Whether you use a proper chef knife at work or simply round the home or garden, then it is important that you look after your knives and understand how to care for them. This article provides some simple but handy tips to increase the life of your kitchen or chef knives!
Importance of Knife Care
Knives, especially chef knives, can be very expensive so obviously we want to keep them in top condition. Treated in the right way a good set of chef knives should last a lifetime and are a good investment.
All types of knives will diminish in performance the more that they are used. However, with the right knife care you can bring them back to their full potential. Below we shall look at three of the best knife care tips.
Knife Sharpening
Knife sharpening is the most important way to take care of your knives. The blade of the knife is what makes it do its job, so if you allow it to go blunt you will not be getting as much out of your knife as possible.
While chef knives do offer the best potential cutting edge they need regular sharpening. In a commercial kitchen then chef knives should be sharpened daily to get the best performance. Knife sharpening is very simple, and you can purchase portable electric knife sharpeners from a range of outlets and it takes just a few seconds to perform knife sharpening.
There are several ways to sharpen your knife, both chef knives and general purpose knives. Some people choose to use knife sharpening stones whereas others may use an electric knife sharpening tool.
Remember that a blunt knife can be more dangerous than a well sharpened one.
Washing your Knife Carefully
Knife sharpening isn’t the only tip you need to remember when dealing with knife care. Washing your knife both regularly and using the correct method is essential for looking after your knives.
Hand washing is the ideal choice for washing your knives, particularly expensive chef knives. By hand washing you are able to avoid damaging the handles, particularly if they are wooden. Using furniture polish is a quick way to bring back shine to wooden knife handles. Brass polish is ideal for brass knife handles.
Regardless of quality there is always a risk of rust setting in. It is recommended that you regularly wipe the blades with a drop or two of oil (particularly in the joints) to prevent rust. When washing knives make sure that you dry them as well as possible to avoid getting water in the joints and to minimize the chance of rust forming.
Salt water can badly affect knives, particularly chef knives that are used in fresh seafood, so if your knife comes into contact with salt water always wash immediately afterwards and rub with a bit of oil.
Use Only for its Purpose
Knives should only be used for the purpose for which you bought them. Use your knife only as intended and don’t use them for other uses such as a screwdriver substitute, can or bottle opener. This can be very dangerous for all involved as well as damaging the knife blade.
By following this rule as well as regular knife sharpening and cleaning you will have knives that last you a lifetime!
Article by Richard at LimeLight Digital. Get the most from your kitchen and maintain a healthy lifestyle by chopping up more fruit and veg to lose weight
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