Think
about it, of all of the kitchen gadgets that we find in our home kitchens or
even commercial
kitchens, knives are the most commonly found and they are the
most often used. These are probably
considered to be the most essential kitchen tool. Our knives need to be kept sharp and
rust-free. By doing so, they last longer
and keep in perfect working condition.
How do
you keep your knives sharp? Do you use a
sharpening stone or a soft surface with sandpaper or other type of hard particles?
There are two
types of sharpeners: electric version
and hand-held or manual version. The
most basic ways to sharpen a knife is to sharpen using a stone. The stone can be angular or round and/or be made
of different materials like water stones, ceramic wet stones, or even diamond
stones.
For better
sharpening, however, considering using a leather razor strap. Typically, it is best to sharpen a knife at a
fifteen degree angle, however, for a more durable edge, similar to a chisel, a
thirty degree angle is preferred.
Since stones
are most commonly used, let’s discuss these options. It can be very difficult to use a stone to
sharpen a knife. You will find that some
skill is required. The proper way to sharpen
a knife is to rest one edge against the surface of the stone. Make a circular movement in varying degrees
of pressure. Periodically check the
blade carefully to be sure it’s sharp.
Another style
for sharpening a knife is to consider the use of a ceramic sharpener. White ceramic is used for smoothing the blade
while blue ceramic is obtained for regular sharpening.
You could also consider
the use of an electric knife sharpener.
They are quick and easy to use because they come with multi stages,
offering polishing and rough grade grits.
If manual or
hand-held is your preference, then you may find that hand-held models can be
more intuitive to use. They provide
preset angles wherein the blade can be placed to sharpen a knife.
Ask yourself
what type of sharpener do you want to have in your kitchen? Do you want something easy to store, readily
available and yet easy to use. It
narrows down to the point that you need to decide the best option for you to
keep your kitchen knives sharp and in on good working condition.
I prefer using
a hand-held method to keep my knives sharpened.
I like to have a sharpener that can be placed in a drawer, easy to grab,
and easy to use.
The Ronco Six-Star KnifeSharpener is a great low-cost option to sharpening your kitchen knives and keeping
them in good condition. This
combination sharpening stone and grinding wheels can keep the straight edge
knives sharp when they eventually lose their sharp edges. Place a couple drops
of water on the stone to catch any metal particles that come off when
sharpening. When you're all done, simple rinse off the knife and you're ready
to start slicing, dicing, chopping, and cutting once again.
