what not Knife Handling: 7 Things to Avoid
For the past few years, we have chosen to rent houses whenever we travel for family vacations. It’s usually cheaper than booking several rooms in a hotel, and we save on food costs by cooking our own meals!
But cooking our own meals means using the tools provided in the kitchen, and those tools usually don’t look like they’ve been handled with care. My son-in-law is a chef, and he is always horrified by the condition of the knives in particular!
There are many things you should not do A good kitchen knife If you want to keep it in good condition, and those poor knives always look like they’ve suffered through most of them. In today’s post, I will share what not Do it with a knife so your knives can continue to perform their duty as the most important tool in your kitchen!
7 Ways You’re Misusing Your Kitchen Knives
1. You use it to open a box
Repeat after me: “I will not Use my kitchen knives to open the packages.” (I’m repeating that, because it’s possible I’ve been guilty of this in the past…)
Opening a box with your kitchen knives is a quick way to remove sharp edges from it, and it’s not very clean either. Instead, spend a few dollars on a set of box cutters (eg This $7 set) and store them where you tend to open packages.
Related: A neglected kitchen item you need to clean ASAP
2. You wash them in the dishwasher
Throwing your kitchen knife in the dishwasher may be the easiest way to clean it, but it’s definitely not the safest. Spray from the washer arm can knock your knife around, leading to dings, chips and a dull blade.
Instead, wash your fine knives by hand in warm, soapy water. It only takes a minute, and it’s an easy way to make sure it stays sharp and damage-free!
Related: There is one thing you need to know before cooking tonight’s meal
3. You store them in a drawer
Just like the inside of your dishwasher, kitchen drawers are another place where knives often get dull or bumped. Instead, store your knife on it Magnetic knife strip Or in a wooden knife block to keep it safe and close at hand.
4. You’re using it on the wrong cutting board
Another part of taking care of a good knife is making sure you’re using it on the right type of cutting board. Wood and plastic cutting boards are both good options that can help minimize potential damage.
If you want to keep your knife in good condition, avoid stone, glass and bamboo cutting boards. These materials are hard enough to dull your knives, and may even chip them!
5. You scoop with a sharp edge
Scooping ingredients with the sharp edge of your knife can quickly dull the blade. An easier option is to flip the knife over and scoop with the spine of the knife instead of the sharp edge.
Another option is to start using it Bench scraper Or a pastry scraper in the kitchen. They’re actually designed for the task of scraping and scooping (and it’s one of those things you’ll never know how to live without!).
Related: 11 Cheap Solutions for When You Don’t Have the Right Kitchen Tool
6. You don’t keep them sharp
It may surprise some people to hear it, but using a dull knife is often more dangerous than using a sharp knife. The reason is that you need to put more pressure on a dull knife to cut with it, so if the knife slips, it will result in a deeper cut!
Keeping your knives properly sharpened makes them safer and easier to use. Use it honing steel weekly to keep it sharp, and when it stops seeming like the honing steel is helping, Knife sharpener (Or take it to a local knife shop for professional sharpening.)
7. You use it for wrong things
A classic chef’s knife can be used for all sorts of different tasks in the kitchen, but other knives are more specialized. Take the time to identify the types of knives you have and what they will be used for.
There is a useful guide called “Thirty Types of Knives, Explained” A tasting table that will tell you everything you need to know about which knife to use for different tasks. Using the right knife not only makes the job easier, but it’s also better for your knives.
Do you have a go-to knife in your kitchen that you love?
