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Bettesworth Construction
cooking safety

How to Sharpen a Kitchen Knife the Right Way

Choose the knife maker’s recommended angle and compatible tool. Then sharpen with a stable setup, controlled technique, and care suited to the blade.

By Bettesworth Construction Team 4 min read
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To sharpen a kitchen knife safely, first check the maker’s guidance for the blade’s angle and compatible tools, then use a stable setup and maintain a consistent angle. A whetstone is a suitable home method for many knives, but there is no one angle, stroke count, or schedule that fits every blade. Routine honing realigns an edge; sharpening removes a little metal to form a new one.

Identify the knife and choose the right method

Look for the knife’s brand and model, then check its packaging or official care page for its sharpening angle and tool recommendations. The maker’s advice may also be available on its website, as Tormek explains.

Published angles differ by maker and model. These figures are examples of manufacturer guidance, not universal standards:

Knife guidance Published angle What it applies to
WÜSTHOF 14°; 10° for Asian-style knives WÜSTHOF knives, per the company’s sharpening guidance.
Zwilling About 15°; 9–12° for specified knives About 15° for Zwilling knives; 9–12° for specified Santoku, Miyabi, and Kramer knives, per Zwilling’s guidance.
Tojiro DP About 10–15° per side The Tojiro DP knife, per Tojiro’s care guidance.

Do not apply a honing angle as though it were a sharpening angle: Victorinox specifies 20° for honing its knives with a steel, which is a separate maintenance instruction.

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Choose a tool that suits the blade

  • Whetstone: A good option for controlled edge restoration if you can hold the maker’s angle consistently and follow the stone’s own preparation directions.
  • Guided manual or electric sharpener: Convenient if you prefer a preset guide, but confirm the device is compatible with your knife. Use controlled pressure; WÜSTHOF cautions that pressing too hard with a pull-through sharpener can remove excess steel.
  • Honing rod or steel: For routine edge maintenance, not for restoring an edge that needs sharpening. Check the tool’s material and hardness against the knife maker’s recommendations.
  • Professional sharpening: Consider it for serrated blades, difficult repairs, or when you are unsure which method is safe for the knife.

For its VG10-core Classic knives, Tojiro recommends a whetstone and warns that a pull-through sharpener can chip the hard core. That caution is specific to those knives; check the maker’s directions for other blades.

Decide whether to hone or sharpen

Honing and sharpening are different jobs. Honing realigns an edge that has become misaligned; sharpening removes a small amount of metal to create a new edge. Hone routinely, and sharpen when honing no longer restores cutting performance.

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A controlled paper slice or a careful cut through a tomato can help reveal a dull edge. Keep fingers away from the blade while testing it. These checks assess cutting performance; they do not replace the knife maker’s care instructions.

Sharpen a knife on a whetstone

Use the steps below as a general approach, while following the instructions for your knife and stone. Stone preparation differs: for example, WÜSTHOF says to submerge its whetstone for about ten minutes and keep it wet, while Zwilling specifies about five minutes for its stone. Those are brand-specific directions, not a universal soaking rule.

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  1. Prepare a stable work area. Follow the stone maker’s wetting or lubrication instructions. Place the stone on a slip-resistant surface so it cannot slide during use.
  2. Set the angle. Use the knife maker’s recommended sharpening angle. Keep it as consistent as you can through each stroke; do not substitute an angle from a different brand or model.
  3. Sharpen one side, then the other. Work along the edge with controlled pressure and an even angle. Keep your fingers clear of the cutting edge. Follow the stone or knife maker’s method rather than relying on a universal stroke count.
  4. Remove the burr. Sharpening can leave a fine burr along the edge. Remove it using the method recommended for the stone and knife; Zwilling includes burr removal in its stone instructions.
  5. Rinse and dry. Wash away sharpening residue and dry the knife, following the maker’s care directions.
  6. Check the result carefully. Use a controlled paper or tomato slice to assess cutting performance, keeping your hands clear of the edge.
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Maintain the edge between sharpening sessions

Use a honing tool suited to the knife, and follow its recommended angle. The right rod depends on the blade: Victorinox says its stamped knives can use a standard steel, while harder forged knives need a diamond, tungsten-carbide, or ceramic honing tool. Zwilling advises that a honing steel should be harder than the blade.

Do not hone serrated knives. Victorinox recommends professional sharpening for larger wavy blades and generally for most users with wavy blades; Zwilling advises professional sharpening or replacement for serrated knives. Check the specific maker’s instructions before choosing what to do.

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When not to sharpen it yourself

  • Serrated or wavy edge: Follow the maker’s instructions; professional sharpening or replacement may be appropriate.
  • Visible damage or an uncertain blade type: Ask the knife maker or a professional sharpener before using a sharpener that might be incompatible.
  • Hard-core knife with a tool warning: Respect the warning. For example, Tojiro advises against pull-through sharpening for its VG10-core Classic range.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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