A few more tips from your friendly Brantford Ontario knife sharpener.
If you’ve invested in quality knives, you’ll want to properly care for them. Here are a few simple rules to keep your knife in pristine condition. Properly cared for, your quality handmade knife will last a lifetime.
Kitchen Knives Are for Food Only
Use your knife for cutting food only. That’s the first and most important rule to keep. Never use your knife as a prybar or to hammer something. Use hammers and prybars instead for those jobs when needed. Not only is it bad for your knife, but it can be dangerous for you too, as the knife can slip and cut you accidentally. Additionally, you never want to be cutting up in the air or in your hand. Always make sure you’re using your knife flat on a cutting board.
A Sharp Knife is Safer
Rule #2. Keep your knife sharp. A dull knife is a dangerous knife. It might seem scary to be wielding a razor-sharp knife, but that is actually the safest option. A dull knife requires much more force to cut through items, so you have to push harder, increasing the chances that the knife will slip and cut into your hand. A sharp knife easily slices through food with little effort. Regularly honing and sharpening your knives is a significant part of using a knife safely.
Cleaning and Storing
It’s absolutely evil to put your knife in the dishwasher. This is the 3rd rule. Never, under any circumstances, put your knife in the dishwasher. The heat and pressure of the water will quickly ruin your blade and cause cracks in the handle. Always wash your knife carefully by hand, and dry it immediately.
Also, don’t drop your knife in the sink. Clunking on the metal on the bottom of a sink can seriously dull your blade. When you’re done using your knife, either rest it on your cutting board until you’re ready to clean up or immediately hand wash it, dry it, and put it away. This will significantly extend the life of your edge.
The best way to store a knife to preserve the edge is in a plastic sheath in a drawer. Nothing should be touching the blade of the knife, especially other metal. You can usually buy sheaths from the knife maker, or you can buy generic sheaths off the internet.
It’s recommended that you have your knives professionally sharpened every six months. We sharpen knives professionally right here in Brantford Ontario. Contact us today for a quote, or check see our pricing chart here.
Credit: I’d like to give credit where credit is due. Much of the content for this blog was adapted from All Recipes.