A sharp knife makes the job of cutting and slicing easier whereas a dull one makes it harder and is unsafe as well. Without any chips or rolled edges, it is always safe and effective.
As a hunter and cook, I make sure my knives are sharp or else I make it sharp and then proceed with my tasks. But how do I know exactly if they are sharp enough for a particular task? Well, there are 4 ways I do it and that’s what I’m going to talk discuss here. Pick any of these methods and you’ll know the sharpness of your knife.
Method 1: Paper Techniques
It is one of the effective ways you can try right now and get to know the sharpness in a minute.
1. Using a printed paper
Take a piece of paper and try cutting it perpendicularly. If you are able to cut it without any interruption, the knife is sharp and it can cut other things smoothly. If that’s not the case, it’ll need some sharpening.
2. Use the paper tube
Get a paper tube, place it on a table without any support and then try cutting it. If your knife can make it in half, your knife is extremely sharp.
3. Using Tissue paper
Take 2-3 papers and fold them in quarters and then place them on your cutting board. Now, try cutting it using a regular technique like rocking motion and notice how well it was cut. If you don’t have any unusual shape in the tissue, it is a clear sign of a sharp knife.
Using a paper to test knife sharpness is one of my favorite techniques because it provides almost the accurate result in a quick time and I don’t have to spend anything.
Method 2: Use sharpener tester
For precise data without any guesswork, you can use any reliable BESS certified sharpness tester that provides results in minutes. You can get a decent one in a budget range of $100-$200.
Here’s what you need to do:
- Place a wire across the scale.
- Put some pressure down until it gets cut.
- Notice the result. The lower the number, the sharper the blade is.
To know exactly which number your knife needs to get to get the tag as “sharp”, I would recommend you take the manual of your sharpener and you’ll get the data.
It is one of my preferred methods for testing whenever I’m home because I don’t carry it outside because it is slightly heavy.
Method 3: The Fingernail Test
For this method, all you need to do is, hold the knife in your dominant hand and place it in your other hand’s fingernail and then, try slicing it gently. If it gets sliced effortlessly, there is no need to sharp the blade.
When I don’t have access to a paper or am not home, I just follow this trick to the sharpness and it provides a decent idea about it.
Method 4: Real World Test
Using the above techniques provides a good idea on how sharp the knife is; however, putting it in a real-world use will give an even better idea about it.
Just take a regularly used food like a tomato or an onion and try cutting it as usual. If you don’t find any difficulty cutting it and the blade properly glides through it, there is no need for any sharpening for your knife. If you can’t do it, you’ll have to sharpen it right away.
While preparing food at home or work, I’ve had this feeling of a dull blade multiple times and I just pause it whatever I do and try to sharpen my blades as soon as possible.
How do I sharpen my knives?
These are some of my favorite methods to sharpen a knife.
- Using a whetstone: A reliable dual-sided whetstone provides an option to sharpen and refine the blade within a few minutes.
- Using a guided system: This device allows you to sharpen both serrated and non-serrated blades with minimal efforts but it’ll be slightly costlier than a whetstone. I recommend getting a Lansky Knife Sharpening System as it costs on the lower side and provides good value for money.
- Using a sandpaper: Similar to a whetstone, you can use it to improve the blade sharpness and it’ll cost a small amount. Beginners may find it difficult to follow this method but If you have sharpened the blade before, you’ll have no issues.
I have explained using all of these methods while teaching how to sharpen a pocket knife and a kitchen knife in dedicated posts. Do check it out If you are interested to know more.
FAQs
1. Can I use WD-40 to sharpen knives?
No. Using this liquid spray is not at all recommended to sharpen any knife. I’ve also previously mentioned this in one of my posts.
2. Does aluminum foil sharpen knives?
No. It is actually softer than the blade steel and it’ll not act as a knife sharpener.
3. How to sharpen a knife cheaply?
Using a whetstone is one of the cheapest and effective ways to sharpen a knife. You can get a decent model for as low as $50 and it’ll last for at least a couple of years.
4. What are common mistakes when sharpening knives?
Common mistakes include; using an incorrect angle or inconsistent angles, putting too much pressure on the blades, sharpening too often, ignoring burrs, not honing regularly etc.
