Butchering chicken requires one to have the right knife for the job. The best knife for butchering chickens will allow you to cut through bone joints and slice chicken meat with ease.
A quality chicken butchering knife features a strong, razor-sharp blade. These highly versatile kitchen knives are also excellent at cutting meat, making them must-have tools to have in the kitchen, especially if you often prepare meat dishes.
If you are in the market looking for the best knife for killing chickens, you can feel overwhelmed by the many options available, making it hard to spot the perfect one for your needs.
However, I am here to help. In this guide, I have prepared detailed reviews of the top 3 best knives for butchering chickens in 2021. I arrived at this list after analyzing customer reviews, expert reviews, and features.
But before I review the top 3 best knives for slaughtering chickens, let’s first discuss some important features you need to keep in mind when buying a chicken butchering knife.
How to choose the best knife for killing a chicken
Type of blade
Chicken butchering knives feature either a stamped blade or a forged blade.
- Stamped blade
This features a scimitar-style shape cut from cold-rolled steel using a hydraulic press. The blade is then tempered and sharpened. Often, butcher knives with stamped blades are cheaper than their forged blade counterparts as they are easier to manufacture.
Most stamped blade butcher knives feature a seamless design that is easy to clean since there is no bolster between the blade and the handle.
In addition, they are lighter and easier to use than their forged blade counterparts, which means you will be able to slice up a chicken or trim the meat off the bone with ease.
However, these knives lack a heftier blade, which makes them not strong enough for chopping or cutting through extra thick or hard meat.
- Forged blade
These blades are thicker than stamped blades and thus costlier. They feature a bolster between the handle and the blade, which makes them feel extra strengthened and thus can chop or cut through thick meat and splitting bones. In addition, they are more durable than their stamped blade counterparts.
Both types of blades are super sharp and are easier to sharpen. What’s more? They are great for butchering chickens.
Blade material
Blades for knives meant to slaughter chicken are either made from high-carbon steel or stainless steel. While stainless steel blades are preferred because of their extra anti-staining properties as well as their ability to sharpen easily, they can still rust, especially when the blade is not stored properly.
On the other hand, blades made from high-carbon steel are by far the best type of material for a butcher knife as they are not only durable but also retain their sharpness and edges than their stainless steel blade counterparts. What’s more? They are stronger and thus can cut thick and harder chunks of meat.
When buying knives for slaughtering chickens, make sure to go for those with blades that are well-balanced as well as those that offer a good level of flexibility – the blade should not bend too much as this will make it get stuck in bones and thick meat.
Knife and blade size
Most butcher knives come in 7, 8, 10, and 12-inch sizes. If you only want a knife for cutting chicken, 7, 8, or 10-inch knives will be ideal. However, if you want a versatile blade that can slaughter chickens and also cut other thick pieces of meat, then an 11 or 12-inch butcher knife will be an excellent choice. Keep in mind that larger knives may be hard to sharpen and may not give you the much cutting control that you need.
That’s why I would recommend that you go with 7-8-inch butcher knives, as they will enable you to trim the meat from chicken bones and slice them into smaller pieces with ease. In addition, they are easier to manoeuvre and thus easier to use.
A 10-inch butcher knife is ideal for those who want to get the most of both worlds. It is long enough to cut thicker pieces of meat and also small enough to trim the meat off chicken bones.
Knife handles
A butcher knife handles can be made out of plastic, wood, or stainless steel. Wood may look stylish and feel solid in your hand, but it can harbour bacteria. On the other hand, plastic handles are easier to maintain but can be prone to cracking, especially when exposed to heat. Stainless steel handles are easier to maintain but can be slippery when wet.
The best type of handles is those with a textured surface that offers a firmer grip. These kinds of handles give you optimal control and perfect balance.
With this in mind, you can now be able to choose the best knife for chickens slaughter.
Top 3 best knives for butchering chickens
Victorinox Fillet Knife
If you are looking for an awesome butchering and slicing knife for chicken, the Victorinox Fillet knife is a great option for you. It has a narrow flexible blade with a great edge that stays sharp and efficient.
Besides, the handle offers enough grip, which can help prevent slipping when slaughtering a wet chicken. I analyze the Victorinox Fillet Knife features in detail, as well as the benefits and the cons of the Victorinox Fillet Knife below.
- Blade and material
Despite the reasonable price, the Victorinox knife has one of the most precise and efficient blades compared to similar models in the same category. While there are a variety of blade types for this knife, the curved blade is the best for people who want to slaughter chickens and slice small pieces of meat.
The 6-inch blade is made of stainless steel that not only makes it durable but also maintains the sharpness for a long time. The blade is designed to be long and thin to allow for safe cutting distance and slicing into pieces. Overall, the material is excellent, and the design is just right to ensure better performance and durability.
- Edge
The edge is a crucial factor to consider when choosing the best knife for killing chickens. This Victorinox Fillet knife is designed to cut precise slices, thanks to its thin edge. You can also pierce effortlessly through the skin using the sharp tip without needing excess force. The material used to make the blade maintains the edge sharpness for a long time, depending on the use.
The blade is also ice-tempered to ensure that there’s maximum edge retention for proper slice cuts. The knife offers unparalleled sharpness to go through the ligaments and connective tissues with ease.
- Handle
This curved knife features a textured, ergonomically designed handle. You will appreciate how the knife itself adapts to your grip and delivers effortless cutting. The handle is made using a Fibrox Pro plastic material that’s incredibly slipping resistant.
The blade is fully attached to the handle in a way that ensures just the right balance and flexibility. The material used is NSF-certified for hygiene and safety purposes.
- Clever design
Just at a glance, you can simply tell the quality with the premium look it boasts. Victorinox designed the knife thin, sharp, and long with a pointed tip to make it ideal for slicing and breaking the bird.
It weighs about 4.2 ounces with a curved handle for comfort and is fully bolstered to minimize injuries. In addition to the logo of the brand on the blade surface, the knife is crafted expertly with a standard look.
PROS
- It works great for slaughtering and slicing poultry
- It’s extremely lightweight with amazing performance
- The blade is durable and very sharp
- The handle is slip-resistant for safety
- Certified by National Sanitation Foundation (NSF)
- The brand offers a limited lifetime warranty against any defects
CONS
- It’s not dishwasher-safe
- Needs re-sharpening after every couple uses
Wrap up
The Victorinox Fillet knife is one of the flawless knives you will ever have in the kitchen. It’s extremely versatile and delivers price cuts, thanks to its balance and quality. It comes at an excellent price point and should be easy to use for skilled and home cooks.
Mercer Culinary Curved Boning Knife
This curved boning knife by Mercer Culinary boasts a hefty sharp, curvy blade and textured ergonomic handle for a comfortable, firm grip. The curved blade makes this knife extra efficient while cutting and deboning poultry and beef.
What’s more? Its tall edge allows one to cut delicate meats with precision. The blade is easy to sharpen and maintains its cutting edge for a considerable time.
- Blade structure
A blunt blade makes it harder for one to cut through meat and increases the chances of losing the grip of the knife. Mercer Culinary Millennia Boning Knife overcomes this challenge by having a curved, easy-to-sharpen blade that allows easier maneuverability and making precise cuts.
The curved blade also follows the natural shape of meat to allow you to cut and debone your chicken with ease.
- Blade construction
In terms of construction, this boning knife by Millennia Culinary is made from high-carbon steel. This makes it sturdy and, therefore, enables it to offer reliable performance. The high-carbon Japanese steel construction offers more edge retention and easier edge maintenance to give you sharper edges at all times.
- Coloured ergonomic handle
The Millennia Boning Knife has a blue ergonomic handle that makes it appealing. The handle has a textured surface for a firmer grip. You can rest assured that this knife will not accidentally slip out of your hands even when cutting wet meat.
However, it is important to mention that the handle is not dishwasher-safe, and thus you have to wash the knife by hand.
PROS
- It is very durable and has superior edge retention
- The rubberized handle ensures the knife doesn’t slide off wet handles
- It is easy to sharpen
- Its flexibility allows one to manoeuvre through tough pieces of meat
CONS
- The blade construction lacks chromium making this knife not rust-free
- It is incredibly sharp, and thus you need to have a safe sheath
Wusthof Classic 5-inch Boning Knife
Wusthof is a famous German brand that is quite well-known for making premium quality knives. The Wusthof Classic Boning Knife stands for all the expectations and is a great addition to your kitchen arsenal.
It’s great for removing bones and skins from smaller meats like chicken and fish. For slaughtering and slicing a chicken, this boning knife works great. Read more about the Wusthof Classic 5-inch Boning Knife below.
- Flexible blade
What makes this boning knife outstanding is the exceptional strength and durability of the blade while staying incredibly flexible. The blade is forged using a stainless steel carbon alloy, which is tempered to 58 HRC. This makes it tough to handle boning tasks without chipping and maintains sharpness for a long time.
The edge is ground with the Wusthof Precision Edge Technology to create superior sharpness for twice as long as a traditional grind. Wusthof claims that the boning knife is 30% sharper and can last 40% longer. Besides, the knife offers an extra sharp 280 angle.
- Synthetic handle
For those who process a large amount of meat for long periods, this knife has a fatigue-free synthetic handle that’s ergonomic and lightweight. The handle is made using a highly durable Polyoxymethylene (POM) material that resists discolouration and is slip-resistant to avoid injuries. The full tang is secured with three stainless steel rivets that permanently bond with the POM for outstanding strength.
- Finger guard
This boning knife has a slight curve on the handle, which allows for easy gliding along the bone. In case your hands get greasy and slippery, the built-in finger guard gives this knife that extra safety and stable grip. Besides, the feature prevents accidental cuts.
PROS
- It’s suitable for boning chicken and other small meats
- It holds sharpness for a long time
- It’s well-balanced and comfortable to use
- It has a flexible blade that contours the bone
- Has a finger guard for safety
CONS
- It’s not dishwasher safe
- It’s relatively expensive
Wrap up
The Wusthof Classic is a great boning knife for deboning small meats like chicken. The German build is sturdy and functional and can be used in other kitchen applications as well. Although it’s relatively pricier than other boning knives, it’s definitely worth it.
Bottom line: My recommendation
Overall, I can rank Millennia Boning Knife as the best knife for chickens slaughter in its category. Not only does it have a super-sharp edge for ease of cutting, but it also features a textured handle for a sturdy grip.
I can recommend it to anyone looking for a reliable knife for butchering a chicken.
Final thoughts
All the above three knives are great for butchering chickens, and they stood out for many reasons, including sturdiness, great edge retention, ideal size, ergonomically designed handles, etc. You can use them to butcher chickens as well as skinning fish, among other tasks.
I do hope that our guide has helped you pick the best knife for butchering chickens!
