A Sharp Knife Is Safer Than a Dull One

The Problem

You press harder and harder to cut through a tomato until the knife slips and cuts you instead.

The Hack

Invest in a simple knife sharpener ($10-15 at Target) and run your chef's knife through it every 2 weeks, or take it to a professional sharpener at your farmers market ($5-7).

Why It Works

Dull knives require excess force. Excess force means loss of control. Loss of control means the blade goes where you don't want it — usually into your hand.

Pro Tips

• A honing steel (the long rod) maintains the edge between sharpenings
• The $10 pull-through sharpeners work perfectly fine for home cooks
• A sharp knife should easily slice through a tomato skin without pressure
• Wash and dry knives immediately — the dishwasher destroys edges