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When cutting chicken, it's essential that you have the right knife for the task. If you use an old knife, you can break or cut the blade and even injure yourself in the process. In addition, you won't be able to cut the chicken with the precision and accuracy it deserves.
Using the correct blade to smoothly slice through meat is a luxury that everyone should relish in, not just professional chefs and butchers.
To help you master the art of cutting chicken, we've reviewed some of the best knives for the job, along with the benefits of purchasing one and the factors to consider before finalizing the purchase. Let's take a look!
At a Glance: Our Top Picks for Knife To Cut Chicken
- OUR TOP PICK: Wusthof Classic IKON
- RUNNER-UP: Global 6.25" Boning Knife
- BEST BUDGET OPTION: Dalstrong Butcher's Breaking Cimitar Knife
Comparison of the Best Knives to Cut Chicken
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Should Any Knife Be Used to Cut Chicken?
When it comes to slicing and cutting chicken, the type and quality of the knife make a world of difference. The right blade makes the entire process safe and efficient and allows users to smoothly slice through the toughest cuts.
Using the correct model enhances your cooking, adds a suitable texture, and helps you safely handle the meat, whereas the wrong knife can damage and bruise the meat.
Meat slicing knives and carving knives are ideal for slicing cooked meat, while a cimeter knife is perfect for cutting, trimming, and slicing meat. A boning knife is further used to remove chicken, meat, and fish from the bone, but the best blade for cutting raw meat depends on the type of meat you're going to prepare.
What Makes a Knife Great For Cutting Chicken?
If you want a knife for cutting meat, then it's advisable to choose a model that's lightweight, sharp, strong, and easy to handle. There are several other factors you should consider before you make your decision, including:
The Handle
When you choose a model, make sure you pick it up and hold it to see how it feels in your hands. It's advisable to select a well-rated unit with a balanced and comfortable handle.
Maintenance
Most people put their knives in the dishwasher with their dishes or leave them unwashed for a long time. Because of this, they don't last long and require constant sharpening. Thus, it's better to choose a stainless, high-quality knife that doesn't need frequent honing.
Blade Length
Eight-inch knives are ideal for chopping, dicing, and slicing many foods. For raw meat, it's better to use a slicer with a blade that's between four to six inches long, as the thin blade allows better maneuverability.
Granton Edge
A Granton blade features a row of small indentations on both sides of the blade. While the cutting edge isn't serrated, it's extremely sharp and enhances the unit's slicing and cutting performance.
Willy's Top Picks - Best Knives to Cut Chicken
Here are the best knives to cut chicken:
Review of the Best Knives to Cut Chicken
With so many different types and models to choose from, finding the best knife to cut chicken with can be extremely difficult. To help make the decision easier, here are detailed reviews of some of the best models available today:
Best Overall:
Wusthof Classic IKON
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
Most buyers found this unit to be excellent, with one user stating that it cut through chicken like butter. They were impressed with its ease of use and sharpness and said that it fit their hand nicely. However, some users reported receiving defected products, while some were disappointed that it required constant sharpening.
Why it Stands Out to Us
Boasting a five-inch boning blade, this model is ideal for cutting excess fat and removing bone from chicken cuts cleanly. Its blade is light, durable, and flexible, allowing users to remove bones from the hard-to-reach places in a chicken breast. The laser-controlled blade is designed with high-carbon stainless steel and features a tested cutting edge, so it can easily slice through chicken without any excess force.
Furthermore, its double bolster design provides just the right amount of balance required to cut through bones easily. The handle is also ergonomically designed to ensure a strong grip, while an extruded safety feature prevents your hand from slipping off.
Bottom Line
The Wusthof Classic IKON deserves the top place on our list of top picks because of its innovative design and the ergonomics of its handle. With an extremely sharp blade and an equally sharp tip, it allows you to easily pry a bone loss while offering the right amount of flexibility and durability at the same time. However, quality control could be improved.
Runner-up:
Global 6.25" Boning Knife
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
The majority of the buyers loved this unit and stated that it cut with precision. Users found that it glided through cartilage spots and tendons, easily turned mid-cut, and was flexible enough to slice through tight spots. However, some customers were disappointed with the lack of a blade protector, while some complained that it was a high-maintenance unit that required frequent sharpening.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This model stands out to us because of two reasons - its edge and its balance. Crafted with CROMOVA 18 stainless steel, the ice-tempered blade is hardened to a Rockwell Hardness level of 56-58. This means that the unit maintains its razor sharpness longer than most other models and resists stains, corrosion, and rust.
Furthermore, instead of a beveled edge, the edge of the blade is ground to a straight point, resulting in an extremely sharp edge that will retain its sharpness for a long time. The unit also features a unique hollow handle that's filled with sand to provide the perfect balance for cutting chicken. Lastly, a finger notch between the handle and the blade makes the product safe to use.
Bottom Line
The edge of a knife is its most important feature, and the Global Boning knife truly shines in this aspect. Ground to an acute angle, the edges are razor-sharp, while its handles are dimpled to prevent slipping and molded to comfortably fit the hand. However, it can move through textures quickly and can cause undercuts if you're inexperienced.
Best for the Money:
Dalstrong Butcher's Breaking Cimitar Knife
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
Almost everyone who purchased this unit loved it and found that it offered excellent value for money. Users stated that the craftsmanship was amazing, and the blade was extremely sharp. However, some customers reported that the design of the handle caused discomfort with heavy usage, while some wanted the blade width to be a bit thinner.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This product is thoughtfully designed and expertly crafted to smoothly breakthrough cartilage, trim fat from chicken, and slice through flesh. Its curved blade creates leverage, eliminates sawing, and enables users to complete cuts in a smooth, single motion. It further boasts rock-hollow divots that reduce adhesion, preventing food from sticking to the blade, and creating a more comfortable slicing experience.
Boasting an ergonomic, ambidextrous, and beautiful pakkawood handle, the triple-riveted and full tang unit also ensures precise and efficient butchery work. Lastly, it comes with a BPA-free knife guard, while its carefully tapered design improves hardness, minimizes slicing resistance, and enhances flexibility.
Bottom Line
The Dalstrong Cimitar knife is nothing less than a workhorse in the kitchen, allowing you to trim briskets effortlessly, break down game easily, and glide through chicken like better. Although the blade is engineered to 56+ Rockwell hardness, the design of the handle could be improved.
4. Tojiro Honesuki 6 inches
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
The majority of the buyers were extremely satisfied with their purchase and recommended the unit to other cooks as well. They stated that it was well constructed, comfortable to use, and incredibly sharp. While most users loved that it cut through chicken easily, some reported that the spine required a bit of rounding before use.
Why it Stands Out to Us
Designed with a VG-10 stainless steel core and cladding in softer steel, this unit ensures durability, reliability, and longevity. Its fine tip allows users to easily maneuver against bone and between joints, while its sharp blade eliminates the need to apply additional force to the tip. This makes cutting through skin and flesh like slicing through butter.
Although this model is specifically designed to cut poultry, it performs exceptionally at other boning jobs as well. Its added weight and thickness at the base further makes it easier to move through joints and cartilage. Lastly, the product's wide heel gives you more than enough room to make quick, deep cuts and scrape flesh from bones cleanly.
Bottom Line
Hardened to a Rockwell Hardness of 60 and boasting a blade angle between 9o and 12o, the Tojiro Honesuki brings the famous durability and quality of Japanese cutlery to your kitchen. Although the knife has an excellent heft, the quality control could be improved.
5. Wusthof 4603 Boning Knife
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
This unit has received a plethora of positive reviews. Users particularly praised its ability to retain a razor-sharp edge and stated that they didn't have to sharpen it often. Although most buyers loved its shape and weight, some were disappointed that the Wusthof logo wore off over time.
Why it Stands Out to Us
The Wusthof 4603 boning knife primarily stands out from its competition because of its blade. Measuring six inches in length, it's flexible and extremely sharp, allowing users to easily cut around bone joints. The unit also features a full tang, so you won't have to worry about the blade breaking off the handle.
Moreover, its handle is crafted with special polymer and designed to provide a firm and comfortable grip. Lastly, the model boasts a bolster and a finger guard to protect your fingers and prevent them from slipping over the blade. This bolster also functions as a counterbalance, making the knife extremely easy to use.
Bottom Line
Thanks to its pointed tip and razor-sharp blade, this unit is perfect for skinning poultry and for removing bones. It removes fat and tendons easily, making it the ideal meat preparation companion. However, the Wusthof logo tends to wear off.
Benefits of Investing in a Quality Knife to Cut Chicken
With the right tools, preparing food becomes faster, safer, and easier. There are numerous advantages of having a quality knife, including:
Clean Cuts
Quality knives usually have a narrow width that reduces drag as they slice through food, enabling users to create more uniform and cleaner slices. Carving knives are ideal for cutting chicken as they produce neat, thin, evenly sized slices. A quality, thin blade further eliminates sawing, cuts waste to a minimum, and makes the entire process incredibly efficient.
Prevents Damage to the Meat
Quality units cleanly trim cartilage and cut meat bones, allowing users to make the perfect cut or joint before they start cooking. Knives with a slim blade and a pointed tip cut around the bone without damaging the surrounding flesh.
Comfort and Ease of Use
High-quality models are crafted to be maneuverable and light, so they're easy and comfortable to use. They're sturdy, comfortable to hold and don't cause wrist fatigue, allowing you to create perfectly straight slices to suit your requirements. A quality knife is also flexible and can be easily moved around cartilage and bones to create clean, effortless cuts.
Conclusion
All the aforementioned products are comfortable to hold, create excellent cuts, and retain their cutting edge after chopping and slicing. However, it's important to remember that a single knife cannot do everything. So, make sure you go through the entire list and find the model that best suits your needs!