Cooking Stack Exchange
Cooking Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [maintenance]

64 questions
56
votes
10 answers

How should I care for my knives?

I've finally put down the money to buy a quality knife and it's sharpness is amazing! How do I take care of it so that the edge lasts and the knife stays sharp?
Eclipse
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47
votes
7 answers

How do you clean a seasoned cast iron skillet?

I have a seasoned cast iron skillet, and I don't want to mess up the seasoning when I'm cleaning it. What do I use and what don't I use to get it back to clean? I've heard not to use soap and to make sure it is dry, but nothing beyond that.
plor
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36
votes
2 answers

What does a healthy cast iron skillet look like?

I've read plenty about how to restore and season cast iron, but I have no clue whether any of the old cast iron I've inherited could benefit from this. Is healthy cast iron black? or should it be somewhat metallic looking (ie. a bit silvery, like…
Colin K
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26
votes
14 answers

Is there something better than mineral oil for cutting boards?

I've been using mineral oil to oil my wooden cutting boards ever since I found out this was a good thing to do. I had a couple of bamboo boards up until I bought a really great John Boos carving board (made of maple). When I bought the maple…
rageear
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25
votes
5 answers

Will using a knife sharpener reduce the lifetime of my knife?

In the long run, is it better to regularly use a knife honer instead of a knife sharpener once in a while to keep the edge sharp?
Alinium
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20
votes
10 answers

Can you sharpen a ceramic knife?

Can you sharpen a ceramic knife?
Cary Jensen
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18
votes
1 answer

Can I (or should I) re-roughen the interior of a ceramic mortar?

I have a ceramic mortar & pestle, approximately 10 cm across, that I use primarily for grinding whole spices. When I bought it about 15 years ago, only the exterior of the mortar (and a small amount of the interior) was glazed; the interior had an…
Michael Seifert
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17
votes
2 answers

Cast iron pan flaking

My cast iron pan has started to give off tiny black flakes after 3 months of use. Are these dangerous in any way? Are we ingesting iron? There are patches on the skillet that are now a little lighter than their surrounding areas.
Eva
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15
votes
3 answers

Am I using my knives for the correct jobs?

I've got a limited collection of knives which I was moderately pleased to discover meet the "minimum requirements". But, recent activity on here has got me thinking - am I using them for the correct jobs? I have: Long (8 inch) flat-blade knife…
DMA57361
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13
votes
4 answers

How to clean and maintain cast iron lids

I have a number of cast iron lids that fit skillets, dutch ovens, etc. Most have the little cone-shaped spikes on the underside to collect and return moisture to the food. I have no issues cleaning and maintaining my cast iron pans and pots, but I…
Athanasius
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11
votes
3 answers

Knife sharpening equipment

I'm a novice at best when it comes to cooking, but I'm open to learning how to sharpen my own knives. However, I'm a quite overwhelmed with where to start and how to get things going. I have a few questions: What should I look for when purchasing a…
MarkE
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11
votes
6 answers

How to look after non-stick cookware so it lasts?

Over the course of the last 4 years I think I seem to have been working my way through non-stick pans at a ridiculous rate, I think I'm on my 3rd frying pan and 4th wok - or something of that nature. Admittedly the first couple I had were very…
DMA57361
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11
votes
2 answers

cast iron pan rusting on bottom surface

I have a great cast iron skillet that I use frequently and also take superb care of. Until I noticed the bottom is coated in rust. I believe the high heat that I use from the range top cooked off all the seasoning on the bottom + I never re-season…
Zombies
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10
votes
10 answers

What is the proper way to maintain a can opener?

I bought a hand crank can opener (Oxo) because of the good online feedback and only use the "shake" dry approach. It quickly developed rust in between the metal. If I invest the time and scrub, I can remove most of the rust. When I initially posed…
杜興怡
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8
votes
7 answers

What are the dos and don'ts regarding cleaning a bamboo cutting board?

What are the dos and don'ts regarding cleaning a bamboo cutting board? How to let it live a long life? I heard people talking about using mineral oil w.r.t the same. How much and when use it?
Aquarius_Girl
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