Maintaining and cleaning your kitchen knifes
The abrasive detergent and jostling motion of the dishwasher can easily damages your knives. Here are a few more reasons why you should hand wash your kitchen knives.
Protect What’s in Your Dishwasher
While washing the knives, the movement of the dishwasher causes the knives to rub up against whatever they are next to in the machine. Not only can you damage the surrounding items with sharp knives, but can also damage the physical dishwasher.
Save the Blade
If you have a knife with a thinner blade, like most Japanese knives, then the movement of the dishwasher along with the other dishes can easily ruin the blade’s edges. Also, the continuous stream of hot water from the machine can cause rust to form on reactive knife blades like those made from carbon steels. The chemicals and abrasive material used in detergents can weaken the steel and cause dullness.
Avoid Damaging the Handle
While the blades are very important, the handles of knives can also become damaged. Along with the hot temperature, the moisture trapped in the dishwasher is particularly damaging to knife handles, especially if they’re made out of wood.
Safety First
Another reason why you should hand wash your kitchen knives is for safety. It’s easy to get distracted while putting away the dishes, and if the blade of the knife is facing upward, it’s a recipe for disaster. If you face the blade downward, then the knife can cut the material of the dishwasher. Carefully washing and immediately drying the blade by hand is the safest method to clean your kitchen knives.
So, the next time you clean your kitchen knives, avoid the dishwasher, wash them by hand. This will allow you to keep your knives in pristine condition for many years.
- Never let it soak in water
- Never wash in a dishwasher, as the detergents will dull the knife edge. Always hand wash your knives.
- Do not use soap of any kind
- After cleaning the knife with a damp sponge dry the blade immediately with a clean, dry cloth
- Never leave it to air dry
- Store it in a dust-free drawer or knife block