Throughout this article, we will discuss how to sharpen Shun knives. All the way from the basics to the best tools for every situation, we will cover it all. Let’s get started!
Shun knives are among the best knives on the market today, and are favored by both professional and amateur cooks. The Shun knives are renowned for their design, performance, and properties, making them a great addition to any kitchen.
We shared our impressions of the best Shun knives in our Shun knives review, which features a large selection of products from the brand. As a result, we discovered that the knives will last for many years if properly cared for.
Our researchers have read a few Shun customer reviews that state that the knives have become part of the family inheritance, passed down from generation to generation.
As a result, we discovered the most effective methods of caring for our knives. In addition to regular honing and sharpening, regular maintenance is crucial to their longevity. It is important to know how to sharpen them when the need arises even though they can hold an edge for a long period of time.
Read Also: Best Knife Sets Under $200
Care Of The General Population
Since Shun knives are made with high-quality steel, they are highly resistant to corrosion and rust. It is, however, important to take care of them properly as with any investment for a lifetime.
Therefore, it is advised to clean your knives immediately after each use. You should avoid using detergents containing bleach, since they will promote corrosion. In spite of the fact that some knives can be washed in the dishwasher, we recommend that you wash them only by hand. As a bonus, the handles will also remain intact.
Leaving your knives in water for an extended period of time can result in microcorrosion, since they do not react well to moisture. A micro corrosion occurs when there are small chips along the cutting edge. If you wish to prevent this from occurring, you should immediately dry the Shun knives after washing them.
Shun knives should be stored on a cutting board that will keep them sharp for a longer period. You should not use ceramic, synthetic, marble, tile, granite, or anything other than glass cutting boards on your knives. As opposed to plastic cutting boards, wooden cutting boards will not damage your knives.
See our related articles, Shun Knives and Shun vs Miyabi comparison, to learn more about Shun knives.
What You Need To Know About Honing Shun Knives
Honing is a simple process that takes very little time, but can extend the period between sharpenings significantly. As opposed to sharpening, honing involves realigning the blade’s edge rather than removing metal.
In order to obtain the best honing results, Shun recommends using Shun Honing Steel. Since Shun’s honing steel has an integral guide that is set to the exact 16-degree angle, you can be confident your knives will be honed properly every time. Make a few strokes on both sides of the blade by aligning your knife with the guide. There you have it!
You may use any honing steel you have at home if you do not wish to invest in Shun honing steels. Place the tip of your honing steel on a chopping board as you hold your metal in a vertical position. The knife should be drawn from the heel of the blade all the way to the tip of the blade.
Then run the knife downward at a 16-degree angle, starting from the top of the steel. When honing a double-beveled blade, ensure that you do so from both sides. It is recommended to hone the blade in its entirety. Although we attempted honing our knives with other honing steels, we ended up spending more time and could not attain the precise 16-degree angle.
Check out the Wusthof vs Shun knives comparison or the Dalstrong vs Shun knives comparison if you are interested in learning more about Shun knives.
What Are The Best Methods For Sharpening Shun Knives?
It is necessary to give your Shun knife some extra care every now and then in order to maintain its sharpness. You can tell it’s time for sharpening when your blade appears to be completely dull. A whetstone or an electric sharpener can be used at home to sharpen them.
Professional sharpeners can also be contacted for assistance. Interestingly, Shun actually offers free sharpening, but we’ll discuss that in a moment
Shun knives can be sharpened at home
In order to sharpen your Shun knives by yourself, you should familiarize yourself with whetstones. In Shun’s recommendation, 300-grit coarse whetstones are used since they remove material quickly and easily. If there are any chips or other imperfections on the blade, you should use a 300-grit whetstone.
For blades that are fairly dull, you should use a medium-grit whetstone, typically 1000 grit or 1500 grit. If you wish to polish your blade to a mirror finish, you should use a fine to very fine whetstone, between 4000 and 6000 grit.
A double-beveled knife should be ground at an angle of 15 degrees to the whetstone if you have such a knife. It is important not to overpress the blade as it moves toward and away from your body. Be sure that both sides of the blade are pressed equally.
The sharpening process for knives with a single bevel is simpler. The ground side should be placed on the whetstone first. As you move the knife away from your body and toward the whetstone, grind it at a 45-degree angle. As soon as you have completed the ground side of the blade, turn it over and repeat the process. This process does not need to be repeated frequently.
Shun’s line of whetstones includes several different varieties. As well as a three-piece sharpening set comprised of a honing steel, a whetstone, and a bamboo stand angled at 16 degrees.
Those looking to sharpen their knives electronically may wish to consider the Shun Electric Sharpener; those looking to sharpen manually may want to consider the Diamond and Ceramic Retractable Sharpener. The 16-degree angle of Shun knives is represented by both of these equations.
Bring your knives to Shun for sharpening
Shun knives include free lifetime sharpening for the lifetime of the purchaser! To receive a free sharpening service. You need only package your knife and return it to Shun’s facility in Tualatin, Oregon. Please select the appropriate carrier and pay the appropriate shipping charges.
Concluding Remarks
Shun knives do not require sharpening more than once a year if properly cared for, as long as they are stored properly. Our recommendation would be to hone your knives once a week in order to prolong the time between sharpening, thus ensuring the longevity of your knives.
If you are interested in learning more about kitchen knives, please read our other articles on the best Nakiri or Gyuto knives.