How to sharpen a knife?

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Knives are very simple tools, but they require frequent maintenance. Its only function is to cut, but for a knife to cut properly it is essential that it be sharp.

How to sharpen a knife? There are different tools to properly sharpen knives. These are the best known methods that offer the best results.

How to sharpen a knife?: Methods

Sharpen knives with a sharpening steel or steel bar

What is a sharpening steel? It is one of the simplest and oldest elements used for sharpening. It is made up of a cylinder-shaped steel bar. To sharpen knives with a sharpening steel, it is advisable to place the knives at an angle of 20º, so it is recommended to purchase magnetized sharpening steels that facilitate this task.

When sharpening a knife with a sharpening steel, it is important to hold it firmly and always very carefully and behind the handle. Slide both sides of the knife across the entire sharpening steel steadily and at an acceptable pace. Keep in mind that it must be done starting the movement from the part closest to the handle of the knife and until the end of it. Once this is done, wash the knife and it will be ready to cut again.

Sharpen a knife with a stone

Another of the most efficient sharpening methodologies is to use a damp or wet stone. It is a very versatile option that adapts to almost any type of knife. It is recommended that the weight of the stone range between 1,000 and 4.000.

To sharpen a knife with a stone it is necessary to place the knife blade at an angle of between 15-20º . We will pass both sides of the knife over and over the stone in rhythm, from front to back. Keep in mind that you should not remove the blade from the stone at any time during the movements and that you should not apply excessive pressure if you do not want to achieve the opposite effect and break or damage the knife blade.

manual knife sharpener

They are chosen when the main objective of their use is focused on routine maintenance or in cases in which the knives are already quite worn or in poor condition and need something similar to a repair.

Manual sharpeners can be very varied, although it is true that since they are manual tools they usually follow a fairly similar design. They are characterized by having one or more slots with discs on which, by exerting controlled pressure, we will slide the knife blade from front to back.

electric knife sharpener

The electric knife sharpener has a very similar structure to what we have seen in the case of the manual sharpener. The big difference between these models is that the electric sharpener has an electric motor.

The electric sharpener offers added value, as it allows you to carry out sharpening work effortlessly and in a much more comfortable, simple and faster way. Its electric motor will be responsible for moving its abrasive material so that it sharpens the knife as precisely as possible.

How to prevent knives from becoming dull?

Although we have seen a series of tools to sharpen our knives, we share with you a list of tips to prolong the need to sharpen them again for as long as possible:

  • Use appropriate cutting boards. Avoid excessively hard surfaces that can distort the edge of your knives. Make use of plastic or wooden boards and avoid metallic materials.

  • Clean the knife very well after cutting acidic foods. Acid has corrosive properties that in the long run and without good cleaning could damage the materials of the knife, modifying the results it offers.

  • Avoid cutting excessively hard foods during freezing. In general, knives are not designed for cutting these types of elements and could be damaged after use.

  • Wash and dry knives by hand. The high temperatures of the dishwasher are not made for knives and will cause them to lose efficiency over time. L by hand with warm water and then wipe the sepals with a cloth without applying excessive pressure.

  • Store knives properly. Most people tend to keep their knives in one drawer where all of them are in contact. Avoid doing this, since rubbing against each other damages their edges.

  • Do not apply lateral pressure. It is one of the most common ways in which knives tend to dull. Don't do it as much as possible.

At Impotusa we have all kinds of tools so you can sharpen your knives properly. Contact us , we will help you.

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