How to Use a Honing Steel

Properly using a honing steel will keep your knives from dulling over time. While a good knife set might include a honing steel, it usually doesn't come with instructions to use it. To sharpen your knives safely, hold the steel firmly in your hand and place the tip on a dish towel set on a flat surface. For optimum sharpening power, set the blade against the steel at a 22 degree angle. Run the blade against the steel smoothly, switching sides to accurately sharpen it. Afterwards, wipe the blade on the dish towel to avoid adding any metal filings to your next recipe.

>> Read more: Know Your Knives: Knife Guide for Your Kitchen