Good knives need to be well maintained and cared for.
This means they must be properly cleaned, used, sharpened, and stored.
If not well cared for, your knives will be dull, rusted, and sometimes even break.
However, by taking the precautions below when cleaning, using, and storing your knives, you can be sure that they will serve you better when it’s chopping time:
How to Take Care of Your Knives When Using Them
1. Always use a cutting board
Using your knife on a hard surface such as granite or marble will damage it.
Don’t use plastic cutting boards, instead purchase a suitable wooden cutting board.
2. Hone and sharpen the knives regularly
Your knives should be sharpened annually.
Horning, which is comparable to sharpening but focuses more on re-calibrating the blade’s angle and removing nicks, should be done more often than sharpening.
You can use an electric sharpener, a sharpening stone, or contact a professional sharpener to do it for you.
3. Always keep the knife clean when using it
Don’t let food particles build up on your knife’s blade.
Use hot water to rinse it off while using it.
This will help the blade work more efficiently and prevent dulling.
How to Clean Your Knives
1. Don’t put your knives in the dishwasher
The moisture, detergents, and heat in the dishwasher can make your knives’ blade discolored and dull.
The knives may also get chipped from the rapid movement and bumping with other utensils in the washer.
2. Don’t let your knives sit in the sink
After using the knives, you should always hand-wash them with hot water and mild soap to void rusting, corrosion, breaking, bending, and scratching.
If needed, let the knife soak in some warm water and mild soap for a few minutes, then wash it.
Use a hand towel to dry the blade and avoid air-drying it, as it will be vulnerable to rusting and molding.
Put the knife separate from other utensils in the dish rack.
How to Store Your Knives
1. Don’t keep the knives in the same drawer as other utensils
Chipping, dulling, and breaking is likely to happen when knives are stored in the same drawer as other utensils.
If you want to keep the knives in the drawer, buy a set of blade covers to ensure minimal contact with other things in the drawer.
2. Store the knives in a knife block
Most people like to store their knives this way.
If you buy a knife set, it often comes with a storage block.
You can also purchase the knife block separately- ensure that your knives fit in the pre-sized slots.
This is the safest way to store your knives as it protects the blades and the edges.
If you’re a cook and have invested in a set of good knives, you want them to last longer.
Taking care of your blades is an easy task. All you need is to change a few kitchen habits, and you’re set!
Even if you sharpen your knives at home, it’s essential to get a professional tune-up once a year.
KnifeCare Australia is a leading proficient postal knife sharpening service that uses the latest German engineering technology to sharpen and repair knives.
Sharpen your knives with KnifeCare Australia and get them back sharper than ever.