If you spend any amount of time in the kitchen then you know that it's crucial to keep your knives razor sharp. Knives that are dull or damaged are not only frustrating to use, but they slow you down and are actually more dangerous than those that are properly maintained.
Why Sharper is Better
It might seem counter-intuitive but knives that are extremely sharp are actually much safer to use. There is a very simple explanation for this. The sharper a blade is the more easily it slices through foods. If a knife is dull it requires you to use more pressure. If you're cutting denser foods such as carrots this is where a dull knife becomes more dangerous.
As the blade encounters dense areas within the food it will have a tendency to jump. Then you have a much higher likelihood of it jumping and hitting your fingers. This can happen with any sort of dense foods such as potatoes, carrots, beets, parsnips and any other dense form of vegetable.
How to Sharpen a Knife
There are a whole host of ways to sharpen your knives. Some people prefer to sharpen their own. Others prefer to hire a professional knife sharpener instead. Here are a few of the pros and cons of each.
Professional Knife Sharpeners
One of the most effective ways to get your knives sharpened is to hire someone to do it for you. These professionals are familiar with working with a wide variety of knives and should be very proficient at sharpening blades without damaging the knife.
Depending on the individual they may use sharpening stones, a sharpening system, or maybe even a grinding wheel. Regardless of their particular method they should be able to sharpen your blades so that they are both sharp and durable. The more consistent the polish of the blade the longer it will last.
The downside of hiring someone to sharpen your knives is that you can spend quite a bit of money. Some professionals charge $10 per knife. And while this doesn't sound like a lot, it can add up given that most knives should be sharpened a couple times per year depending on use. Another downside is that you are out the use of your knives until they are done with them.
Electric and Manual Sharpeners
The most popular method of sharpening knives is to use an electric on manual sharpener. You can find these sorts of devices online or in any number of local kitchen stores. You'll want to do your research before making your purchase. Some models are vastly better than others. This site has a great comparison of different models. http://www.malknives.com/best-electric-knife-sharpener-reviews-the-ultimate-guide/
One of the features you should look for is a model that can sharpen blades at different angles. This is important because certain knife blades have higher or lower angle depending on it's intended use. A chef's knife will have an angle of around 25 degrees while a paring knife will have an angle of about 15 degrees.
Checking sites such as Amazon.com is a great way to compare models and look at customer reviews. They generally have some of the best pricing as well. So if you're in the market for a tool to help you maintain your knives check them out.
Why Sharper is Better
It might seem counter-intuitive but knives that are extremely sharp are actually much safer to use. There is a very simple explanation for this. The sharper a blade is the more easily it slices through foods. If a knife is dull it requires you to use more pressure. If you're cutting denser foods such as carrots this is where a dull knife becomes more dangerous.
As the blade encounters dense areas within the food it will have a tendency to jump. Then you have a much higher likelihood of it jumping and hitting your fingers. This can happen with any sort of dense foods such as potatoes, carrots, beets, parsnips and any other dense form of vegetable.
How to Sharpen a Knife
There are a whole host of ways to sharpen your knives. Some people prefer to sharpen their own. Others prefer to hire a professional knife sharpener instead. Here are a few of the pros and cons of each.
Professional Knife Sharpeners
One of the most effective ways to get your knives sharpened is to hire someone to do it for you. These professionals are familiar with working with a wide variety of knives and should be very proficient at sharpening blades without damaging the knife.
Depending on the individual they may use sharpening stones, a sharpening system, or maybe even a grinding wheel. Regardless of their particular method they should be able to sharpen your blades so that they are both sharp and durable. The more consistent the polish of the blade the longer it will last.
The downside of hiring someone to sharpen your knives is that you can spend quite a bit of money. Some professionals charge $10 per knife. And while this doesn't sound like a lot, it can add up given that most knives should be sharpened a couple times per year depending on use. Another downside is that you are out the use of your knives until they are done with them.
Electric and Manual Sharpeners
The most popular method of sharpening knives is to use an electric on manual sharpener. You can find these sorts of devices online or in any number of local kitchen stores. You'll want to do your research before making your purchase. Some models are vastly better than others. This site has a great comparison of different models. http://www.malknives.com/best-electric-knife-sharpener-reviews-the-ultimate-guide/
One of the features you should look for is a model that can sharpen blades at different angles. This is important because certain knife blades have higher or lower angle depending on it's intended use. A chef's knife will have an angle of around 25 degrees while a paring knife will have an angle of about 15 degrees.
Checking sites such as Amazon.com is a great way to compare models and look at customer reviews. They generally have some of the best pricing as well. So if you're in the market for a tool to help you maintain your knives check them out.