Knives are probably the most important tools in any kitchen. They are used for chopping fruits, vegetables and even meat. Clean knives are extremely important tools, be it the smallest kitchens to big butcher’s shops. Spotted or rusty knives can be quite a nuisance. It will not only be tough to cut any edible item with them, but it also raises the risk of bacterial infections.

1. Hand Wash your knives

Leaving your knives in the dishwasher can cause potential damage to its blade, in form of rust or otherwise. A butcher’s knife isn’t designed to be thrashed with huge volumes of hot water for long periods of time. Hand washing your knives can solve this problem. Don’t let chunks of meat sit on the blade of your knife for too long. It is important to rinse it manually immediately after usage and then dry it carefully before storing it. Keeping it away in sink will let the meat harden on the blade of your knife and become difficult to wash later. Similarly, if you leave your knife in stagnant water it can rust your knife’s blade.

2. Care for your Knife Handle too

A butcher has a vast range of good quality knives. Most of us use knives with wooden handles. Over-washing such knives can cause potential damage to the wooden handle. It can lead the wooden part getting soaked with water and cause a crack due to swelling.  Also, store your knives in a dry place which isn’t exposed to a lot of moisture. Your knife’s bottom is as important as the blade, as they both together form a unit.

3. Sharpening the Knife

A knife blade gets blunt after repeated usage. Especially, cutting regularly through meat and bones can wear out the blade significantly. It is important to sharpen your knives every now and then using a good quality knife sharpener. Steel sharpeners can not only sharpen the knife blade perfectly but also realign it so that it lies in the central position. A sharpening oilstone can also be used to sharpen the knives.  A sharpened knife is not only easier to use but also safer in comparison. Butcher blocks are most frequently used when cutting meat. Wooden butcher blocks do not blunt the knives much as compared to marble or plastic ones. Hence, it is recommended to use wooden blocks.

4. Safe Storage

Butcher’s knives have thin and sharp blades that can lead to a problem if there is any outside interference, especially with moisture. If the blades are exposed to a damp atmosphere it can lead to significant rusting which can weaken the blades. Storing them in a cool and dry place to protect them would be a good measure. Having a customized knife rack can store all your knives according to their size or usage.

Proper Knife Care is important to maintain a standard of cleanliness through the range of your knives with different kind of blades. Buying new knife sets each time your knives get rusty or old can cause a dent in your pocket. Using the above tips to safeguard your precious knives will definitely increase their lifespan and utility.