What Are Some Knife Safety Tips?

Karl Pfitzenreiter has been in the business of cutlery for 24 years. He is the president and CEO of J.A. Henckels, a position he has held for the last 20 years. Pfitzenreiter suggests, "When using the knife and the knife falls for whatever reason, never ever try to grab a falling knife. If a knife is falling, jump away from it and let it fall. Make sure you are far away from it." Trying to catch a knife that slips may be a reflex but it can be very dangerous and may actually be worse than letting the knife fall to the floor.

Storing knives safely is imperative to keep them sharp and to keep everyone around them safe. Pfitzenreiter says, "If you mix them (knives) up with other gadgets in your drawer, there is a high risk that the knife's edge is up and you will cut yourself. So if you have it in a storage block or a knife tray, they can be stored safely and nobody can get hurt." Many knife sets come with a wooden storage block, a storage box, a tray or some other way to safely store your knives away from other cutlery pieces. These are a good idea to use regularly to prevent accidental injuries.

Proper handling of a knife is critical to reduce the risk of an accidental injury. Keeping knives sharp is important so they will slice through items easily without requiring the user to exert excessive force that may cause the knife to slip out of his hand. Proper technique and using the correct knife for the cutting job will reduce risks as well. Pfitzenreiter says, "Always cut away from your body or slice away from your body not towards your body. If you slice a tomato or potatoes and you use one hand to hold the vegetable and use the other one to slice it, bend your fingertips to the inside of the hand and slide the blade along your knuckles. Never go with the edge above the knuckles and never put your fingertips out." Pfitzenreiter adds, "The proper way to hold a knife is really very, very tough to explain. You probably have to demonstrate and to show it. I would say for the average person to really just hold it at the handle." It is advisable to use a cutting board rather than a counter top or surface that may not be stable and solid. Never hold an item in your hand that you are cutting such as a piece of fruit.

Some restaurants or cooking schools offer classes in proper use of kitchen knives. Often these instructional opportunities are referred to as knife skill classes. Basically in such a class a chef or culinary expert will demonstrate how to select and use various knives for particular cooking tasks. They teach how to use many knives with skill and efficiency.

It is highly suggested that you wash all knives by hand rather than placing them in a dishwasher. Some dishwasher manufacturer's say it is safe to clean knives and cutlery in their machines but sometimes detergents and hot water can cause damage over time. Wood handles on knives are susceptible to cracking with repeated exposure to hot water and being left damp. Proper storage is a good way to keep your knives and cutlery in good shape for a very long time.

Many knife sets come with wooden knife blocks, storage boxes or storage trays. By using these and separating your knives from other cutlery items you will reduce the chance of the pieces rubbing together which may cause the blades to become dull sooner.