This giveaway has ended. Congratulations Kendra T!

One thing I heard over and over again when we did the Paula Deen Cookware giveaway a couple of days ago was, “I need to replace my set so badly.”

I totally get it! There was a time when our first ever nonstick cookware literally started falling apart. It looked like I was adding pepper to what I was cooking when I hadn’t. It was obvious that we needed to replace the cookware.

Unfortunately, knowing when to replace knives isn’t quite so obvious…at least, not by looking at them. You don’t notice them deteriorating and dulling, because it is a slow progression that happens over time. So how do you know when to get a new set of knives?

When to replace your knives.

First of all, some knives come with a sharpener, so they can stay sharper longer, which is fantastic! (Today’s giveaway includes a sharpener with the knives.) The first line of defense is to sharpen your knives. If that fails (or if you don’t have a sharpener), here’s how to test if your knives are dull…

How to test if your knives are dull (unsafe):

Your knives should not smoosh down a tomato. Sharp blades will slice cleanly through delicate fruits and vegetables, without needing much downward force. When your knife pushes down on the tomato, the knife should not slip on the tomato, which is very dangerous. The blade should catch on the skin and slice down effortlessly.

How to keep your knives sharp.

You may be practicing habits with your knives that will ruin them with time, without knowing it. Most knives will come with instructions of how to use, clean, and store them, but they may leave some of these out. Here are five tips to keeping your knives in tip top shape:

1. Don’t wash them in the dishwasher. You’ve probably heard this one before. In the dishwasher, knives can get warped, and the high-temperatures can damage the metal.

2. Don’t soak knives in the sink. The sink is not only a dangerous spot because of the hard-to-see-through water and lots of other dishes, leaving your knife in the sink can lead to rusting.

3. Don’t put them away wet. Wet knives can lead to rust, and putting a wet knife into a knife block can lead to mold and other bacteria.

4. Do use a knife block or magnet strip. When knives are stored unprotected in a drawer, the other utensils in the drawer will nick them over time.

5. Rinse your knives off immediately after using them. This is especially important after cutting acidic foods like lemons, limes, apples, and tomatoes. Acidic food can corrode knives, but washing/rinsing them immediately after using them can stop the damage before it starts.

Okay, so now that you know if you need new knives or not, let me tell you about today’s giveaway…

Stone Boomer 14-Piece Stainless Steel Knives and Knife Block Giveaway

This is a highly rated set of knives with an Amazon rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars that has earned it the title of “Amazon’s choice.” (Amazon’s choice products are ones that Amazon recommends for being highly rated, well-priced products that are available to ship immediately.)

Here is what comes with today’s giveaway:

• 8″ Chef’s knife
  
• 8″ Bread knife
  
• 8″ Carving knife
  
• 5″ Utility knife
  
• 3½” Paring knife
  
• 6 (4½”) Steak knives
• Scissors
• Sharpener
• Sleek looking clear stand

Here is what we love about this particular set of knives and knife block:

• ✔️ ALL TOGETHER & HIGH QUALITY – All blades are made with strong heavy duty restaurant grade stainless-steel, – comply with certification from the FDA for the home and commercial use.
• ✔️ EASY TO HANDLE & MAINTAIN – The classic lightweight knives have tapered handles that fit perfectly in your hand to maximize control and ensure comfort when cutting, slicing, mincing, and chopping all foods & cakes. These handles are a solid one piece nice design.
• ✔️ MODERN DESIGN! The professional, nice acrylic block looks sleek and modern on your counter.
• ✔️ Included with the set is a sleek sharpener for protecting the knives and keeping them razor sharp, use after use! (Reminder: Do not clean the knives in the dishwasher where they can be nicked in such a way that the sharpener cannot correct)

And again, this set would make a great Christmas present if you know someone who could use a new set of knives!

Want to get the set right away?

This set is normally $334.99, according to their website (a price that, admittedly, seems quite steep to me), but right now, you can get this whole set on Amazon for just $39.99!* (A price that is tough to beat.) {*affiliate link}

Get your knives and knife block set here today, or enter to win the giveaway below…

How to enter the giveaway.

To enter today’s giveaway, provide your email address and answer the question in the giveaway tool below. You will have until 8:59 a.m on December 6 to enter. If you are the winner, you will be notified by email on the morning of December 6. Good luck!

This giveaway has ended.

This is giveaway 5 of 12! We have many more giveaways coming up still! Be sure to come back to Meal Planning Mommies tomorrow to see the next giveaway.