Kitchen knives must be sharpened regularly to keep their functionality and effectiveness at the highest level. A sharp knife cuts ingredients quickly and safely, reducing preparation time. Knives can be sharpened at home using a few simple tools. Read this article to learn how.
Steps
Step 1. Get the materials you need
You will need a two-sided synthetic whetstone (coarse-grained and fine-grained). You will also need a sharpener, usually sold in the form of a magnetized iron bar with grooves and a handle. You can find both of these materials at a common household goods store.
Step 2. Sharpen the knife blade with the whetstone
- Take the knife in one hand, with the fingers arranged in a fan along the blade, and place it against the whetstone, from the coarse side, keeping it flat.
- Raise the blade about 20 degrees from the whetstone face, with the edge of the blade facing away from you.
- Rub the blade on the stone moving it in the opposite direction to that of the watch, from the tip to the handle. Keep the pressure constant and rub until a curl forms on the underside of the blade.
- Turn the blade so that the edge is now facing you and repeat the sharpening until another curl forms.
Step 3. Refine the edge of the blade using the fine-grained face of the whetstone
- Keep the blade on the stone as before.
- Rub the blade in the opposite direction to that of the watch, turning it to the other side every 4 passes.
Step 4. Use the sharpening steel to remove debris and irregularities that may have formed during sharpening
- Hold the steel perpendicular to the work surface, resting the metal tip on a cutting board for better stability.
- Place the blade on the bar. The tip of the blade closest to the handle must touch the top of the steel. The tip of the blade should point up and the blade should make an angle of approximately 20 degrees with the tool.
Step 5. Move the blade down against the steel in long strokes
- Pull the knife towards you as it slides down the steel, so that the center of the blade touches the center of the steel and the tip of the blade touches the tip.
- Apply light, steady pressure. After that, turn the knife to the other side and repeat.
- Eight or 10 alternating passes should be enough to restore the knife edge.