How to Sharpen Your Kitchen Knives at Home

Every chef needs a good set of kitchen knives. However, the only thing more important than purchasing a set of sharp—and solid—tools is knowing how to take care of them. As The Kitchn points out, if you toss your knives in the dishwasher they’ll get dull thanks to abrasive dishwasher detergent and a too-rough wash cycle. Storing unsheathed blades in a utensil drawer can cause them to rub against other objects and lose their edge. And sliding your knife, sharp side down, across a cutting board to clear away chopped foods is a big no-no.

Even if you've broken these bad habits, your knives will still eventually dull with consistent use. Instead of sending them out to get sharpened, learn how to do the job yourself. Lifehacker recently ran this handy video by the gurus over at KnifePlanet. In under 22 minutes, it teaches you how to select—and use—the perfect whetstone (the video features a Japanese waterstone). That way, you can keep your knives in tip-top shape without having to shell out any cash.

All images courtesy of iStock.

[h/t Lifehacker]