Sharp knives are essential in the kitchen. They make chopping, slicing, and dicing much easier than dull knives do. If you want to cut through anything with ease, then your knife set must stay sharp. There are many ways to sharpen your knife set at home – some methods work better for particular types of blades while others will suit any blade type well. Here are four pro tips on how to keep your knives sharp!
Hire a Knife Sharpening Service
Let’s mention the most straightforward way first; you can always hire a knife sharpening Lubbock or other knife sharpening service if you don’t want to do the hard work yourself. They are experts at making dull blades into razor-sharp slicers again, and they can do it in a fraction of the time it would take you. However, this option is not always cheap – knife sharpening services usually charge by the inch, so your average chef’s knife could set you back $15-$20 to get correctly sharpened.
Use a Sharpening Stone
A sharpening stone is one of the most popular ways to sharpen a blade. There are two types of sharpening stones: whetstones and diamond stones. Whetstones come in either oil or water, while diamond stones don’t need any lubrication. To use a whetstone, you will want to soak it in the chosen lubricant for about five minutes before starting.
When sharpening, apply even pressure to the blade as you sweep it downwards and away from your body across the stone at a roughly 20-degree angle (20 degrees is the perfect angle for kitchen knives). Do this about six times on each side of the knife, then flip it over and do another six sweeps on both sides. Finish by wiping the blade upwards on both sides to remove any burrs or chips.
Use a Sanding Belt
Many people opt for a sanding belt as it is much quicker than a whetstone. To sharpen your knife set with a sanding belt, you will want to secure the blade so that only one side can move – if both sides of the blade can move freely, it won’t be effective at sharpening your knives. Make sure to use a coarse grit belt for dull edges and a fine grit belt for sharpening.
Use a Knife Steel
Another alternative would be the knife sharpening steel, a rod that is either curved or straight. To use it, you will want to place the blade at a 20-degree angle and then swipe it down the steel in long strokes. Be sure to apply pressure and do this around 15 times on each side for the best results.