How to sharpen a knife »

Knives are a must in any kitchen. Sharpening a knife seems to be a simple and everyday task. Housewives, pensioners, students and Young Scouts do this activity. For any cutting, like vegetables, meat or bread, sharpened sharp knives are good.

A dull knife does not cut, but only crushes the product. Sharp knives easily separate objects. A sharp knife has the smallest cutting edge area.

There are several ways to sharpen knives. The difference between the methods is to determine the type of grinding equipment. A large number of knife sharpeners are currently being produced. These can be professional electric sharpeners or simple mechanical sharpeners. Dedicated grinding stations are commonly used in professional kitchens. Their functionality provides ease of use. The main disadvantage of such devices is the rather high price. A less expensive option is electric machines, but they have somewhat lesser capabilities. In the kitchens of housewives, mechanical sharpeners are commonly used.

Making a knife sharp is easy enough. A few simple sharpening rules must be observed. The description may seem rather complicated, but in practice, the sharpening process is available to everyone. The most common sharpening method is stone sharpening. The whetstone is placed in water for a while or slightly moistened with water. Place a grindstone in front of you and point a light source at it. Lay down fabrics or a sheet of paper to protect the table surface from scratches. Direct the knife perpendicularly with the cutting part on the whetstone. The angle between the stone and the knife should be approximately 20 degrees. It is important not to change the angle during the sharpening process, this will not allow you to achieve a minimum cutting surface area.

Then, make movements as if cutting a thin film from a stone. Move the knife evenly without sudden movements and jerks. Do several movements in one direction, and then in the other direction. As the stone gets dirty, rinse it with water. Check the sharpness of the knife with a piece of paper.

A well-sharpened knife will easily cut paper without tearing. Improve your skills and gradually the result will improve.

Once you learn how to sharpen a knife in the kitchen, you can easily do it when you go hiking.