Knife Sharpening Using a Whetstone

What is a whetstone exactly? Also referred to as a wet stone, waterstone, or sharpening stone, whetstones can be natural or manmade, and are typically made of finely bonded ceramic. They are truly the best and smartest way to sharpen knives, as other methods will grind away precious metal from your knife’s blade, and shorten it’s life. One side of the stone is a coarse grit which you sharpen with first, and the other a fine grit which is used last. The whetstone is used as a primary method of sharpening, and the honing steel is used for maintenance, read more about the differences and brand recommendations here. Knife sharpening takes practice, but once you become accustomed to the technique you will be deliciously pleased with your effortless, gorgeous, even cuts of food.

Watch the video to see Chef Danilo Alfaro’s easy techniques for knife sharpening, using a whetstone and a steel .