Tip: Care for your Knife

There is no better kitchen tool than a sharp knife. It makes chopping easier and avoids injury (hey, when did you last get a cut from a sharp knife? I bet you were sliced by a blunt blade) plus it’s the only way I can slice thinly. I have put together some tips for keeping your knife like new.

• With knives the old adage is true – you get what you pay for. The reason why some knives are cheap is that the quality of the steel is inferior and they tend to blunt easily.
• Wash your knife by hand after each use with a soft sponge and warm soapy water. Strong detergents, bleach and other chemicals can pit the steel of the knife.
• Never wash your knife in the dishwasher. The harsh chemicals and hot temperature will ruin the quality of the blade and deteriorate the handle.
• After cutting fruits and vegetables that are quite acidic (example: lemons, oranges, tomatoes), make sure you rinse your knife immediately after use or it may result in staining and corrosion of the blade.
• Never leave your knives to drip dry. After washing, fully dry with a clean cloth and do not store unless fully dry.
• Store knives in a purpose made block or on a knife magnet. This is safer for you and better for your knives.
• Your knife is rust resistant but not rustproof. If your knife is left in contact with water it will most likely develop rust spots. You can remove small rust spots with a soft scourer.
• If you are going to use your knife to scrape food off the board, use the back of the blade.
• Never use your knife to cut through frozen foods, bones or very hard things as you will break or chip the blade. There are special purpose knives for these tasks.
• Always use a wooden or soft plastic chopping board – NOT a glass or ceramic board or directly on your bench top, stainless steel sink or plate.
• Keep knives sharp. A sharp knife is safer to use. A sharp knife requires minimal effort to cut and therefore has less a chance of slipping.
• The secret of proper sharpening is to do it regularly. There are some fabulous rolling wheel style sharpeners on the market.