Knife Care - The 3 Things To Avoid Doing To Your Knives

Since our health is so dependent on what we eat, it only makes sense to take care of our kitchen and the tools in it to make sure that we get the most out of them. This means we should be mindful about making sure that we take food safety seriously to avoid getting things like salmonella. We should also be taking care of our tools to make sure that they work properly and last a long time. This is where knife care come sin.

Our knives are often overlooked and, frankly, mistreated far too easily. Knives are one of the most important tools in our kitchen. This means that there are a number of things we need to stop doing so they are better-taken care of. In this article, we will go over several of the things to avoid when it comes to knife care.

1 – Not using a good cutting board

A cutting board is essential so you can properly cut or chop your vegetables and meat. However, they are not all created equal. There are some that are made out of material that can dull the edge of the blade. For instance, glass cutting boards should be avoided at all costs. Since the board can’t absorb the cut of the blade, it will warp it and cause it to be less effective.

This goes for using other surfaces that are not wooden or plastic cutting boards. Never use a knife to cut things on a plate, or counter, either. The effect is the same as when using a glass cutting board.

Always keep your knives sharp by using a knife sharpener stone even when you aren’t cutting on hard surfaces so they stay sharp longer.

2 – Storing them improperly

The blade of your knife should only be put against another surface when you are using it on a cutting board. Anytime it gets rubbed against another knife or material it becomes dull. This means that you have to make sure that you are storing it in a way that doesn’t cause it to get dull.

Never use a common drawer to keep your knives since it is unavoidable that the knife will lose its edge. Always keep them in their own drawer and one in which they are kept separate from each other. A better solution is to keep them on a magnet strip on the wall so they aren’t banging against each other.

3 – Mishandling them

The way that you use a knife has a direct bearing on how long it will last. The way that you chop, for instance, can be damaging the blade if you are using improper movements. Even chopping it while holding it incorrectly can result in the handle getting damaged which will decrease its longevity.

You also need to be careful how you wash your knife as putting it in the dishwasher can end up ruining the handle and dull the blade which will ruin it completely.

Photo by Kevin Doran on Unsplash