What degree do you hold a knife to sharpen?

Author: Francesca Gulgowski  |  Last update: Wednesday, September 3, 2025

17 to 22 Degree Angles 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.

What angle to hold a knife when sharpening?

A 20 degree angle is the most common angle to sharpen a knife. However, sometimes you just need a quick and easy way to find that angle. When nothing else is available, we've found that folding a piece of paper twice can serve as a good guide to finding the proper angle.

How do I know if my knife is 15 or 20 degrees?

The best way to tell is by asking the manufacturer of the knife. As a general guide, European/American knives manufactured before 2010 have 20 degree edges while Asian style knives have 15 degree edges. However, there are exceptions to this rule of thumb.

Are Wüsthof knives 15 or 20 degrees?

On Wüsthof European-Style knives, the blade edge angle has been reduced to 28 degrees (14 degrees per side), while Asian-style Santoku, Nakiri and Chai Dao knives have a blade edge angle of 20 degrees (10 degrees per side).

Are Henckel's knives 15 or 20 degrees?

The blade- edge angle for all Zwilling J.A. Henckels cutlery, with the exception of santokus, is 15 degrees on each side (30 degrees total).

15° vs 20° Knife Sharpening Angles! Which Angle is Right for Your Knife

Are global knives 15 or 20 degree?

Renowned knife manufacturers like Zwilling, Wüsthof, Güde, Kai Shun, or Global usually recommend the 15 degrees grinding angle to sharpen the knives because it perfectly combines the stability of the blade and the sharpness of the edge.

What angle should I sharpen my Henckel's knives?

The blade- edge angle for all Zwilling J.A. Henckels cutlery, with the exception of santoku knives, is 15 degrees on each side (30 degrees total). The blade-edge angle for santoku knives is 10 degrees on each side (20 degrees total).

Are Cutco knives 15 or 20 degrees?

Cutco's straight-edge sharpener has carbide sharpening inserts that are set at a 15 degree angle, which is the angle at which Cutco straight-edge knives are designed.

Does Gordon Ramsay use Wusthof knives?

Wusthof - The Legacy Blade

According to “Hell's Kitchen Recipes” Wusthof knives hold a special place in Ramsay's kitchen.

Why won't my knife hold an edge?

One reason that the knife may not be holding the sharp edge is that it is not made from steel that is capable of holding an edge for a long time. If the steel is too soft, the edge will wear away quickly, or it will fold over easily, making the knife become dull after a few uses.

What is the last thing you must do after sharpening a knife?

The last step in sharpening is removing the burr – the hide side of an old leather belt will do, or buy a strop such as this one. A bit of baby oil on the leather will help you get a nice, even covering of the polishing compound. As with most things, you get what you pay for.

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 happens if you sharpen a knife at the wrong angle?

Sharpening at a higher angle will tend to give you a less sharp edge, sharpening at a lower angle will greatly increase the time it takes to sharpen the knife. Maintaining a Consistent Angle - This is a fancy way of saying don't rock the edge when you sharpen.

Should knives be sharpened at 15 or 20 degrees?

In general, you can sharpen all kitchen knives and all qualities with the stable 20° angle, because it achieves a very good basic sharpness. But, some knives have special steel compositions and qualities that allow them to be sharpened even finer with the 15° angle.

What is the sharpest knife in the world?

Frequently Asked Questions. 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 is the best type of oil to use when sharpening on a whetstone?

Camellia oil is good for both sharpening with an abrasive whetstone, and for protecting the blade from corrosion. A thin film remains on the surface after treatment, preventing the steel from coming into contact with oxygen. Therefore, the risk of metal oxidation is minimised. Special sharpening liquids.

Which is better Henckels or Wüsthof?

Henckels typically get a score of 56-57 on the scale and Wüsthof gets a 58, so technically Wüsthof is a slightly harder steel. This is good because it means Wüsthof knives vs. Henckels will hold their sharpened edge better. On the flip side, a softer Rockwell score means a knife is easier to sharpen.

What knife does Bobby Flay recommend?

The Best Celeb Chef's Knife: Shun Classic Western Chef's Knife. The knife that topped our testing is Bobby Flay's favorite, the Shun Classic Western Chef's Knife. The heft and comfort of the handle, sharpness of the blade, and overall balanced proportions made it stand out against the others.

Why are Wüsthof knives so expensive?

Why are Wusthof knives so expensive? Wusthof knives are known for their exceptional quality and are highly regarded by professional chefs and home cooks alike.

Why can't you sharpen Cutco knives?

While only straight-edge knives can be sharpened at home, Cutco's Double-D® edge will stay sharp for years, due to its recessed edge design. When knives with those edges need sharpening, they should be sharpened at the factory, which is free as part of The Forever Guarantee.

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.

Why are Cutco knives so popular?

Cutco Knives feature a full tang, where the blade extends the full length of the handle, to provide strength and balance. Nickel silver rivets securely attach the handle to the blade and will resist pitting and tarnishing while staying flush with the handle for comfort, strength and durability.

Are pull-through knife sharpeners any good?

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.

What angle do butchers sharpen their knives?

22 to 30 Degree Angles.

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