A knife will go a long way if you take care of it.
Keep knives sharp. Sharp knives are easier to use than dull ones because dull knives require more pressure for cutting, which can result in slipping. Cutlery sets often come with steel rods–which smooth the blade surface–to maintain the knives’ sharpness. For maximum performance, Chicago Cutlery recommends using the rod on knives after every couple of uses.
For best results, hand wash your knives with a soapy cloth and dry immediately. Soaking wood-handled knives in water can remove the natural oils in the handles. Dishwashing may cause banging against other dishes and nick the knife edges. Heat and detergent also may have a corrosive effect on the handles.
Never store sharp knives loose in a drawer. Contact with hard objects can dull the blade. Reaching into a knife drawer also can be dangerous. Store in hardwood blocks (or with blades in sheaths).
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Edited by Cara DiPasquale (cdipasquale@tribune.com) and Victoria Rodriguez (vrodriguez@tribune.com)
