Ceramic blades have started to become extremely popular in recent years. This is largely because of the sharpness and blade retention the ceramic material provides. These blades can sometimes require a little more care than a steel blade but they will almost never need to be sharpened. If you follow a few simple steps to care for the blade you will never have to worry about having a dull knife again.
The first thing you should do to care for your ceramic blade is to always use it properly. Although these are sharp they are primarily for cutting softer items like fruit, vegetables, meat, fabric or rope. If you use the knife to chop hard items like bone or frozen food it can cause the blade to chip, which will affect the sharpness. You should only use your ceramic blade for cutting softer items if you want to avoid chips or a broken blade. These blades are too fragile to use as a prying, crushing or heavy chopping tool. When slicing something with a ceramic blade you should always use a soft cutting board such as wood, plastic, or bamboo. Harder surfaces like glass, stone or marble will increase the chances of damaging the blade or affecting blade sharpness.
Knives with ceramic blades are very popular with chefs and cooking enthusiasts because they are sanitary, easy to clean and always sharp. Ceramic knives are non-porous, so bacteria and germs cannot permeate and contaminate the blade. They can be quickly cleaned with warm water and a little detergent. It is important to only hand wash the blade and never put it in a dishwasher. This will cause the knife to bounce around against other dishes and possibly chip or break the blade. Giving the knife a gentle hand washing is all it will take to clean any debris or bacteria off the blade.
You will rarely have to worry about sharpening a ceramic knife due to the hardness of the blade. These blades can retain their edge for well over 5 years. Because this material is so hard, the only thing that will sharpen it is a diamond sharpening stone. This is a complicated task that is best left to a professional knife sharpener. Lastly you should be sure to store your blade in a sheath, knife block or knife case. If you take proper care of your ceramic blade knife it will literally stay sharp for years.
In short, a ceramic knife offers better sanitation and a longer lasting edge as long as you take care the blade properly by following:
3 Quick Tips for Ceramic Knife Care
- Use the knife for cutting soft items (ie Food (no bone cutting), fabric and rope).
- Hand wash only: Warm water and a tiny bit of detergent.
- Store you blade in a sheath or knife block/case.