A Chef's Secret: What's the Connection Between Butter and Sharpening a Dairy Knife?
What do chefs do when they don't have a professional sharpening stone for a dairy knife? Anyone can use this trick, and it's more accessible than anything else.
Professional chefs have countless tricks to maintain their tools, and one of the most surprising secrets is sharpening a knife using butter and an upside-down ceramic mug. This simple and accessible technique allows you to keep the knife sharp even without a professional sharpening stone.
How does it work?
The surface of the ceramic mug, especially on its upside-down bottom, can be used as a kind of sharpening stone. Applying butter to the mug adds a gentle lubrication that eases the sharpening process and protects the knife blade from unnecessary friction.
Steps to follow:
Turn a simple ceramic mug upside down so that its bottom is facing up.
Apply a thin layer of butter on the non-glossy part of the mug's base.
Hold the knife at a 15–20 degree angle against the surface.
Gently slide the blade forward and backward along the bottom, maintaining a constant angle.
Repeat the process for both sides of the blade for about a minute.
The ceramic material provides the necessary friction to sharpen the blade, while the butter prevents overheating and protects the knife from damage.
Benefits of this method:
An accessible and easy-to-use solution, even at home.
No need for special or expensive tools.
A gentle method that prolongs the life of the blade.
