Sharp kitchen knives are a cook/girl’s BFF (not to just kill your Ex). These tools not only make food prep cleaner and faster but also safer. We are kitchen safety STANS! Why? Dull knives are more likely to slip while cutting and may cause a more painful, and often deeper wound than a sharp knife would. Ouch!
Sharpening knives is inexpensive to do at home and, given how much knives cost when you buy new ones, can actually save you quite a bit of money in the long run. And we know we ALL need to save a little dinero!
So how do you know when it’s time to sharpen knives? If you notice ingredients tearing before you can completely slice through them, or you are putting a lot of pressure and slicing back and forth, that’s a pretty good sign that your knife is dull AF.
If you have a plan to sharpen them before that happens you won’t need to look for signs, and you’ll just enjoy the benefits of a nice, sharp knife. It really doesn’t take a ton of effort. Instead of swiping for 10 mins on Bumble, sharpen up.
Tools to Use When Sharpening Kitchen Knives
Want kitchen knives that are V sharp and stay V sharp? Read on:
Honing Rod (Sounds sexual but isn’t. It’s really just sharpening steel). It takes a bit of practice and patience to get the technique right, but once you’ve got it down, you’ll find sharpening sessions are a breeze.
Sharpening Stone. This stone functions like a honing rod and works extremely well.
Manual or Electric Knife Sharpener. There are coarse diamond and fine ceramic slots with interlocking wheels. Moving the blades through these sharpens both sides. This is the easiest way but of course most $$.
Ceramic Pottery. Sliding the knife blade along exposed ceramic gets knives decently sharp.
How to Keep Kitchen Knives Sharp
So you know you know how to sharpen your knives. But how do you keep them that sharp because you are lazy? Read on for our tips for KEEPING kitchen knives sharp:
- Never scoop food with the blade side. Big no no!
- Don’t use the blade to clean food stuck to pans. Just no.
- Don’t cut into items that aren’t food. Grab a scissor to cut off the tag of your new romper. Not a knife.
- Carefully wash knives with warm water by hand. Use a mild soap (NO cheating by putting them in the dishwasher).
- Properly store knives in a sheath (basically a knife cover), knife block, or on a magnetic strip. Never throw them loose into a drawer.
- Cut food with proper technique.
- Always have a cutting board under the food.
- Don’t attempt to cut food that is still frozen. Ooopsy!
- Sharpen your knives frequently (once every 2 weeks is recommended or try at least one a month).
- Take care when sharpening knives to do so properly using the tools we suggested previously.
The Final 411
Take care of your kitchen knives and they will take great care of you. Your meal prep will be easier and quicker and your guests will notice a difference in the texture and taste of your food. Also sharp knives are safe knives.
Are you consistently inconsistent with kitchen chores? Add a reminder to your calendar to sharpen your knives. Then do it!
Have your own tips for taking care of knives? Share your tips in the comments section below!
