If you cook frequently you probably understand the value and convenience that comes with having a sharp knife or two in your kitchen. But how do you know what to look for to know when it’s time to get your knife sharpened when needed? Here are three signs you can watch out for, that will tell you if it's time to sharpen your knife.
1. It Gets Caught on Tomato Skin
Tomatoes are pretty soft, and your knife should easily cut through them without catching on the skin. You really don't even need much downward pressure to start a cut on one of these fruits. If your knife is just pushing on the tomato, and takes effort to start slicing, that's a good indication it's not as sharp as it should be. Onions are another produce option to test your knife, as sharp knives should easily slice through the onion's skin.
2. It Won't Cut Through Paper
Holding a piece of paper upright, and slicing down through that paper with your knife, is a good way to see how sharp your knife actually is. If you have a knife that rips the paper, or that slides off the edge instead of cutting through, that knife needs to be sharpened. This is a quick and simple way to gauge the sharpness of any knife, and a standard piece of paper or even a page out of a magazine works well.
3. It Simply Feels Dull to the (Careful) Touch
You want to be familiar with the feel of your knife's blade. Of course, this is something you should do carefully, and with plenty of caution. By very gently running your fingers over the blade edge, you should be able to feel that there is a distinct edge. Don't use much pressure, as you won't need to. Sharp knives just feel sharp. If yours doesn't, and it feels rounded or dull, getting it sharpened is the right choice.
If you are looking for effortless and dependable professional knife sharpening (with loaner knives while you wait), contact us today!
Until next time,
Knifey Wifey