April 24, 2015

Cooking tips: How to use and maintain your kitchen knives

By Daniel Craig
PhillyVoice Staff

In many ways, the kitchenware you use can be as important to your meal as the ingredients.

You probably don't think much about the cooking knives you use when preparing your food. However, knowing how to use them properly and keeping them clean and sharp can make life in the kitchen much easier.

Here are some important tips on how to care for and utilize your cutlery.

Sharpening

If there's anybody you should listen to about cooking, it's Gordon Ramsay. Invest in a sharpening steel, and find out how to use it:

Cleaning

Don't just throw your cooking knives in the dishwasher, as, with many brands, that can cause rust. Carefully (they're sharp, duh) clean them manually, and watch this video to find out how:

Safety

Nothing ruins a homemade dinner more than a bloody accident. It may sound obvious, but make sure to take extreme caution anytime you use one of your kitchen knives. Find out how to properly use your knives without slicing open your hand here:

The Right Cuts

Just because you're not a chef for a five-star restaurant doesn't mean you can't feel like one. Check out some of these basic knife skills to help you cook like you're on "Top Chef:"