The most commonly used everyday tool in kitchen is the knife. Whether you want to make a full course meal or have a little savoury or
even fruits; knives are an indispensable part of your everyday activity. Considering the usage of the knives, it is quite practical that these essential tools tend to get rusty very soon. A regular maintenance and cleaning regime may keep the knives clean but still they may get rusty over a period of time. The regular kitchen cleaner won’t be helpful enough to remove this rust. While these dish washing soaps may remove the bacteria and the germs and prevent the food getting spoilt, it is equally important to remove the rust to maintain the hygiene. Making a homemade cleaner to remove the rust from knives isn’t really a difficult job. Here is how you can easily clean the rust from your knives.
Fact Box:
| Complexity level: Basic | Time required: 10 – 15 minutes | Estimated cost: $ 2 to $ 4 |
Resources required:
1. Potato
2. Bowl
3. Dry baking soda
4. Soft bristled brush
5. Dry paper towel
6. Onion
7. Vinegar
8. Brasso – knife polisher
Instructions:
1. Using potato slices
Cut slices of potato large enough to wipe the sides of the knife. Wipe each side of the knife with a potato slice. Make sure to wipe the
knife with the slice of potato in such a way that all the rust on the knife is covered with the potato. Leave it overnight.
2. Applying baking soda
After applying potato on the knife and letting it stay overnight; apply dry baking soda over it. Do this by removing dry baking soda
in a cup and dipping a wet soft bristled brush in it. Ensure that all the bristles are covered with the baking soda. Using this brush, gently scrub over the knife. Keep scrubbing for a couple of minutes until you notice the rust coming off the knife. Once done, clean and wipe off the knife with a dry paper towel.
3. Cleaning off the rust on knife with vinegar
You can even try using vinegar to remove the rust from knives. To use vinegar, soak a rag in vinegar and wrap it around the knife. Leave it overnight and the rust should be gone by morning. To finish, rinse the knife with warm water and wipe dry.
4. Using onion to remove rust
Sawing the knife in and out of an onion also helps in removing the rust. The acids in the onion can react well and remove all the rust from the knife.
5. Polishing the knife
After cleaning off the rust, you can use a knife polisher like brasso to polish the knife. However, you will still need to clean it with water later and apply knife oil so that the sharpness of the knife is restored.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: Why do rust stains occur on knives?
A: kitchen knives catch rust easily because they are made from steel that contains 0.5 % carbon and about 15% chromium. These knives do not contain nickel which provides excellent protection from rust. That’s because presence of this chemical and a higher proportion of carbon will prevent the steel from getting hardened. Hardening the steel is necessary as this will ensure the sharpness. Stainless steel knives that contain nickel, carbon and chromium in larger quantities do not catch rust but at the same time are less sharp. Also, exposure to moisture for longer periods of time and to caustic food particles makes the kitchen knives rusty.
Quick tips:
1. Rinse off the knives after every use to prevent rusting.
2. Do not leave the knife wet for a longer period of time, the moisture acts as a catalyst for rust.
Things to watch out for:
1. Do not use a rusty knife, it might be a cause of infections being transmitted through food.
2. Do not use the onion, potato or any other food item that you use for removing the rust for eating or cooking.
3. Never wash a knife in a dishwasher. Always hand-wash your knives.
4. Use the right measure of detergent. Excess of dish washing soap can also damage the knife.
5. Never keep all your knives together in a cutlery basket.
