Utterly Home
  • Kitchen
    • Kitchen
      Things You Can Make With A Stand Alone…

      July 22, 2021

      Kitchen
      10 Best Outdoor Pizza Ovens

      August 12, 2019

      Kitchen
      Best Wall Wine Racks of 2019

      May 8, 2019

      Kitchen
      Best Cutting Boards of 2020

      April 30, 2019

      Kitchen
      Best Knife Sets of 2020

      April 30, 2019

  • Kitchen Ideas
    • Kitchen Ideas
      Chocolate Chip Dessert Pizza

      August 28, 2019

      Kitchen Ideas
      How to Make the Best Homemade Pizza

      August 19, 2019

      Kitchen Ideas
      15 Amazing Pizza Toppings Ideas

      August 14, 2019

      Kitchen Ideas
      10 Ways to Use Leftover Wine at Home

      May 14, 2019

      Kitchen Ideas
      Winter Wines You’ll Love This Season

      May 14, 2019

  • Backyard
    • Backyard
      WORX WG163 String Trimmer Review

      January 23, 2020

      Backyard
      Best Above Ground Pools

      January 16, 2020

      Backyard
      Snow Joe SJ620 Single Stage Snow Blower Review

      December 10, 2019

      Backyard
      Top 5 Best Single Stage Snow Blowers

      October 2, 2019

      Backyard
      10 Best Snow Blowers For Home Use

      August 26, 2019

  • Backyard Tips
    • Backyard Tips
      How to winterize above ground pools

      January 14, 2020

      Backyard Tips
      Best Non-Stick Spray for Snow Blowers

      November 12, 2019

      Backyard Tips
      Snow Blower Buying Guide

      September 9, 2019

      Backyard Tips
      Best Way to Clear Snow From Your Drive

      September 2, 2019

      Backyard Tips
      How to Take Care of Your Garden Hedges

      July 23, 2019

  • Household
    • Best Natural Gas Water Heaters
    • Best Electric Heaters
    • Best Electric Tankless Water Heater
    • Best Electric Baseboard Heaters
    • Best Home Air Fresheners
    • Best Electric Blankets
    • Best Handheld Carpet Cleaner
      • haya mix
        • coolshe.net
  • Household Tips
    • Household Tips
      A Beginner’s Guide To Deep Pour Epoxy

      June 10, 2022

      Household Tips
      Credit Repair: A Path to Your Dream Home…

      February 16, 2022

      Household Tips
      What Gets Checked In A House Survey?

      February 15, 2022

      Household Tips
      Top 5 Wall Decor Ideas to Refresh Your…

      February 3, 2022

      Household Tips
      9 Different Types of Sofa

      July 4, 2021

  • Bedroom
    • Bedroom
      5 Benefits of Using an Electric Blanket

      September 20, 2019

      Bedroom
      Electric Blanket Safety Tips for Your Home

      September 16, 2019

      Bedroom
      10 Best Electric Blankets

      August 21, 2019

  • Kids
    • Kids
      Why You Need a Specialist Doctor for ADHD…

      April 24, 2021

      Kids
      20 Best Pokémon Stuffed Animals

      November 4, 2019

      Kids
      Best Play Kitchens for Children

      October 30, 2019

      Kids
      Best Building Toys for Children

      October 23, 2019

      Kids
      Top 10 Best Baby Blankets

      October 21, 2019

Popular Posts
A Beginner’s Guide To Deep Pour Epoxy
Getting Out of Credit Card Debt in 3...
Where To Buy A King Size Bed In...
Credit Repair: A Path to Your Dream Home...
What Gets Checked In A House Survey?
Tips For Air Duct Cleaning
Renting Construction Equipment
What To Look For When Hiring A Roofing...
Top 5 Wall Decor Ideas to Refresh Your...
These Home Improvement Tips Will Get You Thinking!
Utterly Home
  • Kitchen
    • Kitchen
      Things You Can Make With A Stand Alone…

      July 22, 2021

      Kitchen
      10 Best Outdoor Pizza Ovens

      August 12, 2019

      Kitchen
      Best Wall Wine Racks of 2019

      May 8, 2019

      Kitchen
      Best Cutting Boards of 2020

      April 30, 2019

      Kitchen
      Best Knife Sets of 2020

      April 30, 2019

  • Kitchen Ideas
    • Kitchen Ideas
      Chocolate Chip Dessert Pizza

      August 28, 2019

      Kitchen Ideas
      How to Make the Best Homemade Pizza

      August 19, 2019

      Kitchen Ideas
      15 Amazing Pizza Toppings Ideas

      August 14, 2019

      Kitchen Ideas
      10 Ways to Use Leftover Wine at Home

      May 14, 2019

      Kitchen Ideas
      Winter Wines You’ll Love This Season

      May 14, 2019

  • Backyard
    • Backyard
      WORX WG163 String Trimmer Review

      January 23, 2020

      Backyard
      Best Above Ground Pools

      January 16, 2020

      Backyard
      Snow Joe SJ620 Single Stage Snow Blower Review

      December 10, 2019

      Backyard
      Top 5 Best Single Stage Snow Blowers

      October 2, 2019

      Backyard
      10 Best Snow Blowers For Home Use

      August 26, 2019

  • Backyard Tips
    • Backyard Tips
      How to winterize above ground pools

      January 14, 2020

      Backyard Tips
      Best Non-Stick Spray for Snow Blowers

      November 12, 2019

      Backyard Tips
      Snow Blower Buying Guide

      September 9, 2019

      Backyard Tips
      Best Way to Clear Snow From Your Drive

      September 2, 2019

      Backyard Tips
      How to Take Care of Your Garden Hedges

      July 23, 2019

  • Household
    • Best Natural Gas Water Heaters
    • Best Electric Heaters
    • Best Electric Tankless Water Heater
    • Best Electric Baseboard Heaters
    • Best Home Air Fresheners
    • Best Electric Blankets
    • Best Handheld Carpet Cleaner
      • haya mix
        • coolshe.net
  • Household Tips
    • Household Tips
      A Beginner’s Guide To Deep Pour Epoxy

      June 10, 2022

      Household Tips
      Credit Repair: A Path to Your Dream Home…

      February 16, 2022

      Household Tips
      What Gets Checked In A House Survey?

      February 15, 2022

      Household Tips
      Top 5 Wall Decor Ideas to Refresh Your…

      February 3, 2022

      Household Tips
      9 Different Types of Sofa

      July 4, 2021

  • Bedroom
    • Bedroom
      5 Benefits of Using an Electric Blanket

      September 20, 2019

      Bedroom
      Electric Blanket Safety Tips for Your Home

      September 16, 2019

      Bedroom
      10 Best Electric Blankets

      August 21, 2019

  • Kids
    • Kids
      Why You Need a Specialist Doctor for ADHD…

      April 24, 2021

      Kids
      20 Best Pokémon Stuffed Animals

      November 4, 2019

      Kids
      Best Play Kitchens for Children

      October 30, 2019

      Kids
      Best Building Toys for Children

      October 23, 2019

      Kids
      Top 10 Best Baby Blankets

      October 21, 2019

How to Care For Your Kitchen Knives

by Kathy Joe April 18, 2019
written by Kathy Joe April 18, 2019
HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR KITCHEN KNIVES

UtterlyHome.com may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page.

As the saying goes… A dull knife is a chef’s worst enemy. Well… that’s actually not the real saying.  The real quote is, “A sharp knife is a chef’s best friend.”

But this revelation usually takes place when your working with a knife so dull that you end up demolishing your tomatoes (or even worse, cutting yourself). The difference between being a master in the kitchen and just another person struggling at home starts with how you care for your knives.

Table of Contents

  • 7 Tips On Caring For Your Kitchen Knives
    • 1. Don’t Leave Them in the Sink
    • 2. Don’t Store Your Knives in the Utensils Drawer
    • 3. Wash Your Knives by Hand, Never in the Dishwasher
    • 4. Don’t Leave Them to Dry in the Dish Rack
    • 5. Hone Your Blade Before Each Use
    • 6. Sharpen Your Knife at Least Once a Year
    • 7. Always Cut On Cutting Boards

7 Tips On Caring For Your Kitchen Knives

A high-quality kitchen knife can cost you over $100, but it’s the type of investment that will make you want to run to the kitchen when you get home (rather than run far, far away). An investment into a good set of knives will make chopping veggies a quick (and easy) experience, so kitchen knife care is very important. This article is not just how to clean knives or how to clean a knife and maintain them, it is also about safe use and storage.

Not only can it making dicing up a few onions actually fun, but it’s also much safer. There are many different types of kitchen knives but a dull one is one of the biggest hazards in any kitchen. Before you go out and invest in a chef’s knife (or a whole set), there are a few things you’ll need to know about caring for your essential kitchen knives. One of the best tips we can give is on how to clean kitchen knives, as this plays a huge role in the care of them.

1. Don’t Leave Them in the Sink

Do not Leave Your Knives in the Sink

Kitchen knife care is about safety for you and your family, not just knife maintenance.

You’ve been there. I’ve been there. Everyone’s been there. You reach your hand into the bubbly sink full of dishes and all of a sudden… “Ouch!” There’s a knife in there!

Not only is it a hazard for whoever is washing the dishes, but leaving them in the sink can be very damaging for your knives. The moment you’re done with it, wash, dry, and put it back in your block.

How your blade can be damaged: Scratching, altering, rusting, bending or breaking

2. Don’t Store Your Knives in the Utensils Drawer

Utensils Drawer

Another of our knife tips is quite sensible once you think about it. Just like leaving a knife in the sink, leaving them in a utensils drawer is asking for trouble. The blade can quickly be scratched or dented from being scrambled around from opening and closing the drawer.

If you don’t have a block to store your them in, you can buy a sheath (a protective knife case) to guard your blade.

3. Wash Your Knives by Hand, Never in the Dishwasher

Wash Your Knives by Hand

It might seem quite obvious how to wash knives, but all is not that obvious. The dishwasher might be convenient, but there’s a high risk that the blade will get dinged during the wash cycle along with the fact that the detergents that are used can be abrasive and discolor them. Always wash your knives by hand and the blade will thank and reward you.

4. Don’t Leave Them to Dry in the Dish Rack

Do Not Leave Your Knives to Dry in the Dish Rack

When thinking about knife care and maintenance this is another important tip. Leaving your knives to dry in the dish rack can lead to dulling the blade if it’s next to any other utensils. Mold and mildew can even build upon it as bacteria are attracted to moisture (not to mention, it can cause an odor).

It can also introduce potential rusting if it is exposed to water too much over the course of its life, although this should never be the case if you have invested in quality. To protect it from dulling and rust, dry immediately after washing, this is also due to the safety of not exposing the blade to fingers and hands when grabbing another utensil from the dishrack.

5. Hone Your Blade Before Each Use

Hone Your Blade Before Each Use

Don’t worry, it’s not as scary as it sounds. Most knife sets come with a honing steel (that long metal thing that no one ever touches). The honing steel is not a sharpener. Rather, it actually pushes the edge of the blade back to the center, realigning it without taking off much (if any) material.

The blade will seem sharper after honing it as it is straightened. A quick 15 seconds of sliding your blade edge from end to end (on each side) is all it takes to quickly prep your blade before use.

6. Sharpen Your Knife at Least Once a Year

Sharpen Your Knife at Least Once a Year

Sharpening your knife is something you should do once a year (and if you’re really dedicated, even more). It involves actually shaving off bits of the blade to produce a completely new edge. You should go to a professional to have them sharpened every year.

If you find yourself using your knives quite a bit, you can get a tool called a wet stone (exactly what it sounds like), to sharpen up your blade throughout the year as well.

7. Always Cut On Cutting Boards

Always Cut On Cutting Boards

Never… ever… ever… cut on the countertop. Or on a plate. Countertops are almost always too hard of a surface for the blade to handle (not to mention, your countertops will get terribly damaged).

Stick with cutting boards (ideally solid wood) that doesn’t slide. A good knife is your ultimate companion in the kitchen.

Pro tip: If you have a smaller, thinner cutting board that slides, get a cloth wet, wring it out, and place it flat under the cutting board before using it. It will make it stick, allowing you an easier cut.

By using these seven simple tips for your kitchen knife care, you set yourself up for success in the short term, and the long term. Knives are a fragile tool that if mishandled, can be damaged with the slightest form of mistreatment.

Taking just a little extra time for knife care and maintenance or your knives will allow you to flourish in the kitchen. Mastering your knives is the first step in establishing your victory in the kitchen that even your friends and family will notice and appreciate.

0 comment
0
FacebookTwitterGoogle +Pinterest
Kathy Joe

Houseproud wife and mum of two, I'm always keeping myself busy. Whether it's trying out the latest gadgets, fixing up new recipes or even coming up with ideas to keep the kids entertained! Now I'm here to share my how to's, product reviews, recipes and more, all to help you bring your home to life. After all, home is where your story begins.

You may also like

Chocolate Chip Dessert Pizza

August 28, 2019

How to Make the Best Homemade Pizza

August 19, 2019

15 Amazing Pizza Toppings Ideas

August 14, 2019

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

About Me

About Me

Welcome To Utterly Home

At Utterly Home, we help you turn your house into a home. How to's, product reviews, recipes, home DIY guides and more, so join us and bring your kitchen to life, create a space just for the kids or learn how to cook your favorite meal.


After all, home is where your story begins.

Utterylhome.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for website owners to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon(.com, .co.uk, .ca etc) and any other website that may be affiliated with Amazon Service LLC Associates Program.

Popular Categories

Promotion Image

Best of Kitchen

Promotion Image

Best of Backyard

Promotion Image

Best of kids

Popular Posts

  • 1

    Best Heaters for Your Basement

    November 19, 2019
  • 2

    Best Non-Stick Spray for Snow Blowers

    November 12, 2019
  • 3

    Rinnai RL75iN Natural Gas Tankless Water Heater Review

    November 26, 2019
  • 4

    20 Best Pokémon Stuffed Animals

    November 4, 2019
  • 5

    Water Heater Leaking from the Bottom

    December 3, 2019
  • 6

    Snow Joe SJ620 Single Stage Snow Blower Review

    December 10, 2019

Sign Up To Our Newsletter

Subscribe to the newsletter for the latest home tips. Let's stay updated!

Best Kitchen Knife Sets Side Bar Banner

Stay Up To Date with Utterly Home

Subscribe to the newsletter for the latest home tips. Let's stay updated!

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Earnings Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy

© 2019 Utterly Home. All Rights Reserved.


Back To Top