Damascus kitchen knives are often crafted from the layering and forging of different steel materials—such as nickel and carbon steel. When crafted the right way, the blade comes with excellent edge retention, durability, and intricate wavy patterns. Even though these premium knives are designed to offer unparalleled durability, you still need to give them proper care to maintain their aesthetics and functionality.
But what exactly are the best ways to care for your Damascus knife set? You’ll find everything you need to care for and maintain your knife as you continue reading this post.
1. Things you should never do
For you to get the most out of your Damascus kitchen knife set, be sure to avoid the following practices:
- Don’t leave your knife’s blade resting in standing water. Doing this won’t only cause rust and corrosion. In addition, it may end up damaging the distinctive patterns of your knife.
- Furthermore, make sure to avoid resting the blade on a damp cloth/tea towel. Over time, moisture may react with the steel material and cause damage to the knife.
- You should also avoid storing the knife in close contact with the leather. Since leather tends to retain acid and moisture, storing your knife in close contact with it can lead to rust and corrosion.
- Lastly, don’t ever wash your Damascus kitchen knife in a dishwasher. You may end up damaging the blade in the process due to high heat and harsh detergent.
2. Understand the proper cleaning techniques
If it’s not okay to wash your Damascus kitchen knife set in a dishwasher, then what is the best way to clean the tools?
- The best approach is to wash them by hand.
- Mild soap and warm water are enough to get the knives cleaned manually.
- Soaking the knives for a longer period is not recommended. Excessive moisture can make the blade and edge less effective.
3. Store the Damascus steel knife set correctly
Proper storage is crucial to maintaining your Damascus kitchen knife set today. It helps to keep the blade and edge from rusting. In addition, proper storage also prevents kitchen accidents.
Some of the best ways to store the knives are:
- Try using a knife block for quick access and proper organization.
- A good magnetic strip can also help to display the knives perfectly.
- If you must store the knives in the drawer, ensure to use blade guards.
4. Maintaining the sharpness
As earlier mentioned, top-quality Damascus kitchen knife sets are designed to deliver excellent edge retention. While this is true, you need to understand that even the best blades can lose their edge over time. To avoid this issue, then you need to understand how to keep your knives sharp:
- Avoid doing things that will affect the blade’s performance.
- Consider honing the knife regularly. Doing this will certainly realign the edge. It also maintains the blade’s sharpness.
- We recommend the use of a whetstone for a more thorough sharpening. The coarse grit helps to shape the blade while the fine grit helps to keep the edge polished.
5. Avoid cutting on hard surfaces
Cutting on hard surfaces is not advised if you want to enjoy your Damascus kitchen knife set for a longer period. Ensure to avoid the following surfaces when cutting:
- Glass
- Metal
- Stone
These materials will quickly dull your blade and render the knife useless.
Wrapping up
Damascus kitchen knives are worth investing in today because of their durability, quality, performance, and beauty. With the aforementioned tips, you should be able to maintain your knives for a longer period.
At Faneema Cutlery, you’ll find exceptional Damascus knives that suit your home or professional kitchen. Treating the knives with care is crucial to enjoy them for a longer period. If you need help caring for your knives today, experts at Faneema Cutlery are readily available to provide you with professional guidance.