You have probably seen chefs using knife sharpeners before; the long metal rod is perfect for honing and sharpening the blades of most knives, returning even very dull ones to their former glory.
As these are very useful, you may be tempted to run out straight away and buy several, but wait! Before you do it is important to decide what type you need, as using a normal knife sharpener on serrated knives will not do quite the same job.
Here are some things to know which could help you pick the right serrated knife sharpener and save you trouble.
The difficult way Using a normal sharpener on a serrated knife can work, but it can be incredibly time consuming and very hard work, as you will need to file each individual groove to hone the blade.
This is possible but just not practical, especially considering the time constraints that professional chefs usually face.
Serrated knives can also be sharpened using a round steel file or a filing stone, which can give good results, but again can take a lot of time and effort.
The easy way There are several products on the market designed to hone serrated knives.
There are diamond knife sharpeners with special diamond files, and the Spyderco Tri Angle Sharpmaker is a favorite among enthusiasts, and while these are expensive they may be just about the best way to hone and sharpen your serrated knives.
The easiest way Many professionals advise simply not sharpening your serrated knives.
As they generally don't get the same wear and tear as other knives, even very cheap models can stay functional for a very long time, and the cost and effort of buying a serrated knife sharpener or doing it yourself just isn't worth it.