Knives are one of the most important tools in your kitchen and should be treated with high-quality care. If you love cooking the way I do, then you know that sharp kitchen knives are a must. Dull knives not only make it more challenging to chop, dice, and mince, but they can be dangerous and inaccurate as well.
You can’t believe how much money goes into sharpening kitchen Knives with a Rod. That’s because you need an expert knife sharpener to sharpen kitchen Knives with a Rod. If you have dull knives and are interested in sharpening kitchen knives, this article is for you.
Is honing a knife Is Same As Sharpening?
In the world of knife sharpening, two different words get confused all the time: sharpening and honing. Even professional chefs struggle with this one, so don’t feel bad if you’re not yet clear on the distinction.
Honing straightens out the blade edge and realigns it to the proper angle. This can be done using a honing rod or any other tool, including a kitchen countertop. When a knife gets dull, it doesn’t mean it needs sharpening; it needs honing!
Knife sharpening is when you take a blade that has become dull or nicked and “sharpens” it by grinding away some metal from its edge.
What Is a Honing Rod?
A honing rod is a long, thin metal or ceramic bar with a handle used to sharpen knives. It is sometimes called sharpening steel. When you run the knife along the surface of the rod, it lightly grinds against the material and removes tiny bits of metal from the edge of the blade to create a sharper edge.
Types Of Honing Rods:
Three types of honing rods are:
- Steel Rods
- Ceramic Rods
- Diamond Rods
Steel Rods:
Steel rods are best used on Western-style knives, which generally have a softer edge and can be sharpened easily using the steel rod. The steel is more aggressive at sharpening the blade than a ceramic honing rod, but steel honing rods are prone to rust and will corrode if not cleaned properly after each use.
Ceramic Rods:
Ceramic rods are sharper than steel rods and require much less precision when sharpening your knife. Ceramic rods will often come already hardened and ready for use but can also be hardened by holding it over a lit stove burner or in hot water. These honing rods are more expensive than steel honing rods but can last longer if cared for properly.
Diamond Rods:
Diamond-coated sharpening steels are more durable and effective than conventional versions. Pull-through electric sharpeners also do a great job of realigning your blade’s edge and are very simple to use (although they can damage some blades).
How To Sharpen Kitchen Knives With A-Rod
Here is the step-by-step guide that will help you sharpen your kitchen knife with a rod.
To sharpen, you will need sharpening steel or a ceramic stick. Before Sharpener, makes sure the surface is smooth and clear.
- Set the position of honing rod and knife vertically in your hands so you can see the edge of the blade at eye level.
- Angle the knife’s edge against the rod at an angle around 15 degrees, holding it firmly and gently against the rod.
- While holding the knife in this position, stroke down along the length of the rod with a smooth, firm, even motion.
- Do not press hard into the steel, but allow its weight to do most of the work for you.
- On each stroke, rotate or flip over your knife so that you sharpen both sides evenly.
- Repeat steps 2 through 4 until your blade is sharpened to your satisfaction.
If you want to sharpen your knives with a professional level of accuracy and consistency, then you need a whetstone. The best stones are typically synthetic stones, like oilstone or Waterstone.
The downside is that they are much more expensive than a simple sharpener, and they require more skill and patience to use properly. The upside is that they can help you get razor-sharp edges on any knife.
Should You Sharpen Or Hone Your Knife Regularly?
The answer to this question depends on how often you use your knives. If you’re relying on the same knife all day, every day, then yes, you should sharpen it regularly.
If you have multiple knives and switch them out throughout the day, sharpening once a week should be enough to keep each blade in good condition.
When it comes to sharpening, timing is everything. If you wait until your knife is dull, it will be more difficult to sharpen properly. To make sure your knives are never dull in the first place, you’ll want to hone them regularly.
What Is The Ideal length Of Honing Rod Steel?
The length of the honing rod steel you should buy depends on the size of the knife you will use it for:
- If you are a professional cook or chef, it is recommended that you use a 12-inch honing rod. This is also the standard length of most knife sharpening steel used in restaurants and commercial kitchens.
- If you have an 8-inch chef’s knife, you will need 8-inch steel. This is because a longer knife requires a longer rod to hone it fully, so if you have an 8-inch knife, you will need an 8-inch rod.
- A shorter knife does not need as much honing as a longer one. If you have a shorter paring knife or utility blade, then a 4 to 6-inch honing rod will probably work fine for you.
What Is The Best Angle For Sharpening?
When it comes to knife sharpening, it’s all about the angle. It would help if you kept that knife at the proper angle to sharpen it correctly—ideal sharpening angle of kitchen knives in Below then 20-degree.
The sharpening angle for your kitchen knives is a 15-degree angle. You want to hold your knife at a 15-degree angle when sharpening it. This will be the best angle you can use while maintaining a good cutting edge on your blade.
If you have a certain type of blade, then you might need to use a different angle than this. If your blade is thicker or heavier, you might have to have a flatter blade (sharpen it at 20 degrees) because a thinner blade might chip with this kind of angle.
Conclusion:
While using the method I mentioned above, make sure you set the angle right. Using a rod to sharpen kitchen knives is an inexpensive and simple way to give your blades the edge they need. All you need is a rod, and you will then be able to sharpen your knives in minutes.
