How do you sharpen your knives?

[KimKelly]

My knives are dull! What do you use to sharpen them?

Kim

[Robyn1007]

A professional sharpening services! Really, its the best for your knives and is pretty cheap. Last time I had my 7" santuko sharpened it was $3!

[KimKelly]

Robyn, how long does it stay sharp? I use mine so often I'm afraid that they will get dull quickly....
Kim

[Peggy]

I take them to the meat department at Raleys. They sharpen them for free and do a very good job. You can take #3 knives per visit, drop them off and pick them up the next day.

Peggy

[Canice]

A professional sharpening services! Really, its the best for your knives and is pretty cheap....

Yup, there's no viable alternative. I take mine to a marvelous little slip of a shop where an entire wall is covered in the business cards of restaurants and catering companies that patronize the place. They also sell all manner of knives, barber gear, scissors, and professional kitchen utensils. I wanted to buy a $90 santoku knife there, and the owner told me I didn't need it! Gotta love the spirit.

BTW, sharpening is charged by the blade inch; I think my 7" chef's knife is about $3 to sharpen. I think one should have it done about every six months for normal home use. I doubt I get in once a year. :o

[blazedog]

Professional sharpening as others have pointed out. I go to Sur La Table and they charge $1.00 per inch.

However, one needs to use the steel before every use -- I am not so great with that myself but I do try to do it on a weekly basis and it does really help the blades.

[linsleyd]

The Kitchen Kapers by our house hosts the Wusthof sales guy every few months and he'll sharpen knives for free, he also showed DH how to use the steel and said before each use you should use the steel.

[Robyn1007]

I think how long it stays sharp really depends on what kind of knife, how you use it and how often you use them. Using a steel is a good idea (I don't have one, yet) but it doesn't sharpen, it just hones so you'll still need to sharpen. The guy I use is actually at the Boulder Farmer's Market and is a sweet old man that I love!

[DanaSD]

When I lived in San Diego I took them to the knife store at UTC (its near sport chalet/food court) - they do an excellent job. I believe they hand sharpen them instead of using a machine like Great News does. I used to take them in once a year.

[aggie94]

I use a professional sharpening service that is mobile - he travels to restaurants, commercial kitchens, and people's homes and does it on site. It's very convenient for me, and he does a great job. And for the convenience of not having to take my knives somewhere or worse, leave them with someone and be without them for days, his prices are very reasonable.

He also recommends once every six months for typical home use.