In any kitchen, a knife will be one of the most important tools. But in the process of operation, it becomes dull sooner or later. And if everything is clear with standard models, then sharpening ceramic knives raises questions. Is it possible to do this at home? What are the best tools and equipment to use? We will analyze all these and related issues further.
Features of ceramic knives
What makes these tools stand out in the first place is that they don't rust at all and don't dull for a long time. But along with this, they also require careful handling. A broken ceramic blade, alas, cannot be restored. Therefore, a knife cannot open canned food, cut frozen meat, break bones and ice.
Also, the blade should not even be bent. The knife does not withstand bends - it immediately breaks.
The product is covered with a special protective layer, which does not give even the slightest chance for the formation of rust. A layer of zirconium is sprayed on top. What is it for? Zirconium does not allowblade and food in contact with it will oxidize.
In many cities, specialized centers of well-known manufacturers for sharpening and repairing ceramic knives are opening. There are many private companies offering similar services. However, the owners of ceramic tools often quite successfully sharpen them themselves, at home.
Pros and cons of ceramic knives
Before we move on to sharpening ceramic knives at home, let's get acquainted with the advantages and disadvantages of such a tool.
| Pros | Cons |
| Sharp blade that cuts both hard and soft foods equally well. | Fragility - falling from a great height, the knife can break. |
| Ceramic knives need sharpening much less often than usual - with proper use, the need appears no more than once a year. | Self-sharpening of ceramic knives is very troublesome - we will analyze it further. |
| Light tool weight. | The maximum length of this tool is 20 cm. This makes it unsuitable for large products. |
| The blade will never rust. | The knife must be washed in time after cutting the coloring products. Otherwise, his blade will become stained. |
| Ceramic cannot oxidize. | The tool, despite the "peaceful" appearance, is very sharp - it is easy for them to cut themselves. |
| The material is hypoallergenic, souniversal for allergic users. | You need to store the knife in a special stand, and not in a box with other cutlery. |
| Sudden temperature fluctuations can cause cracks in the ceramic material. |
And now let's move on to sharpening ceramic knives at home.
What can be used for sharpening?
Basically, we need a material whose structure is stronger and stronger than ceramics. Professionals and product manufacturers are advised to opt for a diamond-coated device.
From here ceramic knives can be sharpened as follows:
- Special sharpener for similar products.
- Diamond paste.
- Electric sandpaper.
We'll talk more about ceramic knife sharpeners later.
Sharpener selection
Purchasing such a device is costly. However, if you have several ceramic knives, and you want to use only this tool, then you cannot do without purchasing a sharpener. Many models are universal - also suitable for metal tools.
Sharpeners for ceramic knives are produced mechanical and electric. The first option will be more economical. For all of them, when buying, you need to pay attention to the blade thickness suitable for the device, the type and angle of sharpening of the ceramic knife.
The recognized leader in this area is the Japanese company Kyocera. On theon the shelves you can also find products of European, American and Chinese manufacturers. Good mechanical sharpeners from the Japanese company Kasumi, which are sold at a relatively low price. However, the price for this is the duration of the sharpening procedure.
Tieda hand sharpeners also stand out. They have a convenient stand that allows you to fix the knife at the desired angle. If you want to purchase an electric version, then you can stop at the products of the American manufacturer ChefsChoice and the Chinese company Taidea.
An important point is to pay attention to what type of knives the sharpener is intended for. For Japanese instruments, for example, one-sided sharpening is typical. In Asian knives, its (sharpening) line is narrower, and the angle is 15 °. But for European instruments, the standard sharpening angle is 20 degrees.
How to use a sharpener?
We found out that there are two types of tools. Each has its own characteristics:
- Mechanical (manual). Easy editing of defects and updating of a surface. It takes a lot of time and effort to sharpen a severely dull knife.
- Electrical. Operates on a regular battery. The option is not cheap, but it allows you to return even ceramic knives that have been used for a long time without sharpening to an almost perfect shape.
It is not always possible to make a sharp blade the first time - experience and skill are important. How to actsharpener? Insert the blade into the special slot and secure it at a suitable angle. Then turn on the tool. In mechanical models, the knife is not fixed - you yourself need to drive it along the grinder.
Before sharpening, be sure to read the instructions! Remember that the key point here is the sharpening angle. For the first time, you need to set the minimum number of beats and revolutions. Try also not to press the blade too hard, so as not to break the fragile ceramic.
Electric Sandpaper
This tool is also suitable for ceramic knives. However, only diamond-coated wheels should be used. Its grain is no more than 40 microns. The edge should be made rounded and slightly convex, and the sharpening angle should be chosen close to 20-25 °. Other indicators can make the ceramic material more brittle. Set the RPM to the lowest. The same goes for beats.
If you have never de alt with electric emery, then we do not recommend you use a ceramic knife sharpening tool. There is a great chance, due to inexperience, to break both the blade and the device itself.
Diamond Paste
The best alternative to ceramic knife sharpeners. However, when choosing a composition, you need to purchase a product no more than 5 microns.
Using it is the easiest of all the methods described. Apply the paste to the previously cleaned blade. Then it remains to rub it with a wooden die over the paste until the knife becomes sharper. That's it!
But this method has a significant disadvantage - not everyone has diamond pastehome. And buying it only for sharpening a knife once a year is not entirely cost-effective. It's easier to stick with a good sharpener.
Alternative
If you realize that none of the presented home methods is suitable for you, then the way out is to contact a specialized workshop. For example, sharpening ceramic knives in Moscow is a very common service.
Today, this option will cost you several hundred rubles. The whole job will take about half an hour. Taking into account the fact that sharpening knives is not needed so often, this option is also quite acceptable for economic reasons.
Important operating instructions
To ensure that the ceramic knife needs sharpening as little as possible, we recommend that you follow these simple rules:
- Try to cut hard foods as little as possible.
- Cutting board is best to choose from wood, plastic or silicone. But stone and glass products contribute to the blunting of the knife.
- Try to cut food evenly and smoothly.
- When working with herbs, you should not "chop" it with a ceramic knife, as you used to do with a metal one.
- Do not scrape fruits and vegetables with the blade. This further contributes to its blunting.
- Try not to knock or slam the knife on a hard surface.
- Ceramic knife can only be cleaned under running water with a little detergentfacilities. Do not put it in the dishwasher.
- Do not store the ceramic knife together with metal cutlery - they may damage the fragile material.
- Try to be extremely careful with the tool - if you drop it, it might just break.
- Do not allow sudden changes in temperature - from them the ceramic part will crack.
- If a knife cuts food worse than before, this is a sure sign that it is time to sharpen it.
Ceramic knives are a great alternative to metal ones. But having its drawbacks and also in need of sharpening. The latter can be performed not only in a special center, but also at home.
