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AngryAccountant
277
Dec 5, 2017
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It seems to be at least a little common that people have significant others or other people in our homes abusing the fancy knives, committing atrocities such as dragging edges across cutting boards, cutting on glass, putting everything in the dishwasher, etc.
What are some of the strategies that people have employed to either train the other person how to use a knife when they really don't seem to care?
The best I've seen is giving up and having a backup they can use, any other ideas less extreme?
Dec 5, 2017
Zekethe1st
5
Dec 5, 2017
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AngryAccountantViolence.
Dec 5, 2017
AngryAccountant
277
Dec 5, 2017
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Zekethe1stI asked for LESS extreme man!
Dec 5, 2017
Zekethe1st
5
Dec 5, 2017
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AngryAccountant....gentle violence?
Dec 5, 2017
AngryAccountant
277
Dec 5, 2017
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Zekethe1stBetter. Do you work in a kitchen? I've seen chef's resort to some "gentle" violence for people messing with their knives before.
Dec 5, 2017
bchu23
8
Dec 5, 2017
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AngryAccountantI bought a bench scraper and that has eliminated the "scraping the edge across the cutting board" problem: I think having a separate tool for picking things up is a good reminder (and I'll take it out of the drawer and set it near the cutting board if I notice it's not there). Otherwise, whatever general tactics when trying to change behavior that seem to work best with your family.
Dec 5, 2017
AngryAccountant
277
Dec 6, 2017
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bchu23A bench scraper would definitely work!
Dec 6, 2017
BirdofPrey
19
Dec 6, 2017
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AngryAccountantEasy for me, the knife at home is a Messermeister Avanta from culinary school. All the good knives go to work with me; and home, work or away, NOBODY better touch my knife bag.
Dec 6, 2017
djfluffkins
157
Dec 6, 2017
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BirdofPreyYup, I put the good knives away and get a solid 30$ Victorinox for the roommates. I'm sad that my Bob Kramers don't see more work, but I would be sadder to see them damaged.
Dec 6, 2017
Dr.McCoy
345
Dec 6, 2017
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AngryAccountantProtip: Bench scrapers can be bought at most DollarTree and 99c stores.
Dec 6, 2017
Dr.McCoy
345
Dec 6, 2017
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AngryAccountantI bought shitty knives and hid the good ones.
I mean, obviously teach them to use the knives properly first. But if that doesn't work then get bad knives.
Dec 6, 2017
btimup
45
Dec 6, 2017
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AngryAccountantI received a beautiful Shun chef's knife as a gift. Immediately upon unboxing it, I turned to my family and told them that no one is to use it. Other strategy would probably be to keep it in my room and bring it down to the kitchen with me when I cook.
Another idea would be to buy them their own cheaper blade, sharpen it so it has a nice sharp edge, then let them cut with that since they'll probably only care about how much sharper yours is than theirs.
Dec 6, 2017
TheJackal3245
24
Dec 6, 2017
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AngryAccountantIt's my personal opinion that any knife (or any tool, for that matter) in the kitchen is fair game, and I keep nothing I wouldn't be willing to use. But to use any knife or tool requires respect, knowledge, and practice. In other words, anything that gets used WILL be treated with respect, or else you won't use it (ultimately saving you, me, and the tool, an immeasurable amount of grief). Same goes for any tool in the house--respect it and take care of it, and it'll take care of you. But nothing is above usage, and if something does happen to a more expensive knife or tool I own, so be it if it was serving its purpose to me or someone in my family who was using it properly.
In my personal kitchen, dishwasher use is rare anyways but it is an explicit rule that no blades go in. Regarding use, I've taught that blades are only to be used in contact with food and a proper board. I don't keep any boards in the kitchen that can't be used, so no problem there. Regarding heavy usage, I'm by far worse on my edges than my wife. Call me a fool, but I'll go through bones when necessary, and chop and scoop all day (never dragging vertically, but turning the blade at an angle in towards my non-dominant hand). However, I find maintenance an integral part of ownership, so I take pleasure in maintaining them and anything I do to my blades is my choice.
In other words, I believe teaching is the best way to translate care to your tools, which also makes the experience for the other user better and safer. The thing you mentioned that you really can't teach, though, is caring, in which case strict limits need to be implemented on usage.
Dec 6, 2017
Fourday
131
Dec 12, 2017
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AngryAccountantIn another post, I related that I work as a Fireman. That being said, I feel your pain. I try to keep all the knives sharp and in addition, I keep several of my own knives in my locker and out of the kitchen. This has solved the issue 100%. The largest battle is teaching the younger ones to keep the knives out of the dishwasher. They seem dumbfounded as to how it can be a bad thing. I normally suggest that they place their razors in the dishwasher and then try to shave. This analogy normally works. Best of luck.
Dec 12, 2017
AngryAccountant
277
Dec 12, 2017
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FourdaySeems like that is the consensus, try to teach, but keep the good stuff tucked away somewhere else just for you. Regarding keeping them out of the dishwasher, the razor comparison is a solid one, I might steal that.
I recently almost had an aneurysm from someone saying they just bought a knife block full of knives so they can just grab a clean one and throw it in the dishwasher between running it weekly. Crud sits on their blades for days!
Dec 12, 2017
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