Knives: A guide to spotless cleaning and maintenance

Cleaning techniques – what do you need to bear in mind?

It is not an art form, and is simply part and parcel of commercial kitchens and the like: cleaning knives. Nevertheless, there are a few factors to bear in mind:

Cleaning agents

Coarse dirt can be removed with a cloth; warm to hot water is recommended for a quick wash. This is best combined with a mild alkaline cleaning agent – one free from harsh chemicals that could damage the material. A sponge can be used to remove both large and small stains. Finally, dry the cutting tool with a clean cloth. This is how knives can be cleaned.

Procedure

Machine cleaning is tempting, as things often need to be done quickly in the food industry. Unfortunately, standard dishwashers are not suitable for knife cleaning. The cleaning agents used in them are usually too harsh, and the prolonged heat can damage the knives’ material. Added to this is the risk that the cutting tools may be affected by surface rust.

To get round these drawbacks, professional food processing can make use of specialised knife cleaning systems. These clean, dry and disinfect the knives gently and, in most cases, in a single operation. Mechanised and time-efficient. Those working on a smaller scale who do not use specialised machines should opt for manual cleaning to ensure gentle yet effective results. Hand washing allows for good control over the wear and tear on the knives and ensures proper hygiene. Therefore, the procedure is as follows: wash with warm water, apply a mild cleaning agent and clean using a sponge. Rinse with clean water and finally dry thoroughly – by hand.

How often do knives need to be cleaned?

Cutting different foods one after the other and then cleaning the knife at the end of the day? Unfortunately, no! To ensure impeccable food safety, much more frequent cleaning is required: after every use or whenever you change the food you’re cutting. This is the only way to Cross-contamination avoid this reliably. This step is particularly important for people with allergies, but also for the knife itself. Some foods, such as certain salts or acidic products, quickly corrode the blade and damage the knife if left in prolonged contact.

Beyond cleaning: maintenance & storage

Taking good care of your knives involves a number of aspects: storing them in a knife hygiene box or another knife holder not only helps to keep them clean, but also contributes to their longevity. It protects the blades and keeps your kitchen tools organised in one place – whilst keeping your work surfaces tidy. In this context, ‘tools’ refers not only to the knives themselves, but also to the accessories. Cut-resistant gloves and a whetstone can also be stored there.

Sharpening is also an essential part of keeping your knives in good condition. At the same time, this ensures that the blades of your tools remain sharp and effective. Of course, this only applies if the sharpening is carried out correctly. How this is done depends on the method used. In our shop, for example, you will find the following options:

• Steel for sharpening, also available as a pocket sharpening steel

• Knife sharpeners set (base plate)

• Whetstone

• Knife sharpeners for mounting

• Polishing and grinding stone

• And lots more accessories

You can find information, tips and tricks on grinding and sharpening in our Blog post.

Further tips for maintaining cutting power

Whether you opt for knife hygiene boxes, knife holders, roll-up pouches or blade guards – in any case, the blades of the various knives should not touch one another when stored. Stacking them or storing them in drawers is therefore not advisable. You should also ensure that knives are not simply left lying around on the worktop – not least because of the risk of injury. In addition, it is important to ensure that knives are not left wet, either after cutting or after cleaning.

As a general rule, tools and equipment must be checked regularly. In the case of knives, this helps to prevent parts of them from getting into food. It also enables any loosening of the handle to be detected at an early stage.

Finally, you can use knife oil to provide the blade with extra protection against corrosion. This also improves its resistance to water and dirt.

Be spotlessly kitted out with Ehlert

We haven’t just started doing this yesterday. Gustav Ehlert GmbH has been in business since 1924 and has kept pace with all the developments in the sector. As a supply chain specialist, we provide you with everything you need for the food processing industry from a single source – including a wide range of knives and blades.

As a supplier of knives and other machinery and equipment for the food industry, we are also well aware of the importance of cleaning and maintenance routines. As good hygiene is a key element of any professional operation, we stock a range of suitable cleaning products as well as many other items to ensure safe working practices. Choose the products that suit you best – our experts will be happy to help!