Sharpening knives brings back all sorts of memories for me, most especially of my Grandmother Ethel, who knew how to cook the parts of animals most people throw away and always had a medium carborundum stone handy for putting the edge back on her butcher knife quickly. I’m also reminded of John F., a former employer who had worked for years in a packing plant and totally revised my concept of what constitutes a sharp edge and how to achieve it. We talked, we argued, I tried what he suggested, and he was right.
The two basic schools of thought in sharpening are that it isn’t important; and it’s the most important thing. Some regard really sharp knives as dangerous, while other chefs demand edges that would slice through silk scarves drifting through the air. For most of us, good knives are somewhere in between those extremes.
If you have cheap knives or knives that have been badly used, they probably need a serious reworking with flat stones. Honing machines will do the same fundamental work if they include coarse wheels, but going through a set of knives once may be all the wheels can handle — most are replaceable and you should expect to do that. Knives in good shape — and I mean that literally, since the shape of the bevel is one of the most important factors — only need maintenance. Fine grit stones and fine grit honing wheels both do that, but in the kitchen the best solution for everyday upkeep is the honing steel.
It’s a complex subject today, based as much on the type of steel in the knife as on the habits of the user. Pay attention to the suggestions of the manufacturer or you’ll have real problems and damaged blades.
And be sure to check out our kitchen knife sharpening guide for a more in-depth look at technique.
One of several grades essential for the upkeep of Global’s fine knives, the Global waterstone series works just as well for knives of lower quality. If you want control of bevel angle as well as edge, stones are essential. Waterstones beat carborundum hands down.
An evolutionary step beyond the argument I had with John F., a diamond honing steel combines the best features of steel hones and whetstones, working well with many high grades of steel as well as ordinary cutlery.
Though a machine hone is a compromise, it does provide welcome help for chefs who feel that stones and steels are mysterious things to avoid. Definitely buy a powered version if you can afford it.
For occasional sharpening of less expensive knives in the common European pattern, the Victorinox 49000 Firestorm could be a handy kitchen tool. Use a more advanced sharpening system on your best cutlery.
Two sets of ceramic wheels in the sharpener offer two stages of grit -- coarse for the four-wheel tan ...
With the Edge Pro Knife Sharpener, you'll be able to accurately restore edges to any of five different bevel angles and polish those edges to razor sharpness. Set up correctly, the Edge Pro system depends on the machine, not on skill -- but unless you like ...
Everyone has different standards when it comes to knife edges, and the sharpness of a knife doesn't actually control the quality of food. If you're one of those good cooks who likes knives only moderately sharp, you could find the AccuSharp a handy tool. It's safe to use and ...
The 8000 grit Shapton GlassStone shapes the bevel of any plain-edged knife quickly, depending on the skill of the user for accuracy. Modern refinements set the Shapton GlassStones apart from ordinary synthetic waterstones and from natural Japanese waterstones. You'll need more than just the stones for the best Shapton edge.
Superficially, the ...
The Shun Premier 9 Inch Honing Steel matches the appearance and quality of the Shun Premier line chosen as Blade Magazine's Kitchen Knife of the Year for 2010. If used carefully, this hone maintains the razor edges of the plain-edged Premier knives, but a good set of waterstones will have ...
Usually any chef interested in the best edge possible turns to the old system of whetstone and honing steel, but with the Warthog V Sharp Professional Knife Sharpener you won't need the mystical skills. Keep an eye on the V Sharp, though, because it may wind up on some executive's desktop ...
Made in the same style as Anolon's Classic Bronze Cutlery, the Anolon Bronze Universal Sharpener takes knives through three stages of ceramic grit wheels to produce the factory-standard European bevel and a sharp cutting edge. Use the Universal Sharpener for fine edge cutlery only -- Anolon recommends professional sharpening service for ...
When anyone offers an electrically-powered knife hone for this price, there must be a catch. With the Smith's Abrasive Diamond Edge Sharpener, it's more a good idea than a catch. If you're willing to learn a simple system, this could be a very handy kitchen tool.
With most pre-set honing machines -- ...
Manufactured in Sheffield, England, the Chantry Knife Sharpener has a fine reputation and is even on permanent display at the New York Museum of Modern Art. The honing action mimics the effect of a butcher's steel, resetting the edge of the blade without removing metal.
Two rotating steel hones fixed in the ...
The professional-quality Diamond Sharpening Steel from Mundial of Brazil will sharpen blades ordinary honing steels can't touch. Harder steel and worn edges can both be restored to working order with the Diamond Hone, but be cautious. There's still good reason to own a whetstone.
Honing steels were not intended to shape ...
Mundial makes this professional quality sharpening steel in three different lengths -- one of them will be the perfect match to any European style knife in your kitchen.
Designed for professional food service workers, meat packers, and restaurant employees, the Mundial Professional product lines are just as efficient and economical for ...
Nearly every good cook knows the benefits of a honing steel, but strangely enough, not that many realize that the best honing steel is polished smooth. This 10-inch Butcher's Steel Hone from Mundial of Brazil was made for professionals, who like to keep this good tool their little secret.
The type of ...
Mundial of Brazil offers this professional-quality honing steel for both home and restaurant use -- buy one and it should last a lifetime.
This 10-inch sharpening steel with ergonomic polyacetal grip uses a micro-grooved surface with the hardness of a steel file to reset blade edges without removing steel from ...
One of the simplest and most efficient knife sharpeners I've seen lately, the AnySharp quickly restores a uniform bevel to a knife's edge. Solid construction and a dependable suction-mount base eliminate slipping and jamming. Without any of the usual frustrations of manual sharpeners, you'll be able to focus on the ...
A blend of good ideas and disappointing realities, the Shun APO119 Electric Knife Sharpener seems more suited to cheap cutlery than the beautiful and expensive Damascus-type blades of Shun Cutlery. In fact, you'll definitely want to practice on cheaper knives first because as with any old style grinder, there's a ...
Designed for the chef who doesn't use a whetstone, the McGowan Diamondstone Electric Knife Sharpener works well enough that you shouldn't run your knives through it for that daily touch-up. Use a honing steel for the everyday maintenance, because if you like this fast cutting diamond-grit machine too much, you'll soon ...
The half-inch-wide oval cross-section honing rod of the collapsible Sportsman Ultra Light Diamond Sharpening Steel will restore the cutting edges of small knives and maintain the edges of larger ones. This tool is more appropriate to the kitchen than the deep woods -- you may want to carry a flat ...
Manual sharpeners which work well are relatively new products -- until diamond abrasive wheels were available, the results of using a manual sharpening jig were often less than wonderful. The Chef's Choice 463 Pronto Asian Manual Sharpener applies that new technology to the more acutely beveled santoku's and other Asian ...
F. Dick's 11-inch Multicut Knife Sharpening Steel strives to combine seven different types and grades of sharpening steels into one product. You might find it hard to pick out all seven, but the Multicut really is a faster and more versatile sharpening system than other round steels, and even ...
The Combination Whetstone from KAI USA includes two grits for shaping and polishing edges plus a stable wooden stand to prevent marring the surface of kitchen workstations. The latest instruction manual was only in Japanese (with photos), but anyone who has used whetstones before should know the drill. There are ...
One of the trickiest tools to sharpen correctly at home is a pair of scissors. It always looks like an easy thing to do, but unless the edges of the blades meet at exactly the right angle, you might as well just buy a new pair. The Chef's Choice 500 ...
Few tools in the kitchen are handier than a sharpening steel -- except perhaps a diamond hone. The Chef's Choice 12-inch Diamond Hone Knife Sharpener is an example of what happens when you combine the cutting ability of fine industrial diamonds with the traditional chef's honing steel. The result is ...
Since hand honing systems designed for western cutlery don't match up with the acute bevels and hard cutting edges of Global's fine knives, the company partnered with Shinkansen Corporation to create something special. The Minosharp Plus gives Global knife owners a sharpening option simpler and less expensive than a set of ...
McGowan's Firestone Electric Sharpener quickly hones kitchen and sporting knives to a short functional hollow ground edge. The Firestone works well on utility grade knives commonly used for kitchen prep, but save your finest blades for the whetstone. The angle this machine sets works efficiently but doesn't match up to ...
The Chef's Choice 450 two-stage diamond wheel knife sharpener allows even those chefs who don't like to sharpen knives to work with sharp blades. The bevel it produces and the quality of the cutting edge won't match professional standards, but many good cooks don't care so much about the steel ...
The Ultimate Edge Model 10NUF Oval Ultra Fine honing steel finishes edges of blades with a high polish. If you already keep your knives in good shape, this will bring the edge a degree higher in quality. Don't expect to restore a drawer full of dull knives with the ...
Adding fine abrasive action to the resetting function of the steel hone, the Ultimate Edge Model 10W Gourmet 10-inch Oval Diamond sharpening steel outperforms the traditional sharpening steel. The Ultimate Edge 10W won't completely take the place of flat whetstones -- still necessary for reworking badly worn or damaged blades ...
The Chef's Choice Commercial Model 2000 Diamond Hone Knife Sharpener evens the playing field when it comes to knife sharpening. You meet all sorts of people in restaurant kitchens -- people with skill and talent, and people who are just there for the pay check. Professional quality commercial kitchen equipment evens out ...
Made from a solid rod of chrome vanadium stainless steel and embedded with a matrix of fine industrial diamonds, this unusual honing steel was developed for the Global knives manufactured by Yoshikin of Japan. Global recommends sharpening with their series of ceramic powder stones, an improvement over the Japanese ...
A matching sharpening steel for fine Wusthof Cutlery, this 10-inch honing steel quickly resets the blades of most good kitchen knives, regardless of brand. The most important feature beyond usability is the handle, styled to match Wusthof patterns and sporting the trademark trident rivet on the end. The steel adds ...
Combination stones are always partly a great idea and partly a compromise. There's no question that individual stones work a bit better than the flip-over versions, but with a two-sided double grit stone you get convenience and speed. No matter which stone system you choose, if you own Global ...
Produced by Yoshikin for upkeep of their especially hard-edged cutlery, these stones bring more efficient materials to the old Japanese waterstone method of maintaining sharp edges. Global knives feature long lasting blades which seldom need sharpening but are too hard to respond well to resetting with a sharpening steel. Edges may chip ...
For most chefs, the sharpening steel is the preferred method of resetting and honing the edges of good kitchen cutlery. Ordinary honing steels do little more than reform the edge of dulled blades. If damage goes beyond slight dulling to rounding and blunting, reworking with a stone might be the only ...
Many modern high-end knives are built with steel so hard that the edge chips if used improperly. Micro-chips may not cause problems, but visible chips do. To restore a jagged edge, you either need the help of the factory or a special tool and some time to reflect on your mistakes. The ...
The 100W Diamond Hone Knife Sharpener from Chef's Choice reshapes edges of worn and dulled kitchen and sporting knives in a three stage process. The first and coarsest set of diamond impregnated honing wheels puts a preset bevel on the blade edge. Second and third stages with progressively finer ...
Applying industrial diamond abrasive technology to the already efficient honing steel most chefs know and use, the Ultimate Edge Model 12W Professional Diamond Hone polishes and resets the edges of high carbon steel blades. Though it won't do the job of a flat grindstone, the hone does put off that inevitable ...
With coarse and fine honing plates, a secure hand grip, and several aids to accuracy, the Chef's Choice Multi-Edge Diamond Hone Knife Sharpener does a good job of restoring the edges of most kitchen knives. The system isn't foolproof and shouldn't be expected to match the work of a sharpening stone. For ...
With only two stages of blade sharpening, the Chef's Choice 310 Diamond Hone could be over-matched by genuinely worn knives. If your knives are still in reasonably good shape, the two high-speed honing disc systems in the 310 should do an excellent job of restoring an edge. Major repairs could ...
Something as simple as a honing steel seems difficult to improve, but this ten-inch honing steel from the Henckels Twin Four Star series has a few more things to like. First, it's made with steel hard enough to tune the high carbon stainless in the Four Star knives. Not ...
This handy knife sharpener, the Twinsharp from J. A. Henckels, is designed to do the same job as a honing steel without all the flash and flourish. Although the hardened steel and ceramic wheels of this gadget will do a fine job of resetting the edge of even old knives, ...
This fine 5000-grit synthetic waterstone from Yoshikin, maker of Global cutlery, is the recommended sharpening method for fine Global knives and an excellent way to finish the edge of any high-end Japanese plain edge blade. With a uniform density and a long-lasting wide surface, this hardened ceramic powder whetstone sits securely ...
Chroma Haiku knives are traditional blades that need matching systems of care, and this Medium 800-grit waterstone is one of the basics you'll need for correctly maintaining the Haiku knife.
This old-style waterstone needs to soak in water before use for about fifteen minutes until it's totally saturated and no more bubbles ...
With the advent of affordable industrial diamond abrasives, sharpening systems like this Chef's Choice 464 Pronto have actually begun to work properly. Older versions of this patented idea used hardened steel wheels or ceramic rods and yielded uncertain results, but the Pronto produces consistent results with a minimum of practice.
The ...
Wusthof's ten inch Sharpening Steel is a level higher than the cheap versions many of us depend upon for honing our cutlery daily. Hardened for greater efficiency but still durable and resilient, the Wusthof version will reduce the time you spend on blades and give you more time to cook.
Cheap sharpening steels ...
Unlike many short lived home sharpening systems, this professional diamond wheel electric sharpener from Wusthof of Solingen, Germany, carries a lifetime warranty. With most home appliance warranties falling between ninety days and two years, that's an indication of something special.
Two sharpening slots in this brushed stainless steel grinder house coarse and ...
Diamond Machining Technology produces this space age whetstone, in the same dimensions we've always used but with materials and efficiency far beyond what we've grown to expect from ordinary carburundum. This solid nickel sheet, with a surface layer of fine diamond grit alternating with plastic discs that speed sharpening by ...
It can be tricky to keep up with all the different Chef's Choice electric sharpeners. Read our reviews of the various choices and your head might start to spin.
The long and short of it is this... If you've got exclusively Asian knives, the 316 is probably for you. If ...
Most knife buffs turn up their noses at electric sharpeners, and for good reason. There are enough crummy ones out there that it's usually good advice to just avoid them altogether. The worst of them will chew up your edges, taking off a good chunk of metal while leaving them jagged and ...
If you're a junkie for sharp edges, as I am, you've probably tried nearly every tool or technique chasing the perfect edge.
The Lansky is one of the few products I've used which has withstood the test of time. Using a design which features a simple fixture into which the knife is clamped ...
There are a lot of ways you can go with sharpening your kitchen knives.
Want to take up a new hobby? Invest in a high-end whetstone, get yourself some training and get yourself some of the best edges you've ever had.
Want to get great edges but have neither the time nor the ...
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