When it comes to buying knives, the old advice of “you get what you pay for” doesn’t always ring true. There are a few ways to test your knife before purchasing them to make sure they’re sharp enough for your needs and standards.
So if you’re in the market to get best professional butcher knife set or other types of cutting tools as best vegetable choppers, meat slicer, read on! This article will be a great guideline for you to do all these tests yourself. In case it’s time you actually purchase a set, you’ll know exactly which ones will be right for the job. Ready? Let’s go!
Why Is Knife Sharpening Essential?
Knife sharpening is important because it protects against accidents, cuts better, and gives cooks more control so they can do things like mincing herbs or slicing meats.
A knife that is well taken care of has an edge that will not cause as much friction on cutting materials as a blunt blade would. This saves you much more time, effort, and money as well.
Knife sharpening can help you maintain control over slicing products. It’s hard to apply enough pressure when cutting with a dull blade, and the results will just be unpredictable. You’re more likely to slice through your hand than to make a nice and clean cut on an onion!
7 Ways To Test Knife Sharpness Safely
An easy way to know whether you need to sharpen your knife or not is by using these simple tips:
Paper
The best way to test for knife sharpness is to use paper. Run the blade of your knife through a piece of paper – if it cuts cleanly without dragging, then you know that your knife is indeed sharp.
On the other hand, if there’s resistance or the cut leaves an uneven edge on the paper, chances are you need to sharpen it up!
Arm Hair
Hold the arm-hair taut and then hold one end with one hand and use the other hand to slide the blade against it. If it cuts through cleanly, congratulations! You’ve got yourself a good edge on this particular blade.
Fingernail
To test for sharpness, try the fingernail test. Take your knife and lightly tap its edge on a fingernail (it doesn’t matter which one).
A sharp blade will make contact with your nail without needing much pressure or sliding around. The less pressure you need to apply, the sharper the knife is.
Sharpie
Instead of using your fingernail, you use a Sharpie to test if the knife is sharp. In order to achieve this, follow these instructions: hold it at 45° angle and tap the edge against its body.
If it bites onto the Sharpie, congratulations! That knife is ready for some chopping action without the concern of injury or dullness.
Onion
Another way to examine the sharpness of your knife is to grab an onion simply. Make a vertical cut lengthwise on the onion and lay it flat. Cut horizontally with your knife across the layer and feel the resistance with your finger against the onion skin with each cut.
The more easily it goes through the onion, the sharper it is.
Tomato
Cutting through a tomato without crushing it is one of the best ways to test how sharp your knife really is.
If you can slice effortlessly through the skin, cut easily into its flesh, and separate with next to no risk of squirting juices all over yourself, then your knife is in great shape!
Visual Inspection
For those with good eyesight, a visual inspection can help you determine whether a knife is sharp or blunt. All it takes is looking at the blade’s edge to tell if it needs honing or not. If it’s dull, the area won’t reflect as much light as the sharper one.
Tips for Keeping Your Knife Sharp
Carefully caring for your knife can help you save money and extend its life. You should avoid using it if it is too dull, as this will only cause more damage to the blade overtime.
Instead of having to throw away a blunt tool that still works, try sharpening or honing your knives regularly with these tips below!
Use A Magnetic Knife Strip
If you want to clear your countertops of any unnecessary clutter and store all your knives in one place, a magnetic knife strip is a way to go. The holder keeps them securely for easy access while hanging on the wall!
Store In A Knife Block
Instead of shoving your knives into a drawer (and risk cutting yourself in the future), purchasing a wooden knife block would do the trick.
This useful kitchen applicant is equipped with different slots that can store various knives, easily accessible and safely stored.
Protect With A Knife Guard
Keeping your knife’s edges safe is essential to maintain their sharpness. One of the best ways to keep them from going dull and protect yourself at the same time, is by using a knife guard!
Sharpening Tools
There are many tools from the manufacturer that make it easy to sharpen knives. At first, it could be a bit challenging for some, but after learning and following the manufacturer’s guidelines, sharpening your knife could be your new hobby.
Use The Right Cutting Board
Investing in a suitable cutting board will also prolong the usability of knives. A wood-like maple or plastic material works best because they have a consistent hardness, making sure your knife’s edge does not become dull over time.
Is It Important to Sharpen Your Knife?
As important as sharpness tests are, you also need to sharpen your knife when it becomes dull. You can either do this yourself or pay a professional to sharpen it.
Some people prefer to use electric knife grinders and whetstones that are designed specifically for knives. Doing so will help them best hone their skills as well as their knives, especially for their best fishing fillet knife in their collection.
Many others would rather hire professionals with years of experience in maintaining kitchen tools like these. The decision to do it in a hands-on manner or not is your call after all.
Final Thoughts
Knife sharpening is essential for any home cook. Your knife will become dull over time, and this means that you’ll have to put in more effort when cutting food. It can be dangerous if the blade slips off of what you are trying to cut.
If making the most out of the best fillet knife for fish is exactly what you want, then the seven great ways to test your knives before deciding whether they need sharpening are for you.
It also included some tips on keeping your knife as sharp as possible, so it doesn’t get too dull before its next use! Do these methods work well for you? Let us know below!
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