The best knives for cutting different types of meat are:
Using the correct blade to be able to slice different types of raw or cooked meat products no problem is a luxury everyone should experience; not just butchers, professional chefs and eating out in luxury restaurants.
I was interested to find out what are some of the best knives to cut different cuts of meats for me to review.
So, I went out researching online for what are some of the top rated & most recommended brands who make meat cutting knife products that are available to buy online.
The Best Knives for Cutting Meat in 2024
The list of recommended knives for cutting meat reviewed for you to compare.
1. Cutluxe Steak Knives
- Length: 5 inches
- Edge Type: Straight edge
- Use: Slicing cooked steak
- NSF Certified: No
- Type of Handle: Pakkawood
- Handle Color: Black
- Suitable for cutting any type of cooked red meat
- Comfortable handle to grip
- Easy to sharpen blade
- Comes with a lifetime warranty
- Lots of positive reviews from others
- Only a customer support email and no telephone number
The Cutluxe steak knives should be a great go to choice to enjoy slicing your cooked steak on your carnivore diet, from rib eyes to fillet minion.
These knives are full tang to provide lifetime strength. The thick tapered bolster makes the joint between the handle and blade feel like a real steakhouse restaurant level knife.
The stainless steel blades are rated 56+ Hardness on Rockwell scale C (HRC).
If you want that steakhouse restaurant feel then choose their serrated edge option, otherwise go with the plain edge version and have it cut beautiful slices of red meat on your plate.
2. Victorinox Fibrox Pro Slicing Knife with Granton Blade
- Length: 10-inch, 10.25-inch, 12-inch
- Edge Type: Granton
- Use: Slicing
- NSF Certified: Yes
- Color: Black
- Suitable for multiple uses, such as slicing cakes, meats and sandwiches
- There are several sizes to choose from
- Granton edge prevents food from sticking to the blade
- Comes with a lifetime warranty
- The company is an industry veteran and even approaches the status of a household name (or at least logo)
- A small number of reviewers have received a dull knife, which sounds like a manufacturing issue
Victorinox is a Swiss company making knives since 1884. It was founded by Karl Elsener, who created the Swiss Army knife in 1897. They have since expanded globally, selling luggage, watches and even fragrances. Victorinox is committed to sustainability; in fact, they have even developed a knife made out of used Nespresso cups. Their 12-inch Granton knife comes with detailed care instructions and a lifetime warranty. This will slice a piece of Picanha steak nicely. [ref]
3. Victorinox Fibrox Pro Boning Knife with Flexible Blade
- Length: 6-inch
- Use: Boning
- Edge Type: Curved and flexible, curved and semi-stiff, extra-wide straight and stiff, straight and flexible, straight and semi-flexible
- NSF Certified: Yes
- Color: Black, white
- There are many options to choose from for color and edge type
- Made specifically for cutting meat
- Fibrox handle is ergonomic and slip-resistant
- Comes with a lifetime warranty
- The company is an industry veteran and even approaches the status of a household name (or at least logo)
- This is a specialty knife; it only has one purpose
Victorinox is a Swiss company making knives since 1884. It was founded by Karl Elsener, who created the Swiss Army knife in 1897. They have since expanded globally, selling luggage, watches and even fragrances. Victorinox is committed to sustainability; in fact, they have even developed a knife made out of used Nespresso cups. Their 6-inch boning knife is used for trimming meat from the bone. Use if you’ve bought Bison meat or Elk Meat on the bone. [ref]
4. Dalstrong Butcher’s Breaking Cimitar Knife
- Length: 10-inch
- Use: Slicing, butchering
- Edge Type: Curved
- NSF Certified: No
- Color: Black
- Divots along the blade edge help prevent food from sticking
- Made specifically for cutting meat
- Includes a BPA-free knife guard
- Has multiple uses, including slicing, trimming and breaking through cartilage
- Ergonomic handle provides a comfortable grip
- As a new name, Dalstrong has not built up years of proven quality like some other companies have
- Only one size and color option available
- This knife does not appear to be NSF Certified
Dalstrong is a relatively new company, but they have a passion for knives and are committed to their family of chefs. They divide their knives into some pretty fun categories, including the Shogun, Phantom, Gladiator, Infinity and Omega series. Their blog, which is cleverly called The Edge, delves into a wide range of topics from kitchen rules to caring instructions to technology. Their 10-inch breaking knife is made with high carbon German steel. [ref]
5. Victorinox Cutlery Curved Breaking Knife
- Length: 10-inch, 8-inch
- Use: Butchering
- Edge Type: Curved
- NSF Certified: Yes
- Color: Black
- Fibrox handle is ergonomic and slip-resistant
- Made specifically for cutting meat
- Meant to retain its sharpness for a long time
- Includes detailed maintenance instructions
- Comes with a lifetime warranty
- The company is an industry veteran and even approaches the status of a household name (or at least logo)
- This is a specialty knife; it only has one purpose
Victorinox is a Swiss company making knives since 1884. It was founded by Karl Elsener, who created the Swiss Army knife in 1897. They have since expanded globally, selling luggage, watches and even fragrances. Victorinox is committed to sustainability; in fact, they have even developed a knife made out of used Nespresso cups. Their 8-inch curved breaking knife is used for butchering large chunks of meat into smaller pieces. [ref]
6. Wusthoff Classic Chef’s Knife
- Length: 7-inch, 8-inch, 9-inch, 10-inch
- Use: Chopping, cutting
- Edge Type: Straight
- NSF Certified: No
- Color: Black
- Can be used for multiple purposes, such as chopping, cutting and other tasks
- Their website is a fountain of information for beginners and pro chefs
- Comes with a lifetime guarantee
- Many different length options are available
- Wusthoff is a time-proven brand, making knives since 1814
- This knife does not appear to be NSF Certified
- Mainly for chopping and cutting, not necessarily specialized for meat
Wusthoff has been around since 1814, and even more impressively, has been family owned for seven generations. Though they are now a global company, every knife is made in Solingen, Germany. Their website is full of useful information, such as care instructions, professional chef profiles, and Knife Skills Academy, which offers lessons on using knives safely and effectively, as well as tips for specific uses. In addition to several knife product lines, they also sell other kitchen tools and accessories. [ref]
7. Dalstrong Butcher’s Breaking Cimitar Knife (Shogun Series)
- Length: 10-inch
- Use: Slicing, butchering
- Edge Type: Curved
- NSF Certified: No
- Color: Black
- Divots along blade edge help prevent food from sticking
- Made specifically for cutting meat
- Has multiple uses, including slicing, trimming and breaking through cartilage
- Includes a lifetime warranty against defect
- As a new name, Dalstrong has not built up years of proven quality like some other companies have
- Only one size and color option available
- This knife does not appear to be NSF Certified
Dalstrong is a relatively new company, but they have a passion for knives and are committed to their family of chefs. They divide their knives into some pretty fun categories, including the Shogun, Phantom, Gladiator, Infinity and Omega series. Their blog, which is cleverly called The Edge, delves into a wide range of topics from kitchen rules to caring instructions to technology. This 10-inch knife is made from Japanese steel.
8. Zelite Infinity Cleaver Knife
- Length: 7-inch
- Use: Cutting, cleaving, chopping, slicing, boning
- Edge Type: Cleaver
- NSF Certified: No
- Color: Black
- Includes a lifetime warranty
- Can be used for many purposes, but is made specifically for cutting meat
- Has an ergonomic handle for comfort of use
- They only sell knives, so all of their focus is on this product
- Not much information was available on the company
- This knife does not appear to be NSF Certified
- Length options are limited to the 7-inch
Zelite Infinity’s name has a special meaning: “Elite” represents quality, “Infinity” represents that their products last for life, and “Z” is for the legendary swordsman Zorro. They are a family business with a focus on several knife lines, including a Japanese and German series. Their website has a useful FAQ section detailing care instructions and knife best practices. [ref]
Meat Knives Buyers Guide
I know you were looking for what are the best options, but here is some more detail as to why we might need a good sharp knife to help us easily cut all types of raw, or cooked, meat.
What to Consider Before Buying a Knife for Cutting Your Meat
- What type of meat you need to cut
- How large is the piece of meat you need to cut
- Is the meat cooked or raw you need to cut
- The type of edge the blade of the knife has
- The handle of the knife
- Commercial or home use
What Kind of Knives Are Used to Cut Meat?
There are many different knives with tons of different uses. For a beginner cook or even an amateur chef, it can be intimidating to find the right knife for your needs.
Here is a quick cheat sheet on which knives are best for different situations: (ref)
| Type of Knife | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Meat carving knife | Carving or slicing meat on a cutting board |
| Boning knife | Separating meat from bone |
| Butcher knife | Trimming and sectioning large pieces of meat |
| Breaking knife | Breaking through cartilage, skin and small bones |
| Chef's knife | Chopping, slicing and mincing a wide variety of items |
| Cimeter | Cutting and trimming steaks |
| Cleaver | Cutting through thick meat and bone |
| Deba knife | Cutting fish, meat and tough vegetables |
| Flank and shoulder knife | Creating flank steaks |
| Gyuto knife | Japanese knife for cutting beef |
| Paring knife | Delicate slicing small cuts of meat possibly |
| Slicing knife | Slicing cooked meats and large fish |
| Utility knife | Slicing salami's and other cured sausages possibly |
| Bullnose knife | Slice through large boneless primal cuts or trim smaller primal cuts |
What Are the Different Types of Knife Edges?
The differences in knife edges may seem small, but they make a big impact depending on what situation you are using your knife for.
Here are the four main types of knife edges:
| Type of Knife Edge | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Straight edge | Cutting and chopping |
| Granton edge | Slicing thin portions of meat |
| Serrated edge | Slicing through bread or fruit not meat |
| Hollow ground edge | Preparing sushi cuts of meat |
What Are the Best Type of Knife Handles to Choose?
The handle of a knife can make or break your time in the kitchen. If you are spending a lot of time cutting and slicing, it is important to have a handle that is comfortable to use.
Here are the different types of knife handles, along with their advantages and disadvantages:
| Type of Knife Handle | Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|---|
| Wood | Attractive look, comfortable to use | Less sanitary, not as durable |
| Stainless steel | Easy to clean, durable | Slippery, poor grip |
| Pakkawood | Designed to last longer than real wood | Not ideal for dishwashers |
| Plastic | Easy to clean | Can crack over time |
| Santoprene | Slip resistance, high durability | Unknown |
What Are NSF Certified Knives?
Knives that are tested by and pass the standard requirements of the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) can possibly be called a NSF certified knife.
NSF certified knives are important for restaurants to know the knives they use can be cleaned and sanitized effectively by their kitchen staff to be safe for their patrons. [ref]
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a Serrated Knife Better for Meat?
A serrated knife blade is better for cutting tough meat, but is not as easy to sharpen and maintain as a straight edge knife for meat.
Can You Cut Raw Meat With an Electric Knife?
Yes, you can use an electric carving knife to cut raw meat.
Can You Use a Bread Knife to Cut Meat?
No, a bread knife is designed to cut through foods with a hard exterior and soft interior. Using a bread knife to regularly cut meat will result in a poor cut of the meat and dulling of the blade over time.
