My question comes from using and (not) washing my carbon steel kitchen knife with detergent. In the interest of knife maintenance, washing and drying can happen frequently in food preparation and I often forego the detergent, opting for a simple water rinse. Will metal absorb odors? I'm thinking specifically about garlic and other pungent foods.
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Does metal absorb odor?
- Thread starter dork
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I have never found any remnant odors but I usually always use dish soap when washing.
David Martin
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Yes. My knives of 01 steel either absorb or adsorb odors. Then impart those to other items cut as I often smell that odor left behind on a food item. Whereas, D2 steel does not do this. DM
ron finkbeiner jr
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I want some ceramic knives to avoid that very problem of cross contamination and smells and taste.
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I keep on reading that Super Blue steels, ZDP-189, and carbon steels such as are found in the Opinel line may "impart" an acid?, acrid? taste to some foods that are sliced with those steels. I just gifted a very nice Super Blue Spyderco to my brother, so I hope that I am wrong. I did tell him to keep a light coat of mineral oil on it to help slow down the patina that will naturally form with time or exposure to acidic veggies, mustard, etc. I will read this thread with great interest.
David Martin
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It seems the steels with more elements in them don't follow this pattern. Mostly the carbon / simple steels is where I notice the smell. DM
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I think there's something to what you're saying. My g/f had a tiny dog that started a habit of peeing on a steel bin which we used to store dog food. I tried cleaning it and I ended up throwing it out because the smell of pee could not be removed. I was so damn mad. I know it's not a knife, but I figure it's still steel so I thought I would share - or maybe I'm just venting. This was about 3 years ago. I need to let things like this go, but I REALLY HATE THE SMELL OF PEE.
