Does sharpening a knife wear it down?

Author: Dejon Mayer  |  Last update: Sunday, July 6, 2025

The knife has been sharpened to death and is wore out: Each time a knife is sharpened you lose a little metal at the edge of the knife. The edge gradually moves into a thicker part of the blade and becomes more difficult to resharpen.

Does sharpening a knife ruin it?

Over-sharpening a knife can actually damage the edge and make it duller. It's important to sharpen a knife only when it needs it, and to sharpen it to the correct angle.

Do knife sharpeners wear out?

The grinding stones do wear out. But, if you are using it for home, it should last 6-8 years (at least), depending on usage. I use mine in a commercial kitchen and sharpen knives for people (many knives). And, some of the hardest metals out there (like the Global knives).

How long does a sharpened knife last?

A kitchen knife should be sharpened every 1-2 months. Hone every week if you prefer a razor-sharp edge. For your professional chef's knife, you should have your knives professionally sharpened every 1-2 years. However, you might also still choose to sharpen them yourself every 2-3 months.

Why is my knife duller after sharpening?

Sharpening Angle Too High

Essentially, if you are working at too high of an angle, you may be blunting your edge. In practice, an angle that is only slightly too steep will not dull the edge. Only very high angles will create edges that feel dull.

Whetstone Sharpening Mistakes that Most Beginners Make

How many strokes does it take to sharpen a dull knife?

A dull knife requires a coarse stone and may require more time using the stone. Because it can require many strokes, we suggest that you take up to 10 strokes before alternating sides.

Should you sharpen a knife forward or backwards?

Start at the tip of the blade, and draw the blade backward moving the blade spine forward, rather than moving the blade edge forward.

Are cheap knives worth sharpening?

An inexpensive blade can be sharpened just as a costly chefs knife would. While the cheap knife will sharpen, it's important to note that it will lose that sharp edge faster than a more quality knife would because it's made of weaker steel.

How many swipes does it take to sharpen a knife?

How to use a Manual Knife Sharpener: Place the knife against the coarse side of the sharpener and swipe it across the surface around ten times. This initial step sets the foundation for a sharp edge. Afterwards, switch to the fine side of the sharpener and repeat the swiping motion ten times.

What is the lifespan of a knife?

The average lifespan of a kitchen knife set is 5 to 10 years, depending on the quality of the knives, frequency of use, and maintenance (such as sharpening and proper storage). High-quality knives with good care can last much longer.

Do knife sharpeners destroy knives?

Electric pull through sharpeners remove way too much metal and shorten the life of your knife by years. Ceramic wheel sharpeners tend to take chips and chunks out of thin Japanese blades. Because of the mechanics of use, it is impossible to apply the same amount of pressure throughout the blade.

Should you wet a knife sharpener?

Water and oil provide a lubricant on the surface to eliminate any extraneous friction, improve sharpening power, and prevent damage to the stone itself. Many chefs prefer a water stone to an oil stone – water is more convenient and facilitates a faster knife sharpening.

Can a knife sharpener become dull?

Over time your sharpener becomes a "rounder" tool. The groove at the very tip of the sharpener wears and rounds out. This creates a rounded edge on your knives as well. In the worst cases these sharpeners actually dull knives vs sharpening them.

Is a pull through knife sharpener better than a stone?

Pull-through sharpeners are the most popular way to sharpen knives, and with good reason: They are quicker than whetstones and more precise than sharpening steels. However, they shed the most amount of metal, which weakens the durability of knives.

Do expensive knives need sharpening?

While expensive knives might stay sharp longer and feel more nicely balanced in your hand, the real key to having a sharp knife is to sharpen it when needed.

What is the best knife sharpener?

Let's Cut to the Chase: The Best Knife Sharpeners
  • Shun Cutlery Combination Whetstone. ...
  • Smith's CCKS 2-Step Knife Sharpener. ...
  • AccuSharp 001C Knife Sharpener. ...
  • Work Sharp Professional Electric Culinary E5 Kitchen Knife Sharpener. ...
  • Homly Professional Electric Knife Sharpener.

Is it better to push or pull when sharpening a knife?

Most pros would agree that pulling the blade edge across the whetstone produces the best results. Not only will it bring the knife to its sharpest but it's also a much more effective way to remove chips and imperfections from the blade.

What do professionals use to sharpen knives?

A sharpening stone, also known as a whetstone is a kitchen essential used by professional chefs across the globe.

Which knives cannot be sharpened?

It's just some, like ceremic knives, are hard and brittle and need special equipment to sharpen them, like diamond Lapping. Ceremic blades are harder than normal honing stones, so, will not make any sharpening effort. However, pretend rubber knives are only for show and definitely cannot be sharpened.

Can a knife be too old to sharpen?

The answer is fairly simple. Yes, old knives can be sharpened as long as they are in okay shape.

Do professional chefs sharpen their knives?

Professional chefs use various methods, such as whetstones, honing rods, and electric sharpeners, to maintain their blades.

How hard should you press when sharpening a knife?

Pressure should be firm, but gentle. The blade should glide smoothly across the stone as you pull. If you need help maintaining your angle, you can use an angle guide.

Is it better to sharpen a knife wet or dry?

While some stones – like those made of diamond or ceramic – can be used dry, they still usually benefit from a little water. Soaking the whetstone is important because it helps protect the stone from damage and wear. Sharpening your knives with a dry stone won't hurt the knife, but it will damage the stone over time.

What should you not do when sharpening a knife?

Common mistakes include twisting, pressing down or pausing the stroke of knives as you pull them through the sharpener slot. This can cause oversharpening (the loss of too much metal) or result in an uneven edge.

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