Want To Know How to Sharpen A Serrated Knife?
A serrated knife is one of the best kitchen tools. Did you ever have difficulty while slicing bread? Chances are that you were using a regular chef’s knife for this task. It does get very frustrating, doesn’t it?
Serrated knives, on the other hand, can breeze through such tasks. They can easily slice bread, tomatoes, and cakes. You will not end up squashing or destroying them in any way!
Its pointed teeth take on the most work. With less friction, the blade of a serrated knife remains sharp for a very long time. So, you do not have to sharpen them often.
What do you do when the time comes to finally sharpen your serrated knife? Can you sharpen it by yourself? The easiest option is using an electric sharpener, but there are more traditional methods too.
Read on to know how to sharpen a serrated knife.
When Should You Sharpen A Knife?
A serrated knife has amazing edge retention. This superior feature ensures aggressive cutting. The pointed tip cuts with less tear and abrasion. In this way, you can cut your bread and tomatoes like a pro.
Without the need to be honed, a serrated knife lasts for years. The blade can retain its sharpness as it does not make much contact with your chopping board.
So, how will you know if it needs sharpening?
You will notice that your serrated knife will gradually become blunt. Although it still cuts well, you will find that it is no longer a complete clean-cut.
Its pointed tip will first begin to lose the sharpness. Its recessed part soon follows. Do you find that you no longer get that pretty symmetrical slices of bread? Are there more crumbs or morsels remaining on your cutting board?
These are the tell-tale signs that your serrated knife needs sharpening.
You may have to keep applying more pressure to get slices with a smoother cut. Moreover, you will be unable to perform this task with the same ease as earlier.
How to Sharpen A Serrated Knife?
It may seem tricky to sharpen a serrated knife as it has numerous edges. However, that is not the case. All you need is a right sharpener, a good technique, and a little persistence from your side. Then, you are good to go!
The technique for sharpening serrated knives is very different from the ones used for honing other regular kitchen knives. The first step will be to find a suitable sharpener.
The blade of a serrated knife consists of numerous curved edges. You have to hone each of these indentations one by one. You do not have to hone the blade’s flat side at all.
You can sharpen your serrated knife through any one of the following options:
- Your Manufacturer: You can check the warranty of your manufacturer. Most knife manufacturers offer to sharpen your knives for free.
- Professional Knife Sharpeners: You can take your serrated knife to a professional. They will sharpen it well for you. However, not all places accept serrated knives for sharpening.
- Do It by Yourself: Yes, you can sharpen your serrated knife by yourself. Make sure you have the right sharpening tool for it. Once you know the method, you can easily do it without any difficulties.
How to Sharpen Your Serrated Knife Using Ceramic Rod?
Sharpening rods are special tools that are designed to sharpen serrated knives. A ceramic rod is the best to use for honing a serrated knife. You have to make sure that your ceramic rod is highly polished for reliable results.
It should also have a maximum grit of 1500. For harder materials, you need a maximum grit of 1800.
A ceramic rod is perfect for sharpening all notches of a serrated knife from narrow, short to wide notches.
Follow the below technique to get a razor-sharp serrated knife:
Step 1
You require a working surface that is flat. You can place the serrated knife on this surface. You have to work on the side of the blade with serration. Make sure to keep this side facing upwards.
Now, you can place your ceramic rod into one of these serrations. You have to ensure that the ceramic rod perfectly fits into its V cut. Additionally, it should align its bevel angle.
To avoid any mistakes, firmly hold the ceramic rod. Once you begin working on the blade, you will hear sharp sounds. It signals that you’re doing it the right way.
Step 2
You now have to slither the rod to the blade’s tip. Keep doing this until it gets shiny and smooth. Once you achieve this, you can move to work on the next serration.
You only need to do this a few times for each to get the results that you desire. Moreover, the ceramic rod is built with a much harder material. So, you do not have to apply much pressure while slithering.
Step 3
When you finish sharpening every serration, you can flip your knife for a finishing polish. You will notice that some steel residue is present on the blade’s flat side. Such residues are called burrs. You can feel them by running your finger along its flat side.
How can you get rid of these burrs? There are two methods to achieve this. You can do so by sharpening the flat side of your knife. You can do this on one whetstone.
Another method is to use sandpaper. Did you know that the silicone of the sandpaper is often considered to be the natural sharpener? It can easily remove the burr from your serrated knife.
You now have a sharp and shiny serrated knife. You are all ready to get your smoother and cleaner cuts again!
Final Thoughts
A serrated knife does not lose its sharpness for years. It cuts efficiently even if its blade turns blunt. If you need to sharpen it to get clean-cut slices, you can do so with a ceramic rod.
By following the right technique, you will soon make your serrated knife as sharp as before. You can then get back to slicing bread, cake, and tomatoes like a pro!