5 Best Knives’ Oil and Lubricant Review 2024

Best Oil Overall
KUROBARA 100% Pure Tsubaki Japanese Camellia Oil
KUROBARA 100% Pure Tsubaki Japanese Camellia Oil
Best Folding Knife Oil Lubricant
Knife Pivot Lube Original Knife Oil
Knife Pivot Lube Original Knife Oil
Best Mineral Oil
Premium 100% Pure Food Grade Mineral Oil
Premium 100% Pure Food Grade Mineral Oil

A knife is the most used and irreplaceable tool in the kitchen. In order to keep its quality as long as possible, you need to follow specific care tips. The main care tip is to keep the best knives’ oil and lubricant as well as resharpening tools in your kitchen. Knife oil is either manufactured or natural extract. It’s a multi-usage oil for fixed-blades or folding knives. Use it to keep your knife’s blade clean from dirt, germs, and bacteria. Some people think that water will affect knives’ blades badly. That is why they replaced ordinary washing methods with good quality knife oil.

   Using the correct type of oil on your knife will prevent rust and resist corrosion. When you try to resharpen your blade, you can add some oil to give you a long-lasting sharp edge. It’s perfect for folding knives; it will keep the moving parts lubricated. All in all, lubricate oils will help you keep your knife looking good for years.

Best knives’ oil and lubricant types

Best Oil for Fixed Blades and Rust Prevention
Yoshihiro TSOIL 100% Pure Tsubaki Japanese Knife Maintenance Oil

Are you a Japanese food or knives lover? Then you know how they precisely sanctify their food culture and knife skills. That is why they take good care of their knives using the best knife oils and the best sharping tools. Yoshihiro Oil is an excellent, safe, and edible Japanese oil. This oil is extracted from Camellia Oleifera ( A plant in China). Its also known as oil-seed camellia, tea oil camellia, or tea seed oil.

  If you want a safe oil to use on your cutlery and kitchen utensils, this oil will be the right choice. It is edible, but that doesn’t mean starting to use it as a food ingredient. They used this oil in beauty and cooking fields in ancient times, but now they use it to lubricate their knives. This oil will protect your knife from rust and corrosion. It works as an excellent cleaner and conditioner for the knife’s blade to keep it new. You can use it on any metal, but there is no need to use it on stainless as stainless will not usually rust. It works for the pivot of folding knives too.

   Yoshihiro TSOIL is available in a3.4 Oz squeezable bottle with a nozzle on its lid. You may think that it’s a small amount, but due to the oil’s viscosity, one drop can cover one side of a clean and dry blade. This oil comes with a rust eraser and small cloth to make your usage easier.

In brief, Yoshihiro TSOIL is a multi-task oil. Use it to Clean and soften a knife’s blade to prevent rust and corrosion. Perfect for different types of knives. It’s safe to use in your kitchen. Packing the product is very practical and helps you use the oil with no mess. This amount will last for a long time because of oil’s viscosity; one to two drops will be enough.

Pros
  • Food-grade oil
  • High viscosity
  • Protects blades from rust and corrosion
  • A small amount of this oil will work perfectly with your knife
  • The packing includes cloth and rust eraser
  • Works with different types of metals
  • Suitable for folding knives
  • It comes in a squeezable bottle that makes applying easy
  • Great Value for money
Cons
  •  The rust eraser is a bit small

Also read, What Is The Best Natural Oil For Wood Cutting Boards?

Best Oil Overall
KUROBARA 100% Pure Tsubaki Japanese Cutlery Knife Maintenance Camellia Oil

Generally, Knife oil is available as synthetic oil and Natural oil. Kurobara oil is a natural high-grade Japanese oil. This golden-yellow oil is 100% extracted from the Camellia flower without additions.

  Tsubaki oils have no distinct smell or flavor but a slight floral taste. Though it is a natural oil; you cannot use it directly on food.

  It is a multi-use oil to lubricate blades and needles. It works well with sewing machines, bladed weapons, and other tools. You can use this oil as a great conditioner on wooden details like a knife handle, ropes, and other materials. One more important thing about this oil is that it’s a wet oil which means non-greasy. It doesn’t attract dust and works perfectly against rust.

  Packaging of this oil is available in two sizes and types. Big spray bottle 8.6 oz, you can spray it onto your knifes’ blades. The small bottle with a nozzle on its lid of 3.5 oz will be more suitable if you like to work with tiny drops. The translated instructions into English on the bottle are beneficial. The packing doesn’t include a cloth or rust eraser.

   In brief, Kurobara oil comes in different sizes. It has two applying mechanisms to choose the suitable one. You can keep this oil for a long time when storing it in a good place. It’s non-greasy, doesn’t attract dust, and prevents rust. This oil works well with knives, machines, weapons, and tools. It’s perfect on wood, other materials, and metals. Safe to use in the kitchen. Available at a reasonable price.

Pros
  • Food-grade oil
  • Protects blades from rust
  • Available in two different sizes
  • Two different mechanism
  • Suitable for various knives, tools, and machines
  • Ideal with other materials and metals
  • Affordable price
  • It doesn’t attract dust
Cons
  • Cloth and rust eraser not included
  • Little expensive

Read more, Oiling Wooden Cutting Boards Why, How, and When?

Best Folding Knife Oil Lubricant
Knife Pivot Lube Original Knife Oil for Blades, Synthetic Pocket Knife Lubricant, Knife Honing Oil

KPL knife oil is synthetic, not natural oil. The main use of this oil is to lubricate moving parts of a folding knife, locking mechanism, and joints. It will prevent the formation of dust, dirt, and small particles. The advanced synthetic base guarantee absolute smoothness of the moving parts.

  You can use this oil with different metals. It penetrates rigid materials and ceramics. Like other knives’ oil, it protects and lubricates the blades. Also, it prevents rust and corrosion of the knife edges. The formula of this oil doesn’t evaporate, oxidize or dry up quickly. It is not an edible or natural oil so try not to use it on kitchen knives.

  The packing of this oil comes in a smaller size than ordinary knife oil. Each bottle holds 10 milliliters with a needle oiler. The top is very positive on closing with a tight lock. Small package to take everywhere.

    In brief, KPL oil 10 ml bottle with a needle applicator and tight lock. The oil won’t dry up quickly. Prevent the formation of dust, dirt, small particles and keep the smooth movements. It’s perfect for different metals. Safe to use in the kitchen. It is not an edible or natural oil. Available at a reasonable price.

Pros
  • Small package to take everywhere
  • Creates buttery smooth knife action
  • Protects your knife from rust and corrosion
  • Easy and fast to apply
  • 100% USA made
  • Premium ingredients
  • Smells nice
Cons
  • Slightly pricey
  • Manufactured not natural

Check also, Best Oil For Cutting Boards |Buyer’s Guide

Best Mineral Oil
NSF Certified Food Grade Mineral Oil, 8 Ounces, Certified Food Safe Conditioner for Wood Cutting Boards

If you are looking for a knife’s oil with a package of benefits, then food-grade mineral oil will be the magic word. This FDA food-grade mineral oil is USP Certified and NSF Approved. The oil’s main features are colorless, odorless, preventing bacterial growth, and tasteless. Packing is available in different sizes and at affordable prices. You have varieties of choices that suit you.

  The Pure and high-quality oil is safe for wooden parts like a knife’s handle. It works with different wooden or bamboo products. How does it work on wood? It permeates deep into the wood. That permeation prevents the harmful effect of water such as cracking and drying. It also works as a rust preventer for knives’ blades and stainless steel cleaner. Use mineral oil with various materials; granite, soapstone, garden equipment, and more!

  This oil property will help keep the freshness and crispness of your food products. It prevents the absorption of food odors and keeps your fridge smelling fresh. This oil works as a mild laxative for horses, cattle, sheep, pigs, and dogs

Pros
  • Food-grade oil
  • Help keep food products fresh and crisp
  • Prevents absorption of food odors
  • Prevents growth of bacteria
  • Colorless, odorless, and tasteless
  • It’s non-toxic and won’t spoil
  • Safe for wooden parts and wooden products
  • rust preventer and stainless steel cleaner
  • Usable with various materials
  • A mild natural laxative for horses, cattle, sheep, swine, and dogs
  • Inexpensive
Cons
  • Not as effective at lubricating pivots as specialist oils

Check also, Best Electric Bread Slicer | Buyer’s Guide

Best Honing Oil
Lansky Nathan's Natural Honing Oil Yellow, Medium

The lubricant formula is unique with Lansky Sharpeners and Natural Arkansas Benchstones. By adding a few drops of this oil, you will protect your honing stone and gain a sharp and professional-quality blade. It also cleans up the sharpening stone well after sharpening. 

  Honing oil prevents loose grit from damaging the blade. It carries away metal filings from the stone. This oil has almost no smell. According to users’ experience, other honing oils are smelly, like kerosene/fuel oil. The packing of this oil comes in a 4 oz., clear bottle with a wight screw lid.

Please note that using lubricant with any Diamond Sharpeners is not recommended.

Pros
  • Promote honing of blades
  • Prolongs the life of both blade and stone
  • Last long
  • A good price
Cons
  • Categorized as Petroleum product (Not safe to use on kitchen tools)

Read more , The Best Ceramic Folding Knife

FQA’S

How often should I oil my knife?

Generally, from one to two times a year should be adequate. Of course, it would be different if the blades were from high-quality metals like titanium. These metals don’t need regular maintenance, as they don’t affect by rust or corrosion.

What do you need to oil a knife?

First of all, hand wash your knife and use a towel to dry it out. A food-grade natural oil like tea seed oil protects your knife’s blade. Daily knife usage, storing it for a long time, or living in a humid environment exposes it to corrosive factors. Thus, using the oil forms a layer of protection.

How do you use Tsubaki oil on a knife?

Apply Tsubaki oil when storing your knives for an extended period (for example, a vacation). If you live in a very humid environment, apply the oil to prevent rust. Spread a few drops of oil on your knife and make sure not to miss any spots.

How do you use camellia oil on a knife?

  • Make sure to hand wash your knife and use a towel to dry it out.
  • Use cold tap water to rinse the oil off your knife before using it again in your kitchen.

Is camellia oil greasy?

Camellia oil is a wet oil, which means non-greasy. That is why they used it in beauty and cooking fields in ancient times, as it absorbs very quickly.

Does KPL prevent rust?

It works perfectly as anti-rust and corrosion due to its stable viscosity.

What is a USP document?

USP is a scientific non-profit organization. It sets public standards for medicines’ identity, strength, quality, and purity. The first United States Pharmacopeia (USP) was published in 1820. It began as a “recipe” book for practitioners. This book was to standardize the manufacture and dispense medicines to their patients.

What is NSF approved mean?

NSF, National Sanitation Foundation. It is a non-profit organization founded in 1944. The foundation’s goal is to promote public health. That is why they created standards for food safety and sanitation. Owning NSF-certified means foodservice products are commercial, dishwasher safe, and anti-bacterial.

Is there a difference between mineral oil and food-grade mineral oil?

There are two types of mineral oil, low grade: not safe to use in your kitchen and food grade; safe to use in your kitchen.

What are the uses of food-grade mineral oil?

It’s safe for a knife’s wooden handle and different wooden or bamboo products. You can use it as a rust preventer and stainless steel cleaner. Water usage on the wood has harmful effects such as cracking and drying. This oil will prevent this bad effect as it permeates deep into the wood. For the food field, adding it keep food products fresh and crisp.

Is there a downside of food-grade mineral oil?

It is not effective as a lubricating oil as other stable viscosity lubricating oils.

What are the uses of Lansky honing oil?

It works with all Lansky Sharpeners, Natural Arkansas Benchstones, and different sharpening systems. This oil protects your honing stone and gains a sharp, professional blade. 

What is the best honing oil?

Mineral oil works as good honing oil. Its light texture is ideal as it won’t harden the sharpening process. Heavy oil is not required for this process.

What are Lansky sharpening stones made of?

The Standard stonesare manufactured from alumina oxide and ceramic. These materialswill give your knife a clean, smooth edge.

What kind of oil should I use on my knife?

Try always to use food-grade oil on your knife or when resharpening it.It’s safe for human usage.

Should I oil Japanese knives?

You should use Tsubaki Oil (Japanese Tea Seed Oil) for high carbon steel blades. This oil on your Japanese knife will protect it from rust and corrosion. It works as an excellent cleaner and conditioner for the knife’s

Photo of author

Daniel Rogers

My name is Daniel Rogers, a 35-year-old enthusiast of the kitchen. From the moment that I entered the kitchen, I have been passionate about cooking and baking. This passion made me eager enough to know more about the kitchen tools that I use. The older I become, the more I become knowledgeable about kitchen tools. When and how to use a special tool in the kitchen becomes my hobby. I read a lot about many brands, tried some of them by myself, and gathered sufficient information about the others.

Leave a Comment