Basic Knife Maintenance

A good knife is a great investment – whether it’s for your kitchen or for your hunting interests. To make sure these frequently costly purchases last you a long time, you must take good care of them. Here are some tips to help you maintain your knife purchases.

Knife Sharpening

Dull knives require the user to exert more force to cut something. This increases the chance of the knife slipping. This risk makes dull knives a hazard and is why knives should always be kept sharp. 

There are a few ways to sharpen your knives. An electric sharpener is convenient and easy. A whetstone, however, is more precise and more affordable. Most kitchen knife sets also come with a sharpening steel, which works like a whetstone.

Knife Storage

Proper knife storage is essential for keeping your knives in good condition. Simply throwing them in a drawer can damage the knives and be dangerous to you when you reach for one.

A magnetic strip is a great storage method for all knives. Install it wherever you have knives, whether it’s your garage, hunting cabin, or kitchen. The strip safely holds your knives and is easy to clean, so your knives can stay sanitary. Just be sure to install the strip out of the reach of children.

Many kitchen knife sets come with a wooden block. This is a convenient and organized method of storage. However, the blocks can be difficult to clean.

A knife sheath is great for individual knives. If you use this method, look for a sheath with a hinge, which makes cleaning much easier.

Knife Polishing

After years of use, knives frequently need polishing to return to an attractive state.

Carbon steel knives, one of the most popular varieties of knives, are, unfortunately, prone to discoloration. Using Noxon metal polish, scrub each knife with fine steal wool. This should remove any residue without adding discoloration.

Stainless steel knives can rust after years of use. To clean them, soak the knives overnight in oil. Then, scrub the knives with steal wool until they are clean. Nail polish removed also works well as a lubricant cleaner.

Terry Carter is a purveyor of Damascus Steel Knives. His favorite knife maker is Suchat Jangtanong.