Knife with untreated wooden handle

[ErrolTheDragon]

We've just got some new pans from ProCook - they came with the free gift of a knife. It has an untreated wooden handle. It's this, or a similar size in this range.

www.procook.co.uk/product/procook-nihon-x50-chef-knife-20cm-8in

Obviously it shouldn't ever go in the dishwasher, but it didn't (afaik, DH unpacked it) come with any care instructions. I'm wondering if the handle should be oiled or otherwise treated before use, and if so with what.

Any idea please?

I have a couple of wooden handled knives that I've never treated, and they are going strong years later.
I don't submerge them in water - so, when I wash them, I hold the handle and wash the blade (but then I'd do that with all sharp knives anyway, tbh).

As it was a free gift anyway, is it worth spending lots maintaining it ?

I have that knife (free gift with a knife set 😂). I just handwash and dry it. If you oil it like you would a board, do you think it would be too slippery to handle for a while?

Thanks both. I guess I'll do likewise then. It just looks a bit naked.

Walnut oil is my preferred choice for oiling wood, is soaks in quickly and forms a hard coating. Doesn't go rancid like a lot of oils, and since I use the stuff from the supermarket easy to know its food safe.

Best to build it up in a few coats, a bit on some kitchen roll or a cloth wiped over. I'd do it daily for a few days, initially it soaks in really quickly, after a few coats you'll start to see oil staying on the surface, at which point you can just wipe it off and know you're done.

www.earlywooddesigns.com/blogs/earlywood-wooden-utensils-blog/17633464-food-safe-oils-which-type-should-you-be-using

I dont put the good knives in the dishwasher so they are always hand washed

As per giggling - I do my wooden spoons etc a couple of times a year with Walnut oil. We’ve made a few spoons from scratch (I don’t knit with lentils too, it’s just that spoon carving is actually really good fun) and so definitely need to treat them with something but found it was beneficial for the shop bought ones too (and knife handles)

My knives are untreated wood handles - I don’t put them in the dishwasher but just hand wash them like I would any knife etc, and they are fine (have had for many years, never oiled them or anything)