The Importance of Proper Knife Maintenance and Sharpening
Without the right tools, you’ll struggle to cook efficiently and effectively. A great set of knives is absolutely essential for chefs of all levels and abilities. However, your knives won’t perform in the way you want them to if you don’t maintain and sharpen them properly.
Ideally, you should sharpen your knives once every couple of months, or more so if you cook very frequently. Keep a close eye on the blades of your knives to identify whether they look blunt and need sharpening before you begin cooking to ensure you always get the best results and stay injury free.
In this article, we’re going to cover why proper maintenance and sharpening are essential for knives of all kinds. First, let’s cover how you can sharpen your kitchen knives.
3 Effective Ways to Sharpen Your Knives
You can use a variety of different things to sharpen your knives, including a sharpening stone, leather strop, or an electric sharpener. They’re all effective methods for sharpening your knives, and which one you choose depends on your personal preferences.
Sharpening stones or whetstones are easy and safe to use. They only cost around $20 to purchase brand-new, and they last a long time. You’ll need to hold the knife at around a 20-degree angle when sharpening with a stone. Use the very coarse side if your knife is dull, then switch to the fine side to give the blade a clean edge.
A leather strop is a less popular choice but can be just as effective as a sharpening stone at giving your knives a crisp, sharp finish. You’re best using a leather strop in the final steps of your sharpening process for the best results, alongside a whetstone.
An electric sharpener is the least labor-intensive method but can also be the most expensive option. They’re really easy to use, and all you need to do is hold the knife in place and let the machine do the work for you. We recommend using an electric sharpener if a whetstone isn’t available or alongside a whetstone.
Why is Sharpening Your Knife So Important?
There are several reasons why you should regularly sharpen all of your kitchen knives. Here are some of these reasons.
- Better performance in the kitchen – whether you’re a pro chef or a casual cooker, using freshly sharpened knives will make it easier for you to create delicious and nutritious dishes with minimal effort.
- Improved safety – blunt knives are harder to use and increase the risk of injuries during the cooking process. Keeping all of your knives sharp reduces your risk of nasty cuts and scrapes.
- More precise and accurate cuts – a sharp knife can seamlessly slice through foods of all kinds, leading to precise and accurate cuts. You can cook convenient meals or complex dishes with ease when your knives are sharpened to perfection.
- Better presentation of your food – if you’re hosting a dinner party or simply cooking for your family, using a sharp knife enables you to get precision cuts that will make your food look professional and presentable.
