Do you want to know how to sharpen a knife with diamond sharpening steel products? You have come to the right place! This is your sign to purchase your new steel! A high-quality product, such as the Knives Et Cetera Diamond Sharpening Steel, can make the process of re-aligning, honing, and carving your blade easy and effective in half the amount of time!
There is an ultra-fine and light microcrystalline diamond abrasive coat that makes it easier for you to maintain the shape and design from the tip to the heel of your cutlery. Are you interested in finding out whether a 45-degree angle or the way you hold or use honing steel makes a difference during the process? Then read on as we go in-depth.
The Sharpening Steel Method
Sharpening Steel is a handy tool whose primary use is to maintain a sharp edge to your knife after vigorous use. The need to sharpen is a result of repeated pressing of the knife against the cutting surface which causes it to become curled on one side, dull, and misaligned. The use of sharpening steel simply allows the knife to remain straight and sharp and therefore perform cutting duties to maximum effect
Here’s how to utilize a sharpening steel to keep your knives performing to their optimum:
- Step 1: Find the right position
- Step 2: Sharpen at an angle that works for you
- Step 3: Apply the steeling technique
- Step 4: Repeat on the other side
Step 1: Find the right position
Hold the steel with your dominant hand (left hand if right-handed, right hand if left-handed) and ensure the steel is pointing down with the tip of the steel resting against a cutting board. Your dominant hand should hold the knife perpendicular to the steel with the back of the blade resting against it. This is because you’ll want to pull the knife toward you, so you want to make sure the majority of the blade is positioned in front of the steel.
Step 2: Sharpen at an angle that works for you
Choosing the right angle is something that will depend on the thickness of the knife. Most knives are best sharpened at an angle between 15-20 degrees. A general rule of thumb is to sharpen at a 15 degree angle for Japanese knives (thinner), and closer to a 20 degree angle for European knives (thicker).
Step 3: Apply the steeling technique
While being careful to maintain the chosen angle, pull the blade toward you while sliding the steel downward along the shaft. Be careful to ensure that you are covering the entire length of the blade with the steel while maintaining the sharpening angle. Perform this action approximately 10 times.
Step 4: Repeat on the other side
To finish, switch to the other side of the blade and perform an additional 10 strokes with the steel. To keep a consistent cutting edge, ensure that you perform the same number of strokes on each side of the blade.
Step 5: Rinse the blade
The final crucial step is to wash and dry your blade to make sure that no steel shaving fragments are left on the blade prior to use.
Honing with a Steel
In between frequent resharpening on stones, you may use a honing steel on any standard beveled blade to extend your cutting experience. However, a word of caution: Never use a sharpening steel on a chisel-edged blade because the blade may end up damaged.
A high-quality diamond knife sharpening steel that is at least as long as the knife blade is recommended. This is a pro tip you may find in any chef's kitchen.
Honing your knives removes a small amount of metal from the blade while also contributing tiny micro-grooves that act as teeth to offer it traction while cutting. Any extrusions that have formed are re-aligned by the steel.
Everyone has seen the method on TV, but we advocate slowing down and being exact while applying consistent pressure to the complete length of the knife blade when using a honing steel.
Why Use Knife Sharpening Steel?
You can use a sharpening steel for two purposes: Firstly, after sharpening a knife on a serrated blade, it smooths down the rough edge of the blade. Secondly, after you have been slicing, cutting, or chopping for a while, it assists in rejuvenating the edge.
You have undoubtedly seen people on the television swinging their blades back and forth quickly on a knife steel. Additionally, as you would have guessed, they are just flaunting their skills. There is no reason to do it that quickly, and if you do, you might hurt yourself.
In fact, the safest method to use knife steel is to keep the edge of the knife away from your face.
Tips on How to Use a Sharpening Steel
If you want to know how to use a diamond knife sharpener in the best and safest possible way, make sure to apply the following tips:
- Ensure the length of the sharpening steel matches the size of the blade you are honing. If you are using a 10-inch chef's knife, for example, the knife steel should be no less than 10 inches long.
- Thoroughly rinse and dry the blade with a towel after using your sharpening steel to ensure that any microscopic or tiny metal filings on the blade's edge do not end up in the food you are about to slice up or eat.
- When you are in the kitchen, keep the knife steel handy. Simply slicing on a plastic or wooden cutting board for a few minutes might cause the knife's fine edge to become misaligned. You should notice the difference immediately when you hold the knife if you have become acclimated to the sensation of a sharp knife. When you do, feel free to perform a few rapid strokes on the steel to straighten it up without the need to use a whetstone to chisel away any more of the blade.
- Make sure you move the knife and not the honing steel.
- Only the knife's edge should make contact when using a sharpening steel, not the side of the blade, as you do not want to scratch your blade.
- Pay careful attention to your hand when you hold the steel; you do not want to cut it.
- Maintain perfect control of the knife by moving in a calm, steady stroke.
- When honing on a steel no longer yields results on your blades, it is time to use a stone for sharpening the knives.
It Is Time to Realign Your Knives!
Do you now feel confident in how to sharpen a knife with a diamond sharpener?
Maintaining your premium set of knives is no longer an issue thanks to this light product. With the right angle, pressure, and sharpening method, you can straighten your dull knives in no time and whip up a storm when cooking!