7 Knife Care Tips

When you spend money on a nice set of knives, you’ll want to do everything you can to keep them in good shape with proper knife care. Cleaning, sharpening and storing your knives are the basics you should know to protect the investment you’ve made in them. When handled with care, quality knives can last you a long time.

1 – Protect Against Rust

Stainless steel knives are a bit misleading, in that consumers believe that their knives won’t rust. What it really means is that the knife is resistant to acid that it comes into contact with, and humidity will not lead to rusting. However, the knife can still corrode and rust can form. Clean the rust using a pad and polish when done.

2 – Store out of Direct Sunlight

Consider where you’ll store your knives when addressing the issues of proper knife care. Don’t leave knives in a place that gets direct sunlight. The ultraviolet rays will oxidize the wooden handles, causing damage over time.

3 – Store in Cooler Places

An apartment kitchen can get really hot, and too much heat affects knives. The oil on the hardwood handles of the knives, put there to protect it, is easily removed. The heat also weakens the bonds between the blade and the handle, resulting in handles that pop out.

4 – Clean without Washing

Don’t clean knives when you’re washing dishes by hand. You may forget and dunk the knives in your dish water, and clean them the way you would any other utensil. This is not the method for cleaning your knives when you’re concerned about knife care. Spray the knives clean with a mild soapy water, let them dry well, and then oil the blade and other parts. You won’t ruin your knives immediately if you wash them like other utensils, but they’ll soon end up in rough shape.

5 – Don’t Use a Dishwasher

Some knives don’t do well in the dishwasher. For example, a ceramic knife is likely to get chipped. If the knife is placed with other dishes, it might chip those too. It’s better to spray clean them instead. When dried, store them in a knife block.

6 – Sharpen Periodically

Learn how to sharpen knives, because it’s one of the most important aspects of knife care. Your knives will last longer when you sharpen them. Sharpening also ensures safety in the kitchen. Accidents happen the most when cutting with a dull knife, and it can lead to serious injuries, resulting in a trip to the hospital.

7 – Lubricate Knives

Lubricate folding as well as regular knives to fight corrosion. If you have a folding knife, such as a meat saw or other knife, oil the joints where the knife pivots. You’ll find it much easier to fold and unfold the knife in between uses. Lubricate the knife blade to prevent oxidation because of the moisture in the apartment.

Extend the life of your knives, and enjoy them for years to come with these 7 knife care tips.