Wives and Kitchen knives (can I keep my own?)

[Walking Man]

I was hanging out with my fiancee this weekend and we were talking about what kitchen items we will need, so she looks at my block of Hoffritz (nice!) knives (hardly used!) and says, okay, we've got the knives covered.
This, of course, makes me get the "fingernails down the chalkboard" feeling, with the thought that she's going to use my, MY, good, almost untouched, and oiled kitchen knives for [gasp] cooking. (cooking for us, of course) All of a sudden fast food doesn't sound so vomitous anymore. But that's okay, it's for us, and I know she loves to cook, although the thought of those knives sitting and oxidizing at the bottom of the sink still gives me that "Freddy Kruger's peeking in your window" feeling.
--------Of course, I have a few "specials" lying around that I could do wonders with in the kitchen, that I could as mine, mine, NOT hers, or anyone elses, just mine, mine. So what I would like to know, is do any of you have any kind of arrangement with your wife (or GF or whoever) that allows you to use your own special knives when you want to? I think it's a reasonable request, after all, she'll have all the production kitchen knives she'll ever need anyway, I just want to keep MY PRECIOUS!!!!

 

[92degrees]

My wife uses all the good production and custom kitchen knives I've bought. Mostly Global, M. Carter, PJ Tomes. She understands the ground rules -- only cut on a cutting board, never put them in the dishwasher, etc. It's paid huge dividends for me -- she now appreciates the difference between great and so-so knives and encourages me to buy the best we can afford. Show her how to take care of them and then step back

 

[cmd]

Show her how to take care of them and then step back

Good kitchen knives, treated well, are potential heirlooms. It took a little time, but my wife very much appreciates having a good selection of sharp knives to use and does not mind "following the ground rules" as you mentioned.

I'm now teaching my 7 year old daughter how to handle an 8" chef's knife and it is creating good memories of cooking together.

I hope one day when I am gone that my children will use some of my knives and remember and talk with their families about learning how to use them, and teach their children.

Chris

 

[Akwacko]

I agree with the other posts. Train her up with the proper use of the family knives. Cut only on the proper surface, no dishwasher, etc. Be patient. Be prepared to grit you teeth a couple of times when she forgets. It took awhile before my wife appreciated all the "rules".

BTW I don't call them "rules" and "training" to her. That would raise her hackles, which isn't pretty. I just model what needs to be done to keep them in good shape.

They are just knives, you know. (Did I just say that?)

Good Luck,
Bruce

 

[Joe Talmadge]

My wife proved to be untrainable. I've written off the main block, sharpening out the horrific flattenings and dings whenever I have to. I keep a couple of very good knives separate from the block, and I'm the only one who uses them. One bit of providence: my wife refuses to use the TTTKK, because it doesn't look exactly like how she envisions a kitchen knife, so I can keep that in its sheath right up on the counter, and know it won't be touched.

 

[Crayola]

Just talk with your fiancee!

Fortunately for me, I make knives as a hobby. So I told m fiancee there will be some special knives I'll be making that I'll just use myself (Japanese style.) I also said to her we'd buy her what she wants for her, or I'll make it. She is pretty knife savy anyways, so I don't have much to worry about. As a knife nut and soon-to-be husband, go ahead and nag about knives! Teach her how to care for them, and things will be OK. If she won't care for them, let her know that you need to get another set of knives just for her.

 

[MC Chan]

If you're like me and why else would you be here. You've probably got a shed-load of kitchen knives.
If you're wife is trainable show her which ones you care most about and ask her to take special care of them.
If she's just not a knife person make sure all her knife needs are well met and then separate your loved kitchen knives from the rest of the flock and keep them out of accidental use range.
Then explain what an obsessive nut you are about knife maintenance and admit to her that your concern for these knives is all out of proportion with any reasonable persons expectation of a kitchen knife's lifestyle.
If she loves and respects you she should cut you some slack on the kitchen queens, and use the other beaters.
So, yes you should get another set of knives and yes you can keep them for your use. However I typically just clean up the mess and rescue the Queens when they are in distress. Its easier that way.
(I use the female form for convenience, obviously a female knife nut could have the same problem with a kitchen dork male nonknife lover.)

 

[shootist16]

My wife thinks I keep the kitchen knives.... too sharp!

She doesn't want to use my sharp kitchen knives because they are too dangerous. I've tried to educate her to understand that a sharp knife is safer, but she refuses to believe me. Oh well, at least she doesn't use my good kitchen knives.

 

[Jeff Clark]

Whoever does the cooking should have the best knives possible--period. Whoever is not cooking is just playing around and doesn't need good kitchen knives. The priority is tools above toys. What the cook uses are tools, what spectators use are toys. You should do whatever is possible to try and make cooking easier. For example a $500.00 dishwasher will save a lot more labor than a $500.00 knife. Do not protect the knives, protect the chef.

There is the problem of education. Most people try and cook like their mother, who did things like her mother, who did things like her mother, who...
It is very seldom possible for a spouse to suggest a better way to do anything in the kitchen or suggest a better tool. This is tantamount to saying that your maternal ancestors are better than their maternal ancestors, which is not an argument that you want to get into. The best approach is to find some gourmet store that sells great equipment (including knives) and gives cooking "shows" and "product demonstrations" (again, it must NOT be promoted as a class or it is an attack on the spouses mother). These experts will demonstrate "professional knives" and how they can be used better than "common knives". Your significant other will come back with magic knives that will be off limits to you. There will even be magic rituals associated with how to use these knives. There will probably be a mystical cutting board that must be used above all other cutting boards. This is OK. Efficiency will be improved at some added expense and a door will have been opened.

Now to really get dangerous you could try and let your spouse find out about Don Aslett and professional cleaning techniques. It is almost impossible to break the bond of maternal authority in how to clean, but there are easier ways. The trouble is that they are perceived as "incorrect" if they vary from the maternal standard. Maybe if you say that you found this website while you were trying to find a way to remove a stain (even if you have to make the stain on purpose). Leave a favorite button on the computer. Leave the webpage on the computer for long periods of time while you work on that "pesky stain".

http://www.cleanreport.com/