A sharp knife makes even the most mundane kitchen tasks seem easy. A dull blade, on the other hand, can be dangerous and require extra pressure to cut. Sharpening your knives with a whetstone or an electric pull-through sharpener requires practice and skill. It also takes up a lot of time.
Saves Time
Trying to sharpen knives yourself can take up your time. Whether you’re using a manual or electric sharpener or a whetstone, it cannot be easy to get the results you want. Plus, there’s always the risk of ruining your knife by overdoing it. However, when you hire a pro for knife sharpening Hilton Head Island, the turnaround time is much quicker.
It is because you won’t have to wait for your blades to be shipped out and back again. Also, you won’t have to worry about them being lost or damaged during transport. It is because local knife sharpeners typically have their packaging designed to get your knives safely to and from their shop. You may avoid a lot of hassle this way. In addition, you can often avoid paying additional shipping fees by staying local.
Safety
A knife with a dull edge is difficult to cut and dangerous. Worn blades need to be cut with more power, which increases the risk that the blade will slip and harm the hand holding it. A serious kitchen safety risk can lead to injuries and lawsuits. A professional sharpener can help reduce this risk by creating a safe knife-cutting surface.
It can also teach you how to properly use and store your utensils to prolong the sharpness of your blades. A sharp knife will cut more neatly and attractively, enhancing your food’s appeal and reducing food waste. Hire a professional to hone and sharpen your blades for the best results.
Convenience
While it may seem obvious, it is important to remember that getting your knives professionally sharpened takes more time than doing it yourself, especially when using a manual or pull-through sharpener. These lightweight devices require you to hold the knife steady at a prescribed angle while pulling it through one or more abrasive slots.
They can take hours, if not longer. A general rule of thumb is that the faster and easier a knife sharpening system is, the worse it will be for your blade. It is because inexpensive methods typically over-sharpen your knife, removing too much metal and shortening its life. Also, you must regularly use honing steel to maintain your knives’ sharpness.
Saves Money
A sharp knife will not only cut with ease but also reduce hand, wrist, and arm fatigue when chopping up herbs into ribbons or slicing through the soft skin of a tomato. A dull blade, on the other hand, requires more effort on your part, which will add up quickly over time.
While it is possible to purchase your own knife sharpening set and learn how to use it (there’s a bit of a learning curve, but with practice, you can get very uniform bevels and screamingly sharp knives), doing so will cost you money in both equipment and shipping charges. If you’re not careful, you could damage your blades by over-sharpening them or applying too much pressure when trying to do so on your own.
Quality
A professional knows the proper technique to keep your knives sharp. It includes avoiding hard surfaces, storing them properly, and regularly honing your blades with steel. These tips help lengthen the life of your knife and make it more functional. Another thing that pro sharpeners do is fix the secondary bevels of your blade, which are directly behind the primary edge.
Gadgets and electric sharpeners often leave these edges unfinished, rendering a knife less functional. Many mail-in knife sharpening services are very affordable, ranging from less than $6 for a 4-inch paring knife to $6-10 for a standard 8-inch chef’s knife. Plus, these services have easy instructions and offer convenient payment options. It is a small price to pay for keeping your knife safe and functional in the kitchen.
