How to Sharpen Knives
Take this short online cooking class to improve the quality of your knives – and your overall experience in the kitchen. Consider it to be one of your very own private cooking classes – for free!
Second only to the ingredients you are using, your knives are a key ingredient to the success of your cooking. As such, we decided to create a mini online culinary class on best practices for preserving the life of your knives. Many people head off to culinary school to learn the basics – you can discover it all sitting at home and taking these home cooking classes.
Keeping your knives sharpened is one way to prolong the life of your knives. But to many, knife sharpening is a task not often performed. Not only can keeping your knives sharp save you money, but you will discover just how easy it is to cut produce, meats – anything! The difference truly does change your entire culinary experience.
This online cooking course shows you how to use a knife sharpening stone as well as steel.
Using steel to sharpen your Chef’s Knife: for everyday use, use the steel found in your knife block. Choke up on the handle of the knife (pinch with your thumb and index finger). At a 45-degree angle, run your knife against the steel sharpener. If you are not feeling confident, be sure to sharpen one side at a time. Watch this online cooking lesson for more details.
For most users, you can sharpen with steel once a week. If you are the chef of the house and working all day, every day in the kitchen, you want to sharpen with steel each day. Be sure to watch your fingers and keep them out of harms way.
You can also use a chef’s stone approximately once a month. First, soak your stone in water for a few minutes. Then, affix the silver gadget (as seen in the video) to the back of the knife. At a 45-degree angle, drag your knife in half circle – or whole circle motions – to sharpen. You will see the knife filing down. (Order your chef’s stone now).
If your chef’s knife is beyond repair, use a serrated knife to get you through! The teeth on the knife also make it a good and quick substitute for cutting tomatoes, apples, veggies. Note, I am not recommending this for long term use, just if you are in a bind.
Now, watch me sharpen a chef’s knife and then sharpen every knife in your knife block. Keep good care of your knives, prolong the life of every knife found in your knife block.
And, to understand what knives you do have in your knife block - and how to best use them - be sure to check out this quick online video to Discover Your Knives.
view complete recipe instruction
