How to Keep Your Knife Sharp

Keeping your kitchen knives sharp is just as important as your regular sharpening regimen. Normal use can cause your knife blades to dull over time, but there are certain things that you can do as well as avoid doing in order to keep their edges sharp for longer and avoid taking your favourite blades to the smiths ever so frequently.

One of the best ways to make sure that your kitchen knives stay sharp and reliable is by selecting quality knives in the first place. When shopping for kitchen knives, buy from shops that you know can be trusted. You'll know this by simply looking at the available selection and the brands that the company offers. You know you're in good hands when you see brand names like Wusthof, Mac, Global, Chef's Choice, Furi, and de Buyer, among others. Choose a company that offers full product warranties and an easy returns and refunds policy, along with an ordering and delivery system that can be relied upon.

Using the right cutting board is also important to keep the blade's sharpness. A wooden cutting board is the best choice as it is soft enough not to damage the cutting edge of knives. Wooden boards with the end grain facing up, like a butcher's block are the best choice for a board, but you may also use plastic cutting boards if wood is not available. Avoid using glass and marble cutting boards as well as cutting directly on ceramic surfaces such as ceramic plates, as these may be too hard for the knives and cause premature chipping and dulling of the blades.

Another thing to remember when trying to maintain knives' sharpness is proper and regular cleaning. Avoid using the dishwasher and store your knives in proper knife blocks or knife holders instead of leaving them in a drawer, where they can get dull by banging around with other silverware.