How to Care for a Newly Sharpened Knife
A freshly sharpened knife is not fragile — but it is at its most refined. A little care goes a long way toward preserving that edge.
Think of it less like a tool that needs babying, and more like a white dress shirt: perfectly suited for regular use, but not something you’d toss in with muddy jeans and hope for the best.
Skip the dishwasher and the dish rack
Never put a sharpened knife in the dishwasher.
- Heat degrades edges
- Detergents are corrosive
- Knives knock into other items
Dish racks aren’t much better. Edges get:
- Bumped
- Rolled
- Rested against hard metal
Wash by hand, wipe dry, put it away.
Wipe it down after use — especially carbon steel
After cutting:
- Give the blade a quick wipe
- Don’t leave moisture on the edge
This matters most for carbon steel, which can:
- Patina unevenly
- Spot-rust quickly
But even stainless benefits from staying dry.
Don’t scrape the board with the edge
Using the edge to scrape food off the board is one of the fastest ways to dull it.
Instead:
- Flip the knife and use the spine
- Or use a bench scraper
The edge is for cutting — not shoveling.
Avoid twisting, prying, and bones
Edges are designed for straight-line cutting.
Avoid:
- Twisting the blade mid-cut
- Prying food apart
- Hitting bones or hard joints
This is especially important with Japanese-style knives, which are thinner and harder. They cut exceptionally well — but don’t tolerate abuse.
Don’t let knives sit wet
Leaving a knife:
- On a wet board
- In a damp sink
- Under food residue
invites corrosion and edge degradation.
Clean it when you’re done, not later.
The analogy: a white shirt, not a museum piece
A sharp knife is like a white blouse or dress shirt.
You wear it.
You move in it.
You use it for its intended purpose.
But you don’t:
- Wipe grease on it
- Leave it crumpled in a wet pile
- Toss it into the wrong wash cycle
That doesn’t make it fussy. It makes it well cared for.
Bottom line
Good knife care isn’t about rules — it’s about habits.
A few small choices:
- Hand washing
- Quick drying
- Cutting with intention
will dramatically extend the life of your edge and reduce how often sharpening is needed.
