Straight, Serrated, Hollow Edge: Here’s How To Sharpen Steak Knives

If you’re the type of person who takes their steak seriously, then you know the importance of a sharp steak knife. A dull steak knife is a nightmare to cut with — but thanks to the correct sharpening techniques, you can restore the sharpness of your steak knives in no time.

In this post, we’ve put together a comprehensive list of tools and techniques you’ll need to make your steak knife set sharp as new. We’ll show you how to sharpen three different types of steak knives. After following this guide, you’ll have steak knives you can look forward to using. Let’s get started!

Why You Need To Sharpen Your Steak Knives

Sharpening is different from honing, which is done to realign a knife’s edge so it cuts better. Honing helps to keep a knife in top condition, but only sharpening can restore damaged or dulled blades by removing metal and creating a new edge. Properly sharpening your steak knives offers many benefits such as improved safety and better performance with even less pressure required.

Materials Needed

To sharpen steak knives, you’ll need a sharpening stone and honing steel. When selecting a sharpening stone, look for one made of medium-to-hard grit that can be used wet or dry. This grit level is ideal for sharpening steak knives since it’s less likely to damage blades than softer stones. Honing steels come in round or diamond-coated varieties and should be selected based on the type of knife you have: straight edge, serrated, or hollow edge. If you are using a whetstone method, you’ll also need honing oil or water to keep the stone lubricated as you sharpen the knife. An electric knife sharpener can also be a convenient and efficient tool for sharpening certain steak knives.

Sharpening Straight Edge Steak Knives

Using a Sharpening Stone

A sharpening stone is an effective tool for honing and sharpening your straight edge steak knives. It’s easy to use, doesn’t require electricity, and can be used repeatedly on various blades without having to replace or sharpen them frequently. We recommend a diamond sharpening stone for optimal results.

Begin by lubricating the stone with a few drops of water and pressing the flat side of your knife against it at an angle between 20 and 30 degrees. Move the blade back and forth across the stone in slow, steady strokes until you feel it beginning to take shape, and then switch sides and repeat until you reach your desired level of sharpness. Rinse off any metal particles afterward to ensure your newly sharpened knife is safe to use.

Using a Honing Steel

A honing steel is an excellent option for keeping your straight edge steak knives in tip-top shape, too. This method is also easy to use and doesn’t require any water or electricity like some other tools and techniques. Simply press the blade against the honing steel at an angle between 20 and 30 degrees, always making sure to angle it away from yourself. Apply light pressure and slide the blade back and forth until you feel that your knife has been properly sharpened. Switch sides and repeat until done!

Using an Electric Sharpener

An electric sharpener is ideal for those who don’t have much experience sharpening knives. All you have to do is press your straight edge steak knives against different slots on the machine while guiding them around in circles until they’re sharp again. Make sure to check manual instructions as they will vary depending on the model. It’s also important to always guide the blade away from yourself to avoid any potential accidents or injuries.

Sharpening Serrated Steak Knives

Using a Sharpening Stone

To sharpen your serrated steak knives with a stone, begin by lubricating it with water before placing the blade on top of the stone at an angle between 15 and 20 degrees. Move back and forth across each indentation at slightly different angles in order to sharpen each one individually. When doing this, make sure not to apply too much pressure so as not to damage your blade. Rinse off your knives after sharpening to make sure they’re clean and safe to use.

Using an Electric Sharpener

With an electric sharpener, carefully press each indentation of your serrated edge steak knife against different slots on the machine, moving it around in circles until they’re all sharp again. Read through the instructions to check if the model has any specific steps or safety tips to follow.

Sharpening Hollow Edge Steak Knives

Using a Honing Steel

A honing steel should never be used on dull blades as this will only cause further damage, but it can be used successfully on hollow edge steak knives if done properly. Start by pressing each indentation of your steak knife against the honing steel at an angle close enough so both edges make contact but far enough away so there’s no risk of cutting yourself. Move it back and forth until you’ve finished honing, making sure to do both sides of the knife.

Using an Electric Sharpener

An electric sharpener also works well to sharpen a hollow edge steak knife. All you have to do is press your knife against different slots on the machine while guiding it around until it’s sharp again. Again, make sure to check the model’s instruction manual to ensure you’re following all the appropriate steps and safety guidelines.

Maintenance Tips

It’s important to ensure that your steak knives stay in top condition after having been sharpened. Here are some tips for keeping them sharp:

Cleaning the Knives

Use hot soapy water and soft cleaning cloths for thorough yet gentle cleaning when you wash your steak knives. Avoid using anything abrasive like steel wool that could damage the blades.

Storing the Knives

Storing steak knives correctly is key to ensuring their longevity and sharpness. When not in use, store them in knife blocks or wooden cases where they’ll be protected from moisture or rust.

Professional Knife Sharpening

If you find yourself without the time or tools to sharpen your own kitchen knives, there are options out there like local services and mail-in sharpening services that can do it for you quickly and professionally. These options could be expensive but they offer consistently good results.

Conclusion

Although sharpening steak knives at home can seem intimidating at first, following these steps can help ensure that your knives are sharpened correctly and safely. With the right tools and some patience, you’ll have a set of steak knives you can be proud of and will provide you with many enjoyable meals. So get out there and start sharpening your knives to enjoy a fantastic steak dinner at home!