13 Golden Rules For Using Kitchen Knives

While common sense generally dictates proper usage of a kitchen knife, more often than not common sense may prove not to be all that common.

According to the National Safety Council thousands of people in the U.S. alone show up in emergency rooms annually with injuries caused from using kitchen knives the worn way. Most if not all could be easily avoided by following some simple golden rules.

1. Always use a proper cutting board

Using the right type of cutting board is tantamount to protecting your knife’s blade, your counter top and your fingers. Wood, bamboo and plastic will preserve your knife’s edge while glass, metal, stone, and ceramic will dull them.

2. A sharp knife is a safe knife

When your kitchen knife is blunt it takes more force to cut food and could slip off the food’s surface toward your hand or fingers.

Keeping your knife blade sharp requires less effort and pounds per square inch so that if the blade slices nicely into the food you are cutting.

3. Use a proper cutting technique

When cutting any food always tuck your fingers under so your knuckles are always against the knife blade. And don’t forget to tuck you thumb back!

4. Choose a knife that fits your hand

Before you purchase any kitchen knife make sure that feels right in your hand.

These days most good cutlery stores provide a cutting board and some will even have a vegetable or two for you to try the knife on.

5. Only use a kitchen knife to cut things you can eat

As a general rule if you there is something that you wouldn’t bite into don’t cut it with your kitchen knife.

6. Never use a steak knife when preparing raw food

Use a chef’s knife or paring knife, even if these are the only two knives you own. In many households, the serrated steak knives are often the only sharp knives capable of cutting at all.

7. A serrated knife blade is not a saw

Don’t use  your bread knife for anything other than cutting bread or tomatoes.

8. Keep your cutting area clear

Don’t place any items on your cutting board that you don’t intend to cut.

9. Don’t toss your kitchen knives into your sink

Always hand wash and dry your kitchen knives after using them and remember to put them in a kitchen knife holder, plastic sheath or a magnetic rack.

10. A falling kitchen knife is a dangerous kitchen

If you drop your kitchen knife don’t grab for it as you may find you’ve grabbed the blade. Let it fall, especially if you are cooking barefooted.

11. Avoid huge kitchen knife gift sets

If you can spring for the extra cost you are better off buying knives that you really need rather than a huge block set of knives you’ll never use.

12. Safety should be your top priority

When using a cutting board it’s always a good idea to place a kitchen towel under it so that it won’t move around while you are preparing food.

13. Your kitchen knife blade is for cutting only

Never use the blade of your kitchen knife to sweep things off a cutting board, instead use the spine of the knife.