| When using a kitchen knife, or any sharp object, | | | | store your knives in a drawer, but don't have that |
| remember to put safety first. Although it sounds | | | | drawer crowded full of other items. Just keep |
| obvious don't run around with a sharp knife in | | | | your knives in that drawer. Another option is to |
| your hand, don't point a knife at anyone and | | | | use a wood block to store your knives. |
| always cut away from yourself not towards | | | | 6) Use the correct knife for the task at hand. |
| yourself. Also, don't use your finger to see how | | | | Don't use your serrated bread knife for chopping |
| sharp the blade is. Yes, I know some of you | | | | and dicing. Don't use your boning knife to slice |
| reading this article have been guilty of this at least | | | | your bread. Instead, use a chef's knife (also called |
| once and have found out that the edge of the | | | | a cook's knife or a French knife for chopping, |
| knife was indeed very sharp because you cut | | | | slicing and dicing. Use a paring knife for peeling and |
| yourself on it! | | | | trimming, and for cutting and slicing small items. A |
| Another important safety tip is to never use the | | | | utility knife is great for slicing meat and cheese. A |
| knife for other than its intended purpose. No, a | | | | boning knife is for cutting meat and poultry. A fillet |
| sharp kitchen knife should not be used as a | | | | knife is a great for cutting fish. And, as you would |
| makeshift screwdriver or as a device to try and | | | | expect, a bread knife's best use is cutting bread. |
| pry open a locked door that you can't find the | | | | With proper use and care, your knives will last |
| key for. Nor should it be used to pry apart a | | | | you a long time and will help make your kitchen |
| stack of frozen hamburger patties. You could | | | | cutting tasks easier and more enjoyable. |
| easily cut yourself if the knife slips and you are | | | | Add a Dynamic Design Accent to Your Home |
| also in danger of breaking the tip of your knife | | | | with the Right Staircase |
| off. Also, don't use your kitchen knives to cut the | | | | Stairways are a wonderful thing. They suggest a |
| tops off plastic jugs or to cut cardboard boxes | | | | path to things unseen, hidden destinations, secret |
| unless you want to almost instantly dull your knife. | | | | lives. If you have a multistory home or are |
| Use a scissors or utility knife for those jobs. | | | | planning to build one, take a few minutes to think |
| When you buy a kitchen knife you get what you | | | | about the stairs. By choosing to include a beautiful |
| pay for so invest in the best quality knives you | | | | stairway instead of a mundane one, you can |
| can afford and buy them from a reputable dealer. | | | | change your home atmosphere from ordinary to |
| A fully forged carbon knife is the highest quality | | | | extraordinary. Whether you choose filigreed iron, |
| knife you can buy. High carbon stainless steel | | | | steel, glass, or traditional hardwood, the right |
| knives are also pretty good. Regular stainless steel | | | | stairway for your home can serve as a |
| knives aren't as good and won't last you as long | | | | compelling design accent, the focal point of a |
| but any knife will last longer if you take care of it | | | | room, at once utilitarian and beautiful. |
| properly (and most people don't care for their | | | | If you have an urban industrial loft, you may be |
| knives the way they should). What should you do | | | | thinking of taking one large, high-ceiling room and |
| to properly maintain your knives? Below is a list | | | | creating a number of living environments on |
| of 6 important knife care tips. | | | | different levels. If so, you'll be incorporating a |
| 1) Never ever, and I repeat NEVER, put your | | | | bunch of staircases. You may even be lucky |
| knives in the dishwasher. The harsh chemicals | | | | enough to have an existing industrial staircase |
| from your dishwasher detergent will pit your | | | | made of rugged steel. If so, you have a decision |
| knives and the dry cycle will also damage your | | | | to make. Are you aiming for a high-tech industrial |
| knives. In addition, if the sharp edges of your | | | | look, with stainless steel commercial kitchen |
| knives bump up against anything else, like your | | | | appliances and exposed electrical and plumbing |
| plates, it will damage and dull your knives. Instead, | | | | elements on the ceiling? Then your steel staircase |
| as soon as possible after using your knives, wash | | | | fits right in. If you're looking to emphasis natural |
| them by hand with a mild detergent and hand dry | | | | colors and textures, however, a sort of Zen |
| them. Don't allow the knives to drip dry because | | | | retreat, you might want to incorporate the natural |
| moisture will dull your knives and will damage the | | | | beauty of hardwood stairs into your design. A |
| wood handles of knives. | | | | straight, sturdy staircase leading to the upper |
| 2) Always use a cutting board. Don't cut on your | | | | levels can make a powerful statement; a curving |
| countertop. Not only is cutting on your countertop | | | | stairway winding around the center of your loft |
| bad for your countertop, it's bad for the blade of | | | | adds elegance and a feeling of flow to your |
| your knife too. And never use a glass cutting | | | | environment. |
| board. Glass cutting boards may be pretty but | | | | Historical homes, particularly in the eastern U.S., |
| they are also pretty horrible for a knife. It's a | | | | almost demand the inclusion of hardwood stairs. |
| quick way to dull and ruin a knife. | | | | Your antique home may have a staircase in need |
| 3) Regularly use a honing steel to maintain the | | | | of repair, or the existing staircase may need |
| edges on your knives, but learn how to use the | | | | replacing. Either way, you'll need the services of a |
| honing steel properly. To learn the right technique, | | | | company specializing in custom-designed |
| ask the dealer where you buy your knives to sell | | | | staircases. In fact, whether you're creating your |
| you a good honing steel and to also show you | | | | own unique home or restoring an antique home, |
| how to use it. | | | | custom designed and built staircases are a must |
| 4) Have your knives professionally sharpened. | | | | because of the exacting nature of the |
| Although there are lots of knife sharpeners | | | | measurements required. |
| available for in-home use, I don't recommend | | | | When you go looking for a company to build your |
| using them. It's too easy to permanently damage | | | | staircase for you, make sure you choose a firm |
| your knife. Instead use your honing steel regularly | | | | with an experienced staff of designers. A designer |
| and take your knives to a professional for | | | | should be willing to visit the site, take the |
| sharpening a few times a year. If you take care | | | | appropriate measurements, and present you with |
| of your knives properly you won't need to get | | | | design suggestions and advice on materials and |
| your knives sharpened more than a few times a | | | | costs, as well as troubleshoot the site and the |
| year depending on how much you use your | | | | design for possible problems. |
| knives. | | | | They also should be willing to supply you with |
| 5) Don't store your knives in a drawer with lots | | | | detailed photographs of their work for other |
| of metal objects, such as your kitchen utensil | | | | clients. Who knows? You may find inspiration in |
| drawer. The edges of your knives will get banged | | | | these photos and use them as a jumping off |
| against the other metal things, damaging and | | | | point for your own creative ideas. |
| dulling the edges of your knives. You can still | | | | |