Take care of your cutlery and they will last a long time. It is necessary to correctly wash and hone them, and to put them carefully and safely – or else you’ll find that you’ll have to buy a new set once your knife becomes dull and rough. If you are wondering how to properly maintain your knife, we’ve got you covered. This article will guide you on maintaining your knofe set, allowing them to last you for a long time while being sharp and easy to use.
Can you put your knife in a dishwasher?
Although some companies say their cutlery is cleanable with a dishwasher, we always recommend hand washing to maintain their optimal condition. Instead of allowing knives to air dry, it is recommended to wash them in soap and warm water and afterwards clean them with something like a tea towel. Still, always verify dishwasher-safe statements before sticking your knives in a dishwasher.
Knife honing
A well sharpened knife is safer compared to dull knives. Dull or unsharpened blades take more power to cut, increasing the danger of sliding and injuring yourself. Here are many techniques for sharpening knives, ranging from specialized equipment to traditional stones:
Knife sharpening by hand
Start pulling your knife between the two revolving V-shaped spherical steels multiple times. The equipment used in manual knife sharpening is convenient to keep and even the most inexpensive technique of sharpening, but it can’t generate as sharp an edge as the other techniques.
Electric sharpening method
An electric sharpener uses round V-shaped steels similar to manual sharpeners, with the V-shaped steels having variable degrees of roughness. However, rather than pushing the knife on the steel, an electric knife sharpener buffs the knife with the revolving steels as you gently slide it over the V-shaped steels. It provides slightly less precision than a conventional sharpener and is often more costly, but it simplifies and speeds up honing.
Knife sharpening using whetstones
Sharpening stones or whetstones are recommended for more skilled cooks, who may expand their collection over time. Although the stones themselves are costly, generally around £30 to £500, they create the sharpest blades and eliminate the need for frequent sharpening. Honing stones are tiny rectangular stones measuring approximately 20cm × 8cm and varying in roughness. This may vary between 0 and 220 (extremely coarse) and 5000+ (very fine). For the majority of individuals, a single stone that features a grain size of 1000 paired with a stone that has a grain size of 3000 is sufficient.
Sharpening stones require practice to perfect since you must ensure that your knife is drawn over the stone at a specific angle; many scholars believe that 20 degrees angle is the correct one.
This is how to do it
To hone knives using whetstones, moisten the stones initially and maintain the moisture during the sharpening process. Run the knife blade over the whole body of the honing stone, beginning with the rough stone. Continue this procedure, substituting stones with lessening coarseness degrees.
