoro Sentan Blue 2 Stainless Clad Chinese Cleaver 190mm Heavy

Hatsukokoro Sentan Blue 2 Stainless Clad Chinese Cleaver 190mm

Hatsukokoro Sentan Blue 2 Stainless Clad Chinese Cleaver 170mm

K&S Blue 2 Kurouchi Chinese Cleaver 210mm

CCK Cleaver Tall Bunka Style 200mm "Shibata Special"

CCK Cleaver Ko-Bunka Style 150mm "Shibata Special"

Hatsukokoro Sentan White 2 Stainless Clad Chinese Cleaver 175mm

Hatsukokoro Sentan White 2 Stainless Clad Kurouchi Chinese Cleaver 195mm

Hatsukokoro Sentan White 2 Stainless Clad Chinese Cleaver 195mm

Hatsukokoro Sentan White 2 SS Clad Chinese Cleaver 200mm

Hatsukokoro Hayabusa VG10 Damascus Chinese Cleaver 175mm

Nakagawa Ginsan Chuka 170mm with Ironwood Handle

Sugimoto Stainless Steel Large Nakiri (Chuka) 190mm CM4030

Sugimoto Chuka (Chinese Cleaver) #7 (4007) Mid Weight White 2, Full Size

Sugimoto Chuka (Chinese Cleaver) #6 (4006) Slicer White 2, Full Size

Sakai Takayuki INOX Chuka (Chinese Cleaver) 195mm/210mm

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