Knife Care

Knife Care

Caring for your Knife will guarantee it a nice long life.

Two parts of care are storage and keeping a sharp edge; these two subjects are covered in their own sections: Knife Storage, Knife Sharpening. Now here are some common and not so common sense knife care guidelines.

Knives and Dishwashers

You will notice that many knives, including some of the lines we carry, state that the knife is dishwasher safe.

I like to think that this is a great sales point for the busy food business kitchen which does not have time for hand washing.

I do not suggest that you wash your knives in dishwashers, and here is why.

1. A knife in a dishwasher tends to bounce around banging against other cutlery, utensils, dishes, and pans causing damage to the blade.

2. The dishwasher's high heat drying cycle may cause tensil damage lessening the quality of your blade.

3. Dishwasher detergents are much harsher than dishwashing liquid and can have damage a knife's handle.

4. Dishwashers ruin wooden handles on cutlery.

Washing Your Knives

Okay, so we are all clear on not using the dishwasher to clean our knives. This leaves hand washing as the proper way to wash your knives.

It is suggested that you wash your knives as soon as possible after use. This keeps acidic foods from eating into the metal. I am sure some of you from college pizza days have seen the pitting tomato sauce can create.

Do not leave your knife sitting in the bottom of the sink. First other things can be stacked on it and bend the blade. Secondly, if the sink has water in it the knife will then bome a hidden cutting danger. Thirdly, soaking a knife in water is neither good for the blade, nor the handle - especially if it is wooden or silver.

Using a scrubbing sponge with soap directly on it is preferred. Wash your knife with the soft sponge side, and only use the scrubbing part if there are any stubborn spots. Use the scrubbing side sparingly to keep down on scratches on the blade.

Rinse with hot water and towel dry. Towel drying keeps knives from getting water spots. And, towel drying keep knives out of the drying rack with other kitchen ware.

Now put your knife away in it's proper storage.

Cutting Surfaces and Objects

You will find that repeated warning of nicking and damaging your blades by letting them strike against each other in storage.

So, let's talk about other surfaces your knife should or should not come into contact with.

Basically you should not try to cut, or cut on, surfaces harder than your blade. So, there should be no chopping through a pork chop bone with your steak knife, or dicing of tomaotes on a marble surface.

If you would like more detail on what makes a good cutting surface see my article on Cutting Boards.

Common Sense 'Knife'isms

NEVER try to catch a falling knife. Pull back your fingers, hands and feet. Knives are intended for cutting and slicing. A falling knife does not care if it is a carrot, finger or toe it cuts into, especially during free fall. DO NOT try to catch a falling knife - let it go and pick it up once the fall has been completed. Oh, and then wash the knife - it's been on the floor.

Keep your knives safe and secure. Do not leave them out in the open where children and pets can easy have an accident.

Keep your knives sharp. A dull knife is a dangerous knife. A dull knife may roll or skip across the surface causing the need for more pressure and the increased likely hood of moving of the desired object being cut and getting a finger or two.

Knifes are not intended as prying tools. Prying objects open with a knife will in the least bend the blade out of shape, at worst it will snap the tip off - sometimes with the tip taking flight. Then there is the added hazard of if your hand slips forward while trying to pry with a tool that is not intended for prying. Do not pry with a knife.

Bread and serrated knives are not made to trim the base of a Christmas tree. No seriously, we've seen it. First, buy a small saw, or a bigger tree base. A kitchen knife belongs in the kitchen not the living room floor with pine needles everywhere. Sawing plants with your bread knife ruins the blade, and leaves sticky pine between the serrations for what seem like forever.

Knives are not toys.

Knives are not toys!!! I do not suggest throwing knives, swallowing, or playing mumbly peg with knives. Yes, they are entertaining on TV and in movies, however, they have been trained. If you want to do neat knife tricks we suggest you find a 'trained' professional, check out their credentials thoroughly and get some training. Plus, don't get too excited entertainers that work with blades start with plastic models.

Use a knife for what a knife is designed for. Do not chop vegetables with a fillet knife, and do not fillet a fish with a cleaver.

Your knife is not a screwdriver. A screwdriver is a screwdriver. Most screwdrivers have a handle that is grounded - does your knife? Plus, a screw driver does not have a sharp edge to slice your hand up if it slips off the handle while trying to screw in a screw that it shouldn't even be used for.

Do not cut your food with a rusty knife. Where do I even start on not ingesting rust. Just don't do it.

Remember keep your knives clean, sharp, and stored well and they'll keep for generations.

As always safety first!