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How to sharpen a stainless steel knife?
How do you sharpen a knife?
How do you sharpen a whetstone?
Can diamond stones be used to sharpen stainless steel knives?
The best way to sharpen a stainless steel knife is on diamond stones. The industrial diamonds cut the stainless steel quicker and more effectively than other abrasives. Stainless steel knives can also be sharpened on whetstones, but your grit selection should be more aggressive for the first stone.
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- Overview
- Using a Whetstone
- Using a Honing Rod (Sharpening Stee
- Using a Coffee Mug or Sandpaper
- Using a Stone
- Using a Coffee Mug
Give your dull blades a razor-sharp edge with a honing rod, a whetstone, and more
Whether you’re a culinary whiz or especially outdoorsy, your knives probably endure a fair amount of wear. Not only is a dull blade a challenge to cut with, it can be dangerous: having to work harder to slice through whatever you’re cutting means you’re more likely to cut yourself. Fortunately, it’s easy to hone and grind a knife yourself with traditional sharpening tools like a whetstone or a honing rod, or with less traditional tools like a mousepad, sandpaper, or even a coffee mug. Keep reading to learn how!
Grind the blade by dragging it against a
to hone the blade after every usage. This will limit the number of times you need to sharpen the blade.
In a pinch, use a ceramic coffee mug to grind your blade: flip the mug over and drag the blade against the rough edge of the mug’s bottom.
Always wipe down your blade after grinding or honing to eliminate any steel residue.
Apply honing oil or water to your stone, if appropriate.
Check your manufacturer's guidelines to see if your
needs to be lubricated, and with what. Depending on what type of sharpening stone you’re using, it may need to be lubricated with oil or water, or with nothing at all. Cover the whole stone with the lubricant and keep it wet while you sharpen your knife.
Lubrication will make it easier for the blade to pass over the stone, as well as keep the steel shavings (the by-product of sharpening) from clogging the stone's pores.
, you can use mineral oil, vegetable oil, or window cleaner as a substitute.
Sharpen your knife at the same angle it was previously sharpened at. To find out the angle of your blade, ask the manufacturer of your knife or inquire at a knowledgeable knife shop to determine what angle is appropriate for your knife. If you have to make a gut decision, choose an angle of 10° - 30° per side.
Hold the honing rod in your non-dominant hand with the rod facing away.
Grip the handle, making sure to keep the rod at a comfortable angle facing away from your body. Keep the rod tip elevated above the rod handle.
If you’re new to honing, consider placing the tip of the rod against the surface of a cutting board or work table for stability. It’s slower than holding the rod out in the air, but much easier.
Honing and sharpening aren’t the same thing. A
realigns the metal in a blade, massaging small nicks, indentations, and flat spots away.
regularly delays the need to use a whetstone. The less you use your whetstone, the longer your knives will thrive.
Lay sandpaper out flat, or place a mug upside down.
If you're using sandpaper to sharpen your knife, pick the finest grit sandpaper you can and tape it flat on top of a cutting board or work table (or any surface you wouldn't mind damaging with your blade). You can also use a coffee mug: start by placing it upside down so that its coarse bottom is right-side up.
If you want to sharpen your knife without any fancy equipment, a coffee mug can serve as a surprisingly effective sharpening tool in a pinch. The ceramic material of a mug is a material coarse enough to get good results.
In fact, some honing rods even use ceramic material to keep a blade honed in between sharpenings!
You can also lay your sandpaper down atop a mousepad, which will prevent it from slipping.
Sweep each blade edge across the grit 20 times at a 20° angle.
such as a whetstone, water stone, or oil stone
Sharpen a Knife With a Stone
How to Sharpen and Maintain a Serrated Knife
Chop Food Like a Pro
This article was co-authored by
and by wikiHow staff writer,
Ollie George Cigliano is a Private Chef, Food Educator, and Owner of Ollie George Cooks, based in Long Beach, California. With over 20 years of experience, she specializes in utilizing fresh, fun ingredients and mixing traditional and innovative cooking techniques. Ollie George holds a BA in Comparative Literature from The University of California, Berkeley, and a Nutrition and Healthy Living Certificate from eCornell University. This article has been viewed 2,650,997 times.
- Gather the Necessary Tools. Before you begin, gather the necessary tools for sharpening your stainless steel knife. This includes a sharpening stone or whetstone, honing oil or water (depending on the type of stone), a damp cloth, and a towel or cutting board to protect the surface.
- Prepare the Sharpening Stone. If you are using a whetstone, soak it in water for about 10-15 minutes to ensure it is properly saturated. If you are using an oil stone, apply a few drops of honing oil to the surface of the stone and spread it evenly.
- Determine the Sharpening Angle. Identify the angle at which your knife’s edge is sharpened. Most stainless steel knives have a bevel angle between 15 and 20 degrees.
- Secure the Knife. Place a damp cloth or towel on a stable surface to prevent the stone from slipping. Hold the knife securely with your dominant hand and position it on the stone, ensuring the blade’s edge is in contact with the stone at the desired sharpening angle.
Apr 1, 2023 · How do I sharpen a stainless steel knife without a sharpening stone? Plenty of options are available besides sharpening stones to sharpen stainless steel knives. You can use sandpaper or electric sharpeners that work even better than the sharpening stones. How do I maintain my stainless steel knife after sharpening?
Sep 10, 2023 · Head over to your nearest hardware store and grab some sandpaper ranging from 60 to 1000 grit. You’ll need a large range to effectively sharpen a stainless steel blade. Place the sandpaper on a flat surface and bring the knife towards it. By doing this you have a lot more control when angling the blade.
Oct 12, 2017 · 1. How to Sharpen With a Whetstone. Our favorite way to sharpen a blade is to use a whetstone—a rectangular block that works almost like sandpaper, helping to straighten and refine the cutting...
Aug 12, 2024 · Learn when to use a honing steel and how to use a whetstone, and also, how often you should sharpen a knife to keep it on the cutting edge. Experts share how to sharpen a knife at home, including the pros and cons of different methods.
