How To: Hone a Knife
What You Need
Follow These Three Easy Steps
Holding the handle of your honing steel, point the steel straight down and rest its tip on a countertop or another secure, flat work surface. Hold the knife in your dominant hand, with the sharp edge of the blade touching the steel, and position the blade so it rests at a 20-degree angle to the steel.
Starting with the heel of the knife (the part closest to the handle), draw the blade downward along the steel toward the counter,
maintaining light pressure and pulling the handle back toward you so that the entire length of the blade, from the heel to
the tip, comes in contact with the steel.
Tip: As the edge of the blade makes contact with the steel, you should hear a light ringing sound. (A grinding sound means you're
using too much pressure.)
Use the same motion for the other side of the knife blade, using the opposite side of the steel. Repeat four to five times on each side. Wipe the knife with a dish towel to remove any residue. Slice through a tomato (or a piece of paper) using light pressure to check that your knife is completely honed.
