Living in the modern culinary landscape, there’s nothing better than having a set of kitchen knives that can stand up to the toughest tasks day in and day out. From slicing, dicing, chopping, and julienning, having a reliable set of kitchen knives is necessary to get the job done right. But with so many varieties, brands, and materials to choose from, it can be difficult to determine which knives best uphold the wear and tear of daily cooking.
That’s why we at House of Knives are here to give you a comprehensive guide on maintaining your kitchen knives and keeping them in prime condition. We aim to provide you with the know-how you need to ensure the best performance from your knives for years to come.
Types of Knives and Their Maintenance
Just like any tool, knives require proper and timely maintenance. This can be done through sharpening and caring for them properly. Let’s take a look at the different types of knives and the appropriate maintenance techniques for each.
Stainless Steel Knives
Stainless steel knives are the most common type of kitchen knife and are relatively easy to take care of. With basic cleaning and sharpening, these knives can maintain their original shape and performance for many years. It’s important to use a gentle detergent to prevent corrosion and simply rinse off the blades by hand when finished. For sharpening, use a sharpening stone to gently grind the blade and you’re good to go!
Carbon Steel Knives
Carbon steel knives require a bit more work to maintain. The blades are prone to rust and must be oiled after use. They must also be treated with honing steel before and after each use to maintain their sharp edge. Finally, these knives should only be washed by hand—avoid putting them in the dishwasher to avoid damage to the blade. Whilst they do require more maintenance, carbon steel knives are the easiest to sharpen and have significant blade retention.
Sharpening Knives
Sharpening knives is an essential part of knife maintenance, and should not be taken lightly. If done improperly, one can cause significant damage to their knives. To sharpen a kitchen knife, use a sharpening stone. If you’re new to sharpening, opt for a dual grit stone as it combines a medium grit side to get the blade sharp quickly and a fine grit side to fine-tune the edge of the blade. For those more experienced with sharpening, a single grit stone should suffice.
Regardless of the type of stone you use, the sharpening technique remains the same. When starting, draw the blade toward you at a 10-15° angle, focusing on one side of the blade until you can feel a burr. Then, flip the blade over and repeat the same technique on the other side.
Once done, take a few strokes on each side of the finishing stone to remove any burrs and then check the edge. If it’s not as sharp as you’d like, repeat the entire process until the desired level of sharpness is achieved.
Storage of Kitchen Knives
Making sure to store them as best as possible is just as important as sharpening and cleaning kitchen knives. If a knife is put away without a care, not only can the blade become damaged, but potential harm can come to yourself or others.
The best way to store kitchen knives is in a knife block, on a knife rack or in-drawer tray. These methods help to keep the edges of the blades protected and out of the reach of children. It’s also important to make sure that the knives are stored separately in an individual sheath or wrapped in a cloth if put in a drawer to prevent them from bumping against each other and becoming damaged.
Knife Maintenance
When it comes to kitchen knives, following a proper maintenance plan is essential to get the best performance out of them. Knowing what type of knife you have is the first step. Each type of knife requires a different level of care and maintenance.
A sharpening stone is your ideal knife sharpening solution to keeping your blades sharp and lasting as long as possible. With proper storage solutions so the knives are kept securely and safely in between uses.
With House of Knives, you can be sure to find the best kitchen knives for your needs. Whether it’s stainless steel or carbon steel knives, we provide quality knives that require minimal upkeep and will last for years to come.
In Summary
To maintain your kitchen knives for long-lasting performance, it's important to clean, sharpen and store them properly. Stainless steel knives are easy to take care of and can maintain their original shape and performance for many years with basic cleaning and sharpening.
Carbon steel knives require more maintenance ie. properly hand washed and dried after each use and ideally dabbed with a bit of oil to prevent rust forming. But this is a small price to pay as they offer the best edge retention and blade sharpness, as well as being the easiest to sharpen, making them the ideal choice for the serious cook.
Sharpening knives is essential to knife maintenance and should be done with a sharpening stone. Finally, to store kitchen knives, use a knife block, a magnetic rack or in-drawer tray to keep the edges of the blades protected and out of the reach of children. Knives should be stored separately in an individual sheath or wrapped in a cloth to prevent them from bumping against each other and becoming damaged.
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