Taking care of your utensils

Taking care of your utensils

Just like old wooden houses of the country, our utensils are built to bear witness to the passage of generations. Just like these cedar-clad walls that line the our country roads, the materials we use develop a patina with use that gives them beauty and affirms their authenticity. Here are the particularities of each of these materials as well as some practical advice for their maintenance.

General maintenance

To preserve their original beauty, it is always best to clean your utensils by hand and dry them immediately.

Black patinated stainless steel

A very stable and rust resistant material. Its dark color comes from the combined action of fire and oxygen. With use, it will become a little more matte and the edges will very slowly take on a subtle silvery sheen. You can restore its original luster at any time by applying a very thin layer of food grade wax (this is how we deliver them).

An aditionnal note on forged and (black) patinated stainless steel

We only use quality graded stainless steels. This makes our products both tough and low-maintenance while providing the same aesthetic appearance as traditionally used iron. Please note that the forging and hot patinating process makes our steel slightly less resistant to highly corrosive environments (like the dishwasher). For a completely stain-free experience, we recommend washing our products by hand only.

Silver tumbled or “stonewashed” stainless steel

Maintenance free finish, the tumbled stainless steel has been deliberately saturated with scratches which gives it its magnificent semi-matte texture.

Black patinated carbon steel

Robust and easy to work, it is the true traditional material of the blacksmith. Carbon steel, often simply called “Iron”, is delivered with a black forge patina obtained by the combined action of fire and oxygen. The surface is then coated with a thin layer of food grade wax for utensils or micro-crystalline wax for non-food tools. With use, the edges will very slowly rub and take on a subtle silvery sheen. Although this finish provides some corrosion resistance, an item stored dirty or wet may develop some surface rust. In this case, don't panic! Gently rub the affected area with extra fine steel wool, rinse, dry and apply a food grade wax if necessary (beeswax, butcher block wax, cast iron seasonning wax, etc.).

Copper

Of exceptional beauty and warmth, copper is the most rapidly evolving material. Originally pinkish and shiny in color, copper develops an orange to brown patina with use (see note below*). Just like your grandmother's silverware, copper can easily be cleaned and returned to its original color at any time. To do this, we recommend using a mild powder cleaner for copper and stainless steel such as Lagostina Professional Cleaner for stainless steel & copper™ (this is the one we use) and Bar Keeper’s Friend™. Follow the manufacturer's instructions, use a non-abrasive sponge and lukewarm water for best results, rinse thoroughly and dry immediately.

SPECIAL NOTE ON COPPER*

Avoid prolonged use of your copper utensils (several hours) as well as prolonged immersion in very acidic foods and drinks (tomatoes, citrus fruits, etc.). If your utensils develop a greenish (verdigris) color, it is important to clean them completely, right away using the method described above.