KITCHEN KNIFE CARE

Keep them sharper longer

Basics

Storage Location

Protect cutting edges by storing knives both dry and separate from others. Avoid sinks and dishwashers because of the risk of collisions and aggressive changes in temperature. Seek softer cutting boards when in use. 

Home Service

A few passes on a strop (or hone) can both 1) straighten bent edges and 2) apply texture, "grit," to make cutting tomatoes and the like easier between sharpening (removing material) services.

Sharp

Angles meet equally (straight) to craft cutting edges.

Dulling

Edges bend with use. Landing sideways, dragging the knife edge, hard sinks and boards do this. Strops and hones can push these edges back straight.

Dull

After metal is missing, at a rocker or a chipped spot, sharpening (removing material) is required to craft a new cutting edge.