Maybe you've recently bought new cutlery. And maybe you inherited it or received it as a wedding gift. To make sure the joy of it lasts for decades, try these simple cutlery care tips.
1/ Don't leave cutlery soaking in water.
2/ Rinse food residue from cutlery.
3/ Hand washing in warm water, with a soft sponge, is the gentlest way to clean cutlery. Avoid aggressive detergents and scouring pads.
4/ If you do not intend to wash cutlery by hand but prefer to use the dishwasher, first check that the cutlery is suitable for washing in the dishwasher. For example, silver cutlery or coated cutlery is definitely not suitable for the dishwasher.
5/ For those cutlery that is dishwasher safe, put it in the cutlery basket. Insert the cutlery with the shoulder towards the top. In the case of cutlery knives, follow the type of dishwasher and insert the knives with the blade facing up or the blade facing down. This is important to prevent any corrosion that may form from remaining moisture on the blade, especially in the serrated area. The serrated part of the knife is the most susceptible to corrosion because it does not have a polished surface and this part is sharpened (ground) to cut. It is the polished surface that is essential for higher corrosion resistance.
It is ideal to put the cutlery in its own compartment, each one separately, so that they do not scratch each other and so that water residues, which are also a source of corrosion, do not remain between the touching cutlery. If it is not possible to separate the cutlery individually in the dishwasher, it is a good idea to group cutlery at least by type, spoons together, knives together, forks together, etc.
6/ Do not put old rusty crockery in the dishwasher. Rust can damage your cutlery during the washing process.
7/ Open the dishwasher when the washing cycle is finished. The latest dishwashers can do this for you as it is important to remove unwanted residual moisture.
8/ If it is necessary and the cutlery cannot be dried separately, for example by opening the dishwasher, then dry the cutlery after washing. Do not allow the damp environment to deteriorate your cutlery.
9/ Put the dried cutlery away in the cutlery rack. The cutlery should be dry and clean. Moisture definitely does not belong in the cutlery. If possible, store cutlery individually so that they do not rub against each other. Alternatively, if space does not permit, store cutlery at least in individual types. Silver cutlery can be stored in a case or directly in a drawer with felt padding designed just for that cutlery. Learn more about silver cutlery in the blog Eating with silver is healthy.
Photo includes:Chicago cutlery
10/ Use the cutlery for what it is intended for, which is eating. Don't make your cutlery into inappropriate household helpers, such as a "screwdriver" or a "can opener". Improper use can damage, bend and deface cutlery.
Photo includes:royal Chippendale cutlery
Enjoy your beautiful cutlery while dining. At Berndorf Sandrik we have a 180 year history of cutlery manufacturing. You can get whole sets or individual pieces of cutlery from us. Your cutlery set can thus always remain complete, or you can expand it with other types, e.g. children's cutlery, fish cutlery, complementary cutlery, etc. Just choose from our ESHOP. Alternatively, stop by one of our stores to see and try on the cutlery in person. The ergonomics of the cutlery are very important when choosing. The cutlery must fit easily in your hand, so that you have a pleasant feeling when eating, or so that you are not distracted by anything negative when dining.
