Sharpening quality steak knives, such as serrated knives, can be a difficult task if you are unfamiliar with the process. In this article, we will give you a few tips on how to properly sharpen a serrated steak knife.
Whether you are a professional chef, or simply a steak lover, a sharp knife is an essential tool in the kitchen. It’s often the difference between a perfect dining experience or a meaty disaster that looks unappetizing. And while everyone loves a sharp knife, not everyone knows how to sharpen one.
The process of sharpening quality steak knives with a straight-edge blade is pretty much straight forward, all you need is something abrasive. Although serrated knives do not need sharpening as often as straight-edge knives, the process is a bit more complicated. The right tools will make all the difference. The good news is; this is a process that anyone can learn. To see what steak knives we recommend, see our serrated steak knives and our straight edge steak knives.
Sharpeners for Quality Steak Knives
Quality steak knives require quality tools. To sharpen a serrated knife, you will need a serrated knife sharpener. For maximum effectiveness, each serration needs to be sharpened individually. This is what makes the process of sharpening serrated knives much harder than sharpening a traditional straight-edge blade.
Depending on the size of the serrations on your knives, these sharpeners come in different sizes and thicknesses. You need to choose the proper sharpener. Choosing the wrong one can do further damage to your knives.
Serrated sharpeners are also made of many different materials. The best option is usually a ceramic sharpener, but you can also find diamond and carbide sharpeners on the market.
How to Sharpen Serrated Steak Knives
1. First things first.
Serrated knives do not look the same from both sides. On serrated knives, one side is generally flatter than the other. The less flat side where you will see the serrations is called the bevel. The first thing you want to do before sharpening a serrated knife is to find the bevel. You should only apply a sharpening tool to the beveled edge, otherwise, you risk ruining the surface of the knife.
2. Place the sharpening rod in the gullet.
The second step requires finding the gullet and placing the sharpening rod in the gullet. The serrations on quality steak knivesare basically like a saw blade. There are high and low points. The gullet is the low point on the serrated blade. This is where you need to place the sharpening rod. You need to make sure you hold the sharpening rod at the same angle as the bevel.
3. Sharpen the Gullet.
While maintaining the bevel angle, push the full length of the rod along the gullet. Use back-and-forth motions. By doing this several times, you are sharpening and creating a fine edge on the gullet.
As we mentioned, each serration needs to be separately sharpened. Once you’ve sharpened the first gullet, move on to the next one, and repeat the process.
4. Check for Burrs.
Once you have sharpened all of the serrations, you need to check for burrs. Flip the knife to the unbevelled or flat side, and gently run your finger over the edge. If there are metal shavings, it means that the material that was scraped hasn’t fallen off yet. Simply swipe the sharpening rod a couple of times on the flat side with no angle, and the burrs will fall off. Never skip this step. These metal burrs can catch in food and can become extremely dangerous if eaten.
5. Wash and dry.
Probably the easiest step, simply wash and dry the knife as usual and get ready for a fine dining experience!
Conclusion
To be able to cut through prime rib steak easily, you must take good care of your serrated knives. Sharpening them is part of that. Although sharpening a serrated knife can be a challenging and time-consuming task, it’s well worth it. Buying a new set of quality steak knives every time your current ones get blunt can get pretty expensive over time.
Think of your steak knives as an investment. Just like any piece of machinery or equipment, a good set of quality steak knives is not cheap, therefore, you need to make sure they are well-maintained, and they will last for an eternity.
Unsure of which is the best steak knife for you? Read our article to help!