Knives: Sharpening

Speaking of knives... Here's how you sharpen them. No need to pay someone else to do it! Just get yourself a whetstone. This can be a simple one or a more complex one with different grades on it. First, rub either water or mineral oil on the whetstone. Once you choose one, use the same thing each time you use the whetstone. don't mix it up.

Start with the coarsest grade. Hold your knife in one hand, pressing down on the tip with the other. Draw the knife across the stone at a 20 degree angle - from the heel to the end. Repeat five or six times, turning the blade on the opposite side each time. Then move to the finer piece of your whetstone and do it again. Then, straighten your knife by moving it across a "steel", which is a long piece of steel with a handle. Last, carefully wash and dry your knife. Now you're ready to go! Keeping your knives sharp is really important. A dull knife can slip and you are more likely to cut yourself.