Should you sharpen a knife every time you use it?

Author: Prof. Presley Cassin  |  Last update: Tuesday, October 7, 2025

In general, honing should be done every two to three times a knife is used. Though honing can be done repeatedly without damaging your blade, a knife does not need to be honed every time you use it. For most at-home chefs, once or twice a week is enough.

How often should you sharpen a knife?

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.

Can you sharpen a knife too much?

Excessive sharpening can significantly reduce the knife's lifespan and alter its intended shape. Angle Consistency: If the sharpening angle is not maintained consistently, it can lead to an uneven edge or a blade that's sharpened at too steep an angle, affecting performance.

How to tell if a knife needs sharpening?

Gently run your fingertips over the edge of the blade. Sharp knives simply feel sharp, with a blade that has a well-defined, distinct edge. On the other hand, if the blade feels dull or rounded, you're knife will benefit from being sharpened.

How often do Japanese chefs sharpen their knives?

Japanese chefs consider sharpening as a crucial first step in preparing fine cuisine and many sushi chefs sharpen their knives at the end of each work day. Edge life versus ease of sharpening - it is up to you to balance these considerations when selecting a knife.

The Best Way To Sharpen & Clean Knives (And The Worst) | Epicurious 101

What happens if you don't sharpen your knife?

In general, it's a clever idea to sharpen your knife before it becomes too dull because a dull knife can be more dangerous to use and can make cooking tasks more difficult. As a bottom line, if you notice that your knife is not performing as well as it used to, it may be time to sharpen it.

Do you 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 is the sharpest knife in the world?

What is the sharpest knife material? Knives with an Obsidian blade are considered the sharpest in the world, but this material is not fit for making kitchen knives as they're extremely coarse and brittle.

What knives do not need sharpening?

Firstly, let's clarify that there is no such thing as a knife that never needs sharpening. Every knife loses its sharpness over time and with frequent use. However, there are knives designed to last longer without losing their sharpness compared to traditional knives.

Do knife sharpeners ruin 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.

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.

How much does Williams Sonoma charge to sharpen knives?

FREE SHARPENING

Owner pays for shipping, and our expert sharpening services are FREE.

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.

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 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.

What knife stays the sharpest?

The Misono Sweden Steel Series knives are celebrated for their exceptional precision and durability. These knives are crafted from premium Swedish carbon steel and offer outstanding edge retention and sharpness.

What is the sharpest angle to sharpen a knife?

A 17 to 20 degree angle covers most kitchen knives, pocket knives, and outdoor knives. Some knives (typically Japanese manufacturers) will sharpen their knives to roughly 17 degrees. Most western knives are roughly 20 degrees. In fact, a 20 degrees angle is often considered the best sharing point for most knives.

Are there knives made of diamond?

After making thousands of great knives, they had the idea to infuse diamonds into a blade to make their blades even sharper. Thus, DiamondBlade Knives was born.

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.

Should you go back and forth when sharpening a knife?

Short answer is whatever feels comfortable and works for you. I tend to do back and forth while gradually moving up and down the blade. On my cheap utility knives, this works fine all through the grits, then I finish with edge leading on the steel.

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.

Are knife sharpening rods good?

Thus, honing rods should not be purchased for the purpose of sharpening kitchen knives. Honing rods, although not an effective tool for sharpening kitchen knives are still a necessary inclusion for anyone between new kitchen experimenters to expert kitchen connoisseurs.

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