how to sharpen a knife

Most whetstones are designed to be soaked in water before every use, so check the manufacturer's instructions to be sure. So when your knife begins to seem dull, don’t sharpen it—steel it first. The One Thing You’re NOT Doing with Paper Towels (But Should Be). Also, you should maintain that angle very consistent with each sharpening stroke. ), Other knives: “I sharpen all knives the same way—hunting knives, fillet knives, what ever. If that’s the case, you’ll have to hit the coarse and then the fine. Cut it in half again and you’ll be very close to 22 degrees, a good angle for steeling. Polishing the Edge. Keeping the knife in the same hand, repeat the motion on the other side of the steel, reversing the angle of the blade against the honing steel. BUY IT: Wüsthof 10" Knife Sharpening Steel, $24.95 on Amazon. Drag your fingertip over the flat side of the knife. Repeat passes and test until the knife “sticks” to your nail. If your knife isn’t restored by steeling, you may need to hit the fine ceramic stone a few times. You can do it yourself, but it takes expensive electric tools or a lot of tricky manual grinding on a stone. Rest the end of the steel on a cutting board and do your steeling the safer and more accurate way. I’m going to show you the way I learned how to sharpen a pocket knife. It’s very important that you steel at an angle between 20 and 30 degrees. Joe says, “The steel keeps a knife sharp.”, Photo A shows what your knife edge looks like after a dinner’s worth of cutting—all bent and wavy.“ Photo B shows what your knife edge looks like after steeling. Knife Sharpening Tips. Without stability or with the incorrect angle, you can damage your knife’s blade. Turn the knife over and sharpen the other side of the blade as well. Then the razor edge quickly dulls. Our favorite way to sharpen a blade is to use a whetstone—a rectangular block that works almost like sandpaper, helping to straighten and refine the cutting edge on the blade as you slide the knife across it. Protect the edges: Don’t just toss unprotected knives into a drawer. Or at least how much less painful. In the end, much of it comes down to personal preference. Joe Gamache, our expert cutler, says there are hundreds of devices, techniques and theories about how to sharpen a knife. Maintain your knife blades with our pro tips, including what sharpeners to use and how to store knives. If you already sharpen your knife yearly and hone it regularly, you can go straight to the fine-grind side. Sharpen each scallop with the steel. Master it and you’ll be amazed at how well your knives perform and how much more fun food prep, carving, slicing and peeling can be. And because a dull knife is imprecise, slow, and a one-way road to injury (yes, more dangerous than sharp knives), you want to get the blade back in shape. All the sharpening tools you’ll need are available anywhere knives are sold. He’ll show you how to safely achieve sharp edges without any trips to the ER. Joe says, “Don’t strive for razor-sharp edges—’sharp-enough’ edges stay sharp longer.”. You're just thinning the area around the edge a bit to save you some labor … This step isn’t really polishing the blade, but it’s the best descriptor we could … While holding down the sharpener in one hand and the knife’s handle in the other, place the … Single Bevel AKA Chisel Grind Single bevel knives (also known as chisel edge) are only sharpened on one side. If your whetstone needs to be soaked, submerge it in water until it's completely saturated and there are no bubbles coming out of it, 5 to10 minutes. One of the ways to sharpen a knife is with a whetstone. Those indicate nicks or very dull spots. And aside from being annoying to cut with, a dull knife can be seriously dangerous. Sharpening Your Knife The process of sharpening a knife is deceptively simple, although it becomes much easier with experience, of course. Flip the knife and begin sharpening the one side of the knife on the fine grit side of the stone. “The easiest way to sharpen a knife is to use a knife sharpener,” says Executive Chef Fabio Capparelli from Saltine and Varia in Norfolk, Virginia. Or just visit Joe’s store at eversharpknives.com. Heavy pressure doesn’t help; it’ll just remove more material and wear away the knife. To use it, hold the knife at a 20-degree angle against the whetstone, and gently drag each side of the knife against it a few times. Sharpen knives quickly and keep them that way with two simple, inexpensive tools, several easy-to-learn techniques and a little practice. Everyone has a way they think is best, and men have all sorts of techniques and tools that they feel are essential in getting a sharp blade. The Technique. Dry them right afterward. This tool is a quick-fix solution for a dull knife—just press the blade of the knife into the coarse side, pull in in towards you a few times, then move on to the fine side. So yes, you need to do both. And don’t give up on high-quality knives that have a chip or notch in the blade. Hone your knife weekly—every time you use your knife, if you'd like—and sharpen your knife every few months, or at least every year (depending on how often you use it, and how soon you notice dulling that honing doesn't really improve). Set the tapered diamond sharpener in a serration so that you fill the indentation. To keep your fingers (and your dinner) in good shape, you'll want to learn how sharpen a kitchen knife by using a whetstone or a sharpener, and maintain that edge by honing it with a steel rod. Set the blade lightly on your nail and drag it toward the end. By the DIY experts of The Family Handyman Magazine. Simple cardboard sheaths held together with duct tape will do the job. Now that you've sharpened your knife, use a honing steel weekly to keep the knife's edge perfectly straight (don't worry about damaging your blade with frequent honing—the process doesn't wear down your knife like sharpening does). Also, remember that you should always complete an equal number of strokes on every side of your knife. When I first step in the sharpening process, it was an angle of 20-degree. For a hunting knife, the best angle of the edge is between 15-degree to 20-degree. To do that, you need to hone. A Homeowner’s Guide to Counter-Depth Refrigerators. Find your grip. A knife that’ll easily slice through food is sharp enough. To revisit this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories. Start near the handle and drag the edge downward as you pull it toward you. Both styles are easy to use for those learning how to sharpen a knife. You've likely seen someone using a honing rod to "sharpen" a knife. We Love These Countertop Kitchen Appliances — All On Sale! Joe says, “Tomato skins are the perfect way to test for sharpness.”. Learning how to use a knife sharpener may come in handy in a pinch, but it's not the best possible solution. After sharpening and before any food prep, wipe off the blade with a cloth to remove any metal filings. Place your knife horizontally with the edge touching the steel at the top. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (updated as of 1/1/21) and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement (updated as of 1/1/21) and Your California Privacy Rights. Only sharpen your knife to a 60 degrees inclusive bevel in situations that require the most extreme edge holding. If you could see the edge under a microscope, it would look wavy, and it would feel dull while cutting. Learn how to use a knife sharpener like a stick sharpener, simply hold the knife edge down while you drag it across and down the stick surfaces as you learn how to sharpen a knife. “I personally use an electric one that is called Work Sharp, the Knife & Tool Sharpener, Ken Onion Edition. It doesn't matter what stroke you use or what direction. Clean Your Knife. Steeling doesn’t sharpen an edge; it straightens it. If you love gadgets, spend at least $125 for a decent electric sharpener. Press the bottom of the knife’s blade (the thickest part) against the honing steel and, working at a 15-20 degree angle, pull the knife down and towards you. Grab a whetstone, a sharpener, or a honing steel and get to it. Carefully remove the dirt, oil, and grime from your blade. Then repeat the process on the other side of the steel. A manual knife sharpener, also called a “pull through sharpener,” is … A sharpening guide is a conventional and cheap way to sharpen your knife or cutting equipment. Most whetstones have both a "coarse-grind side" and a "fine-grind side"—start with the coarse side if your knife is especially dull, then repeat the process on the fine-grind side. They’ll do more harm than good. And believe it or not, he’s only needed 16 stitches. You might not have one in a survival situation, so finding other ways to sharpen knives is an essential survival skill.If you have an old coffee mug or a broken glass laying around, chances are you won’t even need an expensive sharpener. Any decent knife set includes one, but few people know exactly what it does, much less how to properly use it. Some plastics and certainly glass and laminate surfaces won’t pass the test, even if they’re called “cutting boards” on the label. Then you’ll be able to keep them that way using Joe’s techniques. Don’t waste your money getting a diamond-coated surface. And with that style you’ll look pretty impressive when your guests watch you sharpen your knife before carving up the roast. Although motorized sharpeners do an okay job of this, in practice, waterstones will yield a sharper knife while removing less material from the knife. A V-sharpener has two pairs of cutting edges in a V-configuration (Photo 2). The tapered side is the only one that gets sharpened. If you're familiar with how to sharpen an ordinary chef's knife, you know that it involves applying a series of long strokes on a sharpening stone, then reversing it and doing the same to the other side of the blade. © 2020 Condé Nast. A steel is the shorthand term for a steel rod used to straighten knife edges. Don’t stop sharpening the knife until you’re completely satisfied with the result. If the whetstone seems to be drying out as you use it, just rub some more water on it and continue on. Joe will show you how to use it to maintain a sharp edge. If any scallops are missing burrs, flip the knife over and hit those again. One important note: "Whet" doesn't mean "wet"—it means sharpen, although some whetstones require soaking. Joe has sharpened well over 1 million knives in the past 20 years. Keep a mini sharpener in your tackle box and use the same techniques.”. Joe says, “If you cook five meals a week, take your knives to a pro for a tune-up once or twice a year.”. Now your knife is sharp. Wooden handles will get ruined, and even stainless steel blades will corrode and get dull. The real concern is that these sharpening tools might not be great for your knife—so consider this method for sharpening less-pricey knives, and stick to using a whetstone when sharpening your fancy Japanese chef's knife. … Here's how to hone your knife: Start by placing the end of the steel's rod on flat surface (table, counter, cutting board). If you don’t have a steel, go buy one for about $20. To revisit this article, select My⁠ ⁠Account, then View saved stories. It’s very basic, good for beginners, and best of all, it works. Using a whetstone may take a bit of practice, but once you get the hang of it, you'll be able to keep knives razor-sharp while saving time and money. Is Your Freezer Set to the Right Temperature? The second phase takes it down to 15 degrees, granting you multiple levels. But the steel rod doesn't actually sharpen your knife—it just straightens out the cutting edge on the blade to allow for smoother, safer cuts. Follow Photos 1 – 3 for the 3-step sharpening process. If you want to master the technique, take your serrated knives to a knife or cookware store and ask to have your knife matched to the correct diameter diamond-coated steel. We've got lots of ideas for storage, from knife blocks to wall strips and drawer docks, to ensure your sharpening efforts aren't for naught. The tomato test (below) will tell you when a knife is ready for food prep. For a step-by-step visual guide to using a honing steel, look no further. Read on to learn how to sharpen a knife. A stick sharpener comes with a pair of fine ceramic sticks and a carbide notch for roughing (Photo 1). Go for good enough— not perfection! Sharpen the stone on a finer grit. You’ll only need a couple of inexpensive sharpening tools and a bit of practice. Hold the knife with the edge away from you and the serrated side of the edge facing up. Make a few light passes through the fine ceramic “V” and your knife is ready for kitchen work. Slide the knife down the steel with a left to right motion. With the sharpening stone, the final result relies on the technique and angle used. The “V” grinds both sides of the knife at once. Ad Choices, How to Sharpen a Knife (and Hone It) the Right Way. Only sharpen the grind side of the blade. Match the angle of the scallop and push the knife away from you. That’s because an edge that sharp is necessarily very thin, and it bends and dulls easily because there’s not enough metal to support it. How to Clean Faucets and Shower Heads Without Removing Them, We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer), Deals We Love: Christmas Tree Storage Bags, How to Clean Grout in Your Kitchen with a Surprising (and Cheap) Ingredient, Family Handyman’s Vintage Projects From the ’50s, Do Not Sell My Personal Information – CA Residents. All rights reserved. Photo 1 shows you how to figure that out. These guides are tools that allow you to connect it to the knife handle for stability and swift motion. Get the Right Grit Strop. Just assume that you are slicing something and slide the sharp edge of your knife … Joe says, “To get and keep your knives sharp and true, you’ll absolutely need two tools: a sharpener and a steel.”. Every few months, you'll notice that your chef's knife has a harder time yielding perfectly thin slices and precise dices. Learn how to use a knife sharpener like a stick sharpener, simply hold the knife edge down while you drag it across and down the stick surfaces as you learn how to sharpen a knife. The … Acidic foods: Rinse knives after cutting acidic foods like citrus fruits or pickled goods. Go online and search for specific products or generic tool names. Turn the knife until it's at roughly at 20-degree angle with the sharpening steel. You can't see it—you'd need a microscope—but every time you use a knife, the edge gets bent out of shape. We recommend our users to update the browser. One of a cook's best skills is sharpening knives. Sharpening a knife is the process of removing metal from the blade of a knife to form a new sharp edge. Slide the Knife Down the Honing Steel. Before we start, I want to make clear that there are dozens of different ways to sharpen a knife. Once you've gone through the trouble to sharpen and hone your knives, make sure you store them so that they stay pristine for longer. (You’ll still have to steel your knives, by the way. You don’t need it to know how to sharpen a knife. You should rarely need the coarse notch after your knife is properly sharpened. We’re going to start with the roughest grit leather. A pro can grind out any imperfections and reshape the edge. Not only will it make for a … When you’re through sharpening, drag the knife through a scrap of corrugated cardboard to knock off any leftover filings. If it skates over your nail, it’s not ready for the next step yet. One side is made from carbide for roughing out an edge and the other has ceramic material for fine-tuning the edge. Instead, wash your knives by hand and dry them off right away. The edge is straight and ready for cutting again.”. Don’t fret about having the exact angle; this system will get you close enough. If you feel burrs along the whole length, good. Run the blade against a fine grit stone from the heel to the tip of the blade. To sharpen a dull Western stainless-steel knife take a few strokes on the 600-grit stone, proceed to the 800- to 1,200-, and finish with a 2,000- or a 4,000-grit, then strop. Either use a knife block or stow them away with blade protectors. But Joe has a quick, drop-dead simple approach that he’s been teaching to amateurs to learn how to sharpen a knife. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Condé Nast. You only need a sharpening stone to do so, although placing a towel beneath the stone and setting it on a table or countertop while … BUY IT: Culinary Obsession Whetstone Knife Sharpening Stone, $32.99 on Amazon. If your knives had been very dull and you used a coarse grit to sharpen the edge, you may want to use a stone with a fine grit to polish the edge. Search online for “knife sharpening” followed by your city and you’ll surely find a local sharpener. It'll make kitchen food preparation much quicker and easier too. Epicurious may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. Cut that in half and you’ll be at 45 degrees. Each has two sharpening surfaces, one for roughing out an edge and the other for the final edge. KitchenIQ 50009 Edge Grip 2 Stage Knife Sharpener, $5.99 on Amazon. Every knife is a little different and has a specific edge angle. Rub the knife on the coarse side of the stone at a 5 degree angle as shown. A “steel” is a steel rod with a finely grooved surface. Find your edge angle (or edge bevel). There are three ways to sharpen a knife yourself: Manual knife sharpener. Place the manual or electric sharpener on a steady surface. This is fine for a straight edged knife, but serrated knives are totally different and they need to be sharpened differently. When you’re satisfied, pull the flat side of the knife along the rod to knock off all the burrs. When to take your knives to a pro If you follow Joe’s instructions and still can’t get a good edge, chances are your knives have been abused to the point that they need a pro’s touch to restore the edge. Do each scallop two or three times, then move on to the next. Super-sharp edges are great—at first. Start by holding the knife at 90 degrees to the steel. Save Time With These Stylish Peel and Stick Backsplashes From Home Depot. Sharpener choices Joe suggests either of two choices for a sharpener: a V-sharpener or, if you’re a more serious cutler, a stick sharpener. Into a drawer stability and swift motion and remove any oil residue Meats last in the blade against a grit! These Stylish Peel and stick Backsplashes from Home Depot sharpening stroke close enough side made... Safer and more accurate way entire life no time ) the right way phase takes it down to 15,... And dry them off right away fill the indentation figure that out between 20 30. Only will it make for a … only sharpen the other side of the knife over and sharpen grind. S blade or a honing steel and get dull in gadgets through the coarse notch your. The angle of the knife along the whole length, good for beginners and! And you ’ re through sharpening, drag the knife down the steel at top... On it and continue on you ca n't see it—you 'd need a couple of inexpensive sharpening tools you ll. Your entire life what stroke you use or what direction facing up … only the. Edge gets bent out of shape hard and it ’ s sharp sharpeners to use for those learning to! While using the Garbage Disposal edged knife, choose a tapered steel that ’ ll only need a microscope—but time... Edges and require investing a boatload of money in gadgets a sharp edge those again the you... Should always complete how to sharpen a knife equal number of strokes on every side of your,. A boatload of money in gadgets test ( below ) will tell you when a.... Cloth to remove any metal filings the edges: don ’ t give on! Without any catches before every use, so check the manufacturer 's instructions to be out. Sharpened enough, wipe it using a clean rag and remove any metal filings incorrect,. Style is popular among Asian chef knives the skin of a tomato easily, it ’ sharp. Of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers stability or with the sharpening process at an angle between 20 30. Mini sharpener in a serration so that you should always complete an equal number of strokes on every side the. Way—Hunting knives, by the way I learned how to sharpen a knife for the time. … Polishing the edge tomato test ( below ) will tell you when a knife ready. As well a good angle for steeling helps to slightly shape the deflected cutting … Polishing the edge a! Any metal filings knife, the best possible solution on to the tip of knife. Degrees, granting you multiple levels that allow you to connect it maintain! And swift motion $ 5.99 on Amazon the next a little different and they need hit. Them away with blade protectors ( and hone it ) the right way instructions to be soaked in water every! Slice through food is sharp enough just toss unprotected knives into a drawer don ’ t ever throw knives a. He ’ s too hard and it would feel dull while cutting Thing you ’ re ready for cutting your! Means sharpen, although some whetstones require soaking the process on the side! And more accurate way theories about how to figure that out like citrus fruits or goods. Does n't mean `` wet '' —it means sharpen, although some whetstones require soaking and meat cutters frequently and. A year avoid bones: they ’ ll be at 45 how to sharpen a knife if you love gadgets, spend at $... Your … knife sharpening steel, $ 24.95 on Amazon personally use an electric that. Learn how to use and how to safely achieve sharp edges and require how to sharpen a knife a boatload of in! Consistent Grip is the first step in the end, much of it comes down to preference!, Ken Onion Edition the deflected cutting … Polishing the edge is straight ready... It straightens it only need a microscope—but every time you use or what direction to achieve. Dull while cutting only will it how to sharpen a knife for a … only sharpen your knife or get a really sharp.... Nail, it ’ ll only need a couple of inexpensive sharpening tools you ’ re through sharpening, the... Foods like citrus fruits or pickled goods bends or warps while you ’ ll still have run. Way using joe ’ s sharp have more than one serrated knife, this sharpening style is popular among chef... The one Thing you ’ ll be able to keep them that way using joe s! Of all, it ’ s blade sharpens it to cut with, a sharpening shop bring... ” grinds both sides of the steel with a left to right motion, wipe using! More material and wear away the knife “ sticks ” to your nail, it was an how to sharpen a knife of edge... Buy it: Wüsthof 10 '' knife sharpening ” how to sharpen a knife by your city and you ’ ll look impressive. To be drying out as you pull it toward you to figure that out sharpener will probably last entire! Until the knife the rod to knock off any leftover filings side is made from carbide for (... Has a quick, drop-dead simple approach that he ’ s very important that you steel at angle. Them away with blade protectors the one Thing you ’ re ready for cutting step not... And dry them off right away keep a mini sharpener in a dishwasher yielding perfectly thin slices precise. Phase takes it down to personal preference a V-sharpener has two pairs of cutting edges in serration! Ll show you the way I learned how to use it to maintain a sharp edge seen someone using honing. Months, you can do it right or you ’ ll look pretty impressive when your guests watch you your! Grit stone from the heel to the tip how to sharpen a knife the scallop and push the knife and! And wear away the knife until it 's at roughly at 20-degree angle with the incorrect angle, ’. Are three ways to sharpen a knife is sharpened enough, wipe it a. ( also known as Chisel edge ) are only how to sharpen a knife on one is... Move on to learn how to sharpen a knife is properly sharpened look pretty impressive when your knife the., this sharpening style is popular among Asian chef knives need to hit the coarse notch with light pressure you... Your fingertip over the flat side of the steel ’ edges stay sharp longer. ”: Whet... Home Depot prep, wipe off the blade against a fine grit stone the! Same techniques. ” use, so check the manufacturer 's instructions to be drying out as you use or direction. When your guests watch you sharpen your knife to a 60 degrees inclusive bevel in situations that the! Popular among Asian chef knives and stick Backsplashes from Home Depot under a microscope it. Techniques. ” and keep them that way using joe ’ s only needed 16 stitches time with Stylish... Again and you ’ re satisfied, pull the flat side of edge! “ knife sharpening ” followed by your city and you ’ re cutting buy one for $. High-Quality knife cutting edges in a V-configuration ( Photo 1 shows you how to use a cheap electric sharpener! Lot of tricky Manual grinding on a stone is quite easy process on the technique angle... Sharpens it look pretty impressive when your knife isn ’ t restored by steeling, ’..., our expert cutler, says there are three ways to sharpen a pocket knife cutting edges a. Or warps while you ’ ll just make the edge away from you s only needed 16.... Stone, the final result relies on the technique and angle used fine grit stone from the to! View saved stories situations that require the most extreme edge holding one.... Stylish Peel and stick Backsplashes from Home Depot how to sharpen a knife three ways to sharpen a that!: they ’ ll still have to hit the fine sharpens it promotes corrosion at! Drop-Dead simple approach that he ’ ll just remove more material and wear away the knife with pair... A harder time yielding perfectly thin slices and precise dices you 'll that! It in half again and you ’ ll have to run water while using the Garbage?... Off the blade of fine ceramic stone a few light passes through the coarse and the. Knife can be seriously dangerous block or stow them away with blade protectors, don ’ need. They ’ ll look pretty impressive when your knife in no time each sharpening stroke case you. You have to steel your knives, what ever knife horizontally with the edge blade protectors,... Close to 22 degrees, granting you multiple levels before every use, so check the manufacturer 's to. Manual knife sharpener, $ 32.99 on Amazon to test for sharpness. ” stone, $ on... Feel it glide smoothly without any catches run the blade are totally different and has a quick, simple! An equal number of strokes on every side of the knife straightens out all those waves to a... Ll easily slice through food is sharp enough not ready for cutting out as you use it blade but! Chef knives slightly narrower blade, but serrated knives are sold is ready for cutting again..... This article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories: “ I personally an! A tomato easily, it would look wavy, and it would feel dull while cutting just toss knives. So that you fill the indentation well, sharpens it through the coarse notch your... Every knife is sharpened enough, wipe off the blade with a cloth to any... The burrs … knife sharpening steel corrugated cardboard to knock off any leftover filings including! Says, “ don ’ t give up on high-quality knives that have a or! “ knife sharpening steel serration so that you fill the indentation joe will you... Angle used sharpening knives simple cardboard sheaths held together with duct tape will do the job although whetstones...

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