Sharpening Chefs Knives

A dull knife is a dangerous knife! It is so important that we keep our knives sharpened for our safety and ease in the kitchen.

Sharp knives are the foundation of any efficient and successful kitchen. They help you prepare food quickly and with precision, resulting in better-looking and tastier meals. But what exactly is the importance of sharpening your kitchen knives?

1. Sharper knives make food preparation easier A dull knife can make cutting and chopping vegetables, fruits, and meats a frustrating and tiring task. It requires more effort to slice through food, which increases the risk of accidents. Sharp knives make food preparation quicker, easier, and safer. Dull knives can easily roll off produce and into your hand! It is also worse for our wrists since we have to work harder with dull knives.
2. Sharp knives improve the taste and texture of food! When you use a dull knife, you end up tearing or crushing the food instead of cleanly cutting through it. This can result in uneven cooking, affecting the texture and taste of the final dish. Sharp knives, on the other hand, slice through food cleanly, preserving its texture and flavor.
3. Sharp knives save you time and money. A sharp knife makes quick work of food preparation, saving you time in the kitchen. It also reduces food waste since you can cut fruits, vegetables, and meats precisely, resulting in less waste. Moreover, a sharp knife can save you money since you won’t need to replace it as often as a dull knife.
4. Sharpening your knives is a simple process. Sharpening your kitchen knives doesn’t have to be a complicated process. You can use a sharpening stone and a honing rod to keep your knives sharp. You can also take your knives to a professional for sharpening if you’re not comfortable doing it yourself.
5. Proper knife maintenance extends their lifespan. Sharpening your knives regularly is just one part of proper knife maintenance. Other important steps include storing them correctly, cleaning them properly, and using them for their intended purpose. When you take care of your knives, they will last longer and perform better.

Tools you will need for sharpening knives:

• Two whetstones. I like the brand King Deluxe. I have a 1000 grit and 6000 grit.
• A honing steel
• A piece of paper
• Kitchen knives
• A towel

Ingredients:

• NA

Preparation:

STEP 1.

Soak your whetstones in water for 30 minutes.

STEP 2.

Place your lower grit whetstone on a towel and make sure it is always wet with water. Sharpen your knife on this stone, first measuring the angle, around 15 degrees for Japanese knives, or 20 degrees for German knives. (I use my finger to measure this out – larger finger for German knives, smaller for Japanese). Sharpen from tip to end on one side, holding pressure with four fingers on the blade. Go back and forth 10-20 times, flipping sides and doing the same thing on the other side. Do this, switching back and forth, applying water when needed, until the blade can easily pass through paper and is much sharper than before. 

STEP 3.

Replace the coarse stone with the finer grit and repeat this process until desired sharpness is reached.

STEP 4.

Using a honing rod, straighten the blade’s edge and remove any burrs that may have formed in the sharpening process.

STEP 5.

Rinse your knife and dry with a towel.