Save Money On Band Aids And ER Visits By Sharpening Your Knives Regular sharpening also prolongs your knives' usefulness, saving you money on replacements. [Consumer Reports Online]
Post a comment
Comments:
Funny, the ONLY times I've ever injured myself with my knives was right after they were sharpened...it seems as though I "nick" myself a lot with them, but when they are dull they don't actually cut me.
I have 2 Sacajawea dollars in my pocket. I might consider using them to pitch in, but I think I'd rather use them to buy overpriced soda from the office vending machine.
Ok, so now recommend a knife sharper!
@KyleOrton: A pair of good stones go a lot farther than any sharpener, and you can just pop them in your bag to sharpen on the go, or as a favor to a friend. They're cheaper too. If you're unsure of yourself, get a knife guide. it's like a protractor you can stick the knife in to keep it at the right angle while sharpening.
Q: How do I sharpen a serrated knife?
A: Usually, don't bother. Only put down good money for the straight knifes, any serrated knife that's been dulled should either be replaced, or smoothed down to a straight knife.
If it's a knife you want to keep, but don't want to unserrate, an heirloom or part of the set, for example, you want to get a round file, and do each serration seperately.
Another more detailed guide for sharpening the proper way, from start to finish, is here. [www.instructables.com]
It is good to hone your knife before pretty much each use; using a confusingly named sharpening steel.
Where were you last week when I sliced my hand open whilst cutting a bagel?
Protip #1: Use a cutting board. Don't hold the bagel in your hand. Learn from my mistakes.
Protip #2: Advanced Healing bandages work pretty well on palm cuts.
@Irashtar:
This. And the OP, too. I can personally vouch that dull-knife injuries are painful and bloody, and the subsequent doctor visits are expensive and may not be able to fix you up 100%. After a couple thousand bucks and weeks of recovery, I still have no sense of touch in my finger.
If you've got a culinary school or adult ed program near you, I'd highly recommend a knife skills class. Not only will you learn to julienne like a mofo, but the knife sharpening and maintenance tips you'll pick up mean the class pretty much pays for itself. But then you start coveting the fancy German knives...
@flugangst: I've always taken mine to a cutlery store for them to sharpen on a massive wheel. The sharpeners just look like they're waiting to break on me. I think it's about time to take Irashtar's advice and get me a rock.
Also, I have the fancy german knives but I've filled all the extra slots with Victorinox Forschner knives. I actually like them a whole lot more and they get cheap on Amazon.
Most people don't have the equipment and expertise to properly sharpen a kitchen knife. Take it to your grocer or a specialty shop. Many will sharpen your knives for free. Most home 'sharpeners' are crap.
Learn how to use a steel. Use it every time before and after.
Get a proper cutting board. I wince whenever I see someone using good kitchen knives on a plate or one of those evil glass cutting boards. If your knife won't leave marks in it, it will dull your knife.
I use an Edge Pro Apex sharpener. It's nearly pro grade and gets the job done, but still not as well as a real pro with a wheel and a strop.
Okay, my husband keeps the knives crazy sharp, and I totally sliced my thumb to the bone when it slipped off of crusty bread. It healed sort of weird but cut through tendons and everything. I don't know if a duller knife could have prevented it, though. Sharp knives got the job done!
@redlikerubies: crusty bread is one of the only things that a serrated knife is useful for.
the other is frozen chicken.
@Irashtar:
I've gotten terrible results using one of those little diamond notch sharpeners on on kitchen knives, but they're great for machetes and axes.
Also, it's easier to re-attatch limbs and nerves and stitch if they are severed cleanly.