Knife care
Whether in the kitchen, on a walk in nature or during DIY work, a knife can be used to cut various kinds of objects and materials. Every knife requires particular care if you want it to always be effective when you need it most. Therefore, it must be cleaned thoroughly after use and sharpened regularly.
These cleaning and sharpening operations depend essentially on the nature of the knife blade. It is therefore important to know what material the blade was made from in order to apply the appropriate care.
Generally, a knife blade has been designed from ceramic, stainless steel or carbon steel. Regardless of the main material with which the blade was made, it is always preferable to clean your knife manually without using the dishwasher.
The ceramic knife is the easiest to maintain
The ceramic knife is hard, however it is not suitable for all uses. It is best used for cutting vegetables rather than meat, except for fillet. You should also be careful about the work surface — it is not advisable to use a ceramic knife directly on stainless steel, glass, stone or ceramic.
After use, it can be cleaned with water and left to air dry freely as it is non-corrosive. Generally, it should not need sharpening. However, if you feel your ceramic knife needs it, you should use a specific sharpener. All accessories to care for your knife are on Khurts.
A stainless steel knife requires a little care
As its name suggests, this type of knife generally does not oxidize. However, it must be cared for to extend its lifespan. To maintain it, try not to use overly aggressive cleaners so as not to damage it. Clean it with a mild soap and warm water after each use — dish soap is not recommended at all. Do not let it air dry but wipe it with a cotton cloth.
To sharpen this type of knife, it is recommended to use a fine, highly abrasive stone.
A carbon steel knife requires some precautions
This type of knife has no elements that protect it against oxidation, so it must be handled with great care if you want it to last. Therefore, it is advisable to clean it with a simple clean cloth after use, without using water. However, you can use water if you wish. In that case, limit its contact with this liquid as much as possible to prevent rust from setting in. Do not soak it in water or let it air dry. Also avoid harsh cleaning products such as dish soap and store it in a dry place.
You can sharpen it with a fine-grained stone.
Some old-fashioned remedies that can restore the shine of your knife
Some old-fashioned tips can help you properly care for a knife if you use them correctly. For example, potatoes contain starch which acts as a rust inhibitor. You should rinse and dry your knife after carefully applying potato starch to the blade. Heated white vinegar can also clean a blade very well. Simply rub it with a cloth soaked in this substance and then wipe it with another clean cloth.
