Got dull knives? While some people might just throw it and buy a new one, this isn’t a wise thing to do! Chances are, your knives can still be spared. You just have to know how to use a sharpening steel.
For the uninitiated, one might believe that the purpose of a sharpening steel is to sharpen a knife. After all, that’s what the name says. Truth is, it is more of a honing steel than a sharpening steel. What it does is that It aligns the edges of the knife, which can get curled over time. In turn, this will restore its peak functionality, making your knives work as good as new.
What is a Sharpening Steel?
If you buy a knife set, especially one that is high-end, then you will most probably receive a sharpening steel. It is a long metal rod with a handle at the other end. It can be diamond-coated or ceramic, depending on the quality. This will be used for honing a knife, and not for sharpening, despite the name.
It is common for sharpening steels to have a carbide composition. It has a diamond dust that is bonded on the surface, giving a tough coating. It has varying carbon levels, which will also be the one responsible for the hardness of the rod. The main requirement is that the sharpening steel should be harder than the blade of the knife that you will be sharpening.
After a long time of use, the edges of a knife can become blunt. It will fold or bend, and as a result, it cannot easily cut. Sharpening is not a good solution. If you sharpen the blade, you will end up removing metals from the knife, and this will negatively impact its functionality.
Instead, you should hone the knife, and that is what a sharpening steel is made for. You will use it for pushing the blade, allowing it to return to its original position. By bringing back the alignment, you do not need a replacement for your old knives.
A Step-by-Step Guide on How to Use a Sharpening Steel
To optimize the benefits of a sharpening steel and bring your knives back to life, you must know how to use it properly. Fortunately, it does not take an expert to figure out the latter. Here are the steps on how you can hone a knife using a sharpening steel.
1. Position the Sharpening Steel
To start, hold the sharpening steel firmly on the top of a solid surface. Make sure that there is generous area for your hand to move as you hone the knife later. Hold the sharpening steel pointing down and with enough pressure. It should be vertical, and you must hold it firmly in such a way that it will not slide.
Use your non-dominant hand when you are holding the sharpening steel. This means that if you are right-handed, then your left hand must be the one holding the rod.
2. Hold the Knife
Once the sharpening steel is in its position, it’s now time to move to holding the knife. Hold it crossways against the sharpening steel. The back of the knife’s blade should be touching the rod.
As you hold the knife in place, another crucial consideration is the angle. The angle should be anywhere from 15 to 30 degrees depending on the knife that you will be sharpening. Holding at the right angle will let you make the most out of this task.
3. Hone the Knife
Now that you have held both the sharpening steel and the knife in the right places, it’s now time to move to the most important part – honing. All that you have to do is to the hone blade of the knife while you are pulling the steel rod toward you. While you are moving the knife, try your best to keep it at a consistent angle. As you move the blade, do not apply excessive pressure. Or else, there is a risk that you will be altering the shape of the knife’s edges instead of restoring it.
After honing one side of the knife, proceed to the other side. Hold the honing steel as you earlier did and make sure to still keep the proper angle of the knife. Depending on the extent of the problem, you might need to hone both sides of the knife five to ten times. The duller it is, the longer you will need to hone the blade.
4. Clean the Knife
Once you are done honing the knife, use a clean cloth to wipe the blade. Be careful not to hurt yourself. Next, place it under running water. This will remove the microscopic metal fillings. Test the knife for its sharpness. If you are unsatisfied with how sharp it is, repeat the honing.
How to Maintain Your Knives
Before we end this short guide, allow us to leave you a few insights on how you can maintain the sharpness of your kitchen knives:
- Cut only on the right surfaces. You must choose the right board. Avoid cutting on metals and hard surfaces.
- Store your knives properly. Keep it out of external elements that can speed up wear. It should have a dedicated spot. Do not keep it along with other kitchen utensils.
- Wash your knife regularly, but make sure that you do it the right way. Do not use a dishwasher.
Conclusion
After reading this short guide, we hope that you now know how to use sharpening steel the right way. As mentioned above, it is technically not a sharpening tool but a honing rod. It corrects the blunt edges and restores the peak performance of your knife, allowing you to save money in the long run. So, before you throw your knives, reach out for a sharpening steel and see what you can do!
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