Knife Skills —

a kitchen guide to using the right knife the right way

This site will give you the confidence to choose and use the knives and other nonelectric sharp tools in your kitchen. It’s also a reference site that you can use as you improve your skills and acquire the tools that will make you a better cook!


Sharpening steel and sharpening diamond steel

These two tools are very similar looking, but play different roles. The sharpening steel is smoother to the touch and is used primarily to make a sharp knife even sharper. It’s advisable to use the steel often, perhaps even every time you use your knives, to help keep your knives sharp. Using a steel is unlike the steps of sharpening your knives, which removes bits of steel to bring back its edge. The sharpening steel actually rearranges and realigns the edge of the blade to keep it sharp. One thing it won’t do is actually sharpen a dull blade. Its function is to make a sharp blade sharper. This process is also called “honing,” and the tool is often called a honing steel.

The sharpening diamond steel is also good for honing a sharp blade. It’s similar to a sharpening steel, but has a diamondcrusted rough surface. Not only will it hone a blade, but it can also sharpen a somewhat dulled blade. Both of these tools are valuable to have.

How do you use these? Fortunately, the technique is the same for both tools. You can either stand the steel on its end, with its tip resting on a cutting board, or hold it by its handle, straight out in front of you. With the knife at a 22½-degree angle, slide the blade along the steel, from the handle end to the tip, at least five times for each side.

Sharpening diamond
Sharpening diamond (top) and sharpening steel (bottom)
Start the blade at the handle end
Start the blade at the handle end, at a 221/2 degree angle
Slowly bring the knife down
Slowly bring the knife down, while moving the blade until the tip is touching the steel
Repeat the steps for the other side of the knife
Repeat the steps for the other side of the knife
Repeat the steps for the other side of the knife
Repeat the steps for the other side of the knife

A bad knife cuts one’s finger instead of the stick.	Portuguese proverb

A bad knife cuts one’s finger instead of the stick.


Man must be sharpened on man, like knife on stone.	African proverb

Man must be sharpened on man, like knife on stone.


The calf isn’t even born yet and there he is sharpening his carving knife.	Klingon proverb

The calf isn’t even born yet and there he is sharpening his carving knife.

Margaret Witter Fuller

Genius will live and thrive without training, but it does not the less reward the watering pot and pruning knife.

Rodney Dangerfield

One time a guy pulled a knife on me... I could tell it wasn’t a professional job — it had butter on it.

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The information in this site is true and complete to the best of our knowledge.
The author disclaims any liability in connection with the use of this information.
All recommendations are made without guarantee.