Nothing is more frustrating than receiving your knife sheath and discovering rust on its blade. It is a difficult sight to witness and hazardous to health. Fortunately, we have a few pointers on removing rust from knives and keeping them as clean as new. But first, it’s essential to understand what leads to rust and how to keep your chef knife from rusting in the first place. Keep on reading for our advice on cleaning rust from knifes.
What Exactly Is Rust?
Rust is another name for the compound iron oxide, the red/orange flaky substance that grows on metal. When iron and oxygen react with moisture, iron oxide is formed. And it does not necessarily have to be water; even if there is moisture in the air, your kitchen knives will rust.
The secret ingredient in the steel found in the blades of your kitchen knives is iron. When the iron in your knifes comes into contact with oxygen and moisture, you have a recipe for rust.
But what about blades made of stainless steel? Damascus steel knife is of the highest quality , it is stain-resistant rather than stain-proof. However, it still contains at least 10.5 percent chromium, classified as steel. It’s best to think of Damascus steel knife as having an extra protective layer that allows it to be stainless rather than stain-free.
Rust: What Leads To It and Ways To Prevent It
Whenever there is moisture present, iron together with oxygen reacts to form rust. A rusted chef knife is caused by trapped moisture that is repeatedly exposed to the surface of the metal. And that is why understanding how to properly store blades is crucial to their upkeep. Make sure your steel knives are bone dry before storing them to prevent rust. This is especially critical if you keep your knives in a block, here free water might face great difficulty dissipating.
Looking after your knives is one of the best culinary habits one can have! When you’re finished working with your chef knife, carefully wash, dry, and store it. It can save you a lot more time if you don’t have to scrub the rust off in the future. You should also avoid stepping kitchen knifes in water.
You should also avoid using the dishwasher because prolonged contact with moisture might lead to the rusting of the knife sheath. Furthermore, it can also weaken the blade by knocking it against other objects inside the washer.
How To Get Rid of Rust on Knives
Here are the following reasons to get rid of Rust on knives:
1. Use White Vinegar To Remove Rust
There is nothing that vinegar can’t get rid of. Begin by submerging your rusted knives in a bowl containing vinegar overnight to remove the rust from the blade. Take them out from a bowl of vinegar after they have had a thorough soaking, and scrape the rust off using steel wool. If any rust patches
remain, repeat the method and immerse the object for longer. Wash with dishwashing soap and water once all of the rust has been cleaned, then carefully dry your chef knife.
2. Use Baking Soda To Remove Rust
Baking soda is effective on objects with gentle rust splotches. It also works well on thin metal objects. Mix together water and baking soda to form a mucilage and lay it all over the affected area, covering any rusting spots. Allow the blend to sit on the knife sheath for about at least an hour. Rub the knife with an abrasive material to eliminate the rust from the metal. Wash off the fix and properly dry the metal.
3. Use Potato and Dishwashing Liquid To Remove Rust
When potatoes come in contact with dish soap, they induce a chemical response leading to the production of oxalic acid, which is ideal for preventing corrosion.
Chop your veggie in two pieces and then lay dish soap on the chopped side. If the rusty old area isn’t too noticeable, rub the rusty knife with both the vegetable and dishwashing liquid, or let the potato and dish soap sit on the blade if the exterior rust is tough.
4. Use Lemon and Salt To Remove Rust
To combat rust, this method employs the acid content of lemons and the grains of salt. Place some pickling salt grains on the blade of your chef knife, then cover it with lime juice and keep it like this for almost an hour before scrubbing with an abrasive material. Finally, wash off the knife, allow it to dry thoroughly, and then store it.
5. Use Citric Acid To Remove Rust
Citric acid, which can be found in general food marts and in the baking aisle of several superstores, works like magic when it comes to getting rid of rust, but keep in mind that it will also have an impact on paint and other coatings and might end up removing those, so it might not be the preferred method for all utensils. For this method, take three tbsp. of citric acid and add them to a bowl of boiled water. Now, submerge your rusty knifes in the solution overnight. Following, the next day, rub off the rust from the knives through steel wool.
6. Use Onions To Remove Rust
Another food that is excellent for naturally removing rust from blades. Simply moving the blade back and forth while cutting onions will do the trick, and the rust will fall off on its own.
The sulfonic acid in onions, which is notorious for causing adults to cry when slicing an onion, is also the key ingredient in cleaning your kitchen knives.
Rust, Fret Not!
Rust is nothing to be concerned about, as it has no bearing on your knife quality. On the other hand, any metal that contains iron will rust if exposed to water for an extensive time. Although it may seem to be a frustrating process, you now know how to eliminate rust. Your steel knives will be as good as new with a tad bit of hard but smart work along with some basics from your kitchen, ready to dice, or ground anything going their way.