You're probably familiar with knife sharpening, but you may have also heard the term knife honing. Both are designed to keep your knives in optimal condition for use. The terms are also often used to mean the same thing, even though they technically aren't the same process.
To protect your knives and keep them in good shape and ready for use for as long as possible, you want to make sure they're sharpened and honed as needed. So, what's the difference between these two maintenance tasks, and how often should you be performing them?
Knife sharpening involves removing material from the edge of the knife blade, which is generally done by using a sharpening stone. The knife blade is ground against the stone to take just a small bit of metal away from the sides of the edge, making that edge thinner and sharper. Most people need their knives sharpened around twice per year, if they're using them frequently and caring for them properly.
When you hone a knife you simply maintain an edge that's sharp already. In essence, you're just pushing the blade into alignment again. Folding back the burr is another term for honing, although it's not as commonly used. Honing your knife frequently is important to help keep it sharp for as long as possible. Sometimes people will even hone their knives after every time they use them, which can reduce the frequency of sharpening.
If you're committed to taking good care of quality knives, hone them frequently at home and have them sharpened a couple of times per year by a professional. That way your knives will last a long time and work the way they should. You want them to stay sharp and be ready when you need them. Honing and sharpening are both great ways to keep knives in good shape, and these maintenance tasks work together for the best care of your knives.
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