Best Boning Knife Reviews | Check Our Top Selection of Boning Knives
What is a boning knife?
The best boning knives are the companions of every professional butcher. It’s a type of knife with a narrow edge and piercing point. A boning knife is imperative in food grounding for removing meat bones. It’s also useful to get rid of bones of fish and poultry. The knife has a general size of 12-16 cm in length. Some brands have longer size with a very thin blade.
They aren’t as thick as regular kitchen knives, as these items have the specialty for boning, cutting, and making deep holes. Thus, butchers are able to perform a less difficult task in their job. There are many brands available in the marketplace so it takes much time in picking the best boning knife.
Knives with a stiff feature are good for boning meat, pork, and beef. On the other hand, flexible boning knives are useful for fish and poultry boning meats. What make these knives special? They have several features including the arched blade that is useful for removing meat, flesh, and fish thoroughly with a sole pass cut.
Boning knife uses
A normal kitchen knife has thick feature and it isn’t suitable for boning. Regular kitchen knives don’t have the same flexibility as boning knives. The best benefit using the knife is that I can save much time and effort to cut meat. I will get some advantages like:
• Faster de-boning due to its thin bendable blade.
• After the food preparation, there will be less meat wasted as it leaves the flawless final cut.
• Less struggle for pruning meat around the bones
• Removing all bones easier
A boning knife is a compulsory item for every butcher or chef. It’s a perfect companion for other knives including regular and fillet knives. This is an ideal replacement for any knives that can perform a perfect task during the food preparation.
Types of Boning Knives
You have to know how to use a boning knives. Butchers can choose either a flexible or a stiff one. Both of them are available in the marketplace. Basically, the most significant thing of a knife is the flexibility. I use a stiff for cutting thicker meat and vice versa.
• Flex boning knife: It has a better control and elasticity. It’s smaller in the term of size compared to the stiff ones. Due to its flexibility, a flexible one works perfectly in thin meats and soft bones.
• Stiff boning knife: It has a bigger and heavier blade. It cuts thicker meat without hassles. It’s also superior in the term of durability compared to the flexible boning knives.
Overall, if I want to eradicate bones from poultry or fish, basically soft meat, I will pick a flex boning knife. On the other hand, I use a firm knife for cutting pork or other thick meat.
What I Always Look For Before I Buy Boning Knife
Choosing the best product can be a daunting job for those without an experience. To be honest, I take much time when picking one in the market. It seems I can decide based on the majority choice. In fact, there are some aspects to consider when I want to get best boning knife for my collection.
Type (stiff and flexible)
Of course, the type of knife comes as the most important aspect when choosing the best one. I can either choose a flexible or stiff blade. Flex knives provide a better control and the stiff ones work perfectly for thicker bones and meat. If I want to work with soft meat, I prefer the more flexible knives as they give the easiness during the food preparation.
Size
The normal blade of a boning knife has the size of 5-7 inches. Smaller blades provide more flexibility. I use smaller blades as it cuts bone well from mild cuts. Remember, there’s no one size that can cut perfectly for different purposes. It means that one size is for a sole purpose only.
It’s advisable to have both a small and large blade. Even with poultry and mild meat, I use stiffer blades sometimes.
Some manufacturers provide boning blades in a larger range of 6-9 inches. These ones are special as they only work well for extra-large meat cuts.
Handle
The handle of the knife is a quite important aspect when buying any knife. A handle will take the force that user provides. There are many types of handle available including hard plastic, wood, etc. The choice depends on users’ preferences. I prefer a good grip from a knife as it helps me to cut with comfort.
The synthetic handle provides a better grip for the users. Wood knife handle is good for its appearance. Yet, it may rot if exposed in a moist area. Wood material also doesn’t have a good control over the grip, especially during the food preparation.
Blade – design
There are many designs available. Some are curved, and the others are straight. Perhaps beginners don’t know the difference between them. Wrong design means longer time for removing the bones. With a curved design, sometimes I’m able to eradicate bones in just a sole pass cut. I really love this curved blade.
Whenever I use a straight design, I find more troublesome cutting process. It becomes useful when I use it to get into tight gaps. It also works well to get into bones. Professional butchers should have recognized this kind of difference. Thus, they can make a good choice when buying the best boning knives in the market.
Material
The material also comes as an important aspect. Most butcher knives are made of stainless steel. I find many forms of this material including high carbon, tempered, and cold stainless steel. Fortunately, all of those materials are suitable for any purposes. I prefer high carbon ones as they are lightweight. Cold steel is a good choice as it’s more durable than others. Stainless steel is popular because it is rust resistant.
Price
The price varies based on the brand and quality. I can find a product with good quality at a cheap price. Remember, a price isn’t the symbol of overall quality over products. I’m able to buy products that have good features with affordable prices. Online markets become a good source to buy more affordable products.
Final Verdict And My Favorite Top 5 Boning Knives.
Here are my boning knife reviews I prepared based on my experience. I tested all of them and I can say that if I would have to pick five knives that I would like to use for the next 10 years I would get the ones below.
Wusthof-Classic-6-Inch-Flexible-Boning Knife
PRODUCT DETAILS:
Make: Wusthof
Type: Flexible
Product Dimensions: 12.5 x 2.8 x 0.9 inches
Expertly Made In: Germany
Guarantee: Lifetime
My Rating: 10/10
Introduction
Wusthof classic flexible is a great product with many qualities. It’s often recognized as a sandwich knife due to its solid feature. Butchers, foodies, or even beginners should buy this item for their kitchen. Professional cooks also have a special attention towards this item as it gives a maximum result with minimum effort.
For what kind of job?
The knife is suitable for everyone. The Wusthof classic is a must item in the kitchen. It breaks down almost everything such as veal chops, steak, and others. The blade flexibility is compelling for users. This item provides a good control during the food preparation with minimal messes.
Butchers are happy with this item as it gives easiness when trimming meat. Its extreme sharpness and good flexibility also give a satisfaction for the users. Overall, it’s a perfect knife for different purposes including BBQ meat trimming. When Father’s Day, Christmas or any other occasion is coming, everyone should buy this knife.
How to clean this particular knife?
It’s a little bit different than regular butcher knives. I can use a dishwasher to clean this item. The dishwasher-safe feature gives a comfort for everyone who doesn’t have the time to hand wash their knife. There’s no risk in using a dishwasher to clean Wusthof classic. Thus, it will last longer for overtime usage.
Lifetime of this butcher knife / Warranty
This knife comes with lifetime warranty. Wusthof classic can be used over time in a regular basis.
Why this boning knife?
There will be many benefits of this item. These are some of them:
• Thin and elastic blade excellent for boning fish, poultry, and mild meats.
• High-quality material with amazing sharpness
• Traditional-design masterpiece grip is made perfectly for durability and strength.
• Lifetime warranty!
Price vs. Quality
With a great quality comes an expensive price. Like any other excellent products in the market, Wusthof classic are a little bit costlier. It’s due to their more durable feature with a better cutting quality. Moreover, the knife is dishwasher safe so there will be no more hassles during the cleaning. This belongs to one of high-grade professional butcher knives in the market, but it’s more than worth to pay a bit more and have a great knife probably for the rest of your life.
My Personal Experience with this knife
This is one of the most expensive items in my collection, but I never regretted any cent I spent on it. It is actually a very interesting item to have in your collection. The knife is looking a bit different from the standard, traditional boning knife. The handle is a very comfortable and the knife is so well balanced. You need to have it in your hands to feel the quality. It is easy to hold and use. I think I can’t compliment this knife highly enough and the only way to see that I’m right is to get one and feel the difference. It will make your life and work much easier and with the lifetime warranty you don’t need to worry about anything for long, long years.
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Global Cromova G-21 – 6 1/4 inch, 16cm Flexible Boning Knife
PRODUCT DETAILS:
Make: Global
Type: Flexible
Product Dimensions: 14.6 x 3.6 x 0.8 inches
Expertly Made In: Japan
Guarantee: Lifetime
My Rating: 10/10
Introduction
The Japanese design by Global on professional butcher knives is innovative compared to its European counterparts. It is perhaps the lightest and smallest knife you’ll ever find to perform boning tasks. It has proved to be comfortable for left and right handed people. The materials are high-quality metal alloys, containing the secret of the maximum flexibility and lightness. Small hands will find it much more comfortable than traditional designs, and its one-piece manufacturing makes it easier to clean and maintain.
For what kind of job?
The knife is designed to effectively boning meat and fish. It works magnificently to do the job. The flexible blade is one of its most valuable features. I used it to clean ribs, bone meat, and fillet fish. All these tasks are done perfectly thanks to the bending that lets you clean around any corner.
I found myself deboning meat in much better time I used to do with another knives. I would recommend being careful because the blade doesn’t seem to be as sharp as it is. The light weight of this knife is not proportioned to its size, and you will need to get used to it.
This is one of not many knives I’ve used that feels naturally right to fillet fish. The design has a lot to do with it. It has the right balance for fish, and the perfect size.
How to clean this particular knife?
To Hand wash the Global Cromova Flexible is the best option. You can wash it down in a dishwasher, but it is not recommended to keel the longest life of your knife.
One key advantage on cleaning this particular knife is that it comes in one piece. This design eliminates the hard to reach edges generated by traditional handles.
Lifetime of this butcher knife / Warranty
The double sided blade requires minimum maintenance. When you sharpen it, it is recommended to use a ceramic or a diamond steel sharpener. A metal sharpening steel is not the best choice for this knife. The lifetime warranty assures the manufacturing quality.
Why this boning knife?
It doesn’t matter if you are a professional butcher, chef or a home cook. This knife is an excellent choice for a durable and useful knife that will last for years with the same overall performance.
Price vs. Quality
The superior quality of this knife is worth every cent you pay for it. It is so comfortable that just by adding up the time you save it practically pays itself. If you are looking for a quality boning knife, make this choice instead of 3 or 4 cheaper knives that will not be as useful.
My Personal Experience with this knife
This is another top knife in my collection. Once you get this product you can be sure that you will have it until the end of your life (of course if you will properly care for this knife). I’m not afraid to use this knife even for the toughest jobs as I know that it will handle everything. The cost of this knife includes great look and high quality material. I prefer to get one perfect item like this instead 3 other knives that you will have to replace after a few months. It costs a bit more than normal boning knife, but what is that if you compare that you buy this knife for your entire life. For everyone tired of having a lot of old and useless knives and who wants to get the job done quicker and better – this is your choice.
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Victorinox 47513 6-Inch Flex Boning Knife with Fibrox Handle
PRODUCT DETAILS:
Make: Victorinox
Type: Flexible
Product Dimensions: 15 x 3.8 x 1.1 inches
Expertly Made In: Switzerland
Guarantee: Lifetime
My Rating: 9.7/10
Introduction
Both novices and beginners have heard about the fame of Victorinox flex professional butcher knives. It’s one of the most affordable knives in the market. Swiss Army Knife becomes the one behind this amazing item. Although this is an affordable knife, it doesn’t mean that it’s poor in the term of quality. It’s a great product for different purposes and users. This boning knife is recommended by America’s Test Kitchen!
For what kind of job?
First of all, I’m satisfied with this knife as it makes both prepping and trimming process much effortless. This knife brings a huge difference during meat trimming. I get a good control over the razor.
As I have expected, this item works amazingly so I don’t need to use more energy during the boning process.
As a butcher and hunter, I also prepare food from anything I get. A hog with 100 lb. isn’t a difficult task with this item. On top of that it has a good flexibility and resistant handle.
How to clean this particular knife?
The knife doesn’t require an intricate cleaning process. I can clean it without hassles. All I need is to wash the knife with foamy water. As advice, a hand washing method will remove the risk of damage during the cleaning process. It can make the item more durable.
Lifetime of this butcher knife / Warranty
The blade of this product is forged from high-quality steel. It has passed through the ice-tampering process to. Thus, the knife becomes durable and quite strong. The carbon steel makes the blade sharper and practical for removing bones and cutting meat. Whenever I feel that it gains reduction in the term of sharpness, I don’t need to buy the new product. I can sharpen it over time without losing the quality. This knife also comes with a lifetime warranty!
Why this boning knife?
There are many reasons why I prefer this knife. First of all, it has high-quality material with more durable feature compared to regular knives. The blade is very sharp and it can cut bones well. The handle of this knife is quite amazing with excellent resistance. I’ve got both the control and grip with a comfortable cutting. It’s due to its Fibrox feature that provides a slip resistant quality. Affordable price is another reason…
Price vs Quality
I don’t need to spend much money to get this item. There are many expensive boning knives with similar quality as Victorinox. I use as my main boning knife at home and work. This item offers amazing quality that may relieve all my worries when handling thick meats. Overall, it’s a very good item with qualities and affordable price.
My Personal Experience with this knife
I decided to make a review on this knife because it’s one of my favourite one of all time in that price range.
I used many different types of Victorinox knives and I was never disappointed.
This particular knife is a very well balanced and fits my hand so good. The knife is very sharp and it holds a good edge. I used that for boning beef, pork, chickens and basically for everything and at this price I’m highly recommending this product to absolutely anyone.
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Victorinox Cutlery 6-Inch Semi-Stiff Boning Knife, Black Fibrox Handle
PRODUCT DETAILS:
Make: Victorinox
Type: Semi-Stiff
Product Dimensions: 15 x 3.8 x 1.1 inches
Expertly Made In: Switzerland
Guarantee: Lifetime
My Rating: 9.5/10
Introduction
Victorinox Cutlery becomes another popular item for butchers. The best grade of the knife will give an amazing boning experience for various food preparations. The knife is quite sharp and I can re-sharpen it over time easily.
For what kind of job?
Victorinox Cutlery is useful for removing thick fat lids off. The knife has easy handling and good size. I’ve processed a deers, beef and pork with this knife. Overall, it’s a good item with a good functions.
Buyers don’t need to spend much money to buy this item. They won’t get any disappointment as well as it can slice through either cartilage or bones. This knife is useful for slicing flesh around the chops and ribs.
How to clean this particular knife?
In the term of cleaning procedure, I recommend a hand washing cleaning. The knife doesn’t need a troublesome washing process. I only use water and a special soap to clean it well. There’s nothing wrong if I use a dishwasher. Yet, I don’t want to take any risk. It’s a good idea to keep the knife as sharp as new.
Lifetime of this butcher knife / Warranty
As the knife comes with a lifetime warranty, buyers don’t need to worry about any defects. They only need to make a claim to the manufacturers. The blade is durable as it lasts long for years. I also often sharpen this item to retain its quality. Victorinox Cutlery is made skilfully in Switzerland. Almost all butchers recognize these as really high quality product.
Why this boning knife?
I have summarized some plus points of this product. Here are the reasons I use the knife:
• Stamped assembly.
• Comes with curved design that provides simpler cutting.
• High-quality stainless steel blade that gives excellent sharpness.
• The blade carved from high-grade steel and it’s easy for re-sharpening.
• Original Fibrox grips with textures, resilient, and approved by NSF.
• Lifetime warranty!
Price vs. Quality
At this price I can’t say anything bad about its quality. It offers a solid grip, sharp blade, and a great quality. I really recommend it for anyone. Even though there are some competitors in the market, Victorinox Cutlery come as affordable products with amazing features and quality. In fact, I don’t need to spend more big money to get this item.
My Personal Experience with this knife
This knife has a good edge and handle. I used it for butchering deers, beef and pork and as with every Victorinox product I was never disappointed. The factory sharpening is just perfect, but even after while all you need to do is to spend no more than five minutes on the stone which will make the edge very sharp again. I own 5 these knives in different sizes and they are great for any kind of work. For this price you won’t find any better product and if you can, please let me know 😉
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Mercer Culinary Genesis 6-Inch Forged Boning Knife
PRODUCT DETAILS:
Make: Mercer Culinary (Mercer Tool Corp)
Type: Forged
Dimensions: 2 x 1 x 11 inches
Expertly Made In: Taiwan
Guarantee: Lifetime
My Rating: 9.4/10
Introduction
The Culinary Genesis Forged Boning Knife is an affordable choice. It uses German steel and is designed in Europe. It is suited for most heavy users and has incredible durability. This rigid forged blade perfectly accomplishes any harsh job.
For what kind of job?
I like rigid boning knives for hard jobs that require some extra strength when cutting. The narrow blade of this knife makes it perfect for boning. The comfortable grip helps to get better control of the knife.
I use this kind of knives to debone poultry and to cut the biggest and rougher cuts. Mutton is my favorite. Shaping tenderloin is also perfectly accomplished by such a knife.
There is no boning job you can’t accomplish using Mercer Culinary Genesis. It will become your favorite choice as it has become mine.
How to clean this particular knife?
To get the longest life on your knife, you should avoid dishwashers. The heat and water to wash dishes in such machines can damage the handle. The best advice is to wash it by hand with warm water.
I use a soft towel to dry the knife. It is not recommended to use chlorine bleach because it might discolor and ditch the blade. Stainless Steel or Aluminium sinks can pit the blade if you soak the knife in them. If you submerge the knife in water for a long time, it can also damage the blade.
Lifetime of this butcher knife / Warranty
This knife is warrantied for life. As long as you keep using it properly and as a boning life, it will not break. Sharpening will keep it useful for many years.
Why this boning knife?
A resistant product is what some meats need to get the right cut effortlessly. The Genesis Forged Boning Knife gives you the exact amount of resistance to get the toughest cuts and at an affordable price. For me, that is enough reason to choose this knife.
If you need more reasons, I can also add, how comfortable the handle is. It offers a strong grip and additional support to go over the toughest jobs. You cannot apply enough force if the handle is not comfortable, and the design of this knife perfectly overcomes this issue.
Price vs. Quality
The Mercer Culinary Knifes is a great choice for an affordable and durable product. A forged knife needs to be tough and the German steel warranties it for life. Chef schools usually choose this brand to get a durable knife for students. I would totally recommend it.
My Personal Experience with this knife
This is a really good product and I’m glad I have it in my collection. I use it not only for boning as a butcher, but also in my home kitchen to prepare meals. It’s a very sharp, keep the edge very well and you can control this knife without any hassle. The price vs quality is just great and even if it’s just a bit more expensive than some other cheap knives, it’s more than worth to get this item and I’m sure that you’ll never be disappointed.
CLICK HERE TO SEE REVIEWS AND PRICING ON AMAZON
Comparison Table
I prepared for you comparison table with all the best boning knife reviews I introduced in this article.
You can compare the knives using different factors such as price, rating etc. By clicking on any of the link you will be taken to the actual review of the product and from there you can click the button to buy the knife.
Product Image | Product Name | Dimensions | Guarantee | Price | Rating |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wusthof Classic 6 Inch Flexible | 12.5 x 2.8 x 0.9 inches | Lifetime | $$$ | 10 | |
Global Cromova G-21 – 6 1/4 inch, 16cm Flexible | 14.6 x 3.6 x 0.8 inches | Lifetime | $$$ | 10 | |
Victorinox 47513 6-Inch Flexible with Fibrox Handle | 15 x 3.8 x 1.1 inches | Lifetime | $ | 9.7 | |
Victorinox Cutlery 6-Inch Semi-Stiff, Black Fibrox Handle | 15 x 3.8 x 1.1 inches | Lifetime | $ | 9.5 | |
Mercer Culinary Genesis 6-Inch Forged | 2 x 1 x 11 inches | Lifetime | $ | 9.4 |
Helpful articles
– Knife anatomy and how to choose a knife
– How to sharpen butcher knives
– How to clean and care for knives
Comments (14)
I do lots of bodybuilding workout and my trainer just recommended soft meat, so I think I will get a flex boning knife and Wusthof-Classic looks great and I can use it for a long time. However I don’t have a dishwasher, would that cause a problem for the durability of the knife?
Hi Furkan,
Actually, you should avoid washing knives in the dishwasher.
It is always better to wash knives just using water and soap.
Check my other article about cleaning knives.
I hope it will be useful for you.
Thanks,
Greg
Hi. I recently did some work with knives so i can respect the knowledge about knives. One think i want to ask though. Do you think that Cutco is really the best knife out there or do you think the knife should fit the cook?
Hi Teddy,
Thank you for your comment and visiting my site.
It really depends what job you need to do with the knife. If you need a boning knife, I would recommend any of the 5 knives I reviewed.
Depending on your budget, but from these 5 I would pick the Wusthof Classic 6. However, the other ones are also great. I have them in my collection and in my opinion, all of them deserves a good review.
If you have any particular job to do with the knife, just let me know and I will try to find one for your needs 😉
Rgrds,
Greg
It amazes me how much there is to know about things you use everyday and don’t even think about. I know there are a lot of professional knifes and cooking utensils, but what would you recommend as a good day to day knife without breaking the bank? growing up i could never find a sharp knife in the house lol, how would you suggest to keep them in good condition?
Hi Stephania,
In my long career as a butcher, I learned to always get as much information as possible before deciding to buy a knife. It is very important to understand what you are looking for and then match the perfect tool. There is a lot of knives on the market and it’s very easy to get one that will be not good enough or will be too expensive.
For everyday use I would recommend to use any of the ones that I reviewed, depending what exactly do you expect from the knife. If you would like to debone chickens and do similar type of work, taking the price as a factor, I would recommend the Victorinox. They are very high quality knives and you can get them for a really good price.
You can read this article to learn about the proper knife care. You’ll get all the information needed to properly maintain your knife.
Best Regards,
Greg
I am a big bbq and smoker guy and have a love for cooking and with that comes a love for knives too. This is a great review of what I personally look for as well when I look for good boning knives. I have recently fallen in love with Victorinox knives and have just about every knife they make now. An expensive hobby and love, but necessary if you do a lot of cooking. I personally recommend the Victorinox’s but have also not tried the other ones personally, so i am biased here. Great information and thanks for sharing.
Hi Erik,
Thank you for your comment 😉
Victorinox is one of the best knife manufacturer in the world and the price is very affordable for such a quality they offer. You can get exclusive knives from different manufacturers, but the price will be much higher. Therefore, I think that Victorinox found a great balance between the price and quality.
However, I also recommend Wusthof or Global. Absolutely fantastic knives and with a proper care you will have them for a lifetime. They are slightly more expensive, but worth to try. I don’t know anyone disappointed with these knives.
Best Regards,
Greg
I only have one big knife in my kitchen and I use it for all kind of cutting and chopping. And I didn’t realize there is so much knowledge in choosing a knife. No wonder I always having difficulty on cutting thick meat and always wanted to know the reason. I thought is about the skills that make the different.
I think will give Wusthof Classic a try. Thank you for letting me know so much info in choosing proper boning knife and benefits behind of it.
Hi Maxx,
Skills are very important, but even if you’re well skilled, without the right tool, it will be extremely hard to work efficiently. It refers to many different areas in our life, not only the cutlery.
The Wusthof Classic boning knife is top choice! Well done 😉
Thanks & Regards,
Greg
Hi Greg,
After reading your article with such detailed information, I am thinking if I should have a boning knife. All I have is a multi-purpose knife for vegetables and a cleaver knife for meat. And a pair of kitchen shears. I guess price does play a part of not getting one. It is quite pricey indeed to get a good piece.
Thanks for doing this review. I only known Victorinox and Mercer. Now, there are another 2 brands that I can look at.
Cheers!
Sharon
Hi Sharon,
You’re more than welcome. I’m glad that I could help.
If you want to get a top quality boning knife, you have to be prepared that it may cost a little more, but you can still get a decent knife for a good price. I hope you’ll find the right one for you needs 😉
Best Regards,
Greg
Hey Greg,
Amazing review of boning knives, I used to have a full set of knives back while I was in culinary school. I learned to make all sort of dishes mostly western but since I was coming from Malaysia, my family never understood what all these different knives are for.
I came back home one day and all my knives disappeared and it turned out my mum gave it to my uncle because she said all we needed was the chef knife. I was so depressed I never bought other knives ever for the house. But loved your review nonetheless, keep up the good work chef!
Hi Riaz,
Thank you for your comment and appreciation.
I’m sorry to hear that you lost your first set of knives. Hopefully the next one you get will stay with you for long time 😉
Regards,
Greg