How to Sharpen Steak Knives

When using a steak knife, you want to get something that will glide effortlessly through the meat. This requires a sharp knife. Can you sharpen serrated steak knives? Let’s look at some of the ways how to sharpen steak knives.

Sharpening rod

Let’s start by looking at one of the most popular ways of sharpening your knives using a sharpening rod. These tools will make it easier to deal with the serrated edges at the base of the blade. Plus, this is a fairly easy sharpening process.  

You will need to use this tool in between the gullets. These are the grooves on the bevel edge of the knife. The first thing you need to do is find the right size of the sharpening rod. It should sit comfortably within the groove.

Then, you will be able to work on sharpening, by running the rod back and forth. If you don’t have a lot of experience sharpening knives, and you want to make sure that you are hitting it from the right angle, you can apply some marker to the inside of the groove.

As you are sharpening it will be removed. Once you have reached an angle of about 20 degrees, it’s time to move on to the next groove. Repeat until all the serrated edges have been sharpened.

Sandpaper

Even though you have sharpened the grooves, your job isn’t over. This process can sometimes cause burrs to form on the knife. You can feel these when you run your fingers along the flat side of the knife. Thankfully, these are fairly easy to remove.

All you need to do is get a piece of fine-grit sandpaper and run it along the knife. Then, you just need to apply some light pressure to remove the burrs. Be careful to avoid using too much, this can damage the knife. Though sandpaper is the preferred option, you can also use the sharpening rod to get rid of the burrs.

Whetstone

Finally, it’s time to sharpen the flat side of the blade. While the sharpening rod can be used for this, most people prefer to opt for a whetstone to sharpen serrated steak knife. To do this, you will need to put the knife on the stone, at a 20-degree angle. Then, you will need to slide the knife across the stone, turning it in a circular manner. Keep going until the tip of the knife falls off the stone.

If this is your first time using a Whetstone, it’s understandable if you are a little nervous. This video will take you through some of the mistakes you should avoid.

Other sharpening methods

It should be noted that this isn’t the only way for you to sharpen your knives. Then, how to sharpen serrated steak knives by other sharpening methods?

First, you can use an electric steak knife sharpener. All you need to do is align your knife properly, then pull it through the device, sharpening serrated steak knives. It will come with an owner’s manual that will guide you on how to sharpen a serrated steak knife. You just need to make sure that you are picking something that is specially designed for serrated blades.

Alternatively, you can use a triangular-shaped knife sharpener. This has been designed specifically to cope with serrated knives. All you need to do is match the grooves with the opening and gently rock it from side to side. This is often best if your knife has thin serrations.

You can also use a square stone. You need to put the knife grooves onto the stone and gently rock it back it forth. You can then use the flat surface of the stone to remove burrs from the flat side of the knife. But this is the most difficult option, which is why it is only used as a last resort.

How often should you sharpen steak knives?

Any cook knows that the key to a happy kitchen is sharp knives. To keep your blade sharp, you'll also need to sharpen it daily. Your knives only need to be sharpened every few months, depending on how often they are used. It also works well with steak knives. If you choose to sand at home, you can use a honing stick or belt. If you have a serrated steak knife, this guide on how to sharpen a serrated knife is helpful.

Caring for your steak knives

While sharpening a knife is relatively easy, it isn’t the only type of maintenance that you will need to employ. You will also need to make sure that you are storing and caring for the knives properly. To do this, there are a few things that you need to keep in mind.

The easiest tip is to put them into a knife block. This serves a few important purposes. First, it is designed to protect the blade. It will stop it from coming to contact with other cutlery items or from getting knocked against the hard kitchen bench. This ensures that it will stay sharper for longer. Plus, it will stop moisture from getting onto the metal blade, which can contribute to rusting. An alternative is to put them onto a magnetic strip.

You should also think about the way that you are washing the knives. You shouldn’t be putting your steak knives in the dishwasher or leaving them to soak in the sink. Instead, you should wash them in warm soapy water. Make sure that you have dried them completely before you put them away. Here are some other tips you can use to keep your knives in excellent condition.

Getting quality steak knives

Lastly, you must be getting some high-quality steak knives. These will be easier to care for. There are lots of things you should be looking for when choosing your knives. First, it’s a good idea to choose something that has a solid blade. Choose a material like stainless steel. It’s also important to pick a good handle, so you feel comfortable cutting with it. While you might need to pay a little more for these knives, they will be able to last for a long time. This list of good steak knives tells you some of the other elements you should be looking for.

Conclusion

No one wants to butcher their meat by trying to cut through it with a blunt knife. The good news is that sharpening your steak knives will be very simple. It will just take a few minutes and requires some basic tools. So, use these tips to get back to effortlessly slicing through a steak.