4 Clear Signs That Tell If Your Knife Needs Sharpening

A knife is certainly an excellent tool that serves all your purposes. Whether you’re going hiking, hunting or are simply slicing veggies in your kitchen, a knife is your constant companion. 

While knives are known to make tasks easier, you must note that dull knives not only increase the time taken to finish a particular task but also are dangerous for the user. So, when you feel, your knife doesn’t feel as efficient as it used to be, it’s time for blade sharpening. 

There’s no specific time period to tell it’s time to sharpen the blade. However, you need to be on the lookout for them. If that’s too much a task for you, read on the sure-shot signs below that we’ve listed and you’ll know when to sharpen your knife’s blade.  

• The blade seems dull than before

When you use a knife for a prolonged period of time, you are pretty sure of how it feels and functions. That said if you feel any difference in the way it’s performing a particular task, you’ll know. 

When that happens, run your fingertips over the blade, carefully and gently. If the blade doesn’t feel as defined and sharp as it was, it’s time to sharpen it. 

• It gets difficult to cut paper

Checking if your knife is able to cut a paper into two halves is a good way to know if its blade requires sharpening. Interesting, isn’t it?

All you need to do is, hold the paper (any paper be it magazine paper, any A4 size paper, or even a sticky note would do) upright in one hand and the knife in another. Start from the top and see if you are able to make it smoothly towards the bottom. 

If not, you know, it’s blade sharpening time!

• It is not able to slice tomatoes

Tomatoes are one of the most delicate fruits of all. Knives that boast sharp blades slice them (or any fruit for that matter) easily without having to exert much force. However, that’s not the case with dull blades. If your knife smashes the tomatoes and the skin comes off separately, it’s time to sharpen the blade. 

• It fails the onion test

Tried the three things mentioned above but you’re still not sure? 

Take the onion test. 

If your Damascus steel kitchen knife is sharp enough, it will slice the onion easily. However, if the blade is not sharp, it will slide off the skin of this veggie. 

Now that you’re aware of the different ways to check whether the blade of your Damascus steel kitchen knife or legal pocket knife needs sharpening, incorporate them today. These are some effortless and quick tasks that’ll tell you instantly if your blade requires sharpening or not.