Sharp Summer
Summer, oh summer, wherefore art thou, summer? It’s already July, which means summer is a mere eight weeks away from passing. A bittersweet moment, it feels as if it’s only just begun, but the end is already reminding us of its inevitable return, like it does every year.
Something I’ve noticed with age is that a year no longer seems like a year. The months go by fast and the seasons even faster. No matter the changes that come with each month, one thing remains true through it all. The task in the kitchen remains the same: putting together a meal utilizing what’s in season and feeding those around us.
Summer can be an especially tasking season for those who grow and can their food to build a supply for the year ahead. With all the chopping, slicing and dicing going on, this would be a good time to talk about knives. There is nothing worse than having a stack of fruits or veggies and a blade that makes the task seem hard. Suddenly, preparing your potatoes becomes a marathon and not a simple prep task of cutting.
Watermelons require an umph you assume is just your age, and for some reason you must be cooking your steaks extra well lately.
Most of that isn’t true, and the common denominator here could be your knife. If your blades have gone dull, then let us remind you all that here at New Kitchen Store, our annual Knife Sharpening Event is coming up Saturday, Aug. 15.
At this event, all knives are welcome to be honed and sharpened. However, if it is a Cangshan, Wusthof, Zwilling, Shun or Kikuichi knife, it can be sharpened for free! If you don’t have those specific brand knives, don’t worry. Feel free to come get your knife sharpened still. Just know any other brand of knife will require a $3 donation to be sharpened, but all money goes directly to a charity of our choosing every year. This year, all funds will be going to Mission BBQ.
Once you get your knife sharpened, you’ll go home with something that’ll remind you cooking doesn’t have to be a workout with the proper tools. To make that edge last as long as possible, let’s cover some simple tips to keep your knife healthy and sharp.
For starters, a general rule of thumb is to hand-wash your knives. Dishwashers are so convenient, especially for a busy lifestyle. However, where sharp knives and abrasive cleaning-agent packets are concerned, it’s better just to take the extra minute to hand-wash your knife, dry it and put it away after you’re done with it.
Another good thing to consider when caring for your knife is your cutting board. Is it plastic, glass or stainless steel? If your answer is yes, then know that it’s probably contributing to your dull-knife situation. Harder surfaces that have no natural give dull the blade as they resist letting it pass through, and they can leave traces of unwanted materials in whatever you’re cutting.
A good option to switch to is a wood cutting board, and there are so many options available. At New Kitchen Store, we carry lots of beautiful high-end wood cutting boards, but we also carry some plant-composite boards that still protect your knife by allowing it to pass through, not put unwanted plastics in your food, and remain dishwasher-safe. They come in many shapes and sizes and are an excellent place to start if this is new to you, as they require minimal care in comparison to something like a butcher block.
Our last tip here to help extend the life of your freshly sharpened knife is storage. Is it something you’re just throwing in a kitchen drawer with all your other sharp and odd-looking kitchen tools? If so, you don’t need a fancy block for your knife, but maybe consider a sheath of some kind to cover the edges of the knife and prevent extra dulling from contact with other metal knives or objects. We carry some magnetic Wusthof ones that are a great choice for a quick solution like this.
New Kitchen Store is a great place for seasoned and new knife enthusiasts alike. We carry a large variety of knives. Whether you’re looking for just a couple of staple pieces or complete sets and accessories, we’ve got you covered.
Be sure to mark your calendars for Aug. 15 for our Annual Knife Sharpening Event, and call the store at 574-586-2745 with any questions!
As always, we’re open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and located at 1100 Roosevelt Road, Walkerton, IN 46574. Stop in and see our newly finished kitchen area and other updates we’ve made to the store!
