How to clean rusty knives

HOW TO REMOVE RUST FROM YOUR FAVOURITE KITCHEN KNIVES

One of the most important tools in the kitchen for any chef is a good quality knife. It is therefore imperative to ensure you take good care of your knives in order to ensure they continue working as they should.

Not only is it unsightly, but rust can cause damage to your knives if not treated. To help avoid rust, you should never wash your knives in a dishwasher or leave them to air dry. It is important to clean and dry your knives properly. Proper cleaning of knives involves carefully hand washing your knives with soap and hot water and drying immediately after with a clean, dry cloth. Failure to adhere to these golden rules can result in rusting and blotching on your knives.

If you scour the internet you will find there are many homemade remedies for removing rust from you knives. However, you will find most don’t deliver the results they promise. A tried and tested method to get the sparkle back in your knives is to use Bar Keepers Friend.

Here’s how to use Bar Keepers Friend for cleaning your knives and remove any rust:

WASH:

Wash your knife in hot soapy water to remove any objects that may be stuck to the knife.

DRY:

Immediately after washing, dry your knife thoroughly with a dry cloth.

APPLY:

Available in powder or liquid, apply Bar Keepers Friend to the surface of the knife or to a wet cloth or sponge and spread onto the knife.

RUB GENTLY:

Hard rubbing is generally unnecessary with Bar Keepers Friend. Let its non-bleach cleaning ingredients do the work for you.

RINSE:

After cleaning, ensure you wash the knife thoroughly and once again dry with a dry cloth.

If you have a particularly stubborn rust spot or stain, apply Bar Keepers Friend liquid or make a paste with Bar Keepers Friend powder and let it remain on the surface of the knife for no longer than one minute. Once again, rub gently as needed and then rinse thoroughly and dry.

Extra tip: Always store your knives correctly. The best place to store your knives is in a quality knife block or on a magnetic strip. Avoid storing knives in a drawer with other utensils or cutlery, unless they have sheaths as they will get nicked and damaged.