how to sharpen steak knives | The Best Steak Knives

How to Keep Your Serrated Steak Knives Sharp and Maintained

A serrated steak knife is the most common type of knife used for slicing steaks. It comes with serrated blades and its edge is ridged which looks like a tooth. These ridges are called by others scallops or gullets. The serrated blade is a favorite among steak lovers because it can cut through foods cleanly. It is also commonly used for types of bread like boules, baguettes, and other crusty loaves.

While the best serrated steak knives maintain their sharpness longer, there will be some point that you have to sharpen them. Because of the knife’s serrated blades and ridge edge, sharpening it may be a bit of a challenge compared to a straight-edge type of steak knife. But don’t fret. This article will guide you on how to sharpen serrated steak knives like a pro.

First Things First

In sharpening a serrated steak knife, you will need something more than a traditional knife sharpener. You need to have a dedicated serrated knife sharpener. This kind of sharpener is tapered so that it can fit in between the various size of the knife’s serration. It can also be made of different materials. The most aggressive types of serrated knife sharpeners are made from diamond and carbide. They allow the fewest passes. For finer sharpening, you can opt for ceramic ones. Be ready to spare more time in sharpening a serrated knife when you use this. However, the result is worth it as it can produce a razor-like edge.

How to Sharpen Serrated Steak Knife Like a Pro

Locate the Knife’s Beveled Edge

Serrated knives usually have one side that is flatter than the other. Look for the less flat side which is called the bevel. Note that you should only sharpen the beveled edge so you won’t risk ruining the knife’s cutting surface.

Set the Sharpener in the Gullet

A serrated knife resembles the look of a saw blade which has its high and low points. In the case of the knife, the gullet is the low point. Place your sharpener to the gullet and match the sharpener’s angle with the bevel’s angle as closely as you can. Typically, the angle is more shallow than what you were used to in sharpening other kinds of knives. The serrated knife’s bevels are usually between 13 and 17 degrees compared to a straight blade which has 20 degrees.

Match the Diameter of the Gullet

You’ll definitely appreciate the taper of the serrated knife sharpener in this step. Adjust the sharpener’s location until it ideally fits in between the serrations on the blade. It’s okay if the taper is a bit smaller than the serrations. Just make sure that there is a bit wiggle room as possible in the gullet.

Sharpen the Gullet

Now start sharpening the gullet in short, back-and-forth motions. This movement will create the finest edge in your serrated steak knife. Plus, it makes the knife serve its purpose a little longer.

Inspect the Knife for Burrs

A burr is a small piece or a raised edge that usually remains in a workpiece after a modification process. People who sharpen metal knives usually avoid burrs. But in the case of a serrated knife, the burr is a sign that you have sufficiently sharpened its blade. Carefully run your hand over the flatter edge of the knife and check for any metal shavings—these are the burrs.

Repeat the Above-Mentioned Steps

Even the best serrated steak knives won’t get sharpened perfectly the first time. So, make sure that you go through every step until you notice an improvement.

Clean the Burrs Away

Once you’re satisfied with the sharpness of your serrated knife, don’t forget to remove the burrs from it. Use fine-grit sandpaper or a high-grit polishing block to ensure the knife will be free from burrs. You wouldn’t want your family or guests having some metal shavings on their steaks!

Be Confident in Sharpening Your Serrated Knife

At some point, steak knives go dull and you will need to sharpen them. One reason why the knife’s blades go dull is because of the duration it hits the surface of the cutting board. If you noticed that the serrated knife is not performing as smoothly as it was before, then it’s time to sharpen it. Sharpening a serrated steak knife may be time-consuming but the result is worth it because you allow your loved ones to enjoy their steak effortlessly.

How to Sharpen Serrated Steak Knives

The Best Steak Knives Serrated steak knives December 16, 2019January 29, 2021how to sharpen serrated steak knives, how to sharpen steak knives

How to sharpen a serrated steak knife. A question every steak lover will have thought about when buying and looking after their steak knives. Everyone loves a good, sharp knife. No one, however, loves it more than those who work in the kitchen. A chef’s knife or steak knife can mean the difference between a perfect cut of meat and a hacked up hunk that does not even look appetizing.

Sharpening a straight-edge steak knife blade is a pretty straight forward process. Sharpening a serrated knife, however, can be quite the task if the cook is unfamiliar. Thankfully, there is a process to it that anyone can learn!

What You Will Need

To sharpen a serrated blade steak knife, it requires more than a standard knife sharpener like you find in a good knife set. It requires a tool known as a serrated knife sharpener (now isn’t that easy to remember). These sharpeners, rather than being a single thickness all the way through, are usually tapered to help fit better between different sizes of serration.

These sharpeners can also be made of many different materials. Generally, diamond and carbide sharpeners will be the most aggressive and require the fewest passes. However, for a finer sharpening, the best options are usually ceramic. They will take more time to restore a heavily damaged blade, but they will create a razor-like edge if used properly.

How To Sharpen Serrated Steak Knives

1) Find your beveled edge

Generally, serrated knives will have one side that is flatter than the other. You want to find the less flat side. This is called the bevel. It is important to only sharped the beveled edge – otherwise, you could ruin the cutting surface of the knife.

2) Place the sharpener in the gullet

A serrated knife looks something like a mountain range or a saw blade, with high and low points. The gullet is the low point. This is where you want to place your sharpener. You want to try to match the sharpener’s angle with the bevel’s angle as best you can. It is usually a more shallow angle than you may be used to sharpening your knives at – these bevels are usually between thirteen and seventeen degrees, rather than twenty degrees that you would see on a straight blade.

3) Match the Gullet’s Diameter

This is where the taper of the serrated knife sharpening tool comes into play! Adjust the location of the sharpener until it fits perfectly between the serrations on the blade (the serrations are the high points on the knife). It is not bad if it is slightly smaller, but you want as little wiggle room as possible in the gullet!

4) Sharpen the Gullet

Using short, back – and – forth motions, move the sharpener through the gullet. This is the motion you want to use to create the finest edge and keep your knives around for a long time!

5) Check for Burrs

When working with metal, usually you want to avoid creating a burr. Sharpening a serrated knife, however, is a different story. Run your hand over the flatter edge of the knife and see if you can feel any metal shavings. Feeling burrs means that you have sufficiently sharpened your blade!

6) Repeat, Repeat, Repeat

Repeat the first five steps for every serration. Each time, it is important to check for a burr on the flat edge of the knife to make sure you have made it sufficiently sharp.

7) File Away Those Burrs

Those metal shavings that you filed off come back into play now. You want to remove them with fine-grit sandpaper or a high-grit polishing block. These burrs can catch in food, and no one wants to eat metal shavings!

Closing Thoughts

Sharpening a serrated knife can be a time-consuming task, but in the end, it is well worth it! Having a sharp knife can mean the difference a beautiful and well-prepared meal and a time-consuming and laborious process – or worse, an injury! You can also make the job easier and safer by securing the knife in a vice – this is especially important if you choose to use a “home-brew” type of sharpener like placing emory cloth on a dowel rod.

Below are our recommendations for tools on how to sharpen serrated steak knives.