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A sharp knife not only makes cooking a more pleasant experience, but believe it or not a sharp knife is actually safer. It will slice easily and prevent you from having to saw and hack your way through your prep work. Never cut on a hard surface; always use a cutting board or prep table specifically designed for cutting. Avoid cutting frozen items or bones, as they will take the edge off of your knives. And remember to clean your knives thoroughly before and after sharpening.
Smith’s Sure-Sharp. (6106)
• Sharpening Method: This sharpener uses two techniques, tungsten carbide blades and ceramic sticks. If your knife is really dull, start on the tungsten carbide blades to get it back into shape. Then go to the sticks in the slide mechanism. As an alternative, the ceramic sticks can also be used in stationery holes that are provided.
• Price: around $15
• Review: The slide mechanism on this sharpener takes a little getting used to, but it is still effective. As a freebie, there is a chart for weights and measures is imprinted on the hand guard. For more information visit www.smithabrasives.com.
AccuSharp Garden Sharp. (6100)
• Sharpening Method: There are two tungsten carbide blades housed inside the handle.
• Price: around $12
• Review: In the old days, you sharpened a garden tool with a flat file that brings back not-so-pleasant memories of knicked-up knuckles. This sharpener is similar to its cousin the Tool and Knife Sharpener, but it’s specifically designed for garden tools that typically have one cutting side instead of two. It works great on shovels, trowels, hoes, etc, and it will make your yard-work a much more pleasant experience. Keep it near your gardening tools so you can dress up the edges before every use. For more information visit www.accusharp.com.
WÜSTHOF Knife-Life Sharpener. (6110)
• Sharpening Method: A set of carbide and ceramic sharpeners.
• Price: around $25
• Review: Neat ergonomic design with skid-resistant rubber feet. Use the carbide side if your knife needs drastic help, or use the ceramic side if you just need to touch up an edge. There’s also a convenient scissor sharpener as well—it is the fastest and best I’ve seen and is probably worth the price alone. For more information visit www.wusthof.com.
Chef’s Choice Diamond Hone Knife Sharpener, Model 460 (6108)
• Sharpening Method: 100% diamond abrasives in two stages
• Price: around $30
• Review: When I first used this gadget, it sounded like I was sawing a brick in half. In actuality, I was correcting the angle of the knife edge on the first stage. The second stage honed it to razor sharpness. Conveniently, this sharpener works on serrated blades too. For more information visit www.edgecraft.com.
Smith’s Diamond Sharpening Steel. (6111)
• Sharpening Method: diamond honing
• Price: around $30
• Review: To be honest with you, I haven’t always been a fan of sharpening steels. Until now. This sharpener is a hybrid of a sharpening steel and a diamond wet stone. Just put the plastic, nonslip tip on a surface and make alternating slices at approximately 23°. With just a little practice, you will soon be able to recondition knife edges to razor sharpness. For more information visit www.smithabrasives.com.
J.A. Henckels 10-inch Diamond Sharpening Steel. (6098)
• Sharpening Method: This sharpener is made of high-carbon steel with a coating of diamond dust.
• Price: around $45
• Review: This tool is also a new-and-improved version of a sharpening steel and quickly hones and sharpens knives. For more information visit www.zwilling.com.
Smith’s Diamond Sharpening Stone FINE (6104)
• Sharpening Method: A multilayer, diamond impregnated bench stone
• Price: around $46
• Review: Okay, I admit it, I’m a little old-fashioned and like to use a sharpening stone sometimes. The good news is that this stone is light-years away from the old stones I had as a kid. The diamond-impregnated surface makes short work of honing any knife blade. So if you’re a traditionalist, you’ve got to give this stone a try. For more information visit www.smithabrasives.com.
Smith’s Diamond Glass Saver
• Sharpening Method: Diamond impregnated rod
• Price: around $11
• Review: Just when you think you’ve seen every gadget known to mankind, another one comes out. Thank goodness. This little gem will help with that pesky nick on your favorite wine glass or piece of china that got bumped in the dishwasher. It won’t remove the nick, but it will smooth out the sharp edges. For more information visit www.smithabrasives.com.
