Your situation sounds awful, and I'm sorry you had to throw out a whole meal because of that flaking coating. Those black flakes are definitely not something you want in your food, and at six months old that basket should still be in good shape. I hope you can get a replacement that holds up better for you.

Totally agree, had the same thing happen last week and the thread just took off.

Friend of mine makes kitchen knives on the side, not a pro or anything. He swore by water quench for years, got great results with 1095 and even some W2. One day he pushed the soak a little too long, grain got too big, and a blade cracked right down the middle during the quench. He let it cool, then just kept the two halves as a reminder. Took him a while to admit oil might have saved that blade, even if it wasn't his technique that was off. He still uses water for simpler steels but keeps canola oil handy for anything tricky now.

Boy, isn't it funny how the simplest fix can make you feel like you've been doing it wrong your whole life? Makes you wonder what other easy tricks we're all still missing.

Matching pace works better if you're both drinking the same thing. Beer for beer, wine for wine, not beer for whiskey. Folks mess that up all the time and wonder why it doesn't work.