If you have a beautiful set of cutlery you will want to make sure that you are taking care of it properly. Depending on the materials that the pieces are made out of, and what their shape is will influence how they must be cared for.
Common materials used in the manufacture of modern cutlery include stainless steel and sterling silver. There are others but these are two of the most common. They are popular because they can be shaped into different patterns and are easy to care for although each material does have its own particular needs.
Sterling silver will react with air and become dark and dull. This oxidized layer on the surface of the metal is called tarnish. Many of us can remember being forced to polish the silver using chemical goop and a cloth in time to get ready for Sunday dinner. There is good news. The more it is used, the less it will tarnish. It should also be stored in a case or drawer with a special lining. Stainless steel will not tarnish but you need to make sure that it is thoroughly dry to prevent it from forming water spots.
The way you care for a knife depends mainly on whether it has a serrated or a smooth blade. Serrated blades have a scalloped edge and are very sharp. However, should they become dull they cannot be sharpened again. Steak knives often have serrated edges as do some bread knives. You want to make sure you are not cutting metal or other very hard materials as this can destroy a serrated blade.
A knife with a non serrated blade can be sharpened repeatedly. You need to make sure that you keep your knives sharp and in good order. This is because you will cut yourself worse with a dull knife. You will need to use more force and if the knife slips and cuts you it can be very bad. You can use a dremel tool or have your knives professionally sharpened. You will need a steel to run the sharpened blade along to bring it back into alignment.
Forks are fairly easy to care for. When washing, make sure that you are getting all the food debris from the insides of the tines. This can be easier with a two tined carving fork but is important with all forks.
Before you put the fork away, take a quick look at the tines and make sure that they are not bent or twisted. This can be a problem with some forks that are made out of softer metals such as pewter. If there are any problems gently try and bend them back into position. Also check the angle of the fork to the handle as this is also where some bending can occur.
Spoons may bend at the point where the bowl meets the stem. Take a look and make sure that this has not happened. If it has, gently and slowly bend the spoon back into shape. If your spoon has a handle that is not attached to the tang you need to make sure that you do not snap the top of the spoon off the handle. All cutlery pieces should be thoroughly dry before it is put in the drawer.
Caring for your cutlery pieces may take a little time but it can make the pieces last longer and work better. Because good, high quality cutlery sets can be expensive, taking the time can save you money in the long run.
Author Resource:
Annie is an expert furniture and interior design writer.
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