Does Your Knife Need Sharpened?

Raise your hand if you’ve had your knife sharpened lately? Very good, you may leave the classroom.

Everyone else: listen up! A dull knife is a dangerous knife and we can't stress that enough. Heading into the season of entertaining, make sure your knives are sharp and safe because nothing spoils a gathering like an injury.

Unsure if your knife is in need of some TLC? Use any of the 5 tests below!

Test #1: The Eye Test

First things first, look at the edge of your knife! Hold it straight in front of you, slowly tilt blade to the left and right. What you are looking for is areas where light catches on your edge. If your knife reflects light, it is likely dull and the edge needs some work. This also helps you visually observe any chips or nicks in your blade. 

Test #2: The Tomato Test

Take a tomato and try to slice it as normal with the knife you suspect needs some sharpening. Drag the blade across the skin of your tomato without applying any pressure. What happened? If your blade easily sliced into the tomato, you're good to go! If it barely made a dent, you may need to bring your knife in for some MUCH needed sharpening.

Test #3: The Onion Test

Grab an onion from your pantry and slice it up with your knife. Your blade should be able to cut through the skin and layers of the onion with ease. If it slips or slides on the onion's surface, that's a good indicator that it needs sharpening.

Test #4: The Paper Test

Grab an ordinary sheet of paper and try to slice it with your knife. Your knife is dull if it slips off of the edge or rips the paper unevenly. If sharp, it should cleanly slice through the paper. (This is a test we frequently use after sharpening a customer's knife to show just how sharp your knives now!) 

Test #5: The Fingernail Test

A test used throughout the industry - gently tap the edge of your blade against your fingernail. Your knife is sharp enough if it bites into the nail. If it deflects or slides, your knife likely could use a sharpening. Do this along the entire length of the knife, starting from the heel and tapping to the tip. **A little nervous to use your nail? Substitute a Sharpie marker - tap the blade into the body of the pen at a 45 degree angle.*

So, What Do I Do?

- Get Yourself a Knife Sharpener!

If you feel comfortable taking care of your knife at home, it might be time to invest in a sharpener. There are plenty of options available! Click here to shop what we currently have in stock. But we recommend stopping in and chatting with one of your highly knowledgable associates about knife care!

- Bring Your Knives Down to In The Kitchen!

Bring your knives for a touch up at ITK! We offer knife sharpening services in store at 1725 Penn Avenue, right in the heart of the Strip District!
Cost is $7 per blade, $9 per Asian blade (*We are unable to sharpen serrated blades & shears that do not separate*)

Simply stop in for a visit & drop off your knives with us at the register.
Our experienced staff will make them as good as new & they'll be ready for you to pick up the next business day. (Knives dropped off on the weekends will be ready for pickup Monday morning).