Chefs are always engaged with their knives and blades. A professional chef knife set needs to perform at the top level for such frequency of use. Also, the quality of the knives will determine the performance and efficiency of chefs in any kitchen as well. Professional chefs are also trained on their knives and have some level of emotional attachment to them as well. This is why they will buy very similar knives most of the time unless there is some major upgrade that might interest them.
Yet, durable as stainless-steel knives may be, they do have a usage life. Depending on usage, storage and maintenance, handmade forged steel knives have been known to last the longest. Your chef knife set should also contain all the blade types you need. Depending on the type of kitchen and the recipes cooked in it, different knives and blades will be required too. So, there are some clear signs to get a replacement chef knife set. Read through to find out more about that:
Chipped or Dull Blade
Chipped blades are the worst when it comes to sharpness, cutting ability and safety. Small chips along the edge may come naturally as the knife gets used more. Most of these can be smoothed out with a sharpening stone. However, larger chips may not be that fixable. Most of the large chips will come as the wrong chef knife gets used on bones while cutting the meat.
So, the best precaution to not get your blade chipped too often is to use the right knife for the right job. Every factor including knife size, its sharpness, the curve and the handle will play a role in the right cutting job. However, a skilled knife sharpener may be able to fully restore any dull blade.
Yet, sometimes it will be time to let go of them. Sharpening too many times may cause problems of different types including a reduction in the size of the blade.
Bent or Broken Tip of the Blade
Bent or broken tips for any kitchen knife are actually one of the most common problems that come with use. The tip of the blade might get bent when used improperly. Also, any knife is the weakest at its tip as well. Simply dropping any on the tip or twisting it by mistake can cause the top to get bent or broken.
Small tip damage may be repairable. But larger problems are not so much. They will cause a few alignment problems as well as compromise the use of the knife. A straight sharp tip is necessary for professional and home chefs for various usage purposes.
Also, from an aesthetic standpoint, broken or bent tips are far from ideal as well. So, when you have a broken or bent tip, it is time to look for a new chef knife set. Although, individual chef knives can also be replaced with new ones instead of buying a full set.
Loose Rivets on the Handle
Many types and styles of modern knives use rivets to attach the handle to the blade. This is more evident in the western style of knives. Also, rivets are known to cause a certain type of corrosion even on stainless steel blades as well. Rust in such joining places will cause the handle to get loose.
As a result of this slight shift, the blade will compromise cuts in its precision. Although there are some levels of loose rivets that can be worked with. However, as the problems grow, chef knives will become unusable. There are restoration methods available. However, they might cost more than the knife.
For most chef knife sets, loose rivets is the time to look for replacement options. Also, to extend the life, avoid putting the knife in the dishwasher and keep the wood properly conditioned with oil. Make sure to wash and dry the knife along with its handle immediately after use.
A Thick Spine to the Blade
There can be two main reasons for a chef knife having a thick blade spine. The first one will be a bad design. This can be avoided by purchasing your chef knife set diligently. The second one comes after many sharpening cycles as the blade degrades its metal.
This thick spine can give the knife a poor grind angle that may result in wedging. Thick and hardy food items like carrots tend to break off instead of getting perfectly sliced with such thick spine knife blades. This cause problems in food presentation and preparation.
Sometimes, even thinning of the spine is possible as well. However, this is a task and a half. Picking up a new chef knife set or some individual knives Is the best way to go.
Rust Showing Up
Another big sign when you need new chef knives is if there is any rust showing up. The areas around the rivets if any, will have small amounts of rust around them. These can be cleaned if the handle isn’t getting loose already. However, rust on the blade is a totally different ballgame.
Rusting metallic blades only have one direction to go. And that is not a good direction. So, start looking for a new chef knife set if you see any evident rust around the blade. Try cleaning it first with rust removal techniques. However, these will only work a few times.
Why You Should Buy Your Chef Knife Set from Damascus Knife Hub?
Damascus Knife Hub is a leading chef knife set supplier in the USA. We have chef knives that are handmade from forged steel to perfect finishes. Everything from the handle materials and finishes to the materials of the blades is top-notch with our chef knives. We provide:
- Large variety of custom chef knife sets available for all requirements
- Premium range of chef knives available for home and commercial kitchens
- Free doorstep delivery for chef knife sets in any city or town across the USA
- Very attractive kitchen knives with premium materials and designs
- Discounted prices for many chef knives offering perfect purchase options
Leave a comment
All comments are moderated before being published.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.