Chili 🌶️ does it dull knives?

[HappyamateurDK]

Hi all.

Just made a pot of chili, and being a boring Scandinavian who rarely eat hot food. I forgot to wear gloves.

The burn in my palms from the chili made me wonder. Will chili dull my carbon knives like lemons or strong acidic foods? Or are they not acidic enough to do that?

Thanks

 

[Gongoozler]

No, peppers aren't acidic like citrus and the like. Make sure you thoroughly wash your cutting board before cutting anything else on it, unless you want those foods to be spicy as well!

I grow my own peppers and make lots of hot sauce etc. I have a dedicated hot pepper cutting board that gets used for nothing else.

 

[nopomo]

Dry peppers and fresh seeds can be rough on an edge if you’re cutting a lot, but that’s mechanical wear.

 

[esoo]

Leave a slice of pepper on your blade and see how it affects that patina - that will give you an idea of how fast it would affect the edge.

 

[fortheloveofmoar]

I think that Larin Thomas did a test on this and found none to negligible

 

[Dan-]

Best to use scissors to cut up dried chillies for chili. It has nothing to do with preserving your knives. It just works better. And never add beans.

 

[theredwon]

Chilis are hot because the capsaicin in them binds to nerve receptors that are normally activated by heat or abrasion. So basically it tricks your brain into thinking it's hot/irritating. it's not like acid, which causes a chemical change to things it contacts.

This is not a problem for knives (or birds, which aren't affected by capsaicin and will happily eat peppers that would make you and me cry).

 

[Johnsmyname]

Chilis will teach you to wash your hands before peeing! Seriously though, gloves are a good idea and another tip I got from the hot pepper forums is when making hot sauce, always keep a bottle of baby shampoo near the sink incase you get some capsicum in your eye.

 

[HappyamateurDK]

Chilis are hot because the capsaicin in them binds to nerve receptors that are normally activated by heat or abrasion. So basically it tricks your brain into thinking it's hot/irritating. it's not like acid, which causes a chemical change to things it contacts.

This is not a problem for knives (or birds, which aren't affected by capsaicin and will happily eat peppers that would make you and me cry).

That's a great explanation. Makes sense. Thanks

 

[HappyamateurDK]

Chilis will teach you to wash your hands before peeing! Seriously though, gloves are a good idea and another tip I got from the hot pepper forums is when making hot sauce, always keep a bottle of baby shampoo near the sink incase you get some capsicum in your eye.

I normally remember to not touch my eyes or other body parts that may be sensitive to the chili.

What tricked me was that the burn first startet after my hands had bin dry for a while.

 

[Johnsmyname]

Capsicum is in the oil of the ribs mostly, dish soap or any degreasing cleaner with hot water will strip it off your skin much better. I find it irritates my eyelids even after washing sometimes if not thorough enough.

 

[aporigine]

Chilis are hot because the capsaicin in them binds to nerve receptors that are normally activated by heat or abrasion. So basically it tricks your brain into thinking it's hot/irritating. it's not like acid, which causes a chemical change to things it contacts.

This is not a problem for knives (or birds, which aren't affected by capsaicin and will happily eat peppers that would make you and me cry).

Even so, the hottest peppers can upset the heat treatment, especially in white steel.

 

[Taurahe]

they are not acidic, but they are tough skinned like tomatoes, green peppers etc, and therefore can dull your knife quicker

 

[Taurahe]

Even so, the hottest peppers can upset the heat treatment, especially in white steel.

can you please provide empirical data to support this statement ??

 

[aporigine]

can you please provide empirical data to support this statement ??

Yes.

 

[Taurahe]

Yes.

that was an invitation to share it...... teach me something new

 

[aporigine]

that was an invitation to share it...... teach me something new

I rather figured that obvious humor is obvious.

 

[Taurahe]

I rather figured that obvious humor is obvious.

If your obvious humour wasn't obvious, then you are not as funny as you thought you were

 

[Johnsmyname]

I don’t think any ill intent was meant here guys. Can’t we all get along

 

[Taurahe]

I don’t think any ill intent was meant here guys. Can’t we all get along

We are....... His joke fell flat though .

 

[zizirex]

Dried chilli seeds belong in the trash.
Fresh Chilli Seeds belong in the food.
The dry kind is hard on your knife. fresh one not so bad.

 

[ian]

We are....... His joke fell flat though .

I thought it was awesome.

 

[Desert Rat]

Chipotle peppers in adobo sauce is like a stain on some steels.

 

[Johnsmyname]

That adobo would stain the inside of a Shout bottle.

 

[Dan-]

Nah you just need some Chipotlaway

 

[aporigine]

Nah you just need some Chipotlaway

CapsiGon

 

[Justinv]

The burn in my palms from the chili made me wonder.

I recommend a solution of eating more chilis. I have never felt anything in my hands from cutting habaneros, ghost peppers, etc. Eyes and sensitive parts are another matter so wash your hands thoroughly after handling hotties.

 

[aporigine]

I recommend a solution of eating more chilis. I have never felt anything in my hands from cutting habaneros, ghost peppers, etc. Eyes and sensitive parts are another matter so wash your hands thoroughly after handling hotties.

Trouble with that plan is, I appear not to digest capsaicin. It’s not so bad going down, especially if I pace myself. But the inevitable “trial by fire” the next day is a pain in the

 

[Johnsmyname]

@aporigine the struggle is real

 

[Justinv]

@aporigine those are clearly symptoms of prolonged pepper deficiency. You definitely need to up your daily dosage and power through it.