Self-sharpening knife - Analysis and Buying Guide - 2022
If you've ever tried to cut winter squash with a dull blade, you'll know the importance of keeping your kitchen knives sharp. But it is a task that is often overlooked, either due to forgetfulness or simply not knowing how. With self-sharpening knives, however, the block or case automatically does the sharpening for you, so your knives will stay as sharp as the day you bought them.
This leaves you free to dice, slice and chop to the core...without experiencing the frustration that goes with dull knives. But before you buy, you'll want to consider how many knives you need, what you need them for, and the special features that will make preparing your food a pleasure.
To learn more about self-sharpening knives, read our helpful guide. If you're ready to buy, check out our top recommendations.
Key Considerations
Types of Knives
In addition to the number of self-sharpening knives you want, you also need to think about the types of knives you require. These are some of the most popular varieties of self-sharpening knives.
- Chef's Knife :
A chef's knife is a must in any kitchen. It has a large flat blade that tapers to a point. It's versatile enough to use for almost any kitchen task, from chopping vegetables to crushing garlic with the side of the blade.
- Paring Knife :
Shorter and thinner than a chef's knife, a paring knife is ideal for all kinds of paring tasks, as well as for cutting small fruits and vegetables.
- Santoku Knife :
Although often interchangeable with a chef's knife, a santoku has a broader, less sharp blade that is considered easier to use for chopping herbs and general cutting tasks. You may find that you only need a chef's knife or a santoku knife, but some sets contain both.
- Bread Knife :
With a long, thick blade and serrated edge, a bread knife is made for cutting bread or pastries and jam, though it also works well for cutting large fruits and vegetables, such as watermelons. It is essential for anyone who bakes their own bread or buys uncut loaves.
In addition, a considerable number of large self-sharpening knife sets also include six to eight steak knives, although these may or may not have sharpening mechanisms in their slots.
Blade Material
Self-sharpening knives have blades made of stainless steel or carbon steel (sometimes referred to as high carbon steel or high carbon stainless steel).
Stainless steel blades are extremely resistant to rust, making them low maintenance. You can let them air dry with no chance of rust forming. On the downside, however, they are softer than carbon steel.
Carbon steel is a strong blade that will stand the test of time. Its quality cannot be beaten, but it does require careful washing and drying after each use.
Keep in mind that you won't find self-sharpening ceramic knives, because the sharpening process for ceramic knives is more complex.
Stamped knives are pressed into a single sheet of steel, much like a cookie cutter is used to stamp a cookie into a sheet of rolled dough. Self-sharpening knives with stamped blades are generally of lower quality and may not last as long as their forged counterparts.
Characteristic
- Safety Lock
If your self-sharpening knives have individual covers (instead of resting in a block), they may have a safety lock, so you can't... 39; it cannot easily come out of the cover. Not only is this safer for small children, but it can also prevent your knives from losing their sheaths while stored in a drawer, where they could become dull or accidentally injure your finger.
- Non-slip Feet
Self-sharpening knife sets that come in a block often have non-slip feet, so the block doesn't slide on the counter when knives are removed and replaced.
- Tang
The tang is the part of the blade that extends into the handle. Full tang knives tend to be stronger and more balanced than half tang models.
- Added Extras
Some self-sharpening kitchen knife sets come with extras, like cutting boards or kitchen shears. While these extras can be nice, if you're happy with the rest of the game, don't let them sway you too much. Lower-quality sets sometimes include extras to entice buyers when you could probably find a better self-sharpening knife set plus all the extra items for about the same cost.
Tips
Choose knives with a handle material that works for you. Plastic, wood, and stainless steel are the most common choices. Although they all have pros and cons, in the end they don't affect performance much, so choose the one you prefer.
Think about how much space your self-sharpening knives will take up. Individual knives and small sets in individual sheaths can be stored in a kitchen drawer. If you choose a large game in a block, you will need to have adequate counter space for the block.
Cutting and slicing is so much easier with self-sharpening knives. Since they will never be bored again, kitchen preparation will always be a breeze.
Be careful when using your self-sharpening knives. It's easy to injure yourself with a sharp knife, especially if you've gotten used to using knives with dull blades, so be careful.
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