Instructional Videos located toward the bottom of this article!

Learning how to sharpen a knife is one of the most important skills you can learn in the kitchen.  A knife with a poor edge is not only impossible to prepare food with, it can be the cause of cuts to the unwary chef.

The Difference Between Honing and Sharpening

First, you must realize that there is a difference between sharpening a knife and honing it. When you see chefs with sharpening steel (which is more properly referred to as a “honing steel,” you see them flicking the blade back and forth at lightening speed and you may think you’re seeing them sharpening the knife. They’re not actually. That tool is for fine tuning the edge of an already sharp blade.

What’s actually happening is that the edge of a sharp knife is very thin and while it is being used that edge can develop ripples or waves that make it not cut as well. The honing steel is used to straighten the edge which makes it much easier for the blade to be drawn across a surface and part it smoothly. So what happens when you’re actually using a knife sharpener to sharpen a knife as opposed to honing it?

Most knives are designed to have an edge at 20 degrees from the vertical. when you sharpen a knife, you are actually removing some of the metal from which the blade is made. Honing doesn’t remove metal. A proper knife sharpener will grind the metal of the blade so that the angles of the blade of your knife are again correct.

DIY Knife Sharpening or Professional?

The simplest and easiest way to sharpen your knife is to take it to a professional to have them sharpen it for you. But why do that when it’s so easy these days with some of the great electric sharpeners available from places like Amazon.com or Cooking.com

How To Sharpen A Knife

No matter what kind of knife sharpener you choose, the basic principles apply and so the technique is the same. You will draw the blade along a grinding surface to create what thousands of years of experience have taught us are the best angles for a knife blade to cut at its best.

Most knife manufacturers design their knives so that the two sides of the blade angle in toward each other at 20 degrees from the vertical. If you’re using a sharpening stone, you can find this angle pretty closely by simply putting the blade very gently against the stone at a perpendicular angle to the stone, as if you were going to try to cut the stone in half, and then leaning it halfway to resting against the stone on its side, and then cutting that angle in half again, which puts you at 22 1/2 degrees, and then just a touch more.

Once the knife blade is at the proper angle you draw the blade against the stone from the heel to the tip. Switch sides regularly so that you’re not grinding only one side of the blade over and over again. Keep it even. use just enough pressure so that you can feel the stone doing its job but not so much that it feels like you’re trying to get the job done in one stroke. While patience is a virtue in most cases, that old saying is doubly true when it comes to putting a fine edge on a knife blade.

Now that you understand the technique, let’s see how to go about choosing your knife sharpener. You have some decisions to make.

How to Choose A Knife Sharpener

Types of knife sharpeners

Basically there are two kinds of knife sharpeners. There are manual knife sharpeners where you draw the blade against a grinding surface by hand, and there are electric knife sharpeners where you draw the blade against a grinding surface. The only difference is that the grinding surfaces are moving in an electric knife sharpener which can speed the process up considerably. You should note that using an electric sharpener could wear your knife blades out much more quickly if care is not exercised to not grind or sharpen your knives excessively. Once the edge is put back, it’s time to hone rather than sharpen.

Electric knife sharpeners are fine for a quick sharpen, but don’t expect the same results that are possible for those who are willing to learn how to use a waterstone. For extreme fine edges, using a waterstone is the ultimate. They take time and practice to use properly, but if it’s a really sharp edge you want, then they are really the only choice. If you are interested here’s a video on using a waterstone.

 And for a Really Sharp Edge, There is this Scary Sharp method.

 Final Thoughts on How To Sharpen A Knife

If you are going to do much cooking, then a good kitchen knife is an essential tool. But like many tools, it has to be taken care of properly in order to do its job. Learning how to sharpen a knife is a basic kitchen skill. In deciding what kind of knife sharpener you want, you must decide how much time you wish to devote to the maintenance of your kitchen knives. If you only want to use a minute or two keeping your knives sharp, then consider an electric knife sharpener. If spending some time with your kitchen knives to give the best edge possible appeals to you, then consider one of the manual alternatives. There are waterstones, whetstones, simple mechanical sharpeners which will maintain the angle of the edge just by you keeping the knife vertical. There are literally hundreds of choices.

One other thing to keep in mind is that once your knife has a great sharp edge, then a honing steel is a good way to maintain the edge. Learning how to sharpen a knife is an important kitchen skill and the rewards are more than worth the effort.

How would you like cooking classes where you can learn the techniques of a master chef at home and at your own pace? Have you ever had a meal in a restaurant and thought to yourself, “I would just love to learn how to make this at home?” Well, now you can. Sign up for cooking classes at Smart Kitchen(dot)com and learn to cook at your own pace and time. Enrollment is easy and it won’t cost you a fortune to learn to cook just like your favorite chef on TV. Learning to cook is really a matter of learning certain time-tested techniques. Sure, you could sign up at a major culinary school like CIA (the Culinary School of America, not the spy agency), but who has the time and money for that? Fortunately there’s an  much simpler (and way less expensive) alternative.

Here’s a short video from SmartKitchen(dot)com which will show you some of the many things you can learn about!

Gain confidence in the kitchen w/ the most comprehensive online cooking school — FREE TRIAL!

How Much Do Smart Kitchen Cooking Classes  Cost?

So how much does something like this cost, you may be wondering. That’s the best part. It’s only $9.99 per month, or if you prefer you can save a little and pay $100 for  a whole year. If at any time you decide it’s not for you, you can always cancel your subscription. But here’s the best part. Right now, you can try it out for a whole week for free!

How Cooking Classes at Smart Kitchen Work

Since 1999 Smart Kitchen has been mastering  the use of video to instruct new chefs on sanitary and cooking techniques. In fact, it has been used by more than 1800 commercial kitchens and professional culinary schools all across the United States.

What you Will Learn

The Smart Kitchen library of video lessons has grown to over 200 separate lessons you can take. Have you ever watched a chef on television cut up an onion in just seconds and wished you could learn to handle a knife that way? Or how about learning the right way to put those perfect sear marks on a steak, like you find in one of the great steak houses of America? These simple techniques and hundreds more are available to you once you are enrolled.

You’re Not On Your Own

If you have questions you can email a professional chef who will provide the answers you need to continue your cooking education.

Levels of Skill

Depending on your level of skill you can choose from beginner to advanced lessons. Smart Kitchen has cooking classes for chefs of all abilities.

In this article, let’s look at some of the more popular Pfaltzgraff patterns available. You may already be familiar with Pfaltzgraff. If not, then you should know that they have been making ceramics for the home since 1811. It is a fine old company with a well-deserved reputation for quality. What you may not know is the full extent of the offerings from Pfaltzgraff. Everything from dinnerware to flatware, and on to bakeware, spice racks, and even trash cans are available from Pfaltzgraff. For this article however, I wanted to take a look at some of the more popular patterns which Pfaltzgraff dinnerware comes in. The range is truly spectacular.

Over 30 Patterns to Choose from! 16 Piece Dinnerware Sets Starting at Just $49.99!

Most Popular Pfaltzgraff Patterns

And remember, these are just  a few of the many patterns available at Pfaltzgraff. In all, there are actually about 160 patterns available, which pretty much ensures that no matter what pattern you’re looking for, you’ll be able to find one to your liking from Pfaltzgraff.

Popular Pfaltzgraff Patterns

The 10 patterns I chose for the above examples are just a few of the many beautiful possibilities. It’ can be fun looking at them on the Pfaltzgraff site. For instance, the very first pattern in the upper left corner of the clickable box of examples is the Villa della Luna pattern which is actually based on a book entitled,”Dancing with the Moon, a Story of Love” at the Villa della Luna by Jana Kolpen and Mary Tiegreen. The pattern pays homage to traditional Italian ceramics by its use of colors and design. The craftsmanship used for all Pfatzgraff products achieves its peak in this pattern.

But remember, only a very few of the many Pfaltzgraff patterns are being shown on this post. In fact, a mere 10 hardly does justice to the more than 160 patterns available from Pfaltzgraff. You really need to visit their site to see and enjoy all the many Pfaltzgraff patterns.

If you’re planning a cheap kitchen remodel project, ceramic kitchen canisters are a great first step. If you’re anything like me, then you don’t want to have to spend top dollar when you go to change your kitchen. Ceramic kitchen canisters are available in many styles, and colors. Here’s a list of the types of decor that I have found to be the best choice when matching ceramic canister sets to decor.

Some Popular Ceramic Kitchen Canisters Styles

	Country or Rustic Canisters for the kitchen in a country or rustic style evoke thoughts and feelings of being in farmland or the south. They make one think of family and friends and simpler, relaxed life.
	Vintage canister sets are wonderful on a counter top in a traditional kitchen. One which doesn’t have the latest stainless steel appliances. A kitchen design which makes use of pastel colors, or perhaps a traditional kitchen wallpaper.
	Contemporary kitchen canisters look great in kitchens which feature stainless steel appliances and the sleek lines of modern design.

While ceramic canisters come in every style imaginable, it has been my experience that staying with styles or motifs that allow for an artistic touch in the canister set’s design is best. This is an area where ceramic kitchen canisters really shine. In fact, many makers of kitchen canisters use artists to design sets exclusively for them. It’s a medium that allows for maximum expression for the artist.

Other Factors To Consider When Buying Ceramic Kitchen Canisters

• Color

• Size

• Number

• Placement

Color and Style of Ceramic Kitchen Canisters

When choosing a set of canisters to accent your counter top, there’s more than the style to consider. In fact the next factor is more important than the style in my humble opinion. Color is the first consideration you should have. As any man knows, certain colors go better with some than others. I said “man” because most of us a little guys were accused of having no color sense by our mothers, when we first learned to dress ourselves. Fortunately that changes for most of us as we get a little older and are taught “what goes together”. I have to admit that I once wore a paisley shirt with striped pants (he said, hanging his head with shame). It was the early 70′s and I was a teenager going for something. Just what I can’t remember, but whatever it was I failed to achieve it. What can I say? Anyway, the thing to take away from that is that some pattern or color combinations are to be avoided.  For some handy resources to help you with your kitchen design here’s a link to help you choose matching colors and for information on kitchen design on the same page there is information about the Kitchen Design Triangle, which helps you design your kitchen to be the most efficient workspace it can be.

So there you have it. How to decide which canisters are best for your kitchen, and some tools to help you with that decision and picking the best spot in the kitchen for them.

Where You Can  Find The Best Ceramic Kitchen Canisters To Buy

Read Where To Buy Kitchen Canisters  for information on the best places to purchase kitchen canister sets. All of the online stores I suggest offer ceramic kitchen canisters, but also offer other kinds such as stainless steel kitchen canisters, glass canister sets, copper kitchen canisters and more.

Want to get the happy couple something a little different from all; the toasters and vacuum cleaners? How about a set of ceramic kitchen canisters?

Ceramic kitchen canisters come in the most amazing array of designs, and color schemes. Not only are they good-looking, they are useful. For a new home they make a welcome addition which adds some color and design to an otherwise barren kitchen counter.

Of all the different types of canisters sets to be found, such as glass kitchen canisters, or stainless steel canisters for the kitchen, or even copper canisters, ceramic canisters seem to be the most popular with artists. It’s a medium which lends itself well to creating unique designs you won’t find on any other kitchen decor related items.

One of my favorite makers of ceramic canister sets is Pfaltzgraff. They always seem to have such a wonderful assortment. Of course, Amazon is a popular place to find gifts too, and they carry Pfaltzgraff ceramic kitchen canisters in addition to many other makers of ceramic kitchen canisters.

So for a unique housewarming present, or a gift for any other occasion, ceramic kitchen canister are a marvelous and unique way to show you care.

Have you ever considered glass kitchen canisters to brighten your kitchen counter and help you to be better organized? That’s what happened when we bought glass kitchen canisters for our kitchen counter.

I just thought a little more storage where we could find things we use in the kitchen a lot seemed like a good idea. And the fact that glass is transparent, I thought was a real plus. Now, we could have decided to purchase plastic kitchen canisters, but we liked the idea that glass is non-reactive to foods. If you’ve ever used plastic as a container for anything containing tomato, then you already know all about the way plastic will pick up reddish-orange tinge after being used to hold tomato products. Choosing glass kitchen canisters made us confident that we wouldn’t have that problem with our new kitchen canisters.

We looked through some of the offerings which we found while shopping online, and were nearly overwhelmed by the number of canister sets to choose form. There is everything from the plainest of glass kitchen canisters to some real works of art. And they are available in colored glass too we found out. So we weren’t limited to merely transparent clear glass.

Another plus to choosing glass kitchen canisters as we soon found out is how easy they are to wash. Most are dishwasher safe, but if you choose to wash them by hand it’s great how easily they clean up. Glass is such a smooth surface that it just seems like things don’t stick to it as much as some other materials.

And, since they are clear, you can really see when they are truly clean.

We are glad that we have brightened our kitchen counter with a new set of glass kitchen canisters.

Copper Cookware

Copper pots and pans provide a rich luster which is simply not achieved in the kitchen by any other metal. And copper transmits heat much more efficiently than other metals, so cookware made from copper is nearly the ideal. But there are some drawbacks when using copper cookware.
Cookware made from copper for many people is prohibitively expensive. Another problem with pure copper pots and pans is that they will react chemically to many foods. They also require nearly constant polishing to keep a brilliant shine. They can’t be washed in the dishwasher either. Copper demands hand washing and drying by hand also to prevent spotting. That’s quite a list of disadvantages, I must say. However, there is hope.

Copper Disadvantages

• Expensive
• Tarnishes
• Reacts to some types of food

To combat the food reactivity issue, many manufacturers line their copper pots and pans with tin or stainless steel. Tin wears out quickly though, so stainless steel is their preferred lining material. The tarnish issue is one that must be accepted if you’re going to own copper cookware. For many owners, the tarnish is something they grow to like. This is not to say that keep a set of green copper cookware, only that a certain degree of tarnish provides a used and homey look which pleases some people.

Copper Cookware Advantages

• Heat transfer (speed of heating, ans perfect temperature control)
• Even heating (no hot spots)
• Fantastic looks

But the main advantage of highly efficient heat transfer of copper can be had without the headaches, if you don’t insist upon having a set of copper cookware that looks like copper cookware.

There are sets of stainless steel cookware of the highest quality that use copper in the bottom and, in some of the better sets, within the sides of their pots and pans to take advantage of the superior heat transfer characteristics of copper. The copper is clad within thin layers of stainless steel. You get the fast heat up times, and the even cooking of copper without the tarnish related headaches of the copper. Stainless steel cookware can also be washed in the dishwasher, which makes it an even better deal.

Where Can I Get Copper Cookware?

One place that I can recommend is Cooking.com. I am affiliated with them, but they are nevertheless quite a good source of cookware and many other items associated with cooking and the kitchen.

There is no doubt that for many, there is just no substitute for the beauty of copper cookware, and for them, the willingness to polish their cookware occasionally is jut something they accept, and for some, even come to enjoy. Just the act of rubbing them with the appropriate polish( which can just be salt, for some) and seeing the gleam and rich hues of the newly uncovered copper is a joy.

Copper pots and pans, while expensive and labor intensive, remain some of the most beautiful cookware sets available.

If you haven’t considered copper kitchen canisters for your kitchen, perhaps the time has come to take a look at what you’ve been missing. Here are some of the many uses of copper in the kitchen.

Copper is a beautiful and richly colored metal, and it’s use in the kitchen has a long history. Here are a few of the many ways people have found to use copper in the kitchen.

Copper In The Kitchen

• -Copper Pots and Pans
• -Copper Counter Tops
• -Copper Backsplash
• -Copper Kitchen Canisters
• -Copper Range Hood
• -Copper Pot Racks
• -Copper Tiles
• -Copper Sinks

As you can see from this list copper has found a multitude of kitchen purposes. Not the least of which is the copper kitchen canister.

Interestingly, copper is available in several finishes. More than the pure, rich, late afternoon colors of polished copper, there are a lightly rubbed finishes, and even the brown patina like an old penny finishes. All are distinct and beautiful in their own way.

I know of at least nine distinct copper finishes. Some are hammered for a dimpled texture. Some have a dark finish featuring reds and blues that you might not even recognize as copper. There are finishes with patterns stamped into them.

Perhaps no other metal has found as many different looks and uses in the kitchen.

The immersion blender is made to do the same task as a full sized blender designed for counter top use. It’s just smaller and generally less powerful. There are some other differences though, as well.

Find the best price for an immersion blender

The Good About Immersion Blenders

- They are easier to clean
- They can be used directly in a pot
- They are quieter than a full size blender

Things To Remember When Using An Immersion Blender

- They should not be used for crushing ice
- If you bring the blades too near the surface, they will cause a splatter
- It is important to find the right size immersion blender for the size hands that will be using it.

In general, immersion blenders are a handy appliance as long as they are used as they were designed to be used. They are not a replacement for a counter top blender. They are made for different, more compact jobs than their full-size cousins.
One thing to keep in mind about hand blenders is that they are not designed for extended times of use. Most are made to be used for no more than about 2 minutes at a time. After that, the handle can become uncomfortably hot. Also, holding the power button down can be tiring.
If you plan to use the blender for pureeing directly in the pot, then be sure to buy one with a metal shaft, as the cheaper ones with a plastic shaft have a melting issue with heat sometimes. For use in a non-stick cookware be sure to use a stick blender that has a plastic blade cover in order to avoid scratching the surface of your pots and pans.  This type can be difficult to find in the heavier, more powerful models.

It is important to buy an immersion blender that fits the uses for which you plan to make use of it for. For heavier jobs such as pureeing certain root vegetable for making soups, a light, cheap model is most likely going to be a bad choice.  It will burn out the motor, burn your hand as the heat builds up, or break. If this is the type of job you have in mind for your new stick blender, then go with a larger, more expensive model. It will save you money and aggravation in the end. However, for light jobs like blending milk shakes, a smaller, less costly model should suit you just fine. The bottom line is to buy the right tool for the job.

Keep these admonitions in mind and buy a quality immersion blender based on reviews and company reputation and I’m sure you will get many years of use from your new immersion blender.

If you’re shopping for an immersion blender, one of the best places I have found is Amazon. They have a huge selection from which to choose. It’s a great place to find the best price for an immersion blender.

beautiful copper kitchen canisters

Hammered Copper Kitchen Canisters

Personally, I love the hammered copper ones. One caution though. When I have read the reviews of these, one thing I see is that people say that they have very thin walls and dent easily. So, in the case of hammered copper canisters, I would use them mainly as a counter top ornament. But if you are careful with them they can be used as you would use any other canisters for the kitchen. They are copper clad stainless steel, so it is possible that the reviewers, who found them fragile, may have an environment with those who may be less than careful (kids) when handling them.

Rustic Country French Canister Set

For a more robust type of

copper kitchen canisters

I found these made in a French kitchen canister style which feature the fleur di lis on the sides and as a sort of finial on the top. Reviewers found these to be especially beautiful when matched with their bronze faucets.

There are very few sets of copper kitchen canisters on the market, and care must be exercised when choosing a set. It is important to read the reviews when considering such a purchase. They can be very important in helping you to choose the right set of copper kitchen canisters for your kitchen.

Copper Cookware

If your kitchen is equipped with a rack for hanging pots and pans over a kitchen  island, a set of

 Matfer Bourgeat copper cookware

looks extraordinary and the set of copper cookware with the counter top copper kitchen canisters echoing the copper theme is just incredible.Have you ever seen them? Stainless steel lined copper cookware. It’s stunning.

For some, copper canisters for the kitchen are a great kitchen design idea. They add an elegant element.

Other attractive types of kitchen canisters include Stainless Steel Kitchen Canisters and Ceramic Kitchen Canisters, but copper kitchen canisters remain my personal favorite when it comes to metal canisters for the kitchen.