Is a cleaver the knife still missing from your collection?
My Indonesian grandmother had one, which my mother subsequently got and which may one day end up with me: a fearsome-looking Chinese cleaver. A real bad boy that makes it wise to practise calmly with your other hand behind your back, keeping your fingers safe while you get used to the different movement and technique compared with a chef’s knife. But admit it; it does look cool, having one of those in the kitchen…
You may not immediately picture a cleaver when you think of slicing spring onions into the finest rings, for example, but that’s also what it’s used for in Asian cuisine. And of course, it’s an ideal butcher’s knife, allowing you to cut up a whole chicken in no time, or slice through a rack of ribs when you make barbecue master Jord Althuizen’s golden ribs.
Chop chop bam
With a chef’s knife, you tend to make a smooth, crescent-shaped movement to cut something into thin slices, while the movement with a cleaver is more of a straight up-and-down motion. You can easily peel a clove of garlic by simply giving it a whack first with the flat side of the knife, then pulling off the skin. Large, hard pieces of fruit and vegetables such as corn on the cob or butternut squash (which you can eat unpeeled), peeled sweet potatoes or whole pineapples are much easier to work with using a knife like this, although for finer tasks such as slicing a tomato or removing the core from apple wedges, you’ll still prefer to use a small knife.
Room for another knife
We don’t think you’ll ultimately have to get rid of all your other knives. Especially if you’re attached to that one good knife you already own and take good care of by sharpening it with the best tool for keeping your knives sharp, you’re doing the right thing by cherishing it. But if you’re a bit of a knife enthusiast, this is a wonderful addition to your collection!
Also read:
- This item in your kitchen drawer needs replacing regularly
- This knife belongs in everyone’s drawer
- Thai knives at a bargain price
