How to Hone the Edge of a Knife

Featured Pro/Author: Curtis Stone Tags: hone, hone-knives, knife, knife-blade, knife-honing, knife-sharpening, sharpen-knives, technique, techniques, tools

Learn how to safely and effectively care for your essential kitchen tools with Curtis Stone's trade secret on how to hone a knife.

Step 1: Keep It Sharp

A sharp knife is a safe knife; most people are cut when using a dull knife. Two ways to sharpen: do it your self or take it to a knife store.
Step 2: Honing Steel

Sometimes confusingly referred to as sharpening steel this tool does not sharpen your knife, it hones it---keeps the edge straight.
Step 3: Honing

Place the near edge at the top of the steel and moving the blade backward and down at a 20º angle. Repeat this 7 or 8 times for each blade side.
Step 4: Diamond Steel

This is your sharpener. A steel with little flecks of diamond this device sharpens the blade. Use it in the same fashion as your honing steel. Remember to hone after sharpening.

Steps Items

Step 1: Keep It Sharp
A sharp knife is a safe knife; most people are cut when using a dull knife. Two ways to sharpen: do it your self or take it to a knife store.

Step 2: Honing Steel
Sometimes confusingly referred to as sharpening steel this tool does not sharpen your knife, it hones it--- keeps the edge straight.

Step 3: Honing
Place the near edge at the top of the steel and moving the blade backward and down at a 20º angle. Repeat this 7 or 8 times for each blade side.

Step 4: Diamond Steel
This is your sharpener. A steel with little flecks of diamond this device sharpens the blade. Use it in the same fashion as your honing steel. Remember to hone after sharpening.