The kitchen knife that you are using is only as sharp as a marshmallow. You cannot even butter your toast without turning the exercise into a war zone. That’s where knife sharpening services enter. You can say many varied things about knives: they are sharp and cut to the chase. When dulled, knives are like the new interns: enthusiastic but ineffective.
Professional knife sharpening does not cater to wannabe cooks or culinary superstars. Instead, it is for those tired of hacking away at a tomato with a knife, as if it were some sort of wood-chopping competition. Let me tell you-slicing your vegetables with precision feels pretty satisfying.
You think the solution would be to yank out that dusty old sharpener you’ve got in the bottom drawer. Well, don’t fall for it. That’d be like crossing a rough sea in a homemade kayak instead of a yacht. Professionals use machines and whetstones, sounding like hummingbirds blending in a mixer. The pros will put an edge on your knife sharper than your grandmother’s at Thanksgiving.
A sharp knife is always a safe knife, someone once said. Of course, this sounds a little weird, like saying that a hungry bear would be a friendly one, but this is fact. This is because it takes more force to push a dull blade through whatever you’re cutting; hence, this increases the chances of the knife slipping. And a slip can mean an impromptu band-aid party.
You must have wondered who it is that magically transforms dull blades into slicers. It’s like modern-day wizards; they just switch wands out for grindstones. Bob down the street will sharpen everything you own, from your grandmother’s antique knife to that bizarre boning blade you bought during that online midnight shopping spree.
He will look at it, smile, and say with a knowing nod, “This little one has potential!” Bob has seen fancy knives, vintage knives, and those that were more for display than actual cutting. Each time he lets you in on a secret, you’ll feel like you’re part of some elite club of chefs. Spoiler: the right angle and patience-all that stands in the way of even a dull edge.
Sharpening your knives is one of those things not everyone does, but can’t seem to get out of. It’s like finding pizza after only eating toast for years. It’s like finding pizza after only eating toast for years. Carrots? No problem. Onions? Don’t even get me started.
You might even find it therapeutic, if you are the hands-on kind. To foodies, the sound of stone on steel and sparks flying is almost a lullaby. Knife sharpeners don’t sharpen mere tools. They give life to blades. He knows every blade has a story or character.
Of course, it’s not a child’s play. YouTube may have a quick tutorial, but you go ahead with caution. You might just wind up with something much better suited to beef than butter. If you never carved pumpkins for Halloween, your masterpiece would be no more than a mess.
So go ahead and dig out those poor knives and give the blades the spa day they so desperately need. If you need any help, call a knife sharpening company to save you from a lifetime of ragged blades and make your cooking so much more agreeable. Keep your knives and friends close, so the saying goes.