Cutlery Care & Handling

Cutlery is an important investment for any homeowner – if you cook at all then you need an array of sharp knives for food preparation and serving. Regardless of how fine a knife you may have, if it is not sharpened on a regular basis then not only is it not useful, but also potentially dangerous. That’s why it is important to own some kind of a knife sharpener – it may be an electric or manual knife sharpener; there are many different types available including sharpening steels and stones. You may even own a carving or chef’s knife set which includes a knife sharpener – the trick is to get into the habit of actually using it.

If you are uncomfortable with the mechanics of sharpening a knife then you may wish to invest in individual knife protectors with built-in sharpeners – the mere act of pulling the knife out of the holder is a sharpening action. Alternatively you will find that many television chefs enjoy using a sharpening steel or rod – a few quick swipes up and down the blade edge before using the knife are all you need to keep your knife razor sharp. 

Taking care of knives properly involves more than just keeping them sharp – proper storage is essential to protect and preserve your knives. When you toss a bunch of knives into a cutlery or gadget drawer you not only risk injury, you are likely to nick the knives and damage the blade or the edge. Knives are best stored in a knife block, on a magnetic knife strip, in individual knife protectors, in a fitted cutlery drawer or in a knife roll.