How to Sharpen Ceramic Knives: Three Easy Ways to Do So

Ceramic knives retain their edge for a long time. As such, they do not require regular sharpening, but over time you will need to sharpen them. The main challenge with sharpening ceramic knives is that ceramic is quite hard, and most of the knife sharpening tools used for sharpening a steel blade will not work for a ceramic blade.

While some manufacturers offer the option to send back your ceramic knife set for sharpening, it can be an inconvenient process as you incur shipping costs and will have to be without the knife for a few days or weeks. Therefore, the best option is to sharpen the knife yourself with a ceramic sharpener.

Diamond is the only material harder than ceramic that is used to make these specific sharpening tools. The tool you choose to sharpen your ceramic knife must be made with diamond. Below we review 3 ways how to sharpen ceramic knives:

1. Sharpen with a Diamond Stone

What You Need

• Up to 4 diamond stones (200 grit, 600 grit, 1000 grit, and 1500 grit)
• A wet towel to provide a non-slip grip on the diamond stone
• Ceramic knife

Instructions

1. Clean ceramic knife with warm water, soap, and a soft cloth to remove any food debris or oil.
2. Wipe the handle dry with a soft cloth to prevent it from slipping from your hands but keep the ceramic blade wet.
3. If your knife is completely dulled with chips and nicks, start with the 200 grit diamond stone.
4. Soak the stone in water for a few seconds and then lay it on the wet towel.
5. Hold the handle of the knife with your dominant hand. Angle the edge of the knife blade at a 10 to 15-degree angle to the stone.
6. Rest the fingertips of your non-dominant hand on top of the knife blade. Your fingers should keep the blade in place but not press it downward.
7. Make back and forth motions with the edge against the diamond stone from the tip to the blade’s heel. Keep count of the number of strokes.
8. Repeat this process on the other side for a similar number of strokes.
9. Repeat steps 4,5,6,7, and 8 with a 600 grit diamond stone. It will sharpen the knife blade but not smoothen it.
10. Repeat with a 1000 grit diamond stone, and then a 1500 gritstone as need be to make the knife ultra-sharp and smooth.

2. Sharpen with a Diamond Electric Sharpener

An electric knife sharpener gets the job done fast and efficiently. Two examples of a diamond electric sharpener you can use, include the Kyocerca Advanced Diamond Electric Sharpener and the Shenzhen Electric Diamond Knife Sharpener.

What You Need

• Electric diamond knife sharpener
• Ceramic knife

Instructions

1. Ensure the knife is clean and dry.
2. Power on the electric diamond sharpener.
3. Hold the knife’s handle with your dominant hand and firmly rest your non-dominant hand on top of the sharpener, away from the sharpening area, to keep it in place.
4. Insert the blade into the sharpening slot at the heel-side of the edge.
5. Slide the blade along the sharpening slot in a slow and gentle downward stroke up to the tip.
6. Remove the blade from the slot and repeat for 3-5 strokes until the cutting edge is sharp and smooth.

3. Sharpen with a Diamond Sharpening Rod

Although not as convenient as an electric sharpener, a diamond sharpening rod will also get the job done. Unlike a diamond electric sharpener, there is a wider range of diamond sharpening rods on the market i.e., the ARCCI 10 Inch Diamond Sharpener Rod available on Amazon.

What You Need

• Diamond sharpening rod
• Ceramic knife

Instructions

1. Hold the sharpening rod with your non-dominant hand. Secure it on a counter at a 90-degree angle.
2. Hold the ceramic knife with your right hand at a 10 to 15-degree angle to the sharpening rod, with the cutting edge facing upwards.
3. Make strokes with the edge of the knife on the sharpening rode from the heel to the tip.
4. Keep count of strokes and repeat on the side of the blade with the cutting edge facing downward.

Testing for Sharpness

Whichever method you use, test the knife for sharpness after finishing your process. Hold a paper upright with your non-dominant hand and the sharpened ceramic knife with your dominant hand. Cut through the paper from the upper edge downward. If the knife cuts smoothly and effortlessly, it is well-sharpened. If it gets stuck when cutting, repeat the sharpening process until it cuts smoothly.

Conclusion

If you’ve been wondering how to sharpen ceramic knives, either of the three methods discussed above will work, but using an electric ceramic knife sharpener is the easier and most convenient. After sharpening, always clean the knife with warm water, a soft cloth, and detergent. Rinse it, dry it, and store it in a knife block, protective sheath, or on a magnetic strip. Be careful when handling the sharp edge to prevent injuries.

Ceramic Knife FAQs

How Can I Ensure My Ceramic Knife Retains its Sharpness for a Long Time?

The key to ensuring your ceramic knife retains its sharpness for a long time is using it for its intended purpose, proper care, and maintenance.

• Do not use your ceramic knife to cut hard things such as bones and frozen foods.
• Only use it on vegetables, fruit, and tender meat.
• Hand-wash the knife as dishwashing dulls it.
• Do not drop it on hard surfaces.
• Do not use it to scrape your cutting board or hard surfaces.
• Do not expose the ceramic blade to open flame or direct heat.
• Keep it clean and store the ceramic knife appropriately.

Why Can’t You Sharpen a Ceramic Knife with the Tools Used to Sharpen a Stainless Steel Knife?

Sharpening involves grinding the cutting edge to gain sharpness. You require a material that is as hard or harder than the material of the blade to achieve this. Ceramic material is much harder than steel. Therefore, the tools used for grinding a steel knife would not be effective at sharpening a ceramic knife.