How to Sharpen Kitchen Knives? - Step by Step Guide

How To Sharpen Kitchen Knives Easily And Simply?

By katrin moul
Published: October 28, 2021
Last Modified: August 12, 2022

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A sharp knife cuts well. It does not break easily; even if it breaks its blade does not spill. Sharpen kitchen knives that meet these complicated necessities can be called sharp knives.

The most important countable thing about a kitchen knife is its sharpness. There is no kitchen but it has a sharp knife. It is important to keep your kitchen knives sharp so that you can cut through food according to your intention. Using a dull knife may be dangerous and requires force to give the accurate shape of the food. You can keep your knives sharp forever by using the right tools.

Now, it is time to learn how to sharpen kitchen knives.

Best Way to Sharpen Kitchen Knives

There are two ways to sharpen kitchen knives. One is honing and the other is sharpening. Honing is different from sharpening.

Honing a knife with a honing steel is known as honing. A blade’s existing edge may be curved through ordinary use. Honing is used to mend the curved edge of that blade.

The most important function of a knife is its sharpness. Sashimi is a great example. If you cut the sashimi with a dull knife, the tissue of the sashimi’s cross-section will be crushed and the fishy odor will stand out, resulting in a very bad taste. In addition, a sharp knife is easy to handle.

Honing and Sharpening: Know the Difference

Sharpening

Honing

A sharpening stone removes material from the edge of a knife by grinding it against the stone.
The teeth of a knife that has been decayed need sharpening.
As sharpening removes a small amount of a knife’s edge, you should know how to sharpen a kitchen knife.
In this process a bit of metal is shaved away.

A honing steel keeps a kitchen knife sharp by pushing the edge of the blade back into the center that is known also “Folding Back the Burr”
The teeth of a knife that has been misaligned need to hone.
You can hone your knives before every use.
Honing knives are a gentle fixation that can prevent serious blade damage.

Maintaining Your Knife’s Edge With Honing

A honing steel is a metal rod sold with most knife sets. It is usually used for honing knives. It does not sharpen kitchen knives rather it hones the slightly dulled edge of a blade. You have to follow the procedures while sharpening kitchen knives with Honing Rod.

Hold on firmly the metal rod with a tip planted on the counter to get the best way to sharpen kitchen knives.
Keep the heel of the blade against the tip of the steel at 15 degrees away from the steel.
Press light pressure between the blade and the steel for honing knives.
Keep contact with the middle of the steel in a sweeping motion.
Maintain this motion on the other side of the blade.
Use Four or Five strokes on each side of the blade to realign the edge.

How to Sharpen Kitchen Knife the Right Way

You need a sharpener to restore your dull knives. In the following way, you can sharpen kitchen knives.

1
You can send them out to polish and sharpen kitchen knives.
2
You can use a whetstone or diamond sharpening stone.
3
The most convenient option is using an electric or manual sharpener.
4
You can sharpen your kitchen knife by using a coffee mug.

How to Sharpen your Knives Using Whetstone

Possibly using a whetstone is the best way to sharpen a knife. To make the edge of your used blade sharpen, you will need a hard tool that is a whetstone. It is an age-old method for sharpening kitchen knives. The good news is that it is available in the market and costs a little.

In the beginning, place the whetstone of a damp paper towel on a flat surface and follow the procedures below on how to sharpen kitchen knife.

How to Use Whetstone to Sharpen Kitchen Knives

Place the Whetstone on a damp paper towel or rubberized shelf to avoid Slipping.
Hold the blade’s heel with your dominant hand.
Place your non-dominant hand in the middle of the blade and keep your finger flat, away from the sharp edge of the knife.
Keep the blade’s angle between 15 to 20 degrees.
Circularly rub the blade.
Do it until you sharpen kitchen knives.
To check the sharpness of your blade, cautiously run your thumb perpendicular to the edge of the blade.
Then follow the procedures mentioned above for the opposite side of the blade how to sharpen a kitchen knife properly.

All About Diamond Sharpening Stone

Every chef wants to keep his or her kitchen knives perfectly honed. In addition, he is taught how to sharpen a kitchen knife. There are several natural stones out in the world while many chefs prefer to use a diamond sharpening stone. A diamond stone can be made in several ways and each has its benefits.

To make a diamond sharpening stone, you need a flattened block of steel or aluminum. Then a series of thin steel plates are studded and glued to a flat block of aluminum. The thinner the steel plate, the better the method of how to sharpen a kitchen knife.

How to Use a Diamond Stone

A diamond stone can be used dry or wet. It is better to use water to carry away the bits of metal left behind from the tool for sharpening kitchen knives. Try to match the knife’s edge on the stone at the desired angle.

Put slow pressure to ensure that the knife’s edge is consistently sharp and apply more water as required. The job is done if the blade glides effortlessly through the tomatoes or lettuce.
By following above- mentioned procedures, you will learn how to sharpen a kitchen knife.

How to use Electric knife sharpeners to properly sharpen your knives

Electric knife sharpeners are easy to use. They have motorized wheels to spin against the blade. To know how to properly sharpen a kitchen knife with Electric Knife Sharpener, you have to follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

Turn the sharpener on and hold the knife safely but lightly. To make your severely damaged blade sharp and cut like a brand-new blade, it requires 76 strokes. You will be amazed observing the second new copy of that blade.

How to Use Manual Knife Sharpeners

The manual sharpener has abrasive material either on non-motorized wheels or a V-shaped chamber. The abrasive material grinds the dull edge off of that knife. The manufacturer’s instructions should be followed on how to sharpen kitchen knife.

How to Properly Sharpen a Kitchen Knife

If you do not have any sharpener at home, how to sharpen a kitchen knife properly.

You have a small kitchen knife and a coffee mug. Then you can use the unglazed bottom of a ceramic mug to sharpen a dull kitchen knife sharp. Hold the knife at a 15-degree angle and apply moderate pressure across the unglazed surface of the mug to sharpen your knife.

Safety Tips or Precautionary Measures While Sharpening Kitchen Knives

You have to follow some instructions on how to sharpen kitchen knife. These measures will decrease the chance of injury.

Wear Gloves to ensure Safety.
Use Sharpening Stone and Honing Steel to Sharpen Kitchen Knives.
Avoid Regular Stones While Sharpening Kitchen Knives.
Make sure that the blade will not slip off.
Avoid Using dull Knives because they increase the risk of injury.
Avoid using a hard surface that can damage the edge of the blade. Using a wooden surface is the best way to sharpen kitchen knives.
Handle the Blade with your Dominant hand.
Keep your Kitchen Knives dry.

So, Now what!

Maintenance and routine sharpening can keep your blade razor-sharp to get benefits from it. If your knife slips on the food while you are cutting and requires extra effort to cut the food, your knives need sharpening. A dull knife is not as safe as a sharp knife and never slips off of food. It also decreases the risk of cutting your fingers.

Your sharp knife may become dull over time with regular use.To keep your knife sharp, you have to know how to sharpen kitchen knife.

You can use sharpening or honing steel to keep your kitchen knives sharp. A sharp knife can cut, slice, peel, and mince well. How to sharpen a kitchen knife is a method, a procedure that you need to practice.