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Post by kyosa on May 17, 2007 22:23:56 GMT -5
I've noticed that a lot of folks don't keep their food-prep knives very sharp. I think most of us here would consider ourselves fairly competent cooks and I was just wondering how much attention ya'll pay to your cutlery. Do you do your own sharpening? Spouse? Friend? Professional? Whenever we go to Springfield to visit #1 son and daughter-in-law I usually stop in at Bass Pro if the crowds aren't too bad. They have people sharpening knives for about $2/blade using a bench grinder equipped with wheels made from a dense cardboard-like material. I asked about the equipment and the process and found out the wheels and abrasives were for sale there, so I bought a set. Later picked up a cheapie bench grinder from Harbor Freight and swapped out the wheels. One wheel is a slightly coarse grit, the other being very fine. The 'cardboard' wheels don't heat up the steel so the blade's temper isn't hurt. It's one of those things that takes a lot of practice to do right, and I don't use it often enough to be too good at it, but on the rare occasions when I've hit it 'right' it produces a very sharp edge. When the finished blade is drawn over an arm the hairs almost jump off. I just wish I could be consistent with my results. Right now nearly all my knives need some attention. I really dislike trying to use dull knives, so I need to gather everything up and give it a try. So how do you handle your sharpening chores? Do you use those wavy-edged knives that aren't supposed to need sharpening?
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Post by Deleted on May 19, 2007 13:59:22 GMT -5
There's nothing I hate more than a dull knife in the kitchen, but when they're sharp, I tend to leak blood more than usual. I don't know why. I THINK I'm careful, but obviously I'm not. I guess I get in too much of a hurry. I just sharpened all my knives the day before yesterday, after I had squished the bejeezus out of a tomato I was trying to slice, and so far (knock on wood) I haven't cut myself. Yet. I just have one of those Black and Decker tabletop sharpeners that you plug in and the little wheels go round and round and round... It's not the best way to sharpen, I know, but I don't have expensive knives, and it does the job for me. They stay sharp for a while, then when they start squishing or tearing instead of cutting, I get brave and sharpen them again.  ~Lannie |
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Post by angiem2 on May 19, 2007 20:32:51 GMT -5
The knives I use stay pretty sharp, if not I'll get out the sharpener that I bought to go with them from the same company abuot 20 years ago.
But, I hate when I used my mom's knives - I'm not sure they would cut hot butter. So, I felt very handicapped using them.
Good luck on doing the wheel and sharpening your knives.
Angie
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Post by momo on May 19, 2007 21:07:12 GMT -5
That is one of hubby's pet peeves..dull knives. He does a good job taking care of my cutlery.
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Post by ardieonceagain on Jul 31, 2007 8:35:31 GMT -5
I have one of those hand held gizmos from Lehmans catalog that is kept in the knife drawer.
Before using a knife, I always run it through it. I have a number of cheap knives that I bought at Goodwill because they fit well in my hands and I constantly sharpen them.
A dull knife is a dangerous knife!
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Post by Kathy on Jul 31, 2007 8:58:39 GMT -5
Ardie, thank you for mentioning Lehmans. I forgot about Lehmans; I think that's where I may have bought it years ago! I had a sharpener and in the move I misplaced/lost it. So about 2/3 of my knives are dull.  I'm going to order another sharpener today! |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 31, 2007 9:47:58 GMT -5
I have one of those handheld knife and scissors sharpeners that works okay for me. I think I got it at WM - it's yellow and has a guard to keep overzealous people (*coughlikemecough*) from cutting off all their fingers at the knuckle. My knives aren't expensive because I have a bad habit of using them for everything - box opener, screwdriver  , letter opener...let's see...what else...oh, yeah - cutting and chopping food  I can't stand to use a dull knife. It's dangerous! /Via |
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Post by bbird on Jul 31, 2007 11:34:48 GMT -5
Lol, I like sharp knives, but I don't like when dh sharpens them. He uses the grinding wheel like they are butcher knives! Which means my seragated knifes loose their umm..seragetedness! They are sharp though.
I have a set that he is not allowed to touch, but I do notice they are not as sharp as they once were. I'll have to look for a sharpener though, since I don't have a knife sharpener.
This reminds me that those electric can openers that have those two "cracks in the back are really knife sharpeners! I don't have a electric can opener anymore. I threw it out because I hated it, and always used a hand can opener, but I just read this in a magazine and had no idea it was a knife sharpener too, lol.
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Post by starfire on Aug 4, 2007 17:37:09 GMT -5
 oops I don't know when the last time I sharpened mine. I have pampered chef knives I roll them across the sharpener sometimes. I haven't noticed them being dull though. I was cutting bologna a few weeks ago, I cut my finger, I called my mother over here to finish slicing the bologna. I don't think I need it any sharpner. 
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