Now that you've made a purchase or planning to get one from our of Damascus Steels Knives, Folding Knives, Chef's Knives and Stainless Steel Knives, here are some tips for how to keep them in perfect working order.
1. Keep Them Clean and Dry.
While this may sound simple, and it is, the truth is that even a little residual water or soap left on your knives can have a negative lasting effect. So even if they're designed to withstand the harsh environment of the dishwasher, it's still best to hand wash your knives immediately after use with warm, soapy water and wipe them completely dry before putting them back in their place. Just be sure to avoid abrasive or colored sponges when washing your knives as this can scratch the metal and even damage or discolor the blade.
2. Keep Them Out of the Dishwasher.
As mentioned before, always hand wash those knives! A dishwasher is a harsh place for delicate tools like knives. They can bang around and get scratched and chipped while hitting other utensils and the chemicals in detergent can discolor the metal of the blade, while the water that sits on the blade while drying can easily turn to rust. And don’t forget about the heat! High temperatures can destroy the temper of the steel by making it expand and contract, which can weaken and dull the blade while also increasing the chances of rust.
3. Keep Them Out of the Sink.
To protect yourself (and your knives), never leave your kitchen knives in the sink, especially a sink full of water! Leaving your knives soaking in water is not only dangerous, but can wreak havoc on your knives – not to mention the possibility of forgetting about them while doing dishes and accidentally grabbing the sharp blade. Even worse, curious little hands can also unknowingly reach into the sink and meet a sharp knife.
Leaving your knives in sitting water also isn’t good for the blades either (remember the rust?), so always be sure to hand wash and dry after each use. Even if the sink is empty, it still isn’t the best place for a knife. If it ends up bumping the side of the sink or other dishes, you may be left with chips, scrapes, or a damaged blade overall.
4. Keep Them Out of the Drawer.
Properly storing your knives is important, as well. If you have a knife block, be sure to use it and make sure your knives are dry before storing them. If you don’t have a knife block, you may want to invest in one and always keep it in a sheath.
For the same reason as sitting in a sink, storing your knives loosely in a drawer can be dangerous for you as well as the blade.
5. Keep Them on the Right Cutting Boards.
Using cutting boards is essential in all kitchen prep, and choosing the right one is essential for keeping your knives sharp. Look for cutting boards made of wood, bamboo, or plastic. Never use granite, marble, glass or steel countertops as a cutting surface for meal prep. These materials are extremely hard and will roll the edge of your blade, dulling your knives very quickly. Wood and plastic are softer materials that yield to the edge of your knife and protect the sharpness of your blade.
6. Keep Them Sharp.
Your damascus knives can be the most important and yet the most dangerous tools in the kitchen. Even if you’re careful, using a dull kitchen knife can be extremely dangerous for your fingers, so it’s vital to keep them sharp.
When a knife goes dull, it becomes both inefficient and dangerous. If your knife can't slice right through a piece of paper, it’s not sharp enough to cleanly cut through your food, either. Instead, it forces you to apply more pressure, increasing your chances of losing control over the knife. This means it can also slip and slide all over ingredients with tough or slippery skins which can result in cutting your fingers rather than your food.