If cooking and carving are your thing, you had better know how to sharpen a knife. After all, a dull knife can be more dangerous than a sharp one. A dull knife tends to slide around, and is quite unpredictable. A blade owned by one who knows how to sharpen a knife is safer. It gets the job done, whatever that job may be.
Here is what you need to learn and practice how to sharpen a knife:
- Cylindrical sharpening steel with a handle
- Knife to sharpen (NOT a serrated blade)
- Hold the sharpening steel by the handle in your left hand, while standing at a kitchen counter. Use the right hand if you are left handed. Place it tip down on a wooden cutting board or nonslip silicone potholder that won't slide. Hold it securely perpendicular to the counter, handle side up.
- Now, hold the knife in your right hand. Put the blade horizontal to the steel, on the side of the steel that's farthest away from you. Place the knife so the blade touches the steel where the blade meets the handle.
- Put the knife blade at a slight angle to the steel. Move the blade down along the steel in an arching downward movement. Do this a dozen times on one side of the knife. Then do it a dozen times on the other side of the blade.
- Rinse your knife under running water. Dry the knife thoroughly before using it. After you use your knife, wash, rinse, and dry it well, too, especially if you have sliced lemons or other acidic foods that can cause knife dullness. Now you know how to sharpen a knife every time it's needed!
