Best Boning Knife: Reviews and Buying Guide

The best boning knife offers great convenience and efficiency in removing meat from the bone. While you could use a regular knife, it is harder to use, and you end up wasting a lot of meat. Seeing as there is such a wide range of boning knives on the market, it can be difficult to narrow down your choices to find the best.

This article will review the best boning knife options and discuss the factors one must consider when buying the best boning knife to help you make the right purchasing decision.

9 Best Boning Knives

1. Best Overall: Victorinox Swiss Straight Flexible Boning Knife

The Victorinox Swiss straight flexible boning knife is versatile, lightweight, and efficient. It trims meat from bones with ease. Therefore, it is best suited for use with delicate meats such as poultry and fish. In addition, the Victorinox knife offers a lifetime guarantee against workmanship and material defects on the knife.

This knife’s blade is made of stainless steel. It meets the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) health protection standards. It has a sharp pointed tip that easily pierces through the meat to allow you to make smooth, clean cuts even through joints and cartilages.

Its flexible and narrow blade enables you to maneuver tight and angled places when cutting. The blade is super-sharp straight out of the box. However, it dulls easily, but it is also easy to sharpen.

The Victorinox knife features an ergonomic handle that is made of Fibrox Pro for a non-slip grip. The Fibrox handle is sturdy and adequately weighted for balanced and comfortable control.

Features

• Blade Material: High carbon stainless steel blade
• Blade Length: 6-inch
• Handle Material: Rubber
• Blade Design: Flexible and straight

Pros

• High quality, Swiss build
• Lightweight
• Super-sharp edge and tip
• Cuts smoothly and efficiently
• Suitable for use with delicate meat
• Ergonomic, non-slip handle
• NFS approved

Cons

• Blade dulls easily

2. Most Affordable: Mercer Culinary Ultimate White Curved Boning Knife

If you are looking for an affordable yet efficient boning knife for tender and delicate meats, this is a great option. The knife has a simple yet elegant design. In addition, it is NFS certified, and the manufacturer offers a lifetime warranty.

Its blade is made of high carbon steel. It is hollow at the tip to offer you flexibility when deboning meat. Its handle is made of polypropylene. It has textured finger points for a non-slip grip. Also, the knife handle has a safety bolster that prevents your fingers from accidentally slipping to the sharp blade.

Features

• Blade Material: High carbon stainless steel
• Blade Length: 6-inch
• Handle Material: Polypropylene
• Blade Design: Curved and flexible

Pros

• Affordable
• Elegant design
• Easy to sharpen
• Lightweight
• Ergonomic, textured handle
• Bolstered handle
• NFS approved
• Lifetime warranty

Cons

• Dulls easily

3. Best Premium: Zwilling J.A Henckels Professional S, Flexible Boning Knife

This boning knife is German engineered and manufactured. It is versatile and serves as both a boning and fillet knife.

It is sigma forged from a single piece of solid steel. The 57 Rockwell hardness high carbon steel blade is then ice-hardened to ensure that it stays sharper for longer. The cutting edge is honed to a 15-degrees angle on each side to deliver high precision cutting, edge retention, and durability.

This Zwilling boning knife is fitted with a polymer three-rivet knife handle for ergonomic handling. The handle has a full tang construction for sturdiness. Its design incorporates a finger guard for additional safety when using the knife.

Features

• Blade Material: High carbon stainless steel
• Blade Length: 6-inch
• Handle Material: Polymer
• Blade Design: Straight and flexible

Pros

• Premium-quality build
• Stays sharp for long
• Ergonomic handle design
• High precision cutting
• Balanced and sturdy handling
• Lifetime warranty

Cons

• Pricey

4. Imarku Boning Knife

The Imarku boning knife offers outstanding performance. It can be used for various functions, including deboning, slicing, mincing, chopping, filleting, skinning, butterflying, and trimming.

It has a narrow, thin, and long blade that is made of high-carbon stainless steel. The German 56 Rockwell hard steel makes it suitable for use with both delicate and thick meat. The blade is hand polished and sharpened to a 14-16^o angle on each side. This provides maximum sharpness and ensures that the cutting edge retains sharpness for long.

Its handle is ergonomically designed for comfort and optimal control. It is made of pakkawood for a durable, non-slip grip. It also has a finger guard.

The manufacturer warns against dishwashing this boning knife. Instead, they recommend washing it with warm, soapy water with a gentle cloth. The knife comes packaged in a beautiful black box, which makes it giftable and easy to store. It has a lifetime guarantee and a 100% satisfaction money-back guarantee.

Features

• Blade Material: High carbon stainless steel
• Blade Length: 6.8-inch
• Handle Material: Pakkawood
• Blade Design: Straight and stiff

Pros

• High-quality build
• Razor-sharp
• Ergonomic pakkawood handle
• Versatile
• Suitable as a gift
• Lifetime guarantee
• Money-back guarantee

Cons

• Dulls quickly

5. Dalstrong Boning Knife

The Dalstrong Shogun Series 8” flexible boning knife is handcrafted to offer a professional cutting experience. It is a versatile tool that can be used for deboning beef, pork, wild game, and fish. The manufacturer offers a lifetime warranty and a money-back guarantee.

Its blade is made of 63 Rockwell hardness high carbon stainless steel for strength, durability, and stain resistance. It is hand-finished to a mirror polish using the traditional 3-step Honbazuke method. Each side is polished to an 8-120 angle to provide scalpel-like sharpness.

The blade is slightly longer than most other boning knives on the market. The long blade offers smooth, long cuts, even on large chunks of meats. It acts as an extension of your arm, which reduces wrist and hand fatigue even for high-volume food preparation.

The blade tapers towards the front into a sharp tip to enhance its cutting efficiency by minimizing surface resistance. The gentle curve also makes it easy to maneuver close to the bone while the sharp tip cuts between joints. The manufacturer provides a sheath to protect the blade and for easy storage.

The handle is intricately designed for durability and comfort. It has a full tang design for balanced, sturdy handling. It is made of premium G-10 fiberglass resin which is impervious to heat, cold, and moisture. It also offers a comfortable, non-slip grip.

Features

• Blade Material: High carbon stainless steel
• Blade Length: 8-inch
• Handle Material: G-10 fiberglass resin
• Blade Design: Straight and stiff

Pros

• Japanese engineered
• Impervious handle
• Multifunctional
• Longer blade
• Scalpel-sharpness
• Lifetime warranty
• 100% money-back guarantee

Cons

• Some people find it too big and heavy

6. TUO Boning Knife

The TUO boning knife has an elegant yet functional design. It is suitable for a variety of tasks, including deboning pork, chicken, and beef. It comes packaged in a luxurious gift box, making it a great gift option. In addition, the manufacturer offers a lifetime warranty and a money-back guarantee.

It has a long, narrow, and flexible blade with a slight tapering curve from the heel to the tip. This enables it to glide smoothly along the bone. The flexible blade enables to maneuver small bones, making it ideal for filleting fish.

The blade is made of adopted German high carbon stainless steel. It is corrosion-resistant and durable. The blade is treated with high-tech vacuum heat to optimize its cutting efficiency and strength.

The boning knife is fitted with a premium-quality pakkawood handle with full-tang construction. The high-density pakkawood composite is more stable and sanitary than most other wood handle materials.

Features

• Blade Material: High carbon stainless steel
• Blade Length: 7-inch
• Handle Material: Pakkawood
• Blade Design: Straight and flexible

Pros

• Versatile
• Can be used on small bones
• Suitable as a gift
• Balanced, sturdy build

Cons

• Some people received dull knife

7. Cutluxe Boning Knife

The Cutluxe boning knife is multipurpose. It can be used for deboning, trimming, skinning, and butterflying meat, poultry, and fish. It offers excellent maneuverability around joints, bones, cartilages, and skin. It can be used on delicate meats to skin, descale, or trim.

The high carbon steel blade is sharpened at a 14-16^o angle on each side to offer minimal slicing resistance. As a result, it is razor-sharp and offers high-precision cutting.

It has an ergonomic handle made of pakkawood. It is polished and laminated for enhanced sanitation. The full tang handle is triple riveted to ensure that handle stays in position. It is comfortable on the hands and offers a non-slip grip.

Features

• Blade Material: High carbon German steel
• Blade Length: 6-inch
• Handle Material: Pakkawood
• Blade Design: Straight and flexible

Pros

• Super sharp
• Sturdy
• Comfortable handling
• Versatile
• Suitable as a gift

Cons

• People with larger hands find the handle too small

8. Shun DM-0743 Classic Boning Knife

The Shun DM-0743 is a high-performance boning knife. It is designed to offer close, easy cutting. It is handcrafted in Japan using state-of-the-art technology and materials.

It has a 6-inch curved blade that narrows down into a sharp tip to reduce drag when boning. The blade is made of VG-MAX steel which has excellent edge retention. The extremely sharp edge trims skin off tenderloin and trims fibrous tissue.

Its D-shaped handles provide a secure grip and excellent blade control.  It is made of ebony pakkawood for a beautiful aesthetic.

Features

• Blade Material: VG-Max steel
• Blade Length: 6-inch
• Handle Material: Polymer
• Blade Design: curved and flexible

Pro

• Ultra-sharp
• Sturdy and balanced build
• Holds edge
• Comfortable on the hands

Cons

• Tip breaks easily

9. Dalstrong Honesuki Boning Knife

The Dalstrong Honesuki Boning Knife is another premium-quality knife to consider. It has a unique design and build to deliver excellent cutting efficiency.

The blade is made of AUS-10V Japanese steel of 62 Rockwell hardness which is exceptionally strong, durable, and stain-resistant. It has a single beveled edge that is hand-finished to a mirror polish at a 20-degree angle for scalpel sharpness.

During forging, it is nitrogen cooled to enhance its hardness and corrosion resistance. The forging process is completed by laminating and hot gorging it with a liquid kusari pattern to minimize drag or glide when slicing meat.

The knife has an octagon-shaped handle made of G-10 Garolite with a section of rosewood near the blade’s heel. G-10 Garolite is strong, military-grade fiberglass, which is non-porous. The handle offers good hand control.

Features

• Blade Material: VG-Max steel
• Blade Length: 5.5-inch
• Handle Material: Polymer
• Blade Design: curved and flexible

Pros

• High-quality build
• Unique design
• Can be used with large chunks of meat
• Suitable as a gift
• Lifetime warranty
• 100% money-back guarantee

Cons

• Dulls easily
• Pricey

Buying Guide for the Best Boning Knife

If you are wondering which is the right boning knife for you, consider the following factors.

Blade Design

Various blade design factors come into consideration when deciding which boning knife to buy. These are:

• Blade Flexibility or Stiffness. Whether to go for a flexible or stiff blade depends on how thick or tender the meat is. A flexible blade is best suited for tender meat that is easy to cut through, such as fish fillets. The knife’s bendiness enables you to make intricate cuts, especially through tight corners. On the other hand, a stiff blade is best for handling tough, thick meat. The rigid blade allows you to separate big chunks of meat from the bone and remove fat.

• Blade Shape. Similar to choosing blade flexibility, when determining which blade shape to go with, consider if you will be cutting tender or tough meat. A curved blade provides long, clean strokes through the meat. It has better maneuverability, making it a good option for delicate work such as skinning finish or filleting tender meat. On the other hand, a straight blade is best suited for slicing and sculpting large chunks of meat. It works well for high-speed cuts.

• Blade Width. A thin blade is more effective at boning meat as it can maneuver smaller angles and cuts through meat with less resistance. Conversely, a broader blade is better suited for cutting thick chunks of meat.

The Handle

The best boning knives have a handle that offers a firm grip, comfortable handling, and great control. Consider the materials, design, and construction of the handle.

Most boning knife handles are made of synthetic material, while others may have wooden handles or even metallic handles. Synthetic material is most preferred as it is affordable, offers design versatility, and withstands different conditions.

Pakkawood and rosewood are the most popular wooden material on boning knives. They offer a beautiful aesthetic but are porous and prone to rotting with excessive exposure to water. Some manufacturers improve the quality of wooden handles with resin. The resin makes the wooden handles non-porous, stain-resistant, and more durable.

Go for a full tang handle construction instead of rat tail, rat tail rod, or no tang. A full tang handle is more secure, balanced, and sturdy. Some boning knives have a bolster that serves as a finger guard. This feature is an important feature to consider if you are a beginner at using boning knives.

Weight and Size

Typically, boning knives are about 5-8 inches long, with an average blade length of 5-6.5 inches. However, a few manufacturers make longer ones that are 7-9 inches. These are specialty boning knives for large cuts.

The knife’s weight is determined by the blade material, blade length, thickness, width, handle construction, and handle material. Opt for a lightweight knife that is sturdy. It is flexible, maneuverable, and offers great control.

Care and Maintenance of Boning Knives

Cleaning

As with other knives, it is best to hand wash your boning knife rather than dishwashing, even if the manufacturer states that the knife is dishwasher safe. Dishwashers spray water at a relatively high pressure which wears down the blade and causes the edge to be dull. Instead, use soapy water and a soft cloth to clean the blade and handle. Then rinse the knife and dry it before storing it.

Storage

Before storing your boning knife, ensure that it is completely dry to prevent rusting. Wipe both the blade and handle completely with a dry piece of cloth. You can store the knife in a knife drawer organizer, magnetic strip, or magnetic block. These knife storage tools enable easy access to your boning knife and also protect the blade. Avoid storing the knife in a drawer without an organizer.

Sharpening

To keep your boning knife in optimal condition, hone it after every few uses. Whenever you notice the blade beginning to dull, sharpen it.

Conclusion

Generally, boning knives are long and thin, with a sharp edge and tip to easily cut through meat ligaments and connective tissues. The best boning knives have an ultra-sharp blade that retains sharpness for long.

When choosing a boning knife, the main consideration is whether you will use it on thick or tender meat. For tender cuts such as poultry and fish, go for a thin, curved knife. While for tougher meat, go for a stiff, ultra-sharp knife.

Our pick for the best boning knife is the Victorinox Swiss straight flexible boning knife because it is versatile, lightweight, and efficient.

Best Boning Knives Comparison

Product Image	Product Name	Blade Material	Handle Material	Price
	Best Overall: Victorinox Swiss Straight Flexible Boning Knife	High carbon stainless steel blade	Flexible and straight	$ 20.35
	Most Affordable: Mercer Culinary Ultimate White Curved Boning Knife	High carbon stainless steel	Curved and flexible	$ 8.89
	Best Premium: Zwilling J.A Henckels Professional S, Flexible Boning Knife	High carbon stainless steel	Straight and stiff	$ 80.24
	Imarku Boning Knife	High carbon stainless steel	Straight and stiff	$ 29.99
	Dalstrong Boning Knife	High carbon stainless steel	Straight and stiff	$$
	TUO Boning Knife	High carbon stainless steel	Straight and flexible	$ 27.95
	Cutluxe Boning Knife	High carbon German steel	Straight and flexible	$ 29.99
	Shun DM-0743 Classic Boning Knife	VG-Max steel	curved and flexible	$ 124.95
	Dalstrong Honesuki Boning Knife	VG-Max steel	curved and flexible	$$