Everyday knife care that prevents damage and dulling
So, you’ve got your gorgeous new knives, and now you want to know how to keep them at their best. We’ve put together this short guide on how to care for them. Stick to these few simple rules and you’ll find your knives stay sharper for longer, and you’ll also enjoy fantastic results from them for years to come.
Handwash Only
We know it’s tempting to bung everything in the dishwasher, but your knives really are the exception. To keep them in top condition, they should always be washed by hand. The intense heat and prolonged exposure to water and steam inside the dishwasher can damage both the blade and handle.
It’s also a bad idea to soak your knives in the sink, as again this can impact the integrity of the handle. Instead, wash your knives in warm, soapy water after use (try not to leave them too long after use, to prevent any food residue from drying out on the blade) rinse them thoroughly, and dry them straight away with a soft, clean cloth. A little extra care goes a long way to help keep your knives sharp.
Store Them Carefully
Proper storage is just as important as proper cleaning when it comes to looking after your knives. Storing them carefully will help save their edge… and your fingers! We recommend a wall-mounted magnetic strip as it keeps your knives accessible and spaced apart, with no chance of the blades knocking into each other.
A knife block or in-drawer knife organiser also works well to keep your knives safe and secure. What you don’t want to be doing is keeping your knives loose in a drawer; this is one of the biggest causes of chips and nicks in the blade, and it’s also a finger slicing nightmare waiting to happen. Each time your knives are knocked against your spatulas and spoons, you’re putting unnecessary wear along the blade. Help keep your knives sharper for longer by storing them well.
Use a Wooden Chopping Board
Always use a proper chopping board when you use your knives. Never cut directly onto your kitchen worktop, as this is the fastest way to a dull blade. Avoid glass chopping boards too; while they look great, they’re far too hard, and can cause unnecessary wear or even chipping along the knife’s edge. Instead, choose a really good quality wooden board, or a thick plastic board. These are much better for your knives, and will help keep them sharper for longer, while also providing a safer and more stable surface to cut on. A small switch like this can make a big difference to the longevity of your knives. If you’re ever unsure whether your knives are still performing as they should, here are six signs your kitchen knives need sharpening.
Use Your Knives for Food Only
It might sound obvious, but your knives are designed for chopping food – and nothing else. As tempting as it might be in the moment, don’t use them as a substitute for scissors. That means no using them for opening packets, or cutting through tape or string – and definitely no using them to pry open stubborn containers. Using your knives like this is a surefire way of dulling and damaging the blade – most of the broken tips we repair have been caused by people moonlighting their knives.
By keeping your knives exclusive to food prep, you’ll help avoid damage and unnecessary wear and tear. For everything else, keep a good pair of kitchen scissors in your drawer; it’s a lot safer for you, and for your knives.
Skip the DIY Sharpeners
While we understand the temptation of using an at-home sharpener, we strongly recommend avoiding them. They often end up doing more harm than good; they’re inconsistent, they tend to remove more of the edge than is needed, and they could very easily end up damaging your knives.
Instead, invest in a good quality honing rod, and learn how to use it between professional sharpenings. Honing rods don’t sharpen your blades per se – they realign the edge, keeping it straight and enabling your blade to cut effectively for longer. By using a honing rod a few times a week, you’ll be able to keep your knife performing at its best until you’re ready for another professional sharpening.
Use a Reputable Sharpening Service
When your knives do need sharpening, it’s important to choose the right people for the job. While there are plenty of sharpening services out there, they’re not all equal in terms of the quality of services they offer – and your knives deserve better than a ‘Jack of all trades’ approach.
Look for a kitchen knife specialist – they’ll understand the nuances of different blade shapes and they’ll know exactly how to restore your blades edge. A reputable knife sharpener will use specialist equipment, tools and techniques. They won’t be strapping your knives down onto a grinding machine and hoping for the best.
At Mr Knife Guy, we are kitchen knife experts. We sharpen knives for both chefs and home cooks in anything from huge professional settings right down to domestic kitchens. Whether you’re looking to restore a favourite blade or just to keep your knife set razor sharp, we’re here to help, with expert care and years of experience behind every edge.
