do you wash your pocket knifes before and after cutting food?

JR1

Joined
Jun 21, 2013
Messages
9
hey bros, i have a question to ask. i've seen too many posts of people using their knifes to cut food. anything from steak, bread, to fruits is fair game. i've even seen pocket knifes used to spread butter or jams on bread. but let us say you use your knife to gut a fish, it wouldn't be too sanitary to use the knife on an apple you going to eat right?

i also saw a friend of mine slice an apple with his folder then eat it. i asked him if he washed his knife before he sliced the apple and he said he didn't. i can just imagine what he used his knife for before that.

so how about it? do you give any thought about what you used your knife on the last time before using your knife on something you going to plop down on your mouth in a couple of seconds after using your knife on it without washing? i'd like to hear your thoughts.
 
I always and invariably clean my knives in any ways necessary (sometimes washing) after any and all use. I want them all at top functionality for as long as possible.
 
If I've only done menial things like opening a box, whittling a stick, open a clam pack etc. then nahhh........................I mainly use 1095 carbon steel pocket knives so the length of time it takes to properly dry and re oil the joints etc. is time consuming. Usually a quick wipe on the pants leg will suffice.

A dedicated knife that I would use to clean fish/game, raw meat would be washed after doing so.
 
At the end of the day of use for any EDC, I always wipe the blade with some rubbing alcohol. So My knives are always really clean. Plus I never use folding knives for anything really germ ridden, I leave that for fixed blades.
 
I wipe them down with water and some rag/towel/pant leg after use. Nothing special and nothing before I use them. They will get special attention with some fluids, raw meat.... etc.
 
The only knives I use for food are my traditionals and before and after I use them I run them under hot water from the tab for 30 seconds or so. I only cut up fruit and veggies with these.
 
I don't use folding knives on food. Even if you think the knife is getting a thorough cleaning, there's no way to get down in the joints without disassembling the knife entirely.
 
Since I'm a chef all my knives are cleaned before and after use.

Also, I'm not germaphobic so it doesn't bug me if I didn't.

Your immune system needs practice anyways.
 
I wipe mine off after use to keep the blade from being gummed up or rusting If it's really dirty or stuff has gotten into the pivot or between the scales, I wash it under water and sometimes use soap.

This is to protect the knife not to protect me.

If I forgot and the knife is visibly dirty, then I wipe it off.

Many new studies have shown that children who play in the dirt, play outside, etc. have better immune systems and are less suceptible to colds, infections, allergies, etc.

Embrace dirt...it's natural. :)

If you want to know what I think, I believe you may not want to say anything about your friend's use of their knife. Most people aren't afraid of a little dirt.
 
Many new studies have shown that children who play in the dirt, play outside, etc. have better immune systems and are less suceptible to colds, infections, allergies, etc.

Embrace dirt...it's natural. :)

Amen brother.
 
Not only do I wash my knives, I wash all food preparation and consumption devices, including myself. ;)
 
If i have used a blade to clean fish/game I will wash it after and usually it is for that purpose only. I generally wipe a folder on my pants leg before I use it for food but I will usually wash it after food cutting depending on what I cut with it.
 
Use my knives for food prep all the time. I know what my knife has come into contact with since its use and last use so depending on that it will possibly get a wash before and after no too much babying. If you are slicing up meat, it probably needs a good wash afterwards at least...

I watched a guy I work with stir wet cat food with his folder for the shop cat, then proceed to cut him off a slice of banana bread that was in the office... needless to say I made fun of the guy for quite some time... It still gives me the heebie jeebies... I did not eat any of the bread... I know the cat food is just food, but I sure did not want any of it considering I do not eat cat food... and after seeing that there is no telling what he has done to the knife beforehand. LOL gross.
 
If I am in the kitchen, yes I rinse the knife off before and after use.


If I am out and about, I will cut an apple, etc, and just wipe the knife off on a handkerchief if I have one (which I nearly always do).

I don't obsess.

But If I used a knife to clean an animal, or fish, I would not use it on food unless I had a chance to wash it off.

But people have survived worse............
 
I don't use folding knives on food. Even if you think the knife is getting a thorough cleaning, there's no way to get down in the joints without disassembling the knife entirely.

I hear this a lot but in my use I've never had this problem. Maybe if you're gutting a deer it would get nasty down there but when cutting up an apple or any other food for that matter, the only residue is on the blade itself. And even if it did get down in there, I'm not cutting the apple with the pivot pin so I'm not sure how I could cross contaminate. No offense but I just haven't seen this problem IME.

As to the main question, if I plan on cutting up food I generally take a second "clean" knife. Which means the only cleaning required before hand would be to wipe the pocket lint off. After, I will either wipe the blade after cutting fruit and veggies or wash it after cutting meat.
 
If by cleaning you mean wipe on my pant leg then yes, I clean them ;)

This

I wipe mine off after use to keep the blade from being gummed up or rusting If it's really dirty or stuff has gotten into the pivot or between the scales, I wash it under water and sometimes use soap.

This is to protect the knife not to protect me.

If I forgot and the knife is visibly dirty, then I wipe it off.

Many new studies have shown that children who play in the dirt, play outside, etc. have better immune systems and are less suceptible to colds, infections, allergies, etc.

Embrace dirt...it's natural. :)

If you want to know what I think, I believe you may not want to say anything about your friend's use of their knife. Most people aren't afraid of a little dirt.

And this- Immune system FTW
This message has been brought to you by "knife users against Sagrotan mommys"
Thank you
 
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