Is it Worth Getting a Sharpening Stone?
A sharpening stone, which is sometimes called a whetstone, is a handy kitchen tool that you can use to keep your knife blades sharp and crisp. Although it can be a small learning curve when you first begin using a sharpening stone, it’s a useful piece of equipment that is growing in popularity by the year.
More and more people are discovering the benefits of using a whetstone in the kitchen. This is especially true for those who cook frequently for a savvy dining experience and need to sharpen their knives more often than the average person.
However, some people don’t feel that sharpening stones are completely necessary. After all, there are alternative methods of sharpening knife blades, each of which offers its own benefits.
Let’s explore in more detail whether or not you need a sharpening stone in your kitchen. We’re going to discuss the key considerations to take when deciding if a whetstone is a good choice for you.
Cooking Frequency
For those of you who are aspiring chefs or frequently explore new recipes and try brand-new cooking techniques, you’ll probably find that your knives go blunt pretty quickly.
The more you use a knife, the quicker the blade will wear away, and the more often you will need to sharpen it. While you can use other methods to sharpen knife blades, a whetstone is one of the most efficient and effective options.
Knife Quality
The quality of your knives will impact the rate at which their blades go blunt. Cheaper knives will likely need sharpening more frequently than more expensive, higher-quality knives.
Regardless of the quality of your knives, you can benefit from keeping a sharpening stone in your kitchen. A whetstone will come in handy when you need to sharpen cheaper blades every week, but it will also provide a professional sharpen for your top-grade knives.
Ease of Use
Some people find sharpening stones easy to use and can achieve a perfectly crisp and straight blade after using their whetstone at home. However, it’s not so easy for others.
The use of a whetstone requires a steady hand and a good grip. Depending on how easy you find whetstones to use, how steady your hand is, and your level of hand grip, you might prefer alternative knife sharpening methods.
Space and Storage in Your Kitchen
Although they aren’t as large as many other kitchen gadgets and technologies, sharpening stones do require some storage space. You will need to consider whether your current kitchen space can accommodate a whetstone so you can store it safely and securely.
Professional vs. At Home Sharpening
Many companies offer professional knife sharpening services, taking the tedious task of keeping your knife blades sharp off your hands. However, as with anything, this service comes at a cost.
You will need to weigh up whether you want to spend money on regular, ongoing professional knife sharpening services or you would rather do it yourself at home.
Once you have purchased a whetstone, you don’t need to spend any further money on sharpening your knives (unless you choose to upgrade or replace your whetstone), making it a cheaper option over professional knife sharpening.