How To Perfectly Sharpen Dull Kitchen Knives With The Help Of A Home Essential

Dull kitchen knives can be a hazard and a headache in any home. They can leave your fruits and vegetables looking smashed, rather than perfectly sliced. But before you rush to grab yourself a new set, you might want to try a bit of at-home sharpening or honing for your kitchen knives to get them cutting like new. With this simple trick using a Sharpie, you can easily ensure a consistent cut that will leave even the most professional chefs a little jealous.

Now, you might be wondering how something so simple as a permanent marker can help with your sharpening. By using a Sharpie, you can visualize the angles at which you are sharpening your knives. It allows you to see exactly where you have already sharpened and what areas need a bit more work. When the sharpening stone makes contact with the markings, it will grind most of it off, allowing you to visualize the areas that have been worked. It ensures that you get a consistent angle on your knives during each sharpening without over-grinding your knives, reducing their chances of chipping, and overall prolonging their lifespan.

While this trick can be a great way to grant a bit of accuracy from your knife sharpening, it's not without certain drawbacks. For those new to sharpening or looking for more precision, a guided sharpening system might be a better option. The Work Sharp Benchstone Knife Sharpener uses fixed angles, making it easier to achieve professional-level results with minimal effort. While they may be more expensive upfront, they're a worthwhile investment if you frequently sharpen knives or want to eliminate the trial-and-error process.

To get yourself started, you are going to need a finishing stone, a Sharpie, and your dull kitchen knives. There are plenty of alternatives to using a whetstone so don't fret if you don't have one on hand. Start by coloring one side of the blade with a thick line on the edge using your Sharpie. Your blade may employ a series of small angles to get the perfect cut and you can achieve this by filling in your line farther behind the edge. This will create better visibility when sharpening, allowing you to adjust the angle as you sharpen. Let your marking completely dry before you begin to sharpen, otherwise it will wash off with the water. Wet your knife a bit and give it a consistent pass over your stone.

As you continue to pass your knife over the stone, you will notice that the lines you create with your marker will begin to wear away. You can keep running your knife over the stone, giving your blade that consistent sharp edge. If you find it hard to visualize your sharpening, you can reapply the Sharpie; just ensure that it has time to dry again before you continue sharpening. Once you're happy with the angle that you've achieved, dab a bit of acetone on a cloth and give your knife a good cleaning. This should eliminate any remaining markings that are left — just avoid using a knife block after giving them a fresh wash.