| Knife safety is common sense. But it must not be | | | | should be properly sharpened. A sharp knife is |
| all that common, really, judging by the number of | | | | safer to use than a dull knife, as it will cut and not |
| knife related injuries we manage to inflict on | | | | slip. Good quality knives that are well mounted in |
| ourselves. We could avoid a lot of that by | | | | their handles and made of high grade materials will |
| stopping to think about the correct ways to use | | | | not break or fail in any other way and are safer |
| and store knives. | | | | to use than low quality knives of poor |
| How to cut | | | | construction. How you hold the knife is crucial to |
| The simple advice most commonly given first is: | | | | safe use. Keeping your fingers out of the way |
| Never cut toward yourself, or rephrased; always | | | | keeps them from harm, and a good grip means |
| cut away from yourself. It is good advice, though | | | | good control of the knife's motion. |
| perhaps not always possible. You certainly need to | | | | Select proper storage for the knife |
| be careful when cutting any tough material that | | | | Proper storage, even temporary storage is not |
| the blade will go in a safe direction if it slips. | | | | only good for the knife but is vital for safety. It is |
| Use a knife only for purpose it was designed for | | | | hazardous to rummage in a draw full of loose |
| Another good bit of advice, often ignored, is to | | | | knives, and bad for the blades as well. A knife |
| refrain from using a knife for purpose it was not | | | | block is excellent, either the type with slots or the |
| designed for. You should never use a knife in | | | | ones with parallel rods where you can stick the |
| place of a bottle opener, or as a screwdriver or | | | | knives in just any way you please. Putting a knife |
| punch. Do not use a knife to cut things that a | | | | down, not even necessarily putting it away, can |
| knife was not meant to cut, like metal or other | | | | be dangerous and can lead to a serious accident. |
| very hard, dense materials. | | | | You should not put a knife near an edge where it |
| Use a knife only where it is safe to use one | | | | can fall to the floor, possibly injuring someone's |
| You should always use a knife in an area where it | | | | feet or legs. You should not cover or obscure the |
| is safe to use one, like on a cutting board that is | | | | position of a knife with a towel, for instance, lest |
| stable and will not slip out from under your work. | | | | you grab for the towel and find the sharp edge |
| You should be aware of the people around you, | | | | by mistake. |
| so that they do not get hurt or cause you to | | | | Sharpening knives |
| hurt yourself. A good trick with the cutting board | | | | Sharpening knives is a skill that you may wish to |
| is to place a damp towel under it to stop it from | | | | learn, if you are not already expert, as sharp |
| shifting. A piece of that rubbery shelf or drawer | | | | knives are both more pleasant and less dangerous |
| padding material works very well too. | | | | to use. But you should do that carefully as well. |
| Select the right type and size of knife for work | | | | The movements in sharpening a knife using a |
| Having the right knife for the work at hand is | | | | whet-stone are repetitive, but do not become |
| very important. For a large job, you need a large | | | | complacent or you may slice yourself. Whether |
| knife. A full-sized chef's knife is actually safer for | | | | we use common sense or uncommon caution, we |
| chopping a pile of vegetables than is a knife that | | | | should do what needs to be done to protect |
| is too small or not shaped properly. The knife | | | | ourselves and others when using knives. |
| should not only be of the right type and size, it | | | | |