Want to learn how to sharpen serrated kitchen knives yourself, when to sharpen, and why it’s important? Start here.
Serrated knives, such as bread knives, have long, thin blades with sharp, jagged teeth. Only one side of the blade is serrated, and the other side is sharp and flat. Serrated kitchen knives are arguably the best knife because they offer unparalleled precision when cutting through anything from a super-ripe tomato to a crusty loaf of bread. To keep your serrated knives in their best possible shape, it’s important to know how to sharpen serrated kitchen knives.
It can be really frustrating to find out that your knife needs sharpening when you’re about to cut your favorite steak. But this isn’t the only reason to keep your knives well-maintained.
Sharp knives are important because they make kitchen tasks safer. (Read our article on common slips and falls in the kitchen for more safety tips.) Reliably sharp knives simply do their job, whereas dull knives can cause improper grip, effort, or pressure, leading to potential safety issues such as cuts or dropping the knife.
Regular maintenance of your knives keeps your kitchen prep seamless and less hazardous — so let’s discuss how to sustain your knives and also some common mistakes that can cost you big time when it comes to keeping your knives in their best condition.
When Should You Use a Serrated Knife?
Serrated knives are ideal for cutting different types of items that will yield too much under the pressure of other knives, such as soft fruits and vegetables; they also work wonderfully on breads like crunchy baguettes and sourdough boules.
Using serrated knives gives traction to the outer layer, also known as “biting” it, which allows the cutting process to begin without compressing the item being cut. In other words, there’s less friction between the blade edge and your food. It may seem like a simple task, but getting precise cuts or great results overall requires a little knife knowledge and maintenance.
The best way to think of it is this: serrated knives work like a saw. They are good for cutting through foods in a long, straight manner, but not for peeling, thinly slicing, or mincing ingredients. (Use straight-edged knives for those.)
Here are some of the best uses for serrated kitchen knives:
- Bread: Serrated knives are also sometimes called bread knives for a reason. This knife style is perfect for cutting through the fibers in bread without squishing your loaf. The teeth saw through the tough crust with light pressure, preventing the compression of your bread. It’s also great for cutting sandwiches and paninis in half.
- Cakes and Pies: While they may look scary and harsh, serrated knives are up for the task of cutting into delicate or heavy pastries without causing damage. If you’re looking for picture-perfect edges to your favorite baked goods, look no further. Carving through even the thickest and most dense of desserts, like pecan pie, these knives will help your slices hold their shape and keep that presentation you desire as you dish out your desserts.
- Delicate Fruits and Veggies: Tomatoes, lemons, eggplant, melons, strawberries, and more all do very well with the jagged edge of a serrated knife. Imagine cutting any of these with a butter knife — it’s a one-way ticket to Smush City.
- Meat: Roasts, steak, pork chops, and raw chicken all respond incredibly well to serrated knives. These knives allow you to cut with or against the grain with ease, making bite-sized portions a snap. Ever notice you are handed serrated steak knives at a restaurant? It’s for a reason! (See our guide on cutting steak to ensure you’re doing it right!)
- Frozen Foods: The resistance of frozen foods means that serrated knives are best for the job.
Able to cut through the thick and icy layers of anything from ice cream cake to meat like chicken that isn’t quite thawed, these knives will hold up under pressure and get you the results you want without any dangerous slicing and dicing.
How Do You Know When to Sharpen a Serrated Knife?
Serrated knives do not always show obvious signs of requiring sharpening.
Because serrated knives are built to bite the surface and not compress it, one sign that your knives need to be sharpened is the amount of juice that is expressed during cutting.
Sharp knives do not squish into the item being cut, so something like an onion or a tomato will have noticeably less juice if the knife is sharp enough. Anything that needs to be sharpened will cause food with juices to release more than usual when being cut, so keep an eye out on the cutting board for signs.
Another sign is blunt serrations or difficulty cutting something hard, like crusty bread. Leaving a lot of crumbs behind is another clue that the knife you’re using to cut bread requires some attention.
How Often Should Kitchen Knives Be Sharpened?
Kitchen knives should be sharpened every 1-2 months if they’re getting daily use.
A professional-grade chef’s knife should be sharpened by an expert every 1-2 years.
You can make knife sharpening easy by using a highly rated electric knife sharpener for blades that do not require special effort, like serrated knives. We recommend this as one of the best knife sharpeners.
What Happens If You Never Sharpen a Knife?
Dull knives are dangerous knives. But that danger extends past the kitchen and any possible slipping or dropping hazards — improperly cut food also does not cook properly. Food that is not cooked thoroughly can cause illness, which may sound extreme, but is a true concern for any home cook!
An improperly sharpened knife or dull knife can also ruin food presentation, which is an essential element of hosting. Nobody wants to serve a squished meal — blech. Use a sharp knife to make the clean slice you need!
Options for Sharpening Serrated Knives
There are two primary different methods of how to sharpen serrated blade knives,
- Hire a Professional:
Even with our step-by-step guide, doing it yourself can be a difficult task. Some professional services allow you to mail in your knives for sharpening.
You might also be able to find local knife sharpeners who are experts in using the perfect tools with the right sizing for your job.
If you’re not comfortable learning how to sharpen your dull serrated knife yourself, reach out to an expert for assistance. In addition to hiring them to sharpen your knives, they may also be willing to educate you and sell you tools to sharpen your knives from home as well.
- Do It Yourself:
Feeling brave? You can sharpen your own serrated knives from home using high-quality materials and expert advice — we’re here to help! This might take a little more time and effort upfront, but in the long run, it can save you money and make your life easier.
Instructions For How To Sharpen Serrated Kitchen Knives
The sharpening process can take a long time and be a little tricky. But the good news is that with practice and time, you can keep your serrated bread knife in peak performance using the DIY method.
Sharpening a knife is more about removing burrs (metal bumps) that dull your knife and not about damaging the knife. It’s not like sharpening a pencil, where pieces of the object are peeled away to form a new shape. When “sharpening” your knife, think of it more like buffing it, in a way.
Clean your knife well before sharpening, but not in the dishwasher. Paying close attention while washing your knife before sharpening allows you to inspect and observe the surface of the blade and to make decisions on how much effort and energy each gullet requires. Less is best — the least amount of sharpening necessary, the better.
Now, let’s sharpen your knives:
- Find the beveled side of your serrated knife. Serrated knives have a flat side and a beveled side. The flat side has the same angle all the way down the blade to the edge. The serrated side angles down just before the serrated edge begins. This is the beveled side, which we will be sharpening.
- Secure your knife. Place the knife in a vice grip or an apparatus for holding knives for sharpening before attempting to sharpen your knife. Create a safe workspace using stable surfaces and a cleared area.
- Run the proper sharpening rod through each gullet gently, using several smaller, shorter strokes. Seek out a sharpening rod that matches the size of the knife you’re looking to sharpen. You want a rod with the same diameter as the gullet (the space between the tooth’s tip and the inside of the blade) to avoid shaving down the knife and enlarging it.
- Repeat on each gullet. This is the time-consuming portion of knife sharpening. It can take quite a while to sharpen a knife with serrated edges properly, but it’s well worth it.
- Smooth out the finish. If you notice burrs forming or collecting on the flat side of the knife, use a whetstone to smooth these away. Run the flat end of the blade along the whetstone to eliminate these flaws.
Pro Tips for How to Sharpen Serrated Kitchen Knives
Follow these great tips for how to sharpen your serrated kitchen knives, be they steak knives or otherwise:
- Find the correct rod size so you don’t damage your knife. Avoid flat files or edge sharpeners.
- Do not sharpen the flat side. This can cause damage to the knife. Only manipulate the flat side of the knife if you see burrs that require attention, and do so carefully. Never start here.
- Use several tools if necessary. Varying sizes of rods may be required for different-size serrations.
- Don’t make assumptions. Ask an expert if you need assistance finding the right tools or learning the skill. It’s better to ask for help than to ruin an expensive knife.
Tips for Taking Care of Your Knives
Follow these easy tips:
- Hand wash your knives. While dishwashers are convenient and useful, they can contribute to the dulling and damage of knives. High heat and jostling of utensils can create issues for even the sturdiest knives. It’s best to hand wash and dry knives in moderate heat.
- Sharpen just enough each time. Check your progress regularly as you sharpen your knives to ensure that you are not removing too much metal. Any woman that’s given herself bangs knows: once it’s gone, it’s gone. Granted, yes, hair grows back — but don’t forget that removing metal from your blade is a final act, and once you have taken too much off, there can be permanent damage to your knife. Overly sharpening your knife reduces its overall life and affects the number of times it can be sharpened in the future.
- Store your knife mindfully. Magnetic strips are the preferred way to store knives. Serrated kitchen knives should be held against the wall on the magnetic strip on the non-beveled side. Avoid using knife blocks when possible, as the wood can lock in moisture that can cause damage to the blades. Serrated knives are very useful, easy to maintain properly, and frankly, a requirement for every kitchen. I strongly recommend purchasing a high-quality set of knives, including serrated knives, for yourself and as a gift to others. As a mom to young adults, this is certainly something on my mind as I shop for the holidays!
Looking for more kitchen essentials now that you know how to sharpen serrated kitchen knives? Explore our guide for the best wood for kitchen utensils.