If you’re wondering how to sharpen a serrated knife, or if you even need to sharpen it in the first place, this article has you covered.
Serrated knives are a culinary delight. They’re able to slice through crusty bread and soft cakes with ease without crushing them in the process.
If you’ve ever attempted to do any of these activities with an ordinary chef’s knife, you know how aggravating it can be when they don’t perform as expected.
If that weren’t enough already, serrated blade knives deserve another feather in their caps because not only do they last much longer than most other types of blades (even high-quality stainless steel), but one rarely needs sharpening either.
Do serrated knives need to be sharpened?
The quick answer is no, most serrated knives do not need to be sharpened. The blades are usually made of harder steel and designed in a way that prevents them from becoming dull quickly.
That said, over time the blade’s teeth will start to wear down, and eventually they’ll need to be sharpened. If you’re unsure of whether or not your knife needs sharpening, try cutting a piece of paper with it. If the blade can’t make clean cuts through the paper, it’s time for a tune-up.
How to sharpen a serrated knife
Now that you know your knife needs sharpening, let’s take a look at how to do it properly:
If you have a sharpening stone, you can use that to sharpen your blade. If not, you can use a honing rod or diamond sharpener instead.
The best way to sharpen a serrated knife is to lay it flat on the sharpening surface and then use gentle back-and-forth motions while applying pressure. You don’t want to apply too much pressure, as this could damage the blade. Be sure to sharpen all of the teeth on the blade, and don’t forget the points at the top and bottom of each tooth.
Read More: How To Polish Knife Blade Scratches: 6 Simple Methods
Sharpen using a ceramic honing rod
If you don’t have a sharpening stone, but do have a ceramic honing rod, you can use that too. Simply lay the blade flat on a table and take one end of the rod in each hand. Apply gentle pressure to the blade while gently sliding it back and forth across the surface of the rod for about 5 minutes.
The length of time it will take to sharpen your serrated knife depends on its size and whether or not you’ve used it recently. If you haven’t used your knife in months or years, then expect to spend less time sharpening it than if it had been regularly used within the past month or so.
You can also use a diamond sharpener to sharpen serrated knives.
Testing the sharpness
Once you’re finished sharpening your knife, test its edge by cutting into a piece of bread or tomato. If the knife still isn’t slicing through the food as easily as you’d like, you may need to sharpen it again.
Serrated knives are a fantastic addition to any kitchen. Not only do they make slicing through food a breeze, but they’re also much more durable than other types of blades. If you take care of your serrated knives and keep them sharp, they’ll last for years.
How to sharpen a serrated knife – final thoughts
The easiest way to keep your knives in top shape is by learning how you can sharpen them yourself.
There are many different ways to sharpen your kitchen knives, but if you have a serrated knife it may take more careful attention. This is because the angle you sharpen the knife at is more important with a serrated blade.
You can also use a honing rod to help keep your blades aligned and razor-sharp. If you have a hard time keeping the angle consistent while sharpening with a honing rod, then you may want to consider investing in a sharpening guide.
It’s always important to keep your knives clean and dry, especially if they are made of stainless steel. This will help them last longer and perform better as well.
In order for this method of sharpening to be effective on all types and styles of blades, there’s really only one thing that matters: making sure to stay safe when working with sharp blades.