The Kindest Cut

Keeping your knives sharp will not only make your job in the kitchen easier but much safer, too.

Gregg Kurtz, owner of Chef’s Edge Knife Sharpening says: “A dull knife will force you to apply more pressure than you would with a sharper blade, and that makes the knife more likely to slip and gives you less control.” Here, Kurtz weighs in on how to keep your knives sharp so you have control in the kitchen. 

Q. How do I know when it’s time to have my knives sharpened?
A. When you crush a tomato instead of slicing it, that is a good sign it is time to have your knives sharpened. 

Q. Do I need to have a certain level of knife to have them sharpened, or can I sharpen any regular kitchen knife? 
A. If you are going to use them, then any knife is worth sharpening. The only difference between sharpening an elevated brand of knife versus a regular kitchen knife is the length of time between them needing to be sharpened again.

Q. How much does it cost to have a knife sharpened?
A. It ranges from $4 to $6 per knife.

Q. How much time does it take to sharpen a knife?
A. Usually about two minutes.

Q. Is there anything else I should consider having sharpened?  
A. You should also sharpen your scissors and garden tools so you can have more control and be more effective with them.

To make an appointment, you can find Kurtz on Facebook at Chef’s Edge Knife Sharpening. He posts his schedule on his Facebook page each Wednesday. He also can be reached by phone at 757-768-2562 or via email at chefsedge@gmail.com