How to sharpen a knife: Two options

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Your knives are the most important tools you have in your kitchen. Purchase the highest quality you can afford and maintain them well, and they'll give you years of culinary pleasure.

The most important part of knife maintenance is proper sharpening. A sharp knife is a much safer knife than a dull one. A dull knife is dangerous because you have to press harder to make the knife go through the food than if it is sharp.

The purists will tell you that a whetstone is the only real way to sharpen a knife properly but there are some good pull-though and electric knife sharpening gadgets on the market.

To hone your knife skills or find a fancy recipe to show them off, check out Foodbuzz.com.

Sharpening