Can You Sharpen Ceramic Knives?

Introduction

There is so much to say about ceramic knives, and one of the things about them is their beauty. Ceramic knives are certainly a lovely addition to your kitchen because of their aesthetics, as you can get ceramic knives that match the colors of the rainbow. They are also helpful in cutting bread, vegetables, fruits, and meat in thin and clean slices because they are pretty sharp.

Ceramic knives have so many advantages as they do not rust, and the acids they come in contact with do not cause erosion to the material. The other great thing about these knives is that they will not cause bruising to fruits and vegetables. There is so much more to know about ceramic knives, but the one question you have is can you sharpen these knives? Let’s talk about that after delving more into the attributes of ceramic knives.

A Brief Look At Ceramic Knives

If you struggle with cutting fruits, vegetables, meats, and bread in thin slices with other knives, then you will want to look into getting the ceramic knife for that purpose alone. A ceramic blade does not have the same features as a boning knife, for example, as you cannot use it to separate meat from bones or gristle. You cannot make different designs on different foods. However, it does have its purpose, and the knife is an excellent asset to your kitchen for aesthetic and dietary reasons.

The type of ceramic that creates these knives is not the type that composes your kitchen, hallway, bathroom tiles, or mug. The material zirconium oxide or zirconia is a type of ceramic that makes the composition of these knives. Therefore, when you imagine a ceramic knife, it is not a knife with the same elements as your coffee mug. The great thing about zirconia is that it does not absorb odors, rust, and erode from acids and juices.

The other appealing thing about ceramic knives is that they are lightweight, making them very easy to handle. They are even lighter than a fillet knife or a steel blade. Therefore, that can make it easy to work with; however, it isn’t too soft to the point where you feel like you are doing most of the work while cutting your food with it. It also helps that they are incredibly sharp.

Ceramic knives are very sharp, and the appearance can deceive you as they may look like luxurious plastic knives. However, they are not plastic at all. Not even close to that. The great thing about these knives is that they will remain sharp for a very long time – as long as you care for them properly. Eventually, ceramic knives like any other knife, such as the serrated knife, can become dull. Therefore, you will need to sharpen them, and sharpening the ceramic blade is not so easy.

How Do You Sharpen Ceramic Knives?

Ceramic knives are great on so many levels. However, they are not sturdy. They are brittle knives, and when you look to sharpen them, that can be a daunting task because they can break quickly. That is why when it is time to sharpen your ceramic knife, you may want to consider hiring a professional to take care of it. Sharpening the ceramic blade is time-consuming and can be an anxiety-provoking task because of its fragility.

However, if you insist on sharpening the blade yourself, there is a unique tool to use and a specific method in doing it. Prepare yourself to square a lot of time away in the day to take care of such a daunting task. Let’s now talk about the tool you need to sharpen the ceramic knife and the steps to take to do it safely.

Use The Diamond Stone To Sharpen Ceramic Knives

Sharpening a ceramic knife is tricker than sharpening a chef’s knife or any other knife. That is why the tool you need to make the edges sharp again is diamond stones. Diamonds are tough and result in fewer hours to remove material from the ceramic knife. Therefore, diamond stones make the job less time-consuming, and you can restore the blade efficiently. When using diamond stones, the ideal starting point starts with a 200 grit diamond as long as the chips are large. Once you become used to using it, you can move to 600 grits, 1,000 gifts, and eventually 1,500 gifts.

Many people prefer using Waterstones for sharpening ceramic knives. However, they do not work as well as diamond stones. When you sharpen the blade with the diamond stone, you will want to support the knife by holding it with both of your hands as you gently move them up and down. Do not use only one hand to position the knife for sharpening and not apply too much pressure on the blade. That will increase the chances of the knife breaking. Remember that ceramic knives are brittle.

Remember that when you hold your knife with both hands and position it for sharpening, do it gently. That will restore the sharpness of the blade! However, if the idea of sharpening a ceramic knife overwhelms you because of its fragility and the time it takes, remember that professionals can do the job for you.

Conclusion

Ceramic knives are an incredible asset to your kitchen. You can buy these blades regardless of the color, and they brighten your kitchen up, and they are helpful to have when you want to cut a variety of food in skinny slices. Therefore, you can slice thin cuts of meat, fruit, bread, and vegetables. Ceramic knives can do that task better than many other knives.

The only thing to keep in mind is that ceramic knives are very brittle, so when it comes to sharpening them, you have to use the right tools. Otherwise, you can unintentionally break the blade. Diamond stones are an ideal tool for sharpening ceramic knives, and you will want to do it very carefully by using both of your hands to support the blade as you position it for sharpening. If that overwhelms you, you can always hire a professional to do that job!