How do I determine if my knife must be honed and/or sharpened? [duplicate]
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My grandparents never altered their WÜSTHOF 4596-7/20 Classic Ikon 8-Inch Cook's Knife since buying it on Aug 1 2018. It could effortlessly slash coconut and raw Winter Squashes, but now it can't even cut paper or pears or zucchinis! Undeniably they must alter their knife.
Before they buy a honing rod and/or electronic sharpener, how can they infer if it must be honed and/or sharpened?
Best Answer
That's a good knife. All knives need to be sharpened and honed: honed frequently, and sharpened occasionally. If neither has been done to the knife, it's likely that simply honing it will bring back the blade, but eventually it will require sharpening as well. A dull knife is dangerous and should not be used.
Be careful with electric sharpeners. There are decently good ones available, but bad ones (and the majority of electric sharpeners are bad) will damage the knife over time. Still, they're a lot more convenient than sharpening stones and require less practice. You might also consider a Tri-Angle Sharpmaker, which is somewhere between an electric sharpener and a sharpening stone in convenience and ease of use.
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Does my knife need honing or sharpening?
So what's the difference between honing and sharpening? Sharpening removes material from the blade to produce a new, sharp edge, while honing keeps the blade sharp by pushing the edge of the knife back to the center.Should knives be honed regularly?
In addition to honing your knives after every 2-4 uses at home, experts recommend having kitchen knives professionally sharpened at least once or twice a year. This prevents blades from becoming too dull, which can be more dangerous than working with a razor-sharp knife!Is knife honing necessary?
A knife has to start with a sharp edge, then to maintain and lengthen the time it stays sharp, the knife has to be honed. Honing is regular maintenance that extends the knife's sharp edge. Make it sharp and then keep it that way with honing.How to Tell if Your Knife is Sharp or Dull - Workshop Ep. 3
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: Los Muertos Crew, cottonbro, Raghav Modi, Ono Kosuki