Easy Fixes for Kitchen Knives

Good tools will always make preparing food easier and maybe even make cooking more fun. Keep your kitchen knives in top working order with the below tips and tricks.

Firm up your grip

The metal rivets that secure the handle onto a knife (or other cutlery) can become loose over time, but are easy to tighten.

1. Place the handle on a solid surface and position the tip of a centre punch — a hardened steel spike — on the centre of the rivet.
2. Use a hammer to strike the centre punch just hard enough to leave a small dimple; this will slightly expand the rivet and hold the handle firmly.

Warm the metal to work it more easily

If you suspect your knife is bent, lay the blade on a flat tabletop; if the blade doesn't make contact with the table consistently along its length, it will need straightening to ensure a clean, safe cut.

1. Most knives are made from stainless steel, which is tough to bend if it gets out of shape. To make the job easier, stand the bent knife in a jug of boiling water for a few minutes.
2. Establish where the bend occurs by looking carefully down the length of the blade. Lay the blade on the edge of a solid table with the bowed side facing downward. Position the knife so that the bent area is directly over the edge of the table, which will act as the fulcrum when you bend the knife back into shape.
3. Place a cloth over the blade and press it down hard on the tabletop with one hand. Use the other hand to push down on the knife handle to straighten the blade. Work gently and slowly — one large bend may cause the blade to fracture.
4. Check the blade, then repeat the process until the blade is straight.

1. Wash blades by hand — keep knives and other kitchen blades out of the dishwasher where they can get damaged or blunted.
2. For the same reason, store blades separately from other cutlery, never loose in a drawer.
3. Use a wooden or plastic chopping board — glass and ceramic boards may look good but may damage the cutting edge.
4. Use the right blade for the job, and never use your good knife as a lever, screwdriver or box cutter.

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