Maintaining Your Knife Collection
Even the finest knives will deteriorate without proper care. These maintenance practices will keep your knives performing at their best for decades:
Daily Care#
Always hand wash knives immediately after use with mild soap and warm water
Dry completely before storing to prevent corrosion
Store in a knife block, on a magnetic strip, or with blade guards
Use appropriate cutting surfaces (wood or plastic, never glass or stone)
Never put knives in the dishwasher, regardless of manufacturer claims
Edge Maintenance#
Honing - Use a honing steel before each cooking session to realign the edge
Sharpening - Depending on use, sharpen every 2-6 months with whetstones or have them professionally sharpened
Stropping - For refined edges, stropping on leather helps remove the microscopic burr after sharpening
Storage Solutions#
Knife blocks - Protect edges but take up counter space and can harbor bacteria in slots
Magnetic strips - Save space and keep knives visible but may be harder on edges
In-drawer blocks - Protect knives while saving counter space
Blade guards - Ideal for storing knives in drawers or for travel
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