Avoid using your knife on surfaces made of glass, granite, marble, or ceramic. These materials are much harder than steel and will weaken your knife's edge. Even a quick slice on a ceramic dinner plate, a marble cheese board, or a granite countertop can dull your knife.
Using Knives Directly on the Granite
Your knives will also be sorry you skipped a cutting board. Slicing knives across granite to cut food will quickly dull and damage their blades. A dull knife is more dangerous than a sharp one and can lead to accidental cuts.
Here's the TLDR: Use end-grain walnut, cherry, or maple wood—they're the best for your knives. Outside the wood family, use plastic, and synthetic rubber boards.
Yes, it is generally safe to put food on granite countertops. While it's true that some granite can emit low levels of radiation due to naturally occurring radioactive materials like uranium, the levels are typically very low and not considered harmful.
To put a shine on your granite, pour a little cooking oil on a soft cleaning cloth and wipe it across the countertop. Buff it gently. This makes the counter a little bit stain-resistant and gives it a glossy shine. Even if you know how to clean countertops correctly, your granite will need to be resealed periodically.
We do not recommend using vinegar when cleaning granite surfaces. While it is certainly a naturally strong stone and can withstand high temps, the acid in vinegar causes etching, which makes the surface dull and damaged. Over time, it will lose its sheen and natural beauty as the sealant wears away.
Another excellent compound is Tenax Granite Polishing Powder. Tenax is a leader in the stone-care industry and this polish is highly rated by users. We also use this compound in our workshop and factory and on job sites to produce a fresh glow on granite flooring, countertops and, in particular, wall panels.
While most knives won't scratch granite, some very sharp or serrated knives could potentially cause minor surface scratches if used aggressively.
Your granite countertop is sealed when installed, and it is recommended that it be resealed one year after installation or sooner if you start to notice water stains that evaporate slowly in a given area. You might also consider sealing granite if you are selling your home.
Homeowners don't need to worry about damaging their countertops with everyday use because granite is quite heat resistant. Placing a hot pan on a well-maintained granite slab will not cause it to crack or weaken. Just remember that repeatedly placing a very hot pan on the same spot may cause granite to discolor.
Never cut on glass, ceramic or countertops. Those surfaces are harder than a knife's edge and will quickly dull the blade. It's what you cut on that dulls knives, not what you're cutting.
Bamboo Cutting Boards
Bamboo absorbs very little moisture and resists scarring from knives, so they are more resistant to bacteria than other woods. Clean bamboo cutting boards with hot soapy water; sanitize if desired. Rub with mineral oil to help retain moisture.
All knife edges become dull with use, even edges on serrated or “never need sharpening” knives. This is because, with use, the edge eventually folds over or breaks when it encounters the resistance of the food being cut or when it comes into contract with a cutting surface.
Granite Cracks
To be perfectly honest, Granite can sometimes crack under pressure, both figuratively and literally! Even though it is easy to fix, getting a chip or crack anywhere on a granite surface is a huge hassle and not something you think about when buying the stone.
Yes, but you shouldn't. Although your knife blades won't damage the granite itself, they can wear down the seal over time. Plus, the granite counter is hard enough to actually dull your knife. That's why it's always a good idea to use a cutting board even if you have a stone countertop made from Granite or quartz.
When it comes to food preparation, cutting boards made from glass, granite, marble or ceramic are not ideal for your knives. All these materials are much harder than steel and will cause knives to dull much quicker.
If left unsealed, granite countertops can become vulnerable to stains and damage over time. Granite, being a porous material, naturally absorbs liquids. Without proper sealing, liquids spilled in the kitchen, such as wine, oil, coffee, or food can seep into the pores, leaving behind stubborn stains.
Granite is renowned for its incredible durability. Formed under intense heat and pressure, it's one of the hardest natural stones available, making it resistant to scratches, stains and heat. Lifespan: With proper care and maintenance, granite countertops can last a lifetime – typically 30+ years.
Quartz is actually harder than granite and thus, more durable. In fact, quartz is nearly indestructible, and because it isn't porous like granite, it's easy to keep your countertops relatively bacteria-free. Be careful with cooking pans though: Quartz can be damaged by excessive heat, so use heating pads at all times.
Granite is harder than your kitchen knives. Cutting directly on the surface is likely to dull or even damage your knives over time.
If you have quartz and granite countertops, then yes, you can cut food directly on them. Quartz is very durable and one of the hardest materials available on the market.
Avoid using your knife on surfaces made of glass, granite, marble, or ceramic. These materials are much harder than steel and will weaken your knife's edge. Even a quick slice on a ceramic dinner plate, a marble cheese board, or a granite countertop can dull your knife.
Use a pH-neutral granite cleaning solution and work it slowly and methodically across the countertop. Using anything too basic or acidic will weaken the sealant, so avoid solutions like bleach or vinegar. Some soap and water will suffice, along with a soft sponge. Also, avoid using abrasive pads for scrubbing.
Granite, like many natural and manufactured stone surfaces, is porous. Anything like a wax (or hyper wax) would leave residue and more than trace amounts that you likely won't want on a food-prep surface. Substances like this are meant for the care of non-porous materials, like the painted/sealed metal of vehicles.
Over time substances can build up on the stone's surface. For example, hard water deposits, food debris, calcium deposits, grease and soap residue can build up on the surface over the course of years, and you probably won't notice.